Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

"Why are you sitting here all alone?" Joanna Kennedy sat down casually beside her, asking as if making small talk.

Shirley Shepherd saw her natural expression, and the heavy weight in her heart lifted a little.

’Right,’ she thought. ’I was wearing a mask and a hat, and I was pretty far away. There’s no way Joanna could have recognized me. Maybe it really was a coincidence.’

"Just relaxing." Shirley Shepherd managed a smile, looking at the glittering surface of the river not far away.

"I’ve walked the red carpet in Parix before, but the schedule was always too rushed. I never had a chance to just wander around. I finally have the opportunity now," Shirley Shepherd said.

Joanna didn’t expose her lie, simply remarking with a sigh, "Yes, Parix is beautiful..."

It wasn’t just that Parix was beautiful; the whole world was. Different sights held different kinds of grandeur, and unique histories lent a mystical air to every place.

But some people truly quieted their hearts to appreciate it, while others, faced with such beauty, had minds that had already wandered off to who-knows-where.

"I came to Parix because I got an invitation from a magazine. When I got here, I found out the lead photographer is Thomas Warren. What a coincidence, right?" Joanna said this as if she were telling an amusing story, her gaze still on the scenery, her voice tinged with a smile.

Shirley Shepherd’s expression froze for a moment. Her fingers, hanging by her side, slowly clenched into a fist. She managed a stiff smile. "Maybe it’s not a coincidence..."

Her voice was very soft. It wasn’t so much a reply to Joanna as it was a dazed, absent-minded mumble.

Joanna frowned. "What?"

"It’s nothing." Shirley Shepherd clearly didn’t want to say more. She stood up and patted down her coat. "It’s getting late. I should head back. Joanna, I wish you a successful work trip in Parix."

Joanna stood up too, frowning at her retreating back. After a moment, she couldn’t help but call out, "Wait."

In her line of sight, Shirley Shepherd’s footsteps halted, but she didn’t turn around.

Joanna sighed softly and said, "Shirley, if you really like Parix, if you really like the Cerulean River, then don’t limit yourself to watching quietly from the bank. You can be a little bolder. I hear the boat tours on the Cerulean River are a great experience."

An unknown amount of time passed before Joanna heard a very quiet "Thank you."

Shirley Shepherd walked away. Joanna got in the car, lowered her gaze, and blew on her fingers, which were getting cold.

"Is Goddess Shepherd here for work too? Why doesn’t she have any staff with her...?" Julie, who was driving, asked in confusion.

Joanna didn’t like to gossip about others’ private lives, so she gave a vague reply, "Maybe."

"Tsk, tsk. She really is a workaholic. A while back, I heard people saying Goddess Shepherd was planning to retire from the industry. They described it so convincingly that I almost believed it. Sigh, you can’t believe the rumors, you really can’t..."

Julie’s voice continued from the front, rambling on with emotion.

Joanna remained silent, her gaze fixed outside the window. A cat darted out from the bushes by the roadside and quickly vanished in the rearview mirror.

’Swift and agile,’ Joanna thought. ’Shirley Shepherd is a lot like that cat. Too bad she’s not as bold...’

She really didn’t understand Shirley Shepherd’s behavior. If she liked the man that much, even following him all the way to Parix, why didn’t she just pursue him openly instead of retreating?

’So wishy-washy and indecisive. Not at all like the Shirley Shepherd I know.’ The more Joanna thought about it, the deeper her frown became. After a moment, she let out a heavy sigh.

’What does someone else’s love life have to do with me? Why am I sticking my nose in it?’

With that thought, Joanna decided to stop thinking about the two of them. She had more important things to do.

"Leo, Leo, quick, quick, take some pictures of me!" Joanna quickly touched up her makeup in the mirror, then shoved her phone into Julie’s hands.

’Ah, the nine-picture grid, the nine-picture grid,’ she lamented internally. ’If only I could use photos from the shoot. Too bad they can’t be leaked yet.’

Julie had a lot of experience taking selfies, but not much taking photos of others. She directed Joanna on how to pose, then after a few clicks, the two huddled together to look at the pictures.

A few seconds later, both of them were speechless. "..."

Julie couldn’t understand it. Why was it that Joanna, who was so stunningly beautiful, only knew how to make a peace sign? No wonder that photographer liked taking candid shots. Candids were the only way.

"Jojo, hold the wine glass and walk from the door to the floor-to-ceiling window... Yes, yes, just like that. Now sit on the rug and lean your head against the window..."

With Julie’s persistent guidance, they finally got a few good shots. Then they took two more pictures of the food and the scenery. Paired with the picture of the cat from earlier and a shot of the clouds from the plane, they finally had enough for a nine-picture grid.

Caption: Late, but I made it~~ (Not bad pics, huh?)

[Image.jpg]

After looking it over carefully one more time, Joanna clicked "post" with satisfaction.

The moment she posted, likes and comments started flooding in. Joanna refreshed the page, and the very first comment at the top was from her fan club.

Joanna Kennedy National Fan Club: [Mm.]

This single, short word stood out as strikingly peculiar amidst a sea of comments fawning over her and calling her "wifey."

’Mm??? What does that mean?’ Joanna was baffled for a second. She reread her own caption and finally understood.

Not bad pics, huh?

Mm.

It was a response to her question.

Joanna: "..."

’My fan club president is... such a cool and aloof person.’

Joanna was suddenly curious. She slyly clicked on the aloof president’s profile. There was nothing on it except for a few photos of her, proving they were a loyal fan.

Joanna was a little touched. She thought for a moment and replied to the cool president’s comment: "Roger that! I’ll keep working hard next time!"

The person on the other end was probably also on their phone, as a reply came back quickly. Joanna tapped on it, feeling a strange sense of anticipation. And then she saw it.

Joanna Kennedy National Fan Club: [Good girl.]

Joanna: "..."

’Is this person trying to humor me like I’m a child??’

Joanna didn’t reply. She was shutting down. She took a screenshot, closed the app, and sent it to Simon Lockwood.

Simon Lockwood, on the other end, must have been busy with something, because he didn’t reply. A few minutes later, a video call came through. Joanna answered, her voice soft. "What’s up?"

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Simon Lockwood’s expression on the other end seemed a bit strange. Before she could get a closer look...

...Simon Lockwood spoke. "Coming back tomorrow?"

"Mhm..." Joanna nodded. Then she remembered something and pouted. "Did you see? My fan club president is so aloof~"

"..."

The corner of Simon Lockwood’s mouth twitched. He stiffly changed the subject. "Text me when you land, you hear?"

"I know~"

...

Following Walter Young’s instructions, Julie had booked a flight for 10:00 a.m. the next morning. At 7:30 a.m., the group left the hotel.

A flashy red Porsche was parked at the hotel entrance, attracting the gazes of everyone coming and going. But the young man leaning against the car door was the most eye-catching of all.

The young man wore a black jacket, his hair was specially styled to look incredibly cool, and he had on a pair of oversized black sunglasses.