Chapter 1436 - 1432: Constantine Stewart Came to the Welfare Home?
After Chloe Winston’s audition, she signed a contract with the crew to play the third female lead, Mary, in the drama "Underworld Depths".
While the crew was still casting, Chloe went back to revise the script. "Underworld Depths" is a fantasy IP drama adapted from the novel of the same name, featuring an inspirational male lead in a pleasant heroic fantasy setting.
Original novel fans are as plentiful as fish in a river; this drama has not yet been filmed, but its popularity is already quite high.
During her free time, Chloe also read the novel "Underworld Depths". The male lead’s setting is very relatable; he carries a deep-seated blood feud and, by chance, embarks on a path of cultivation. The story is filled with beautiful women, and the male lead not only has a childhood friend with extraordinary luck but also meets various beautiful women along his cultivation journey. All the female leads are inexplicably drawn to him, except for the third female lead, Mary, played by Chloe.
Mary’s character in the drama is described as an extremely beautiful and extremely cold cultivator. In the original novel, Mary has an official romantic match, but her match is so extraordinarily talented that he dies prematurely. In order to revive her beloved, Mary cultivates the way of emotionlessness and can be said to be a strikingly beautiful and powerful presence before the male and female leads fully grow.
Unfortunately, she is a supporting character and a tragic one at that; Mary cultivates the way of emotionlessness only to find that her deceased lover is the big villain boss. She ultimately sacrifices herself for justice, sharing a tragic and beautiful story with the villain boss.
When Chloe first received the script, she inexplicably cried several times upon seeing this character’s setting, forming a deep attachment that led her to abandon the first and second female leads and choose this role.
Due to some actors’ scheduling issues, the crew decided to assemble on September 15. Chloe took advantage of the remaining days and visited the welfare home.
She hadn’t returned for several months and deliberately chose a Saturday to buy many snacks and stationery at the convenience store, along with some blood-nourishing supplements for the director mom. She then quietly visited the welfare home wearing a mask and hat, alone.
The welfare home’s location is quite remote, with inconvenient transportation, and it was already noon when Chloe arrived. The children were lining up for lunch.
Chloe carried the snacks and stationery to the director mom’s office and unexpectedly saw Lisa, who she hadn’t seen for a long time.
Lisa was standing at the door smoking, paused upon seeing Chloe carrying two large bags, and asked, "Chloe, how come you’re here? Did anyone see you?"
Lisa was very sensitive about her background from the welfare home, always hoping she would someday make a name for herself in the Entertainment Sector, so she fabricated her life story and always returned secretly. Upon seeing Chloe back, she quickly glanced outside in panic and pulled her into the office.
"I don’t think anyone saw me." Chloe removed her mask, smiled faintly, and said, "What a coincidence, are you back to visit director mom too?"
"What’s so coincidental, I’m just hiding." Lisa saw that Chloe was somewhat sensitive to the smell of smoke, mischievously extinguished her cigarette, and said, "I thought now that you’ve become famous, you wouldn’t return to the welfare home."
Chloe had become so famous recently that Lisa began to doubt her eyes. The little girl she once claimed she would cover for had risen to become a trending young actress and a versatile variety show goddess. Lisa, feeling embarrassed about her own unaccomplished status, stopped reaching out to Chloe.
"Sis, why are you hiding here, did something happen?" Chloe put the things she bought for director mom aside and asked.
"Oh, I just accidentally offended a bastard, and he threatened to deal with me, so I’m lying low." Lisa said briefly; those without background like their kind of minor celebrities often mingled in various scenes, looking for opportunities and attracting quite a few troublesome characters.
"Where’s your boyfriend?" Chloe recalled her previously mentioned boyfriend who had a bit of influence?
"If a man could be relied upon, pigs would climb trees. That bastard has long set his sights on young models." Lisa sneered.
Both fell silent for a moment.
"By the way, Chloe, did you meet Cyan Rowe on the variety show? Did she recognize you?" Lisa blurted out questions she had suppressed for months, "I really underestimated her, changed to a good-sounding name, and disguised herself as a wealthy socialite, pah, we’re all from the welfare home, she pretends to be all noble, doesn’t know to sponsor the welfare home after making it big, director mom said she only came back once all these years, and came back flaunting, didn’t even buy the kids anything to eat."
Before being adopted, Roy was called Cyan Rowe and Lisa was full of resentment whenever mentioning her. They were naturally sensitive children raised in the welfare home, having struggled through tough times and shared simple meals as children. Other kids enjoyed snacks, new clothes, toys, and parental indulgence while they had nothing, sometimes even fighting secretly for favor. Lisa and Cyan Rowe were at odds since childhood, growing up into the same circle and facing a huge disparity in status, making Lisa’s resentment hard to dissipate.
"She thought you were cute, liked bullying you since childhood, always made you dirty, if not for being adopted she would have turned you into a fool." Lisa said grumpily, "And you were so honest, wouldn’t say a word even when bullied."
Chloe Winston smiled slightly, she didn’t remember much about her childhood.
"We’re just not on the same path, it’s better if we don’t associate in the future." Chloe looked at Lisa, seeing her take out another cigarette in such a short time, it seemed she wasn’t doing well, and she said lightly, "Sis, I’m currently in the cast of ’Deep Sea’, about to play the third female lead. If you’re interested, I can introduce you to Director Faust."
Hearing this, Lisa stopped smoking, feeling a bit surprised and uneasy. She touched her face, having smoked, drank, and stayed up late over the years, feeling a bit inferior in front of Chloe, nervously saying, "Chloe, can I really join the cast? My acting’s average, and I look average too."
Lisa was self-aware too; if Chloe could only play the third female lead, what could she play? Recently, the hottest drama in the circle was ’Deep Sea’, with many popular actresses and even the Actress auditioning.
"I’ll make a phone call." Chloe called Director Faust, explained her intentions straightforwardly, and said she wanted to recommend a girlfriend to audition, and if there’s a suitable role, just give it to her. She didn’t seek a major role, just something that provides a living.
She had a straightforward side to her personality and didn’t exaggerate anything. Whatever she said was direct, and Director Faust was taken aback, finding the girl not only pretty but also surprisingly good-natured.
Given Chloe’s popularity and the support of Clear Stone backing her, she more than qualified for the female lead. To have her play the third female lead meant they were earning a profit.
While the outside world said young girls rise quickly and fall quickly, well-known figures like Director Faust, who was in the industry, certainly knew Chloe’s background.
Faust had a decent relationship with Daniel and had heard from him a few times. He learned that Mr. Constantine had once revealed his identity to suppress Chloe’s negative news, making him drop his jaw. No wonder Daniel hesitated to shoot the second season of ’Let’s Fall in Love’, and even all survival reality shows were secretly banned in the variety show circle.
With such prominent figures backing her, and Chloe still calling him to recommend someone for an audition, Faust felt flattered and quickly agreed, deciding to hire anyone, beautiful or not, with prominent roles for the good-looking ones and less for the others.
Chloe hung up the phone, gave Lisa a slight smile, and said, "Write down the director’s number. Just say you’re my friend when you go for the audition."
Lisa had been listening on the side, seeing how even a big director like Faust spoke politely to Chloe. The only thing missing was joining the group right away, and she was overjoyed, feeling her role was a sure thing.
"Thank you, Chloe, don’t laugh at me. I’m several years older than you and not as successful, and here you are helping me." Lisa said gratefully.
"We’re sisters. When I was in trouble, you were there for me too." Chloe said with a light smile, reaching out to hold her hand, comforting her not to overthink.
While the two were talking, the matron arranged for the children to nap and then returned to the office. Seeing Chloe, she was delighted and said, "Chloe, you’re back?"
"Chloe just got here and brought quite a few things for you." Lisa quickly laughed.
"You child, every time you come back, you bring so many things. Just seeing you would make my heart content." The matron laughed, recalling something happily, she took out her usual ledger and pulled Chloe over while smiling, "Did you mention the orphanage to Mr. Zheng? He came by this month and donated a million, saying he’d sponsor a million every month to improve the children’s living environment."
Upon hearing this, Chloe’s face paled slightly, and she asked hoarsely, "Zheng Gu?"
"Yes, yes, it was Zheng Gu. Not only did Mr. Zheng come, but there was also a particularly handsome and gentle gentleman, even better looking than a star, but he was in a wheelchair, saying his right leg was still fractured." The matron laughed heartily and said, "That Mr. Constantine is such a gentleman, staying here half the day, and the children all loved him."
Chloe’s breath hitched. The matron didn’t know the person behind Zheng Gu was Constantine Stewart, nor did she recognize him. But would Constantine Stewart come to visit the orphanage?
He clearly hated children the most. The few arguments they had were about kids, and later the man, impatient, directly divorced her.
She opened her mouth, feeling like her heart was being squeezed tightly, painfully, and she asked in a low voice, her eyes downcast, "When did this happen?"
"Just yesterday, they stayed the whole afternoon. If you had come back yesterday, you would’ve met them." The matron laughed, "I even asked Mr. Zheng about you. Mr. Zheng didn’t say much, but Mr. Constantine asked a lot about your childhood."
Upon hearing this, Chloe’s fingertips clenched tightly, her palms feeling a bit painful from the pressure.