Chapter 116: Start Your Performance
"Raymond Ford did buy the milk tea. As for ordering food, I think that was because Melody Monroe and Zane Langdon had a late shoot that day and missed lunch."
"Raymond Ford is so thoughtful."
"Yeah."
Talia Mercer was about to explode with anger as she listened to their hushed discussion.
’Are people really going to gossip about this?’
’Is her Melody some kind of hater magnet? Is this ever going to end?!’
"Do you have to eat everything someone gives you? Melody Monroe happens to be on a diet," Talia Mercer retorted.
"A diet? What a great excuse! If she looks down on Raymond Ford, she should just say so! Her fame and status aren’t even on his level, right? And she expects Raymond Ford to suck up to her instead? The nerve!"
"No, that’s not it. Please, don’t misunderstand," Raymond Ford continued to mediate. "Melody Monroe and I have a great relationship. We’re not only at the same company with the same agent, but we were also fortunate enough to be cast in the same show. It’s only natural we’d look out for each other. Perhaps Melody Monroe didn’t like the food I ordered, or maybe she doesn’t care for milk tea. These are minor details. There’s no need for everyone to argue over this."
"Melody Monroe doesn’t like milk tea? Heh. I remember during an event, she was complaining to her own fans about how hard it is to diet, but that she still relies on milk tea to survive! She doesn’t like it? She just won’t drink the one *you* bought."
"You people are unbelievable!" Talia Mercer noticed people around them filming with their phones. They could turn around and post these videos online in an instant.
’Who knew a cup of milk tea could trigger a full-blown flame war!’
’Raymond Ford’s fans are no pushovers!’
A flicker of a smile flashed through Raymond Ford’s eyes. His objective had been achieved. He shot Leah Young a look, and she immediately slipped out of the crowd.
"It’s all just a small misunderstanding," Raymond Ford said, trying to placate the two. "Melody Monroe must have had a good reason for throwing away the milk tea. It’s not what you’re thinking. We all still have work to do, so let’s not let these little things disrupt our jobs."
’In reality, he was hoping they’d blow things up even more!’
"Raymond Ford, I wasn’t a fan of yours, but after seeing you step up like this today, I’ve decided to become one! I have to give you a piece of advice, though: don’t be too nice. Your kindness is just getting you trampled on by others."
"Exactly, Raymond Ford. You can tell a person’s true character from little things like this! And we’re not allowed to discuss it? As a public figure, she enjoys all the perks of the public’s attention, but we’re not allowed to say a few honest words?"
"Of course, you can." A voice, firm and resounding, cut through from behind the crowd.
Everyone turned their heads to look in that direction.
Melody Monroe smiled faintly and walked forward.
The two people who had been arguing with Talia Mercer were also stunned into silence by her words.
"I know words can be fearsome, but I’ve never feared them. Today, I’ll stand right here and listen to your so-called truths and accusations." Melody Monroe walked up to the two of them and stopped.
The woman before them was ethereally beautiful, radiating an inviolable, powerful aura. The pair was instantly scared silent, all of their previous bravado vanishing in an instant.
"Well? Let’s begin."
The two were suddenly at a loss for words.
’They had never confronted someone like this before!’
They were used to gossiping behind people’s backs, to being keyboard warriors hiding behind a screen. Today was just their bad luck. Their gossip about Melody Monroe had been overheard by her assistant, and it had blown up into a face-to-face confrontation.
They had assumed Melody Monroe wouldn’t dare to show her face. They never imagined she would step forward so openly, so powerfully.
Melody Monroe opened her phone and started recording.
The two people’s faces paled.