章 12: Chapter 12: Bumping Into
Vanessa Foster recently took on a role in an ancient royal court drama for Charlotte Cooper, playing an arrogant and domineering princess.
Her part was not large, but the character was well-rounded, intended to test her acting in this type of drama.
Although it was already October and autumn, the scorching sun still baked the earth.
Charlotte, wearing the layered royal court costumes, was covered in sweat. Ella, her assistant, was eagerly fanning her.
There weren't enough fans on set, so she shared one with another actress. Charlotte thought it wouldn't be right to use the communal fan just for herself, so she placed it between them both.
However, she didn't expect that the other actress would instruct her assistant to direct the fan only at her.
"Wait, why are you moving the fan away from us?" Ella asked the other actress's assistant.
The actress lying in the chair glanced at Charlotte and Ella, then lowered her sunglasses to take a look at them. "I see you're putting quite some effort into fanning her. Since you don't need it, what's the problem with us using it?"
Exasperated by the unreasonable remark, Charlotte turned to take a closer look at this actress.
If she remembered correctly, this actress was named Lara Milan, who gained some fame from a web series.
Charlotte was quite impressed with Lara's courage given that Lara was merely a minor star just now making a name for herself.
"Which eye saw that we don't need it? My assistant is just fanning me out of sympathy. It doesn't mean I give up my right to use the fan." Charlotte replied calmly, knowing that her top-notch status was intimidating.
"You're just a moderately popular beauty queen without any acting skills. How arrogant of you to play such a small role in a royal court drama!" Lara muttered disdainfully, telling her assistant not to interfere.
Charlotte hated it when people called her just a beauty queen. Although she was satisfied with her appearance, she despised having her acting skills belittled.
Sweating nervously as she watched Charlotte get up and walk towards Lara, Ella pleaded, "Genna, please don't do anything impulsive. Impulsiveness is the devil, and I don't want to be scolded by Vanessa!" She grasped her sleeve, her hands trembling.
Charlotte's temper was as famous as her looks in the entertainment circle.
Even directors and investors knew that when she said no, she meant it. This attitude drove many to deplore her, and Vanessa Foster was no exception, worrying endlessly about Charlotte's behavior.
"What, are you going to hit me?"
Seeing the cold, furious look in her eyes, Lara stepped back in fear, her eyes full of caution and dread.
"Do you have a problem with me, the beauty queen?" Charlotte asked, leaning in.
With a satisfied smile at the terrified expression on Lara's face, Charlotte finally felt a little better.
"Today is the fifteenth, I won't kill today."
She grinned playfully, and with one hand, placed the fan back in her spot.
If others show no kindness, then don't blame her for not giving them grace either.
Lara watched helplessly as Charlotte took the fan and reveled in the cool breeze. All the while, Charlotte occasionally glanced over with a provocative expression, and Lara's face turned red and green with embarrassment.
Charlotte happily picked up the script, "See, some people can't be spoiled."
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd. As Charlotte was deeply immersed in her script, Ella nudged her arm.
"Genna, that man looks like Dr. Russell!"
Quickly setting the script aside, Charlotte straightened her body and followed the gaze of the crowd. She saw Henry Russell, dressed casually, walking over, looking quite conspicuous among the anciently dressed ensemble. His assistant trailed behind.
Charlotte didn't expect him to make a surprise visit to the set, and by the time she realized he was there, he was already in front of her.
Seeing her in full costume, the smile on his face faded and he furrowed his brow.
"Why are you wearing so much?"
"It's an ancient costume drama," Charlotte responded, gesturing for him to sit down.
"Why are you here?"
"To visit."
Henry wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and discreetly signaled his assistant, who promptly distributed gifts to the people on the set.
"When will it be over?" He asked as he tugged on Charlotte Cooper's complex clothes.
"There's still about two or three hours left. There's a confrontation scene later, after that, I should be able to leave."
Charlotte's face was flush with a faint red glow from the heat.
Henry nodded, "I have surgery this afternoon, probably until late at night. You don't need to wait for me at home."
He picked up a fan and gently fanned Charlotte.
Amused by his thoughtful gesture, Charlotte's eyes sparkled with laughter.
Many of the actors around them saw Henry and wanted to come over and make his acquaintance. Even if they couldn't really build a connection, it was good to get familiar with his face.
However, Henry's assistant deterred them by standing in front like a door guardian, his cold face intimidating the others from approaching.
The director, knowing Henry had arrived, hurriedly handed over his work to the assistant director and rushed over.
Russell's subsidiary had invested in the film, making him a major investor, so the director naturally needed to pay his respects.
Henry's visit to the set was mainly to see Charlotte, and he didn't want too many people disturbing them, so he exchanged a few words with the director.
Being tactful, the director sensed Henry's indifference and left after saying some words of encouragement to Charlotte.
As soon as he left, Charlotte couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing much, it's just that the scene earlier made me feel like you're a parent sending their child off to school."
Henry playfully scratched her nose, "Aren't you just like a child?"
His words were full of affection, and Charlotte's eyes softened as she gazed into the tenderness in his eyes.
Henry only stayed for a short while before heading back to the hospital.
Charlotte couldn't accompany him too far as she had a scene to film soon.
As Ella was packing up, she noticed a black wallet and turned to Charlotte, "Sister Genna, this seems to be Dr. Russell's wallet."
Charlotte was caught off guard and quickly recalled the situation.
"He hasn't gone far, I'll go return it to him." Charlotte grabbed the wallet and chased after him.
As she crossed the corridor, she saw Henry standing under a willow tree, accompanied by a woman dressed in an ancient Royal Court costume.
It was Lara Milan, the woman she had a recent disagreement with.
Upon seeing Henry removing his hand from Lara's arm, Charlotte turned around and walked back.
"Sister Genna, why are you back?"
Ella looked at her in surprise, "Didn't you catch up with Dr. Russell?"
Charlotte nonchalantly nodded and sat down on a chair. Before she could settle in, she saw Henry approaching in a hurry.
"I forgot my wallet, and I just touched something dirty. Can you lend me your hand sanitizer?" After saying that, he went straight for the sanitizer.
Charlotte's mood lifted slightly after seeing his disgusted expression.
"The hospital is urging me to go, so I'll leave now." Henry leaned down and kissed her forehead before leaving.
The director called for Charlotte to start filming, and it was then that she saw Lara again.
Their scene involved a confrontation between Charlotte's character, an arrogant and overbearing princess, and Lara's character, Emperor Howard's concubine.
The scene was about Lara's naive and innocent character being reprimanded by the princess for not understanding the rules upon entering the royal court.
Although she knew that there was nothing between them, Charlotte couldn't help but feel unhappy after seeing Lara and her husband together earlier.
On the contrary, Lara seemed to be in high spirits and whispered to her, "I just saw Henry."
"Anyone with functioning eyes would have seen him," Charlotte retorted coldly.
"But we met privately, you know." Lara glanced at Charlotte challengingly, her eyes filled with mischief and laughter.
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