Chapter 215: Publicity is publicity.
"What are you still doing? Don’t you have an acting class today?"
Everyone turned to the entrance, catching Lola leaning against the jamb.
Cedrick opened his mouth, then lowered his head. He couldn’t say anything; he couldn’t even face her. He might not have expected the news to come out this early, but he knew it would happen, eventually.
"I canceled his class," Silo remarked. "I talked to his acting coach. From what she told me, there were some reporters outside their building. Seems someone leaked where Cedrick has been going these days."
Lola shook her head. "I see. Still, that doesn’t mean Cedrick will just idle."
"Lola, didn’t you see the article?" Haji frowned. "It’s bullshit!"
"It is, and?" she arched a brow, shifting her eyes to Cedrick. "Is that something new to you, Cedrick?"
Cedrick lowered his head while Silo and Haji’s frowns deepened. Even though they were here to look after Cedrick—under Lola’s orders—the two of them knew he was not what these articles or judgmental people online made him out to be.
"Are you heartless or what?" Haji blurted out in disbelief. "I know you’re not the emotional type, but at least have some sympathy for the man."
Lola didn’t answer, keeping her eyes on Cedrick.
"You did nothing wrong, Cedrick," she uttered after a moment of silence. "I told you before. Keep that chin high."
Hearing that, Cedrick lifted his head and looked straight at her. Her expression was firm, her gaze sharp. It wasn’t just determination; it was pride that she exuded. The pride of someone with a clear conscience, someone who fights fair and square.
And somehow, it reminded him of the past.
The same situation had happened to him before—his name was dragged through the mud in countless articles. He had tried to fight back, but in the end, there was nothing he could do. He just followed management’s instructions and stayed silent.
No ifs, no buts.
But then again, unlike before... Haji, Silo, and Lola were with him. Even reading the article here in this slightly old gym office, Cedrick had never seen his previous management show the same frustration. Their frustration had only ever been about money and investments.
"I’ll continue to train," Cedrick said, rising to his feet and facing Lola squarely. "I’ll go to the other room."
He approached Lola and stopped before her. She said nothing, just tilted her head to give way. But just as Cedrick took a step forward, she spoke.
"Cedrick," she called, watching him glance back. "Don’t concern yourself with the situation. That’s my job, not yours. Or don’t you trust me with that anymore?"
Cedrick pressed his lips into a thin line and lowered his head. "I do. I’ll practice my lines for the reading."
He resumed walking while Lola stared after him. Once he was at a distance, she casually joined Silo and Haji. As she sat down, she couldn’t help but glance at the broken phone on the table.
"Haji, you’d better not ask for an advance payment to buy a new one," she commented. "I’m not buying it."
"Shit," Haji winced, finally remembering his broken phone.
Silo shook his head at Haji, who was picking up the pieces of his phone, then turned to Lola. "Lola, you have a plan for this, right?"
"Mhm." She nodded. "Like I said, this type of thing isn’t new to Cedrick. I knew it would happen even before I recruited him."
"So that’s what you meant?" Haji clicked his tongue and glared at her. "Why not clarify that first? For a second, I hated you."
"If I were soft, how would he trust me?" she shrugged. "Besides, I’m just reminding him of what he’s already used to. It shouldn’t affect him."
"Lola, you do understand Cedrick isn’t just affected for himself, right?" Silo said. "He’s worried about what you think of him."
"That guy... is a good guy," Haji added with a shrug, sitting on the couch to assemble his phone. "He’s too good. It’s almost ridiculous. I know—I’m with him every day."
Lola darted her eyes between Haji and Silo, who had clearly grown fond of him. She couldn’t blame them; Cedrick truly was a good person.
She turned her head toward the open door, but Cedrick was gone.
If he becomes as famous as Slater, I wouldn’t be disappointed knowing him as a person.
Slowly, she turned to Haji and Silo. "Don’t worry. I’ve talked to Director Sarian already. This article is out because someone wants to steal the role. The only way to get it is if the production has no choice."
"Public opinion is not taken lightly in the entertainment industry. That’s why agencies spend so much on their PR teams," she continued. "Things will heat up in the next few days, but don’t worry."
She smirked. "I’m not losing this role."
Even if it wasn’t her own, this fight wasn’t just Cedrick’s—it was hers too. She would never let anyone take it, especially through underhanded means.
"Damn. I never thought it’d be this complicated," Haji hissed. "This side of the industry is kinda ugly, huh? Good thing my parents never let me do showbiz."
Not like you had a chance anyway, Lola and Silo thought, but said nothing.
"So, what’s the plan?" Silo asked, ignoring Haji. "Just continue our activity? That’s it?"
"Mhm."
"What about the people talking on the internet?"
"Let them talk," she grinned. "Publicity is publicity. I’ve been waiting for the perfect chance to debut my artist, and some people just handed me that opportunity!"
Deep lines appeared on their brows as they stared at her smile. To anyone else, it would look like she’d just shared good news.
"Well, I guess everything’s going to be fine," Silo mumbled, shaking his head. Haji added, "With that smile, I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about."
For them, Lola rarely smiled like that unless she already had the upper hand. So, in a twisted way, Silo and even Haji didn’t bother with it anymore. They knew Lola, and they knew when she said everything was under control, things were under control.
They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t trust her words, after all.