Chapter 250: Chapter 250

"Anna, I’ve seen some film fans online saying that they went to watch our movie ’Customized Girlfriend’ recently, but their tickets were printed with the name ’Future Travel’ instead."

"That’s a typical box office stealing tactic. Like, if our movie gives the theater ten percent of the revenue, but another movie promises twenty percent, theaters will shift the lower commission movie to make way for the higher one. They make money while that other movie gains box office figures, benefiting both parties."

"They’re benefitting each other, colluding shamelessly, but it’s us who lose out," Mary said indignantly. "It’s supposed to be a big production, big director, big actress, yet they’re sore losers stooping to such deceitful tactics. Our movie’s reception is great, but your name only once made it to trending topics, and was pulled down in less than five minutes. I don’t believe there’s nobody suppressing us in the background!"

Since the movie’s release, it went from obscurity to word-of-mouth spreading, becoming a hot topic even.

The seven male actors who co-starred with Anna Thornton recently have been hitting the trending lists one after another. Capital can block one, but it can’t block all.

Especially when ’Customized Girlfriend’ managed to rise to the top of the box office charts for a week with a low screening rate of three percent, theaters across the country couldn’t hold on any longer, and began adjusting their screenings.

Initially, to save face, they adjusted both ’Customized Girlfriend’ and ’Future Travel’ to the same level of screenings.

But with equal screenings, ’Customized Girlfriend’ overwhelmingly led the box office, embarrassing certain big productions and directors.

Now, they didn’t need to give face to anyone. All the big theaters had to survive, and according to audience demand, raised ’Customized Girlfriend’ to number one, allowing this box office dark horse to gallop ahead unrestrained.

When Anna Thornton and the main crew finished recording a show and looked down from the scene, they could see many fans downstairs holding colorful signs with their names.

"Are we famous now?" someone asked without knowing who.

"I didn’t feel it at first. Just the other day I was filming at Everwood Studios, received a call about the show recording, and came directly by high-speed train today. I was recognized at the train station, took photos, signed autographs, and almost ended up being late."

"Do you know? I came to this TV station five years ago too, but back then I was merely a sidekick on stage, didn’t even get a chance to speak. But today, the same TV station, same hosts, the treatment is completely different."

"From the time I entered this industry, I’ve been dreaming of having my own fan club. Now, after being in the circle for ten years, I’ve finally got it!"

The male actors who acted alongside Anna actually were quite talented. Good looks, good acting skills; except for Florian Hollis and Quinn Locke, most had abundant acting experience.

They perhaps only lacked an opportunity, didn’t have capital’s backing, nor the insight needed to be appreciated. They could only endure group after group, from one obscure supporting role to another, even getting used to being foils to popular young actors with poor acting and stiff expressions, never daring to dream they could have their breakthrough.

Fortunately, with Quinn Locke and Anna Thornton’s discovery, and thanks to their wholehearted dedication to the film, they brought the characters in it to life, proving to audiences that if they were to someday wear the male lead halo, they’d be just as worthy to be loved, admired by fans.

This time the audience was very supportive too. Without their spontaneous promotion, there wouldn’t be such strong follow-up box office momentum following the positive word-of-mouth. They used box office results to prove to everyone that viewers have discerning tastes too, and the springtime for domestic acting talent has arrived.

After discussing this round, no one spoke again, and no one was willing to leave first.

Instead, they quietly watched the fans holding their name signs below, some unknowingly brimming with tears, including Anna Thornton.

Later on, they decided to say hello to the fans before leaving. Anna Thornton went downstairs and found the person holding her name sign and shouting the loudest looked somewhat familiar.

"Ethan? Why are you here?"

"Miss Anna, I heard you’re recording a show here today, so I came specifically to cheer you on and represent Anna Thornton’s national fan club, brought a bouquet of flowers for you."

Ethan hadn’t been Anna’s fan for long, and already joined her national fan club’s upper ranks—quite the talent!

"Thank you." Anna took his flowers.

Ethan took the opportunity to lean closer and whispered, "Actually, it’s because President Sterling was handling matters nearby today that I got this chance."

"Conrad Sterling, doesn’t he need to stay in the hospital?"

"Yes, President Sterling was seriously hurt in the car accident this time. He’s been working from his hospital bed, shouldn’t leave the hospital unless absolutely necessary. He was forcing himself when he attended your premiere last time; actually, President is out handling things for you this time."

"We all know ’Future Travel’ next door shamelessly stole box office revenue. Miss Anna, rest assured, President Sterling will handle this for you."

After Ethan spoke, he sneaked a glance at Anna’s reaction, only to see Anna coldly snort: "I didn’t invite him to the premiere. It’s not hard for someone like Conrad Sterling to arrange things with a phone call, why pretend to be tough selling misery?"

Anna Thornton truly deserves to be his idol. Ordinary women hearing about a husband seriously injured in a car accident quietly working for their career would be moved to tears.

But Anna Thornton managed to see through President Sterling’s act of misery at once, how was she so smart?

How was she so indifferent?

How was she so unfeeling?

But one couldn’t say Anna Thornton was indifferent and unfeeling. After Ethan was sent to Veridia to investigate what had happened to Anna three or four years ago, he didn’t know what stance to take towards Miss Thornton’s indifference to President Sterling’s accident.

If standing from President Sterling’s perspective, then indeed it’s a bit tragic. Seriously injured, lying in the hospital for two months, his wife didn’t visit even once, relying purely on grit to persevere.

But from Anna Thornton’s perspective, Ethan wished he could travel back three or four years, and do something against President Sterling.

With his guts, he wouldn’t dare touch Conrad Sterling, Ethan just meant to scold, to ask what he had been thinking.

Facing such a beautiful girl’s plea for help, how could he steel himself to be a pig-headed jerk?

She carried his child, how could he be indifferent, causing the cutest little miss to be without a dad for the first three years?

The greatest regret is because of President Sterling’s lack of action, they lost a little boy who would have been as cute as the little miss.

After chatting briefly with Ethan, Anna and Mary went to the parking lot together.

On the way, Mary took a phone call.

"Want to negotiate an ad deal with our Anna? Alright, let’s set up a time to discuss in detail..." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel⸺fire.net

Mary gestured to Anna, signaling for her to go ahead, and slowed down to talk on the phone.

Anna had to get in the car first.

She wanted to check the rearview mirror to see if her lipstick was smudged, but instead first saw the figure in her back seat, getting quite a shock.

"Conrad Sterling, why are you in my car?"