Chapter 349: Chapter 349

Despite Anna Thornton and Mary being so defensive, they couldn’t prevent the speculation and doubt that arose after the official announcement of the female lead for "Step by Step".

[Didn’t they say that so many young actresses were competing? Why was Anna Thornton the one chosen in the end?]

[Why else? It’s all about the hidden rules! Didn’t an actor mention on a show before that the investors were present on the casting day?]

[Director Nash is known for his strict and high standards for his work, didn’t expect capital to interfere this time. He must be very upset!]

[Did Anna Thornton’s financier pull strings from behind again? Who exactly is her financier?]

Previously, when Anna Thornton’s film unexpectedly became a hit, there were rumors that she had a financier pushing her success from behind the scenes.

Now, with her sudden appointment as the female lead in "Step by Step", a famous gossip forum quickly filled with discussions, and a post titled — Who exactly is Anna Thornton’s financier?

Anna Thornton lay on the bed in the living room, reading with great interest.

The person who started the post claimed to be an insider within the circle, even saying they were from inside Starlight Entertainment, analyzing various fabricated clues, and concluding that Mason Hawthorne was the backer.

Moreover, it’s completely illogical. The post said Mason Hawthorne invested in Director Nash’s drama just to use it as a stepping stone for Anna Thornton. It even sympathetically mentioned the actresses who failed auditions, saying they were used by Mason Hawthorne to gain favor and provided free publicity for Anna Thornton.

However, on the other hand, the post couldn’t provide any evidence of interactions between Mason Hawthorne and Anna Thornton.

It’s known that Mason Hawthorne has a notorious reputation, and whenever a female star gets involved with him, the media always finds traces, because he has a gambling habit and loves to show off new interests at the gambling table, under the guise of letting them bring him luck.

But if Mason Hawthorne has been backing Anna Thornton all along, how come no photos have surfaced of them together for so long?

There were also skeptical voices in the post, but ultimately, it only added another suspect, Henry Willow, without unearthing much.

Anna Thornton watched as netizens on the forum speculated and made serious analyses, concluding that the financier must be a friend of Conrad Sterling; otherwise, how could he give face and sign Anna Thornton to Starlight Entertainment?

Yet no one suspected Conrad Sterling himself, no one thought he was Anna Thornton’s backer.

Anna Thornton even pulled Conrad Sterling into her promotional stunts, yet they didn’t suspect him this time. Where’s their logic?

Anna Thornton, being part of the "scandal" herself, was worried for the gossip-hungry crowd.

On the day the new show began filming, Anna Thornton saw many familiar faces among the main cast on set.

Some of them were the popular young actresses she had seen during auditions, including Daisy, who was reprimanded to tears by Director Nash for her lack of acting skills, but still secured a role in the series that lasts into the forties episodes.

This was a result of negotiations between the company, the capital behind it, and the director’s team.

The production did indeed have capital interference, but Anna Thornton was the only character chosen entirely by Director Nash’s preference. Yet she was the only one slandered, drawing all the fire on her!

Director Nash felt guilty and took the opportunity during the commencement ceremony to speak kindly with Anna Thornton.

Despite his usually stern demeanor, resembling King Yama,

Director Nash tried to engage Anna Thornton in conversation, albeit awkwardly and shyly. Thıs content belongs to novel-fire.net

However, Anna Thornton hardly seemed affected by the recent bad press.

After the commencement ceremony, to save time, there was a major night scene to be filmed that very evening.

Anna Thornton got into character quickly, and her performance in the first scene surprised Director Nash.

Initially, during auditions, Anna Thornton’s presence had overshadowed Zoe Bowen, which had already greatly surprised Director Nash.

Tonight’s shoot involved an emotional scene, and Anna’s performance was surprisingly delicate, especially since the male lead hadn’t even joined the crew yet.

Anna Thornton’s ability to handle a solo emotional scene so perfectly left Director Nash amazed.

In Director Nash’s over thirty-year directing career, from observing at least two generations of actresses, he concluded that beautiful ones often lack substance. Thus, he usually avoids casting stunning actresses, preferring those whose looks can be enhanced by makeup if necessary, as it worked in his previous successful film.

But the much-delayed casting for "Step by Step" seemed to be waiting for Anna Thornton all along.

Anyway, Anna Thornton completely won over Sean Nash with her audition and the first scene today.

Director Nash looked at her with admiration laced with surprise, surprise with gratitude, and gratitude with fervor.

In essence, he seemed to be saying — Where did this treasure come from? How did I not notice such a talent before?

Director Nash couldn’t hide his appreciation for her, and even Zoe Bowen picked up on it.

She had two scenes that night, but they were scheduled later.

Director Nash found filming Anna Thornton so smoothly that after shooting, he discussed the scene with her for so long that Zoe Bowen’s scenes were delayed.

All of these were counted against Anna Thornton.

Later, coincidentally, there was a conflict scene between Anna Thornton and Zoe Bowen.

As soon as the director shouted ’Action’, Anna Thornton knelt immediately before the emperor’s chamber.

In just a few days, transitioning from a lovestruck girl to one who, disheartened and pale, kneels at the palace door, pleading incessantly with a sickly appearance, Anna Thornton could easily handle it, seamlessly transitioning.

The director didn’t even know how to praise her anymore; watching Anna Thornton perform in front of the camera was a kind of enjoyment.

She hadn’t knelt long before hearing a creak and seeing her good friend, Concubine Elara, emerge from the Emperor’s chamber.

At this time, Concubine Jean didn’t know that the Emperor was the mastermind behind her family’s wrongful accusation, only wanting justice from the Emperor to clear her family’s name.

Concubine Jean knelt heavily on the stone bricks by the door, her forehead bleeding. She slightly raised her eyes, seeing a pair of embroidered satin shoes with jade embellishments. When the Western Regions once contributed a rare piece of jade to the Emperor, he wanted to bestow it on Jean Jones, who was not yet a concubine, but worried that spoiling her too much would make her a target, so he split the jade into two pairs of identical satin shoes, giving the other pair to Concubine Elara, Jean’s good friend.

Times had changed, and now, every time Concubine Elara saw the shoes, she felt insulted.

Today, wearing them was a deliberate show of intimidation before Concubine Jean. Back then, it was on your account that the Emperor even glanced at me; now you are kneeling here, while I enjoy the Emperor’s favor and can enter and exit his chamber on my own merit.

Just wanted you to know, you amount to nothing now!

"Sister, why speak all this at the Emperor’s chamber door, ruining the Emperor’s mood?" Concubine Elara’s voice was provocative, excessively so to clench one’s teeth.

Zoe Bowen’s acting is really quite good!

"You’re solely focused on clearing your family’s name, disregarding the Emperor’s feelings entirely. How reckless!"

As she spoke, Concubine Elara deliberately moved her foot forward, stepping on Concubine Jean’s hand.

The script called for this action, though it didn’t require actual force.

Yet she applied pressure, and Anna Thornton could feel she intentionally increased the weight.

Raising her eyes to Concubine Elara, the latter swiftly slapped her in the face.

Anna Thornton’s face was turned to the side, stinging with pain!

"Sorry, Director. I think a real slap might be more effective here, don’t you think?"

She’d already done it for real; how else could the director feel?