Chapter 15

The music video for "Girl on the Ruins" was taking the music world by storm. Not only because of its exquisite cinematography, but also its intricate fantasy city design and deep humanistic reflections. Many music-related media outlets were astonished by the video. Music channels on television played it repeatedly, as no one expected such a stylish and profound music video.

The TV host, after playing the video, said to the camera, "If we must talk about the hottest topic in the music world recently, it has to be Sinéad's new music video. The dazzling visual effects alone are breathtaking."

"Dreamlike, luxurious, with a layer of grayish-green decay, it's like watching a movie."

"Although the music video has few dialogues, the story is easy to understand."

"This is definitely a brain-blasting story film!"

"It evokes a sense of apocalypse and human reflection that rivals any movie."

"The intellectual value of this music video is extremely high!"

Various music magazines also turned their attention to this music video. Although one or two music videos of exceptional quality and movie-level production pop up every so often in the Western music world, "Girl on the Ruins" stood out.

In terms of sentiment, technology, and special effects, it was the pinnacle of music videos. "Irish Music Wind" featured Sinéad's album on the cover and dedicated an entire page to it, titling it the Best Music Video of the Year.

"This music video was directed by a newcomer, proving that the younger generation is surpassing the old."

"Sinéad is clearly aiming for the Grammys this time, and this newcomer director has a promising future ahead!"

As a national-level singer, Sinéad's fans started discussing the single and music video on various music websites after watching it. One netizen searched for Eva Cody's photos and information online but found nothing. They finally posted, "Who is Eva Cody?"

A bunch of random replies followed, but no one could clearly say who she was. Suddenly, a reply popped up, "She is a student at our school, a real beauty!"

A flurry of requests for photos ensued, but the truth remained elusive.

With the music video's popularity, it wasn't just Eva who was in the spotlight. The video's lead actress, Arsha, also rose to fame. Her stunning portrayal, captured beautifully in the video, captivated everyone. Many companies reached out to Arsha, offering her contracts.

"Oh! That actress, Arsha, is so beautiful, like an angel. I can't get her image out of my mind!"

"The director did an excellent job. This director knows how to film women."

"So, who is this director? I'm really curious. Eva Cody, never heard of her."

The single's popularity soared, surpassing everything else that summer. This led to skyrocketing sales of the album and music video views.

Sinéad's amazing song, Arsha's ethereal beauty, Eva's impeccable filming techniques, and the profound human reflections—all contributed to the song's immense popularity across Europe and America. Sinéad, already a well-known Grammy-winning singer, saw her new single achieve phenomenal success upon release.

Despite the song being the primary focus, people primarily discussed Sinéad when talking about the music video, often asking her why she chose to create such a video and what she aimed to express. The credit for the music video was generally attributed to the singer herself.

This was understandable; in the world of music videos, the glory typically went to the singer, unlike films where directors were recognized as the masterminds. As "Girl on the Ruins" gained traction, media outlets interviewed Sinéad, asking about her inspiration for the music video.

Eva and Arsha did receive some attention, but it was secondary to Sinéad's. For Eva, however, it didn't matter. Her work being appreciated was an achievement in itself.

Sinéad, in her interviews, always mentioned Eva, crediting her talent for making the year's most talked-about music video. Nonetheless, the public still had little concept of Eva Cody. Beyond this music video, her resume was blank—no Wikipedia entry, and few even knew her appearance.

Meanwhile, Eva finally got her IMDb page, slowly gaining viewership, and some started leaving praises. Compared to other directors, it was a drop in the ocean, but it was a start.

At school, however, Eva was a sensation. Her peers might not know who Eva Cody was, but her classmates certainly did.

"Hey, look, that's Eva Cody, the director of Sinéad's new music video!"

"OMG, I can't believe she's just a freshman, three years younger than me!"

"I heard Arsha from the drama department is her friend."

"I'm so jealous; I wish I could be friends with Eva Cody."

Every time a teacher entered Eva's classroom, they would first call her out, ostensibly to ask questions, but mainly to see this rumored girl.

No one expected their school to have such a talented student.

From an industry perspective, Eva's music video was already impressive.

Recently, Arsha and Eva couldn't go anywhere without catching the eyes of their classmates, which made Arsha uncomfortable.

Eva consoled her, "Don't be upset. Being noticed means good things are coming your way. You're an actress; it's normal to be in the spotlight."

Arsha laughed, "What good things? But people say the music video is charming. Do you think I should show it to my idol?"

Eva poked her cheek, "Your idol? Kristen Stewart?"

Arsha nodded eagerly, "Yes! But my goddess is probably too busy with 'Twilight' to watch my music video."

Eva suggested, "You could try tagging her on Facebook, tell her you admire her and hope she'll watch your video."

Arsha first smiled excitedly, "Good idea!" but then hesitated, "But I'm shy… It feels narcissistic. I just want her to see it, not for praise."

Eva patted Arsha's shoulder, "Come on! With such a small courage, how will you ever chase your goddess? Fine, I'll tag her for you."

That evening, Eva logged into Facebook and composed a message.

"Kristen, my friend and I recently completed a project. I directed a music video, and she starred in it. We are both thrilled. Today, she told me her greatest wish is for you to see this video. So I thought I'd try, hoping you'll watch it. @Kristen Stewart"

Eva attached a YouTube link to the video, as Sinéad had an agreement with YouTube to stream the music video for free for three days for promotion.

After posting, Eva shut down her computer and went to bed.

But just as she lay down, her phone chimed.

She checked it—Facebook notification.

System notification: Kristen Stewart has followed you!