Chapter 214 - Theron's Determination

From this perspective, even Laila had to admit that a few months of silence had made him smarter. But this result also made her cautious. There's a saying, how does it go again? "Evil people are not scary; it's when evil people are cultured."

Once he cleverly starts playing with schemes and plots, it means that there are now fewer opportunities to manipulate him than before.

"This isn't something to be happy about." Laila lightly tapped her desk while muttering to herself. Her face showed no signs of dejection or discouragement; instead, it was filled with determination and wisdom.

"Hopefully, this time he can keep it up for longer. Without his help, even the hype around the movie wouldn't be as interesting."

The initial storm caused by the rumors seemed to have fizzled out. Although people were still discussing Laila's "boyfriend," their attention had shifted far away.

Curious individuals, after delving into Zeni's background, discovered that there was such a genius in the forensic field, a character seemingly plucked out of a movie. Not only was his family full of doctors, but they also ran a private hospital. Even Zeni himself graduated from a top university at a young age and held a significant position in the forensic department. He had handled countless cases.

The more people dug, the more they found shining qualities about him. Some even exclaimed that his experiences could easily be turned into a Hollywood blockbuster.

As a result, Zeni unexpectedly gained popularity. A genius with a good family background, not to mention his handsome face. Knowing that such a person was considered a close friend by Laila, many felt pity for her. If she couldn't be interested in someone like him, what type of man would she like?

Unfortunately, even Laila herself didn't know the answer to this question. She just felt that this bizarre situation, aside from boosting the sales of CDs from her previous few films, hadn't brought her much else.

Alright, making some money could be considered a benefit. But in her view, the ratio of input to output was disproportionate. She felt like she was at a loss.

If she had known that her "relationship" could generate such a tremendous impact, she might have considered using it for publicity in her other films. Now that she had squandered the opportunity once, she wondered if it would have the same effect the next time she used it.

In the morning, after a discussion about the new film with several set designers, prop masters, and costume designers, Laila visited the training room.

Here, Roy, Zeni, and some newly signed artists with potential received various kinds of training. They covered everything from basic manners, and foundational skills, to acting, martial arts, vocals, and more. According to the artists' abilities, they were assigned specific training.

Originally, this place was set up for Roy when he joined. Laila had established it to help him quickly learn acting, as he had no prior experience. Unexpectedly, the teachers here had transformed Roy, turning him into a completely different person.

This reminded her of the trainee systems in some South Korean entertainment companies. They would gather individuals with potential from a young age and train them intensively. It was a mass-production approach to cultivating future idol artists. While it might seem stiff due to the bulk production, they did manage to find many talented individuals.

This was why Laila had decided to keep the training room and ensure that newly signed artists entering the company would receive relevant training.

Laila's main reason for coming was to see Theron, the female lead of her new movie. The three-month deadline hadn't arrived yet, and she didn't know the extent of Theron's progress in her training. If it wasn't due to a lack of effort on Theron's part, Laila might have been willing to give her some leeway.

Standing outside the training room, Laila saw Theron sweating profusely as she underwent vigorous exercises under the guidance of an instructor.

She looked as though she had just been pulled out of a pool, her hair dampened by sweat, and her clothes clinging to her body.

It was May now, and though the weather was getting warmer, it wasn't so hot that one would sweat so profusely, especially considering that there was a fan running in the training room. This indicated just how intense her training was.

"Alright, Theron, you can take a break now," the instructor clapped his hands, signaling for her to stop.

"No need, I can continue for a bit longer!" Theron insisted.

As the deadline for impressing Laila drew nearer, Theron was losing confidence in her abilities. Being the female lead, and not just a decorative role, held immense significance for her. She didn't want to let this opportunity slip away due to a momentary lapse in effort.

The instructor shook his head disapprovingly, guiding her aside. "The intensity of your practice is set based on what your body can handle. Exceeding that limit can cause harm to your body, and it might even be irreparable. Do you need to subject yourself to such severe consequences for a role?"

"I do!" Theron panted, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "I need this role. I have a feeling that it will change my life! Even if it leads to severe consequences later on, I don't care. I must get that role!"

The instructor sighed and shook his head. "I understand your thoughts, and I've tried to advise you before. Have you ever considered that after this period of intense training, your body is stretched to its limits? If you exert even a little more force, it might break like a taut string! Do you think I can't see that you've been practicing elsewhere too? Based on your current condition, I have to say that if you don't follow my instructions, your body might give out before you even secure the role."

"How could that happen?" Theron was stunned. She didn't mind enduring any consequences after obtaining and portraying the role. But if she collapsed before that, everything would be meaningless.

"So, take a good rest now and follow the training plan I've set for you!" Seeing her relax a bit, the instructor let out a sigh of relief. He pushed her to the side, allowing her to rest and rehydrate.

Just as Laila was about to quietly walk away, a voice called out to her.

"BOSS!"

Laila turned around and saw a petite redhead standing behind her.

"Susan, is there something you need?"

Laila recognized her. When Theron joined the company, she had recommended this friend of hers to become Theron's agent. Laila didn't mind; after all, signing one person or a bunch of people made no difference to her. If they lacked talent, she could just give them a title. She wasn't short of money, and helping them out could earn Theron's loyalty.