Hello Anni

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Could you drop some reviews? It helps to get this fic a rating.

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"Familiar ceiling"

Awakening from a deep slumber, Annika found herself enveloped in pain, as though an elephant had just trampled all over her body. She lay there in a daze, her gaze fixed on the severely moldy ceiling above as if her thoughts couldn't find their way back.

"Annie, are you awake?"

A beautiful blonde girl poked her head into view, evidently watching over her for a while.

"Sa, Sally?"

It took her a moment to recall her name.

"It's me"

Sally didn't seem surprised by Annika's memory lapse. She spoke with cautious honesty.

"Don't move, You scared me last night. I had no idea you had sleepwalking issues before?"

"Sleepwalking?"

Annika responded, "Are you kidding me?"

Unable to connect the unusual symptom of sleepwalking to herself.

"Yes" Sally affirmed.

"Last night, around midnight, you suddenly sat up, wearing your pajamas, and walked outside. I tried to pull you back, but I couldn't stop you. Thankfully, Mr. Director was nearby, and he assisted me in getting you back after a considerable effort... How are you feeling now?"

"How about it?"

Annika thought, a bit dazed. It was understandable that her body ached and she felt fatigued after wandering due to sleepwalking the previous night. However, the idea of herself sleepwalking was still difficult to grasp.

Annika struggled to remember but was gently held down by Sally.

"Don't move, You looked possessed last night. You should take a break. Mr. Director mentioned he would allow you some rest this morning. He said he'd take some shots without makeup, using a long-range lens."

"Alright."

Annika obediently lay back down. It was then that her brain's response seemed to awaken.

Director?

Yes, I'm a special effects makeup artist in the film industry, currently working with a crew named "Wrong Turn." Although our director isn't particularly experienced, his standards for set design and makeup have been exceptionally high, adding to my recent stress.

Could this extreme stress be the reason for my sudden sleepwalking?

Curse it. Why couldn't this inexperienced director trouble the actors like other new directors?

Glancing at the fortunate blonde and blue-eyed girl who was watching her with concern, Annika's frustration continued to grow.

That's right.

In Annika's eyes, Sally, whose full name is Charlize Theron, was incredibly fortunate. Originally a minor supporting role, she unexpectedly rose to become the new lead actress due to the previous actress's sudden departure. This girl's beauty rivaled Elizabeth Taylor, and now she was the lead actress.

Director, don't you think about auditions at all? Even if you don't choose the best person, you could at least manipulate a few naive actresses into serving you for free a few times.

Annika had known the new director, Christian Booth, before all of this. Back then, Christian was just a set designer. The two had collaborated once or twice.

In Annika's view, Christian was a talented artist but a somewhat unscrupulous person. She'd witnessed Christian flirting with two girls simultaneously at a bar. From Annika's perspective as a mother with a few Puritan tendencies, it was truly disgraceful.

So, when Christian became the director and supported Charlize as the lead actress, Annika couldn't help but suspect some ulterior motives behind it.

This is Hollywood.

Here, countless actors and actresses are willing to do almost anything to secure a role, regardless of their gender or the director's gender or preferences.

However, after spending a few days on the set, Annika started to doubt her initial impressions.

Firstly, since Christian became the director, his behavior has drastically changed. He'd completely abandoned his previous inappropriate conduct, even quitting smoking and replacing alcohol with a peculiar-smelling Kvass. It was a complete transformation.

Secondly, Charlize, despite becoming the lead actress by chance, did not appear particularly close to the director. Although they seemed to be acquainted, the professional distance between them made Annika, an experienced observer, question whether they truly had a personal connection.

Afterward, two envious supporting actresses, Erica and Vivienne, spread rumors about the director and Charlize. Annika didn't believe it, though. Somehow, her relationship with Charlize improved significantly.

After a few conversations, she became even more convinced that Charlize hadn't obtained her role through improper means. Annika also concluded that Charlize was incredibly fortunate.

After all, an unknown actress, no matter how beautiful, didn't often leap from a supporting role to the lead, especially without remarkable acting skills.

Annika, although not an actress herself, had extensive experience on various sets, which gave her some insight. Charlize's performance, while slightly rigid, was generally acceptable for her age and surpassed the majority of inexperienced actors who only relied on looks. Annika remembered meeting a girl named Petunia on a low-budget set called "The Killer Orangutan." Petunia was beautiful, cheerful, and had charisma, but her acting skills...

If she didn't make an effort to improve, she'd be typecast as an extra forever.

"Annika? Annika!?"

Just as Annika started drifting into thoughts about Petunia's future, Charlize, her acquaintance's friend (which Annika didn't know), interrupted her.

"I need to get back to shooting. Are you okay?"

Annika glanced around. A large splatter of dark red paint adorned the wall not far away, and there was a container of fake teeth on the windowsill, looking eerily human.

Right, it's all part of the set and props for the shoot.

"Go ahead! I'll be fine."

She inwardly cursed the directive that prevented anyone in the cabin from moving the props and set arranged by the director, all in the name of convenience. Annika gave Charlize a reassuring thumbs-up. As Charlize left the room, Annika found herself getting bored once more.

"Forget it. Since I have some time, I might as well write in my diary. Plus, the psychologist insisted I keep one!"

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