The ice and snow in the courtyard had not yet melted. A breeze swept through the treetops, carrying a few snowflakes down with it.
Pedro Langley walked through the door, wrapped in a chilliness, and took off his overcoat, handing it to Butler Loxley who came up to greet him.
"Master Pedro, there's been some new news about Miss Scott."
"What?"
The cold indifference in his eyes dissipated slightly as Pedro Langley unbuttoned his shirt collar and strode toward the living room.
Butler Loxley followed behind, saying, "Today, Master Johnson went to the film set and had a dispute with Miss Scott. She threw a boxed meal at his face."
Pedro paused slightly, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows, and asked with a frown, "Jesse Johnson?"
"Yes. He's now the assistant director of the set and is pursuing Lily Turner, who hired Miss Scott."
The Johnson Family and the Langley Family have a familial connection if you really delve into the relationships.
Pedro Langley's grandfather's surname was Johnson. Back then, Old Master Johnson was madly in love with Madam Langley. Since Madam Langley was the only daughter of the Langley Family, he willingly married into the Langley Family, and all their children took on the surname "Langley." In those days, marrying into the wife's family wasn't something to boast about, so Old Master Johnson had a severe fallout with his family, nearly leading to a complete severance of ties until relationships mended slightly in the grandchildren's generation.
In terms of seniority, Jesse Johnson would have to call Pedro Langley 'cousin.'
Pedro Langley had a vague impression of Jesse Johnson, a spendthrift, and didn't hold him in high regard.
"Also, Miss Scott just contacted me."
Butler Loxley instinctively took out his flip phone, displaying a message for Pedro Langley to see.
A single sentence, less than ten words.
Pedro Langley lowered his eyelids slightly, his eyelashes quivering as he stared at it for over ten seconds.
The simple words merely indicated being contacted by Butler Loxley, without any hint of asking for help.
Lifting his gaze, Pedro Langley looked at the figure on the stairs wiping the railing with a cloth, and abruptly called out, "Jack Carter."
"Yes!"
The young man, just in his early twenties, brightened at the sound, promptly responding. He jumped onto the handrail and slid down swiftly, dexterously landing on the ground in a leap.
His movement was agile and quick, like a gust of wind. In an instant, he bounced over to Pedro Langley's side, his expression jubilant and excitedly shouting, "Master Pedro!"
"Be careful not to fall," Butler Loxley reminded him with a smile.
Jack Carter beamed cheerfully, "No way, no way. I can even do a somersault."
Pedro Langley's glance flitted over the old flip phone in Butler Loxley's hand before he instructed Jack Carter, "Take Butler Loxley to get a new phone this afternoon, and teach him how to use social media apps."
"Uh, oh." Jack Carter was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure, standing upright and stating, "I guarantee it'll be done!"
"..."
Butler Loxley looked wordlessly at the old phone, pondering for a moment before a slight smile appeared on his face.
Hmm, since he had a younger master now, it seemed right to keep up with the times…
*
Film set.
Nora Scott sat on a small stool, idly browsing through popular news when she noticed a WeChat message and clicked on it to see a new friend request.
[God Z, I am Kieran Shawn, the editor-in-chief of CC Comics, may I chat with you?]
[I am your fan, and I really love your works.]
Zero is currently serializing comics on Weibo, without monetizing or accepting promotions. Many comics companies have tried to poach her.
Not many people can truly find her contact information.
Her gaze skimmed over it indifferently, Nora Scott paid it no mind and chose to exit.
At this moment, a phone call came in with the caller ID "Grandpa Loxley."
After a slight hesitation, Nora Scott answered the call.
"Grandpa Loxley."
"Miss Scott, are you busy?"
Butler Loxley's kind and amiable voice came from the other end.
"Not really."
"Still at the film set?"
"...Hmm."
With doubts in her mind, Nora Scott answered rather hesitantly.
"Good, I'll be passing by later, do you want me to bring you something to eat?"
"No need—"
Nora Scott wanted to refuse but was suddenly interrupted.
"Nora Scott!"
Raising her eyebrows, Nora Scott saw Lily Turner approaching with a hint of anger on her face, her gaze sharp like a cold blade, lacking any gentle demeanor.
This reaction was expected, and Nora Scott nonchalantly withdrew her gaze, continuing her phone conversation, "Grandpa Loxley, I have something to take care of here, I'll hang up first."
"Okay, I'll come see you later."
Seeing Lily Turner nearing, Nora Scott didn't have time for excuses, she simply said, "Alright."
Meanwhile—
In the living room, Butler Loxley noticed a gaze directed his way just as he hung up the phone.
Pedro Langley sat on the sofa, his elbow lazily propping up the armrest, the remote was being pressed absentmindedly by him, the TV channels flicking past without any catching his interest.
Butler Loxley stepped forward a few paces, speaking softly, "Master Pedro, Miss Scott got scolded."
Finally, the action of pressing the remote stopped.
*
Lily Turner walked with an air of briskness and as she stopped, a draft lifted, rustling the hair across Nora Scott's forehead.
Several staff members looked over, Lily Turner slightly turned her body, blocking their view, and looked down at Nora Scott from above.
"Nora Scott, you did it on purpose, didn't you?" Lily Turner lowered her voice, her tone aggressive.
"Are you talking about Jesse Johnson?"
Slightly tilting her head up, Nora Scott's gaze fell on Lily Turner's face. She seemed calm, yet it was as if her words had thorns, causing inexplicable anxiety.
Taking a deep breath, Lily Turner's hand clenched into a fist, her nails digging into her palm, her fingers pale, she restrained her anger and questioned, "You knew about Jesse Johnson and my relationship, so why did you have to strike?"
The incident happened when Lily Turner was called by the director to discuss the script. After receiving the news and rushing back, she almost lost her composure seeing Jesse Johnson's mess, even after it had been cleaned up.
She had calmed Jesse Johnson down, sent someone to take Jesse Johnson to a hotel to freshen up before finding time to confront Nora Scott and 'settle the score.'
"Ha."
A cold chuckle escaped her lips.
Putting her phone into her military coat pocket, Nora Scott stood up, taller than Lily Turner by half a head, and in an instant, her aura pressed down on Lily Turner.
Nora Scott curled her lips, the shadow of a faint smile on her face, her voice chilled, "Who are you?"
"I—"
Lily Turner opened her mouth but was cut off by Nora Scott, "I don't care what your relationship with him is."
Such blunt words made Lily Turner's face change colors, taking her a while to regain composure.
"Nora Scott, do you know who he is? Offending a no-status Bruno already got you banned in the industry! The Johnson Family isn't someone you can provoke! If you really offend him, your future path will be hard!" Lily Turner said, her temper spiking, nearly speaking through gritted teeth.
Tilting her head, Nora Scott let out a light laugh, juggling a bright orange tangerine in her hand, looking carefree and rebellious, "So?"
Her eyebrows were bold, her smile faint, both arrogant and proud, with a laid-back demeanor, clearly showing she wasn't afraid.
It's clear, she truly was unafraid.
Lily Turner was infuriated by her, her temper flaring up, and a sudden gust of cold wind made her shiver.
The breeze seemingly calmed Lily Turner, cooling her down.
She stared quietly at Nora Scott.
Over these past days, she couldn't say she knew Nora Scott well, but one thing she understood: Nora Scott doesn't submit to hard tactics.
Moreover, now she urgently needed Nora Scott's stabilization, and she was somewhat afraid Nora Scott would just abandon everything after offending Jesse Johnson...
Even though she was aggrieved, all she could do was bite the bullet and swallow her grievances, leaving any scores to settle afterwards.
"Honestly, he didn't do anything excessive to you, he was just joking. You overreacted, and went too far," Lily Turner said, her expression softening as she tried to reason, "I've already advised him. As long as you apologize, he can let this go."
"I, I'm not exactly a cultured person—"
When Nora Scott's elbow rested on Lily Turner's shoulder, Lily's body suddenly froze, clearly tense.
Nora Scott paused, leaning slightly closer to her, murmuring coolly next to her ear, each word full of arrogance and indulgence—
"He offends me, I offend him, that's called reasoning."