Chapter 37
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People gossiped that he was icy, arrogant, thought he was better than everyone else, and acted like a total diva during filming.
To make things worse, their company’s latest golden boy started spreading all sorts of nasty rumors about Darren, like how he was constantly hitting on the actresses on set.
Darren wasn’t great at standing up for himself or talking back, and he didn’t bother with office politics or networking. His agent and the PR team always sided with the new guy.
Thus, Darren got roasted all over the internet. Most of his opportunities ended up getting stolen by that guy.
But once people got to know him, they realized Darren was actually pretty straightforward and totally genuine. He had no hidden agendas at all.
He might look intimidating, but when he was upset, he’d just quietly brood by himself, like a clumsy dog nursing his wounds alone.
Alicia noticed Darren nervously clutching the hem of his shirt, looking totally on edge.
She reassured him, “Relax, I’ll look out for you p>
Darren finally loosened up a bit. “Alicia, I’m sticking with you from now on p>
Despite being older than Alicia, Darren felt like she was the one who made him feel secure.
He thought it was awesome how she could just clap back at all the drama online. It was something he wished he could do, but just didn’t have it in him. That was why he always respected Alicia.
Honestly, with the way Darren is, he was never the type to go for a reality show.
After all, reality shows meant nonstop socializing with other guests. Besides, this one was live, which was a whole different ball game from filming a drama.
But acting was his passion, and ever since he got dragged through the mud online, nobody wanted to offer him anything worth his time.
His old company tried to push him into some trashy romance drama and a sketchy product endorsement for a wannabe influencer brand. When he turned them down, they just iced him out completely.
Lucent Media reached out, promising him a shot at picking some top–notch scripts later on.
But the catch was, he had to go on this reality show first and wash off all the rumors and hate that had stuck to him p>
He wasn’t ready to leave showbiz yet, so he had to bite the bullet and go for it.
Good thing Alicia, his partner for the show, was really chill. They hit it off right away.
16:47 Sat, May 2
Chapter 35
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Otherwise, he was sure that going on the show would just make things worse for him, getting flamed event more instead of fixing his reputation.
After waiting in the lounge for almost half an hour, the show finally kicked off.
They could watch the live stream right there in the lounge.
The director’s voice came through the speakers. “And now, let’s welcome our first group of guests. Nicole and her friend, Felicity p>
As soon as he finished, two young women with flawless makeup walked into the frame.
Nicole had that delicate, vibrant charm. She was the group’s little ray of sunshine, always bringing warmth wherever she went.
She showed up in an impeccably styled sporty dress, looking radiant and full of youthful energy.
Felicity, meanwhile, was rocking the ice queen look. Her smoky gray dress and elegant, boss–lady vibe made her seem totally untouchable.
Both of them were seriously stunning, and as soon as they appeared, the live chat lit up with all kinds of praise.
Most of the hype was coming from Nicole’s fans.
CallMe: [Nicole looks so fresh and radiant today p>
Notsosoon: [She’s totally the sweet girl next door, so cheerful and bright p>
Icecoffee: [She honestly looks like she could still be a high school beauty p>
WWWAIT: [ Is this Nicole’s first time on a reality show? She looks even better on stream than she does in dramas! ]
Stawberry_drink: [Nicole, go! You rock p>
Every now and then, there was a stray comment hyping up Felicity, but those were totally drowned out by Nicole’s fans.
For any random viewer or fans of the other guests, the chat made it look like Nicole was the hottest thing on
screen.
But in reality, LUMIA was the top idol girl group right now, totally dominating the scene with way more fans and way more buzz.
Nicole’s popularity was basically boosted by smoke and mirrors. The audience had no clue what was really up.
Next up were Darren and Hannah. Their fans were cheering them on in the chat, but compared to Nicole’s army, their numbers were way smaller.
Their support was totally drowned out by Nicole’s fans.
16:47 Sat, May 2
Chapter 35
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Then the director’s voice got louder, full of excitement. “And now, let’s welcome our third group of guests. Nicolas and his friend, Maxwell p>
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.