"CUT!" The director's shout echoes, signaling the end of the day's filming for the 'You Are My Destiny' crew.
"Director!" Victoria approaches cautiously. "How is the person who saved me doing?"
Due to the shooting schedule, she hasn't been able to check on him right away and had to wait until the end to inquire.
"The one who got bitten by the dog?" The director thinks for a moment. "I think the staff took him to the medical room."
He speaks casually before walking away. The director has a lot on his plate; a cameraman with non-lethal injury isn't his priority. If it weren't for the backing of a big company, even the time it took to utter that sentence would be considered generous.
Victoria quickly finds a staff member in the crew but is told that the cameraman hasn't been escorted by them. Other crew members also state that the cameraman is a new face and not recognized by anyone.
"Victoria, let's go," her agent soothes from the side. "Maybe in a couple of days, when he's better, you'll see him."
Victoria nods, accepting that there's nothing more she can do for now.
Elsewhere, in the medical room...
"One, two... ah!" A scream echoes through the room.
"Doctor, you counted to two and then injected me—that's not a decent play!" Sebastian grumbles, holding his arm and looking indignant.
There are two things he fears most in life: moral coercion and injections. The doctor's surprise attack has worsened his impression of needles.
"Young man, you still have four more shots to go!" the doctor reminds as he packs up his equipment.
"Well, then please kindly allow me to take my words back. I am actually fully appreciated for your hard work, doctor!" Sebastian responds with a smile as bright as summer blooms.
Yes, being able to switch faces is an essential skill for an excellent businessman. Especially when facing the person who is in charge of the needles.
Soon, he walks out of the clinic with Patrick's company.
"Why didn't you take the opportunity to play the victim?" Patrick murmurs. "Maybe Victoria would have softened and agreed."
"I hate moral coercion and don't like doing it to others," Sebastian frowns, reiterating his point. "Business is business. When it involves emotions, what's the difference between that and hooliganism?"
"What if others play dirty with you?" Patrick worries his friend is too honest. "Isn't business competition always full of schemes and plots?"
Sebastian looks at him with a slightly surprised expression. He hadn't expected his smart friend's mindset to change completely from a fairytale world to the harsh reality of business so soon.
"Say something!" Patrick urges, concerned that a businessman who's too honest will eventually suffer. He recalls how an uncle, once worth billions, tried helping poor relatives by leaking core operational secrets, only to have those relatives turn around and sell the information to a competitor. Within a year, his uncle's business collapsed. Such a vivid example happened in front of him and he doesn't want Sebastian to make the same mistakes.
Sebastian pauses for a moment, looking into Patrick's sincere eyes. After a few seconds, he breaks into a radiant smile and says, "Don't worry, I'm not a good person…"
"No, wait, I am a good person, but not the kind you're thinking of…"
"Rest assured, your secret that you're not a good person is safe with me," Patrick replies with a twinkle in his eye and a smile. "But about Victoria…"
He has seen Victoria a few times on set and always felt that she's not someone whose determination can be easily swayed by others.
"I have a plan, don't worry," Sebastian assures with a smile. "Nothing in this world is too difficult for a willing heart!"
"What's the plan?" Patrick asks, still uncertain.
"Sincerity!" Sebastian replies, revealing a bright smile.
"What?"
Three days later, after receiving his second vaccine shot, Sebastian visits the 'You Are My Destiny' set during a break in filming.
"Victoria, you have a coffee truck support at the entrance," her agent informs her.
"Really?" Victoria's eyes light up with joy.
"Looks like Victoria is really getting popular!" Cathy laughs. The coffee truck is a form of support in the entertainment industry, indicating that Victoria is gaining fame.
"It's still early days!" Victoria says modestly, but the joy in her eyes is nearly overflowing.
"Let's go check it out," the male lead suggests. "I'm quite thirsty!"
It's break time, and news of the support truck spreads quickly.
They walk out to see a cart across the street with a huge poster of Victoria and a selection of coffee below. A young man is pushing the cart.
"Patrick Anchor?" Cathy looks puzzled. "When did he become a fan of Victoria?"
The crew is somewhat familiar with this amiable newcomer cameraman, especially since he has received special 'attention' on set.
"What's going on?" Victoria looks and recognizes a familiar face. And then... The sound of a horn blares as a large truck passes by. A figure appears across the street. The young man is dressed in a light gray shirt, wearing sunglasses, smiling faintly, and holding a huge bouquet of tulips.
The group senses something different.
"This isn't the same guy from the other day, is it?" Cathy starts to say but glances at Victoria, the support truck, and the man with flowers, and a look of realization dawns on her face.
She understands—it's a suitor.
Who hasn't been pursued when they were young?
With a knowing look, she suppresses a laugh and crosses the street. When Cathy moves, everyone else follows.
Biting her lower lip in resignation, Victoria follows suit.
"Congratulations, Vicky, on your new drama's ratings being in the top three nationally!" Sebastian takes off his glasses, hands over the tulips with a beaming smile.
Victoria doesn't reach for them.
Sebastian gestures subtly at the 'audience' beside him.
Victoria accepts the flowers, whispering, "Thank you!"
"Feel free to enjoy the coffee, everyone," Sebastian says cheerfully. "Please continue to look after Victoria on set!"
"Sure, don't worry."
"Definitely."
The group gathers around the support truck, enjoying snacks and coffee.
As Victoria breathes a sigh of relief, her beautiful eyes flare with a mix of fierceness and annoyance. "What are you trying to do?"
"Give me a moment to introduce the product," Sebastian says earnestly. "Vicky can also state her terms. There's nothing in this world that can't be negotiated."
"There is now."
"Which is?"
"Thank you for the flowers, but I don't need them." Victoria pushes the bouquet into Sebastian's arms and turns to leave with poise.
"Wow, she really knows how to reject someone!" The onlookers grin.
It's only natural for a newcomer like Victoria to refuse suitors.
Cathy looks indifferent.
Was that a graceful rejection?
I was even more graceful when I turned down suitors back in the day.
Quickly, her gaze softens as she notices Sebastian standing still, looking stunned. The poor kid looks nice and clean, a decent height and well-spoken, a sentimentalist at heart, surely devastated by the rejection.
What a pity…
"What's going on?" Sebastian is dumbfounded as he watches Victoria leave decisively.
Hadn't Patrick said that young singers these days are the happiest when they receive a support truck?
But looking at Victoria, it seems like she's even more upset…