The air seemed to freeze instantly, and a suffocating silence filled the surroundings. The moment Penny's voice faded, Leon and Vince were plunged into a deathly hush. In this ever - changing entertainment industry, any casual word could trigger a storm, and at this moment, Penny's question was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirring up layers of uneasy ripples.
Penny held her breath, her eyes locked firmly on Leon, filled with anticipation and curiosity. Her heart beat a little faster, as if she were waiting for an answer that would shake the world.
The night was as still as water. The street lamps in the villa area lit up one by one, and the warm, orange - colored light spilled softly onto the ground, yet it couldn't dispel the tension and confusion in everyone's hearts.
Sophie, too, was on the side, nervously huddled up, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Leon. Her heart was a jumble of emotions, filled with the worry of being given away and the anticipation of knowing Leon's true feelings. She was well aware that in this strange and fantastical world, her fate was as precarious as a candle in the wind, constantly swaying.
"The fifth task." The system's cold voice abruptly rang out in Sophie's mind, shattering her inner turmoil.
"What?" Sophie snapped back to reality, her voice tinged with a hint of panic.
"Act coquettishly towards Leon and make him change his words to say that he likes you and won't give you away." The system's tone was completely flat, as if it were merely stating something as ordinary as the weather.
Sophie was instantly stunned, her mind going blank. Acting coquettishly wasn't a problem for her, but getting the always - aloof Leon to say he liked her seemed almost impossible. Leon was known for his coldness and taciturnity in the entertainment industry. Every expression and every word of his seemed to carry a sense of distance that kept people at bay.
"Are you kidding me?" Sophie couldn't help but ask, her voice filled with doubt and helplessness.
"Two points." The system replied briefly, as if reminding Sophie of the value of this task.
Sophie took a deep breath and pondered inwardly. Two points. In her long journey to earn a hundred points and turn back into a human, this was undoubtedly a significant gain. Despite the numerous difficulties, in order to return to her human form and the familiar world, she decided to take a bold leap.
She raised her head and looked at Leon in Penny's arms. A surge of inexplicable courage welled up in her heart. She stretched out her little paw and gently rubbed it against Penny's palm, then looked at Leon with her big, watery eyes, full of pitifulness.
Penny's heart melted at Sophie's cute appearance. She looked down at Sophie, her face beaming with a doting smile. "Is it okay?" She turned to Leon, her eyes tinged with a bit of teasing.
Leon was slightly startled, and his gaze landed on Sophie. For a moment, a trace of tenderness that was barely noticeable flashed in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared, and his usual coldness returned. "Why should I give it to you?" His voice was low and calm, making it impossible to fathom his true thoughts.
"You yourself said you don't like this cat. Why can't you give it to me?" Penny retorted indignantly, her tone carrying a hint of coquetry.
"However much I don't like it, it's still my cat." Leon said softly, his eyes never leaving Sophie.
Seeing this, Sophie's heart skipped a beat. She continued to meow softly, her voice getting smaller and smaller, like that of a helpless kitten. As she meowed, she tried hard to stretch out her paw to reach Leon.
Leon's eyes finally showed a glimmer of hesitation. He took a step forward, stretched out his hand, and said softly, "Give me the cat."
But Penny playfully turned around and refused to hand Sophie over. "You don't like cats, do you? Why do you still want it?" She asked with a smile.
"I didn't say I don't like it." Leon's voice rose slightly, his tone firm and beyond doubt
Hearing this, Sophie was overjoyed. She meowed even more vigorously and stuck out her tongue to lick Leon's finger, trying to express her dependence on him in her own way.
Leon looked at Sophie, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a faint smile that was hard to detect. He gently stroked Sophie's head and said, "Okay, stop making a fuss."
Just then, the system's voice rang out again in Sophie's mind: "Task completed."
Sophie was so delighted that she almost jumped up. She never expected that this seemingly impossible task could be completed so smoothly.
"Really?" She asked in surprise.
"Yeah, congratulations." The system's voice was still plain, but Sophie could detect a hint of relief.
Before Sophie could revel in her joy for long, Penny, who was sitting on the sofa, suddenly let out a scream: "Leon, there's a revelation about you on the Internet."
Leon's face changed slightly, and a glint of vigilance flashed in his eyes. In this era of information explosion, any small incident in the entertainment industry could be magnified infinitely and become the focus of public attention. For a top - tier star like him, every negative piece of news could have a huge impact on his career and image.
"It's not an ordinary revelation." Penny's voice was tinged with anxiety. She held up her phone, and the content on the screen made her face turn extremely ugly.
"What is it?" Leon and Vince put down their teacups simultaneously, their eyes fixed intently on Penny.
"There are rumors on the Internet that you had an affair with a fan." Penny said each word slowly, her voice filled with shock and disbelief.
Leon's face instantly turned livid, and his fists clenched involuntarily. He knew only too well what kind of trouble this rumor would bring if it spread. In the cut - throat entertainment industry, reputation was everything. Once it was damaged, one might face the risk of being discarded by the market.
"Do you believe it?" Leon asked coldly, his voice laced with anger.
"Of course not." Penny replied hastily. She turned to Vince, seeking his agreement.
Vince frowned and pondered for a moment before saying, "Are the photos on the Internet of you and your sister?"
Leon's heart jolted. He suddenly remembered the time when he and his sister were secretly photographed while out. His face became even uglier. He knew that if the photos were exposed, it would not only affect him but also implicate his sister.
"Give me the phone." Leon stretched out his hand, his tone urgent.
Penny quickly handed over the phone. Leon took it and looked at the photo on the screen. The anger in his heart burned even more fiercely. It was indeed a photo of him and his sister. Although there were no intimate actions between them in the photo, at this sensitive time, any photo could be exploited by those with ulterior motives.
"I have to deal with this immediately." Leon said as he stood up, ready to leave.
"I'll help you contact the public relations department." Vince also stood up, his eyes revealing a firm look. As Leon's friend and business partner, he was well aware that at this critical moment, they had to work together to weather this storm.
Leon looked at Vince gratefully and said, "Thank you."
Just as Leon was about to leave, Sophie suddenly meowed. Her heart was filled with worry. She knew that Leon was under great pressure at this moment, but there was nothing she could do to help.
Leon stopped in his tracks and looked back at Sophie. A glimmer of tenderness flashed in his eyes. He walked over to Sophie, gently stroked her head, and said, "It's okay. Don't worry."
Sophie looked at Leon, and a warm current surged in her heart. She knew that no matter what happened, Leon would face it bravely. And she, too, would continue to accompany him in this fantastical and adventurous world, going through every difficulty together.