Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

”How can they say that? It was mimniu that officially contacted us! What do they mean, stealing resources?” Julie was absolutely livid, her round face all scrunched up.

Walter Young’s expression wasn’t good either. ”Joanna, don’t say anything for now. I’ll discuss this with mimniu’s PR department.”

He was a top-tier agent, after all, far more comprehensive in his thinking than an assistant like Julie.

That little exposé was clearly prepared in advance. It was well-organized, highly leading, and with just a few casual sentences, it turned Joanna Kennedy into a public target.

Responding rashly would only make things worse.

Walter Young pulled out his phone and strode aside to make a call. Julie tried to fight back on a sock puppet account but got immediately flamed in return. She was so angry she nearly cracked her screen. When she turned, she saw Joanna Kennedy frowning.

She asked with concern, ”Jojo, what are you thinking? Those people are just talking nonsense, don’t pay them any mind...”

Julie’s worried voice brought Joanna Kennedy back to her senses. She shook her head. ”It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about what Walter said.”

’What Walter said?’

Julie thought back for a moment. Her eyes lit up, and just as she was about to speak, someone squeezed her arm.

At some point, Ivy Nash had walked over, her steps a little rushed, causing even the people who hadn’t left yet to look their way.

”Joanna, I just got my phone back. I’m so sorry. I’ll have someone pay to get this off the trending topics right away. I really am so sorry.”

Ivy Nash bit her lip, her voice full of apology. Her gentle, beautiful face was a picture of sincerity and innocence, making it truly hard to fault her.

Joanna Kennedy’s gaze swept over her gradually clenching fingers, the emotion in her eyes unreadable.

Seeing Joanna Kennedy remain silent, Ivy’s eyes grew a little red. ”Joanna, you don’t think I’m the one who did this, do you? I’m not desperate for an endorsement. There’s really... no reason for me to smear you like this.”

She didn’t deliberately lower her voice, so the surrounding celebrities and directors heard. Someone even came over to ask what was happening.

Ivy Nash shook her head without a word, still looking at Joanna Kennedy, her expression one of someone stubbornly holding back tears. It was as if Joanna had bullied her. For a moment, the onlookers’ gazes turned strange.

An A-list actress whose prospects were declining, and a rising star with a limitless future. ’Did she get a big head just from starring in a major director’s film?’

The private screening had just ended, and most people hadn’t left. Director Archer walked over with a frown. ”Jennings, what’s happened here?”

”Director Archer, it’s nothing.” Cutting in front of Ivy Nash, Joanna Kennedy said with a grin, ”Some online marketing accounts are trying to sow discord, and Serena is apologizing to me. I told her not to take it to heart, since it’s not Serena’s fault, after all.”

”Isn’t that right, Serena?”

With a couple of lighthearted sentences, Ivy Nash was framed as the one primarily responsible, while Joanna Kennedy came across as magnanimous and unbothered, even thoughtfully comforting Ivy Nash.

Ivy Nash was struck speechless for a moment. Her excellent control over her expression kept her from faltering. She forced a smile and could only reply, ”Yes, that’s right.”

”All right, you young people can sort out your own affairs. Marketing accounts are full of smoke and mirrors; we’ve all been through it. Don’t mind them.”

After Director Archer said his piece, he went back to chatting with the other directors. The rest of the onlookers, no longer interested, also looked away.

After all, in the entertainment industry, incidents like this were a dime a dozen. There was a good show starting every minute of every day.

Seeing that she had lost her audience, Ivy Nash said a few more words before leaving in a hurry. The moment she turned away, a flash of resentment crossed her face.

Joanna Kennedy took it all in and chuckled softly. Meeting Julie’s confused gaze, she whispered, ”Tell Walter to hold off on the PR.”

”Huh? Why?”

Meeting Julie’s baffled expression, Joanna Kennedy gave a mischievous wink. ”Let the bullets fly a little longer~”

Julie: ”...”

For some reason, she had a bad feeling about this.

At Starlight Entertainment, Ivy Nash’s gentle and beautiful face was a mask of cold indifference. A promotional video was playing on the laptop screen in front of her.

In the video, a bright, beautiful young woman wore a pale pink trench coat that revealed a sliver of her fair calves. The fresh, artistic, and youthful vibe she exuded was truly a sight to behold.

A white tracksuit, a mustard-colored knit sweater—the girl brought a different feeling to every outfit, her aura unique, her smile radiant.

With a sharp SNAP, the laptop was slammed shut. The fingers gripping it were pressed so hard the tips turned red.

Her agent, standing beside her, frowned. ”Serena, Joanna Kennedy is starring in Conor Archer’s movie. Her future is limitless. Why don’t you just let her have this one?”

”Let her have it?” Ivy Nash sneered. ”Linda, haven’t you seen how they’re mocking me online? Just now, when we were leaving the screening, that bitch Vivian Bishop was sneering that I couldn’t even beat Joanna Kennedy when I was trying my hardest!”

She had been dead set on getting the mimniu endorsement, which was why she’d worn their clothes in public so many times. She’d even paid for the press releases already, but then...

”Ha! Now I’m a laughingstock, and Joanna Kennedy is basking in the glory!” Ivy Nash seethed, her gentle features twisting with rage.

Linda Olsen had been her agent for years and knew her temperament. She sighed and advised, ”We still haven’t figured out Joanna Kennedy’s background. You already had someone release that hit piece, but whatever you do, don’t make any more rash moves.”

”What’s there to figure out? She just has a sugar daddy, right? Leila Lawson from mimniu?” Ivy Nash scoffed. ”Linda, you know as well as I do that resources in this industry are limited. Joanna Kennedy is on the rise. This time, she just stole a luxury endorsement from me. What about next time? Am I going to have to play a supporting role in her movie?!”

Linda Olsen’s expression was hesitant.

Ivy Nash took a deep breath and continued, ”Everyone says Joanna Kennedy has a backer. But Linda, look at this time. She’s getting flamed so badly online. If she really had some so-called backer, they would’ve gotten her off the trending topics by now.”

’The last few times, it was probably Fullstar’s PR team stepping in. If Starlight went up against Fullstar, they wouldn’t necessarily lose.’

’As Ivy Nash’s agent, she could only make more money if Ivy did well.’

Linda Olsen gritted her teeth and made up her mind. ”Fine. I’ll get in touch with Tanya Quinn’s studio. You are not to contact any marketing accounts or major fan leaders on your own.”

Seeing Linda Olsen give in, Ivy Nash’s expression softened slightly. ”Thank you, Linda.”

While a storm raged online, inside the villa, Joanna Kennedy was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, knitting a sweater while following a tutorial. Her expression was as serious as if she were solving a math problem.

Across from her, Sean Grant was holding a small kitten in one arm and a large apple in the other, which he was eating with loud CRUNCHES. ”Seriously, sis, how can you be so calm? Are you sure you don’t want me to step in?”

”Simon’s not in Aethelburg, so I have to take care of you. Otherwise, he’ll beat me up when he gets back.”

”Thank you, Boss Grant, but there’s no need, Boss Grant.” Joanna Kennedy didn’t even look up, her demeanor perfectly calm.

Sean Grant: ”...”

A scarf was a bit easier to knit than gloves. Joanna Kennedy finally finished the cast-on row, twisting her sore neck. Her eyes met Sean Grant’s wounded little stare, and she blurted out, ”You’re still here?”