Chapter 119

David returned to his office and smoked three cigarettes before finally dialing Winnie's number. "The lawyers contacted me, and I also spoke with Alan. He's decided to let you go. But let me ask you, were you and your boyfriend photographed?" he asked tentatively. Winnie had seen the trending news, but she wasn't panicked. In fact, she responded with a hint of sarcasm, "I'm not sure." Her tone carried a sense of composure, as if she were waiting to see how the situation would unfold—whether there would be more leaks or if other names would be dragged into it. "The company has made its decision. They won't handle PR in advance," David said. "Well, that works for me. I'm used to it," Winnie replied calmly. "Winnie..." David tried to say something else. "Don't do this, David. We can still be friends. We can even keep in touch during the holidays," Winnie said slowly. "I wish you all the best." At six o'clock in the evening, the trending list updated. At the same time, another piece of news entered the trending topics—The Celestial Excellence Film Festival's nomination list, with the award ceremony scheduled for the next day. Winnie wasn't nominated, but she was invited to attend as a presenter. For the event, Anne had specially chosen a red gown for her, making her look exceptionally elegant and regal. After hanging up the phone, Winnie high-fived Wendy, then returned to the couch and began organizing her endorsements and film projects. "Still, let's not celebrate too early. If the trending news is really about me, the 50 million we saved might go down the drain," Winnie said with a slight smile. Her tone was more of a reminder than anything, and though it had a hint of caution, she didn't seem worried. Wendy, however, appeared even more composed. "I think it's probably Mia and Wyatt." "Why?" Winnie asked. "Because although Wyatt's media group is powerful, he does have competitors. This marketing account is probably being operated by one of his rivals," Wendy said with a sly smile. "Whoever leaked it is definitely a smart person." Winnie chuckled lightly. "I hope so." The two of them were immersed in the blueprint of their new venture and had no time to check their phones. It wasn't until Van asked her if she wanted to see the pony that she realized she hadn't received a response in three days. Four days passed. The pony, which had been happily hopping around the grass, grew quieter as the atmosphere became heavier, as if it sensed the unrest in the air. Van waited for ten minutes, and seeing no movement, switched from SnapChat to calling the president's office of MARS. A cold voice answered on the other end. "Who was originally planning to attend the film festival?" MARS originally had hundreds of people, and the work was always very easy and relaxed. However, when the young master started staying at the company in person, although not intervening in specific matters, everyone from the CEO to the janitor felt a little nervous. Kim, the CEO of MARS, was a seasoned business veteran who knew how to read the room and operate discreetly. This time, he decided to make a big move at the end of the year, aiming to leave an impression on the board and the young master, showing that the company was not to be overlooked. "We've been too low-key for too long. We're still one of the top ten in the Los Angeles real estate market..." "Kim, isn't 'top ten' a bit outdated?" "...Anyway, we're definitely going to secure the sponsorship for the Celestial Excellence Awards." According to the sponsorship plan for the Celestial Excellence Awards, the sponsor's logo will appear on the celebrity autograph boards, be displayed during the live broadcast via face recognition, and will also be featured in the host's announcements, red carpet introductions, and awards presentations. This project didn't require approval from the group, and Kim hadn't brought it up in any formal setting. He planned to follow the procedure, report to higher-ups after the event was successfully completed. However, he didn't expect the young master to show such a keen interest in the matter. "The organizers require us to send a representative, someone has to go in name, but no one dares to volunteer. How about I go?" he said this with a somewhat casual tone, almost dismissive. "What time tomorrow?" Van asked directly. "The red carpet live broadcast starts at 3 PM, and the awards ceremony is at 8 PM." "I'll go." "Seriouly? Van, you don't need to attend in person. Our sponsorship level doesn't require your presence. It'll be too long and a waste of your time!" "It's not a waste," Van answered coldly. "Send the event details to Cassy. She'll handle the arrangements." Cassy was his executive assistant in the board office, responsible for handling routine administrative tasks, while Eric managed social engagements and personal matters. After the call ended, Kim looked at the newly ordered suit in the mirror, feeling somewhat helpless. He had expedited the order for this event, only for the young master to be so dedicated. Nearby, Rich stopped and rolled over, seemingly trying to win Kim's favor. Van stood by, expressionless, watching the display. He extended a finger and gently tapped Rich on the forehead. "You're wasting your efforts. No one likes you, you understand?" Rich drooped, his head lowering as he followed the handler out. Nearly an hour later, Winnie finally had the chance to check her phone. She didn't ignore her sponsor's SnapChat message and responded appropriately, "I've been really busy lately, but since Rich is in your care, I'm not worried. Thank you so much." When Van saw the message, his eyes narrowed, and he couldn't help but recall who had dirtied the mirror in his bedroom a few days ago, but he chose to remain silent. "What's wrong?" Van's expression was still cold. "Cassy sent over the event schedule, but there are some minor issues." Van picked up a warm towel from the side and leisurely wiped his hands. "What happened?" "The sponsors need to walk the red carpet and be award presenters. The event will be broadcast nationwide, so..." Van rarely appeared in the media. High-level events were usually handled by the chairman of the board, while other events were managed by the company's senior executives and spokespersons. Such a grand occasion didn't align with his style. "Use Kim's name," Van said coldly. "He'll go in name only." "What about Rich?" he asked. "He's done playing." "Send it to Winnie's place." Eric didn't reply. "Isn't she busy? Send it over for a quick visit, and bring it back after it has spent some time playing." "You're personally sending it?" Eric suddenly felt a bit relieved. It was a smart move, implying that Van wanted to repair his relationship with Winnie. This action might break the deadlock. Van shot him a cold glance. "I don't have time. I'm busy too." Eric: "..." After a while, Rich sat obediently in the truck, finally arriving at Winnie's home. As the car door opened, the handler led Rich into the yard, the sound of the horse's hooves ringing out clearly on the blue brick courtyard. The moment Winnie saw the pony, she crouched down and hugged it, her heart racing, but she hesitated to look at the person in the driver's seat. After quite a while, no one got out of the car. Instead, it turned around and parked under the peach blossom tree outside the yard. "Mr. Marlowe, he...?" Winnie asked softly. "Oh," the handler replied, "He said he's busy and didn't have time." Winnie paused for a moment.