Chapter 257 - 255: Who Says a Pure Little White Flower Can’t Have Ambition?

Lily Sterling really hated being addressed as "Teacher."

She’d only been in the business for six months; being called "Teacher" felt really awkward.

Sensing the earnestness in Lily’s tone, Yuri Tucker replied, "Alright. It’s just a habit."

As he spoke, he got into the vehicle and sat across from Lily, his curious gaze sweeping over the RV’s interior. "This is my first time inside an RV. I’ve only ever seen them on video apps, you know, people traveling in them. I was always pretty envious."

"Ms. Ster—" Yuri reflexively started to call her that again but quickly corrected himself. "Lily, did the company provide this for you? I saw that Ms. Smithson and Ms. Hayes each have one."

Lily Sterling didn’t deny it, simply nodding.

"That’s great. I wonder when a company will sign me so I can become a real actor."

"I’m sure it’ll happen. Maybe a company will sign you right after you finish this film," Lily said.

Speaking of contracts, Lily couldn’t help but ask, "By the way, have you signed the contract with the production team? How’s the pay?"

"I signed it. And the pay is incredible—a whopping one hundred and fifty thousand! It really pays to be a leading man. I couldn’t make that much in a year of being an extra," Yuri Tucker said excitedly.

For someone who could only get sporadic work as an extra, suddenly receiving a salary of one hundred fifty thousand definitely seemed like a lot.

But Lily knew that Xavier Hearst, who had bailed on the film at the last minute, was slated to receive a salary of five hundred thousand. For Yuri, that fifty had turned into a fifteen—the numbers practically reversed.

But it was only natural for a newcomer’s salary to be reduced, so Lily couldn’t say much about it.

’At least Yuri himself is satisfied, and that’s enough. Happiness comes from contentment, after all. Saying too much would only ruin his precious state of mind.’

The two chatted as they ate. Lily asked him about many things she was curious about, and Yuri Tucker was quite the talker, proactively expanding on her questions with all sorts of other tidbits of knowledge.

After a while, Yuri suddenly asked her in return, "Lily, why did you suddenly decide to take a role in this movie?"

The question took Lily by surprise. "Why not?"

Yuri thought for a moment before saying slowly, "That show you were in before, *Heavenly Destiny as Phoenix*, is a huge S-tier IP. It’s guaranteed to be a hit when it airs. And even before the show has aired, you’ve already been a trending topic several times. You’ve already started to make a name for yourself. Logically, shouldn’t you be riding that wave of success and choosing another script with a lot of potential?"

"I’m not saying our movie’s script is bad, but I don’t think many other actresses would have chosen it. The subject matter and its potential box office performance aren’t what the market wants. Don’t most actors nowadays care a lot about the market?"

Lily understood what he was trying to say. He thought she should continue shooting popular dramas to build up her fame.

Choosing this script now meant she would likely take a beating from the market, and because it would tie her up for a few months, she might lose the popularity she had already accumulated.

After all, the entertainment industry, especially for actresses, cycles through talent incredibly fast. One wrong move and you could disappear.

"I just wanted to play this role." Lily was very forthright, looking at Yuri seriously as she said, "I’ve never thought that I have to be super famous or have a huge following. That’s not why I got into this business."

"What I love is acting itself. As long as the script and the character are good, that’s enough. My company gave me seven scripts to choose from, and some of them were the kind you mentioned, the ones favored by the market. But none of them appealed to me like this one did. I want to play her."

She had even wanted to find and talk to the real person her character was based on, but she eventually gave up on the idea.

’Ripping open someone else’s scars just to perfect my own performance... that’s too cruel. I can’t do it.’

"If you don’t care about being famous or having a large following, do you have any other goals? Or is just playing your roles well your only goal?" Yuri asked.

Lily Sterling didn’t have to think long. She answered bluntly, "If we’re talking about goals, then I want to win awards!"

As she said this, Lily’s eyes shone with a particular brightness.

Who says an innocent-looking girl can’t have ambitions?

Her ambition was greater than anyone’s. She wanted to win every award there was with her performances. She wanted to go down in film history as a legendary actress.

’It’s just that I know I’m not there yet, so I can only bury this ambition in my heart.’

’I will work hard, and I will give it my all!’

*

She had been utterly exhausted the night before; it was just too much.

When Cecilia Sterling opened her eyes again, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

Even a full sleep hadn’t completely dispelled her fatigue. Saul Thorne had been relentless, refusing to surrender, leaving her shuttling back and forth between exhaustion and ecstasy.

In the end, Saul Thorne had even carried her to the bathtub for her bath.

The apartment was quiet. The breakfast Saul Thorne had made for her before he left was still on the dining table; he probably hadn’t expected her to sleep until one in the afternoon.

After heating it up in the microwave, Cecilia Sterling didn’t let his kind gesture go to waste. Once she finished eating, she sent Saul Thorne a message telling him she was heading home.

When she got home, she found Blair coming downstairs with her things packed.

"You’re back." Seeing her, Blair walked over to Cecilia Sterling and, to her surprise, suddenly hugged her. "Thank you for everything these past few days. I’m okay now, so I’m getting ready to go home!"

Jane Sterling and Estelle Goodman came down with their things packed soon after. It was clear that since Blair had decided to leave, the rest of them, who had gathered here because of her, were also planning to leave together.

No matter how close they were, they couldn’t just live at Cecilia’s place forever.

"Don’t be so formal with me. I’m just relieved that you’re bouncing back." Cecilia Sterling patted Blair’s back, but her eyes silently asked Estelle and Jane, ’Is she really okay?’

She only relaxed after seeing them both nod.

Jane Sterling said, "I’ll drive Blair home, so don’t you worry. I have to go back too. Otherwise, my grandpa will ’check in’ on me with thirty video calls a day."

This day was bound to come sooner or later. Cecilia Sterling didn’t insist they stay, walking the group to the intersection outside the main gate.

"Anyway, school’s starting again soon. I’ll see you all there," Cecilia Sterling said.

Blair nodded lightly and intentionally offered a reassuring smile for Cecilia. "Then we’re off. See you when school starts!"

Cecilia Sterling and Estelle waved at the same time, watching as Jane Sterling’s car slowly drove away, growing smaller in the distance until it disappeared from sight.

"Alright then, I’m heading home too." Estelle gave Cecilia a sweet smile. "We live close by anyway. If you miss me, just let me know, and I’ll be right over!"

As Estelle Goodman was speaking, the expression in her eyes suddenly changed. Her smiling gaze slowly turned to one of hesitation, then curiosity, and finally, shock.

Cecilia Sterling noticed her friend’s focus was no longer on her, but past her, at something over her shoulder.

She instinctively turned around and saw a fair-skinned, handsome young man standing not far behind her.

The next second, Estelle Goodman cried out, "Charles Jennings? Where are your glasses?!"