Chapter 498 - 494: Can’t Advance, Can’t Retreat

Lily Sterling’s new drama was being filmed in Jovar, a city located in the heart of Cathay’s four "southern furnaces."

The flight from Lorcain was about two hours long, and the moment they landed, Estelle Goodman couldn’t help but exclaim, "Oh my god, why is it so hot!"

"It stays hot here until the end of October. I already gave you a heads-up," Jane Sterling teased her. "Regretting it now? It’s much more comfortable driving go-karts with your handsome instructor at the club, isn’t it?"

At this, Estelle Goodman threw her arms around Cecilia Sterling. "I don’t regret it one bit! Cecilia said I could see Heather Keaton up close and even get a picture with her. Of course I had to come."

Cecilia Sterling tilted her head and looked at her. "But she’s not on set this weekend. You’ll have to wait a few days to see her."

"That’s fine. We’re staying here for a few days anyway."

"Should we go settle in at the hotel first, then head to the set to see Lily?" Blair asked, looking at Cecilia Sterling.

Cecilia Sterling nodded. "Okay. We’ll see if she’s free tonight. If she is, we can have dinner together."

The hotel for their trip to Jovar was courtesy of Julian Summers. During the peak holiday travel season, Julian had reserved four rooms for them at his best hotel in Jovar, which was an incredibly generous gesture.

It was a five-star hotel. They had two river-view rooms and two suites. When they arrived, they found that Julian Summers had even arranged for a personal concierge to greet them.

"Good afternoon, Miss Sterling. I am Linda, your personal hotel concierge. Please feel free to contact me directly if you need anything during your stay. Shall I have someone take your luggage to your rooms first?"

Looking at the professional and enthusiastic concierge, Cecilia Sterling couldn’t help but send a message to Julian Summers: "Mr. Sullivan, your arrangements are perfect. I’ll definitely treat you to a meal when I get back to Lorcain."

Julian Summers replied quickly: "Why stand on ceremony? Of course I won’t be polite with you, either. I’m definitely cashing in on that dinner!"

Cecilia Sterling smiled at the message as Linda quickly finished checking them in.

"Honey, can I skip going to the set? It’s so hot and I’m tired. How about I just meet you guys for dinner when it cools down tonight?" Estelle wheedled in the elevator, clinging to Cecilia Sterling’s arm.

"No problem." Cecilia Sterling didn’t force anyone. She looked at Jane Sterling and Blair. "Do you two want to rest at the hotel too? It really is a bit hot outside."

Good friends never had to put on a show for each other. They could just say what they wanted without worrying about inconveniencing themselves to please someone else.

Blair said readily, "It’s not often I get to travel. I’ll go with you."

"Then I’ll stay here with Estelle. Let’s just meet at the restaurant tonight," Jane Sterling said.

And just like that, the four of them had arranged the rest of their day’s schedule right there in the elevator.

Meanwhile, the director knocked on the door of Lily Sterling’s dressing room again.

Yuna and Finn, still unsure what was happening, politely invited the director inside.

Lily Sterling had calmed down a little and wasn’t as fiery as she had been before, but facing the director, she held her ground. "Director, I will not compromise on this. You know better than I do what he’s trying to do. You shouldn’t be condoning it."

"Lily, this isn’t a question of ’should’ or ’shouldn’t,’" the director said helplessly. "Yes, you’re right. I know what’s going on better than you do. But a person’s power is often limited. I can control the behavior of most people on set, but there are always people whose authority outranks mine."

"So he can just do whatever he wants? If I resist, does that mean I can just forget about acting in the future?"

The director averted his gaze. "I can only say that offending him will certainly do you no good."

As for the consequences, that would depend on how badly he was offended.

Lily Sterling laughed scornfully. "I’d only heard stories like this before and dismissed them, thinking they couldn’t be real. I was too naive. Heather was right—the depravity of this industry is beyond anything I could have imagined."

"Lily, you’ve always been professional. Can’t you just treat this as a necessary shot for the drama?" the director continued trying to persuade her. "Tell me, if we were shooting a movie right now that required you to do an intimate scene, would you refuse?"

"Director, is that the same thing? Can’t you tell the difference between what’s part of the story and what’s not?" Lily Sterling retorted. "If the role required it, I wouldn’t even blink at doing a nude scene, let alone an intimate one. That’s because it would be about the characters and their journey together."

"But this is about George Lowe and Lily Sterling. He’s after me, me as a person. What do you take me for?"

Hearing this, Yuna and Finn, who had been completely confused, finally understood what was happening.

’The set had been rife with gossip for months, and they’d heard a thing or two about George Lowe. Had he set his sights on their Lily now?’

They exchanged a look, their eyes filled with horror.

The director was rendered speechless.

"Lily, don’t get so worked up. I’ve already sent the screenwriter to talk to that old man. I’m definitely trying my best to protect you. But you have to see my side of it, too. I can’t afford to offend him."

The director had barely finished speaking when the screenwriter returned.

Seeing him, the director hurried outside. "How did it go? Did that old bastard agree?"

The screenwriter shook his head wryly. "Not only did he not agree, but he also accused us of being unprofessional and said we didn’t understand his intentions at all."

"PFFT!" the director cursed. "Who can’t see through his twisted intentions?"

"So what do we do now, Director? Lily Sterling isn’t budging either?"

The director shook his head. ’Besides, after what Lily Sterling just said, would he even be human if he tried to pressure her further?’

"You go back and keep persuading him. We’ll shoot these next few scenes whenever you get him to change his mind!" the director gave the screenwriter a direct order.

The screenwriter pointed a finger at himself. "Me?"

"Wait, Director, George Lowe is being incredibly stubborn. How can I possibly push him any harder? He knows Lily Sterling won’t agree to the script change, and now he’s taking all his frustration out on our crew. With his status, do you really think he’s going to back down for her?"

The situation was clear: everyone was stuck. They were caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to advance or retreat. It was a stalemate.

"Then let’s just stay deadlocked!"

The director was furious and wanted to just throw in the towel, but then he remembered the daily cost of renting the location, money just draining away. His remaining shred of reason made him say, "Bring up the B-unit. We’ll shoot the missing pickup shots first!"

Inside the room, Yuna had been eavesdropping at the door. She only returned to Lily Sterling’s side after the director left. "It’s okay now, Lily. The director is gone."

"Lily, should we let Connie know about this?" Finn asked, looking at Lily Sterling.

At that moment, Lily Sterling felt more resolute than ever. "Let’s wait," she said. "I want to see how the production team responds."