Chapter 47: A Good Seedling

Upon hearing the proposal, Clara Bennett playfully blinked and said, "Do you really have the time to manage a newcomer who has just entered the entertainment industry?" Faced with this question, Charlotte Harper smiled slightly and responded with a bit of shyness, "To be honest, before meeting you, I didn’t really want to take on any clients who are heirs of wealthy families. But you are indeed very special, not only possessing exceptional looks and good manners but also having an incredibly humble attitude and passion for the arts." Indeed, her potential clearly makes her a promising talent! Clara Bennett, of course, understood Charlotte Harper’s concerns and wasn’t bothered by it. Instead, she said graciously, "Don’t tell my second brother for now; let’s talk after the audition. I’ll show you my plan by then, as I don’t want the manager to interfere too much in many things." Charlotte Harper nodded, understanding the importance of this autonomy for an actor. Charlotte Harper always took extra care of talented people and now decided to fully support Clara Bennett. After all, over the years, such an outstanding newcomer hasn’t emerged in the entertainment circle, and she truly had high hopes for this girl. There was a firmness and expectation in Charlotte Harper’s eyes, which further strengthened Clara Bennett’s confidence. Seeing Charlotte Harper’s enthusiasm, Clara Bennett also felt more assured. Although the road ahead was uncertain, she knew that at least there was a manager who understood her and stood by her side, which was undoubtedly a valuable asset for her future career. This warmth and trust were like a lighthouse in the night, guiding her journey. However, they still followed the initial plan, with Clara Bennett going alone to the audition site. This was not only to reduce unnecessary trouble but more importantly, she wanted to quietly investigate the person named Nell Sue. Bringing Charlotte Harper along would certainly alert the other party, as the latter was renowned in the entire circle, and any action would be noticed by people. By the afternoon, Clara Bennett walked into the set in a plain outfit. Although this was a process of temporarily finding a replacement actor, there were still many participants in the audition, with about twenty actors gathered here. Clara Bennett deliberately dressed in a very low-key manner, wearing a hat and mask to avoid drawing attention, forming a stark contrast with those who were meticulously dressed to showcase their charm in front of the camera. Seeing someone actually wearing hot pants to the audition, Clara Bennett couldn’t help but twitch her mouth. This scene made her imagine a picture where judges sat below while a girl in hot pants was performing a fighting scene on stage, a sight that was indescribably both amusing and a bit awkward. After all, in such a formal setting, professionalism was far more important than appearance. Recalling that Nell Sue would also be present today, Clara Bennett began to look around, but strangely, she didn’t spot Nell Sue’s figure. This surprised Clara Bennett, as she originally thought that such an important role like Nell Sue’s would definitely be present. How could she be absent without reason? Did Nell Sue not come? This question was like a small stone cast into the lake of her heart, stirring ripples as she awaited an answer. Clara Bennett decided to watch and wait, ready for all the upcoming challenges. Is it possible she’s not participating in this audition? This seemed unlikely. After all, this opportunity was too important for her. Just then, a man appeared in the distance. He first glanced around, then hurriedly walked towards one end of the corridor. Clara Bennett immediately sensed something was amiss. She felt the man seemed to be avoiding someone or something and cautiously followed him, attempting to uncover the truth. She quietly followed him into an almost secluded fire escape corner, where she saw the man meeting a woman. The woman was indeed Nell Sue! At that moment, Clara Bennett was utterly shocked. They were conspiring about something undisclosed. In an instant, Clara Bennett realized: the man accompanying her was undoubtedly Nell Sue’s manager. From their cautious behavior, it was clear they did not want anyone to know the content of their conversation. Clara Bennett remained low-profile, hiding in a place where she could faintly hear their conversation without being easily spotted, listening with full attention. After scanning the surroundings, the manager finally spoke to Nell Sue about his views on competitors. "I have reviewed the list of all the candidates in this selection. Among them, they are either newcomers with no experience or can’t match your level of professionalism. In my opinion, the only ones worth watching out for and who pose potential threats are Alice James and Emily Roen." Hearing this, Clara Bennett, who had been following out of mere curiosity, suddenly had a new idea. To preserve the contents of their conversation, she quickly took out her phone from her pocket, switched it to silent mode, and opened the recording app to capture all the subsequent dialogue. Then she heard Nell Sue ask the manager, "Are you confident you can stop Alice James?" Facing Nell Sue’s doubts, her assistant confidently responded, "Rest assured. I have already leaked her entire schedule for that day to some of her ardent fan groups and other competitors. Besides, I’ve secretly arranged for a few insiders to blend in." "If anything unexpected happens, the outside world will surely point fingers at this group of ’suspects.’ By then, even if she faced a traffic accident, Alice James wouldn’t be able to attend this interview on time." After receiving this assurance, Nell Sue still couldn’t put her worry to rest and immediately posed another question, "What about Emily Roen?" Regarding this point, the manager’s tone carried a hint of uncontrolled pride, "As for the competitor Emily Roen... I doubt she will dare to participate at all. To my knowledge, she has a stepfather with deep and influential background." "Recently, I secretly had a set of photos taken depicting her close interactions with this family member and anonymously submitted them to major online entertainment platforms for exposure and dissemination. Now public opinion generally believes that she relies on nepotism rather than her ability to garner resources and support." "Will this truly make her miss the selection?" Facing the question of whether her subordinate’s countermeasures would actually be effective, Nell Sue was especially concerned, eager to know the final outcome. "Of course it will, such things have happened so frequently lately, it’s frustrating. Many TV shows have been taken off the air for similar reasons. The director, considering these risks, has decided to exclude Emily Roen for now. Though the final cast hasn’t been confirmed, playing it safe is never a mistake."