Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

After getting up, Zeke Marshall was about to go to Nora Ainsworth’s room when, from a distance, he saw the door to his sister’s room open. Ethan Ellsworth walked out, looking as if he had just woken up, and Zeke’s sister was there to see him off.

”Sis!”

Chloe Marshall jumped, startled. She looked at Zeke Marshall not far away. ”What do you want?”

”Did Boss Ellsworth sleep with you last night?”

Her slippers clacking, Chloe Marshall immediately ran toward Zeke Marshall, clamping a hand over his mouth. She whispered, ”What-what nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you know Boss Ellsworth is a celebrity? Is that how a manager is supposed to act?”

”Then why did Boss Ellsworth come out of your room?”

”He just needed to talk to me about something.”

”What was it, sis?”

Chloe Marshall glared at him. ”Never mind all that. Is Nora up yet?”

”I was just about to go knock on her door.”

”Well, hurry up and go.” Chloe Marshall ran back to her doorway; Ethan Ellsworth had already returned to his own room.

Nora Ainsworth had changed her clothes and was about to head out when she heard the sound of a key in the lock. The door opened, and Leon Lynch came in carrying breakfast. ”You can eat up here.”

Nora Ainsworth looked at his face. He was completely unharmed. ”When did you get back?”

He said, ”Just now. Did you go beg Quentin Grant for help yesterday?”

Nora Ainsworth didn’t want to lie to him. ”Yes, I went.”

”Can I get a thank-you hug?”

”What is there to thank me for? This whole thing only happened to you because of me—”

”Come here.” He opened his arms and pulled her into a hug. ”Nora, when did you get back?”

Nora Ainsworth froze. ”I—”

She didn’t want to lie to him, but she also didn’t want him to worry.

”I came back last night.”

”Mm, that must have been hard on you, darling Nora.”

It was so sappy it gave Nora Ainsworth goosebumps. ”Stop being so cheesy. Let me see what you bought for breakfast. It smells delicious.”

He handed it to her. ”Hurry and eat. I already ate downstairs.”

Nora Ainsworth took it and nodded.

Leon Lynch looked at her, his expression dimming. As soon as he had returned last night, he had checked to see if she was in her room. He opened the door to find it empty. He had slept in her bed for the entire night, but she never returned.

At five-thirty, he had gone back to his own room and played games for a while. Not long after, he heard a door opening across the hall. Peeking out, he saw that she was back.

He wasn’t sure if she had actually slept with Quentin Grant last night, but one thing was clear: in this matter, he had lied to her, and she had lied to him.

If lies could allow them to be together longer, he would choose to maintain this one until it shattered, until he could no longer hold it together no matter how hard he tried.

”The breakfast is wonderful, and it’s different every morning. Leon, I think the woman who marries you in the future will be very happy.”

He looked at her. ”Since you know that, why don’t you take that step?”

She shook her head. ”I’m not going to marry anyone.”

He looked as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

”Leon, it’s clear that I’ve dragged you into this mess. I hope we can be friends. It’s impossible for us to be together. I’ve already made that very clear.”

”Aren’t we friends right now? Nora, we’re friends. Don’t overthink it.”

Nora Ainsworth smiled faintly. ”Yes. Well, it’s almost time. We need to get to the shoot.”

Leon Lynch turned to leave. ”I’m going to head back and get some rest, then. I’m a bit tired.”

”Okay.”

The two of them left the room, one after the other.

Zeke Marshall was waiting for her by the elevators.

When they arrived at the makeup room, Ethan Ellsworth was already having his makeup applied.

Madam Shaw was sitting nearby, her makeup clearly already finished.

Seeing Nora Ainsworth enter, she grew even more brazen. ”You’re always the last one to arrive. Don’t you know your scenes have been moved to be first? We have to shoot your parts first, which means we all have to wait for you. Are you trying to pull a diva act?”

Nora Ainsworth sat in the chair to have her makeup quickly applied, retorting, ”It’s ten minutes to seven. How am I pulling a diva act? Right, your scenes aren’t until nine o’clock, Shaw, when the sun is just right. Shouldn’t you be resting more?”

”Nora Ainsworth, you’re just a rookie and you’re already in this state. Don’t bother acting tough. Everyone knows that once filming for this drama is over, you’ll be unemployed.”

She held her ground. ”Not necessarily. Haven’t you heard that infamy brings fame? The more viciously the haters attack me, the more it proves how popular I am.”

Madam Shaw sneered. ”Nonsense.”

Nora Ainsworth leaned closer to the mirror, admiring the exquisite makeup. Finally, she stood up, and the stylist handed her an outfit and some jewelry. ”These are from the sponsor. After the scene is filmed, the outfit, earrings, hair clip, and necklace must all be returned immediately.”

She took them. ”Got it.”

The first scene of the day was between Nora Ainsworth and the supporting actor, Ryan. In the scene, Ryan’s character asks Nora’s character out, gives a heartfelt confession, and then gets slapped by her when he gets handsy and tries to force a kiss.

Cecelia Willow had explicitly told Nora Ainsworth to fake the slap by using a camera angle, and that she absolutely must not make real contact. Nora knew about their relationship, so she understood. She also knew that in acting, you don’t actually hit people.

The camera focused on them, and Cecelia Willow shouted, ”Action!”

Ryan and Nora Ainsworth stood face to face. In this moment, he was the picture of a handsome gentleman. It’s just that, in this drama, he was playing an affectionate scumbag.

”I’ve only ever loved you, from start to finish. You have to believe me. I don’t love her. It’s always been you.”

Nora Ainsworth scoffed. ”Then why did you let her show up at our wedding, pregnant? I’ve made myself perfectly clear. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

Nora Ainsworth had just turned when Ryan grabbed her hand and moved in to kiss her. As they’d planned, Nora was supposed to immediately slap him, and he was supposed to dodge. However, while Nora delivered the slap, he made no move to dodge it, and it connected solidly with his face.

SLAP! A crisp sound echoed as everyone on set froze, stunned.

The director yelled, ”CUT!”

After yelling, Cecelia Willow quickly walked over to Nora Ainsworth. ”What is wrong with you? Huh? Didn’t we agree you were going to fake it? Why did you actually hit him? Why can’t you be more cooperative!”

Nora Ainsworth immediately narrowed her eyes at Cecelia Willow, showing no fear. ”That’s just it, Director. We agreed to fake the hit, but Ryan didn’t even turn his head, forcing me to land a real slap. It even made my hand hurt.”

”What?!” Cecelia Willow stared at her in disbelief.

”Director, a few nights ago, Ethan Ellsworth and I saw you go into Room 805—”

Before she could finish her hushed sentence, Cecelia Willow waved a dismissive hand. ”Forget it! Since it was Ryan who failed to cooperate, we’ll leave it at that. The last take was actually quite good. Nora, keep up the great work.”

She gave Nora Ainsworth’s shoulder a meaningful pat and, under the stunned gazes of everyone present, returned to her position behind the camera. ”Prepare for the next scene!”