Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

The banquet began. Joanna was seated at a table with a group of actors from the industry. The food was served, but she had no appetite. Her mind was consumed by what Jasper Sinclair had just said.

’So Simon Lockwood is the Sinclair family’s illegitimate son. Just returned to the country, moved into Sinclair Gardens, hearing problems, a silver hearing aid... it all added up.’

’But how did Jasper Sinclair know everything Simon Lockwood had been doing? Joanna could only think of one reason—the high and mighty Crown Prince of the Sinclair family had been monitoring Simon all along.’

The silent, ruthless struggles within a great house... Even full brothers fought amongst themselves, let alone half-brothers with the same father.

Joanna subconsciously tightened her grip on the small, black, circular object in her palm and sighed. ’I can’t believe I got dragged into a rich family’s inheritance dispute.’

’The only one to blame was Simon Lockwood. He’d entered her home, giving Jasper Sinclair the perfect opportunity to exploit the situation.’

On the stage under the crystal chandelier, someone was performing. The smooth, pleasant sound of a piano echoed throughout the banquet hall. At the tables, people were chatting.

Businessmen talked business, politicians talked politics. As for the entertainers, besides gossiping about the industry, they discussed who had recently been cast in a new project and which directors they were working with, all in the name of networking and exchanging resources.

”Joanna, why aren’t you eating? Slimming down for a new drama?” a female actress, a veteran of serious dramas, teased when she saw Joanna spacing out.

Joanna pushed her thoughts aside and replied with a smile, ”You’re too kind, Mr. Archer. I don’t have any new dramas.”

”Just the other day, I was watching that movie you starred in. I was crying right along with it. My eyes almost swelled shut.”

Joanna’s words were full of sincerity, and she even mentioned a few specific scenes from the film, making it clear she had actually seen it and wasn’t just offering empty compliments.

Actors love having their acting praised, especially veteran film stars. Mr. Archer smiled so widely the wrinkles around his eyes crinkled. His gaze toward Joanna was clearly pleased, though he remained modest on the surface. ”I’m getting old. I can’t compare to the spark you young people have...”

”Not at all. Everyone goes through this stage. We still have so much to learn from you.”

”Hahaha, all right! We must collaborate if we get the chance!” Mr. Archer said, clearly delighted by the flattery.

This was a signal of his interest in collaborating. Joanna’s face showed no surprise or smugness at having scored a major coup. Her smile remained unchanged. ”It would be my honor.”

Her poised and graceful demeanor won her a great deal of goodwill. The entertainment industry is full of people who suck up to the powerful and step on those beneath them, so her sincerity was especially rare.

With this good start, the conversation at the table flowed happily. Some who got along well even exchanged contact information. Joanna also added a few new contacts—a serious dramatic actress and a popular female idol. She treated them all the same. After all, they were all in the same circle, and you never knew when a connection might be useful. Whether it was a big fish or a small one, it was still a fish.

After most had finished eating, it was time for the most important part of the evening: the charity fundraising. A few well-known figures with impressive backgrounds went on stage to give speeches, explaining where the donations would go and the impact they would have.

Others directly offered up pieces from their private collections to be auctioned off to the attendees, with the proceeds also being donated to the charity foundation.

The final speech was to be given by the hosts of the charity banquet, the Sinclair family.

Under the lights, Jasper Sinclair stood on stage in an expensive suit, speaking with easy elegance. He was surrounded by the air of nobility and pride that could only be cultivated by a dynastic family.

”Thank you all for attending this charity banquet hosted by the Sinclair Group. A moment ago, I saw Mr. Crowe, Mr. Walden, and others generously offering up treasured calligraphy and paintings to support the foundation. As the hosts, the Sinclair Group naturally can’t be stingy either.”

Jasper Sinclair clapped his hands, and a waiter in a classic qipao walked onto the stage carrying a small golden tray.

From the audience, one could see the golden tray was covered with a red silk cloth. A slight bulge underneath it drew everyone’s attention.

Whatever the Sinclairs were offering was bound to be extraordinary. The crowd began to whisper, guessing what it could be. When they noticed the man on stage raise his hand, they held their breath.

The red cloth was whisked away. Seeing what lay beneath, the crowd gasped in unison.

In the center of the golden tray, a shimmering blue ”rose” seemed to glow, its faint luminescence flowing gently, a testament to its absolute, immense value.

Natural blue gemstones are precious, especially one this large. There were no visible seams, indicating it had been carved from a single piece.

To carve such a rare and heavy blue gemstone into the shape of a rose—in the eyes of some experts, this was a bit of a reckless waste. They couldn’t help but marvel at the Sinclair family’s sheer extravagance.

Joanna was already frozen in place. The moment she saw the blue ”rose” in its entirety, her mind went blank with a buzz. The world around her seemed to fall silent; she could only see that ”rose.”

The Little Prince, a rose, never wilting—it flashed through her mind like an old movie on a scratched DVD.

Yellowed fragments, an unclear face, and finally, a man’s deep voice echoing in her ears— ”Joanna, happy birthday...”

’Who was it...’

’Why is it so familiar...’

On stage, Jasper Sinclair was still slowly explaining the origin of the ”rose,” but Joanna couldn’t hear him clearly. In fact, she couldn’t even tell where she was.

Was she in a bustling banquet hall or an old house with flickering candlelight? Joanna’s mind was a complete blank, filled only by the lonely, forceful beating of her heart.

A firm grip on her wrist and the low voice of Howard Thorne beside her pulled her back from her spiraling thoughts.

”Joanna? Joanna!” Meeting the girl’s lost, helpless eyes, Howard Thorne lowered his voice and asked, ”What’s wrong? You look pale.”

Her heart was still pounding violently, as if it would never stop. Joanna shook her head. ”I’m fine...”

The ”rose” on the golden tray was displayed for all to see. Having finished his introduction, Jasper Sinclair said, ”I’m sure you all understand its value, so I won’t say any more.”

Jasper Sinclair smiled and added, ”All proceeds from this auction will be donated to the foundation as a charitable contribution.”

”And now, please feel free to bid. The starting price is ten thousand.”

The words had barely left his lips when someone made a bid. In just a few short minutes, the price had soared to ten million. This was already a considerable sum.

The crowd exchanged glances. Then, a CEO of a gaming company grit his teeth and broke the stalemate. ”Fifteen million!”

He had just submitted a collaboration proposal to the Sinclair Group. He figured this money was a good way to buy some goodwill from the Sinclair family.

’Fifteen million for a partnership. A worthy trade.’

His mind was made up; he was already planning to go and settle the payment. But unexpectedly, a clear, calm female voice suddenly rang out in the quiet banquet hall.

”Twenty million.”

...

Eyes from all directions fell upon her, but Joanna paid them no mind. Her expression unchanging, she lowered her hand, her gaze fixed intently on the blue ”rose” on the golden tray.

After that, whenever the gaming company CEO raised the bid, Joanna would follow, driving the price all the way up to thirty million.

A female star going head-to-head with a CEO over an item—this was quite the spectacle. Many in the crowd watched with intrigued expressions.