C5 Do you want to be famous?

Anthony Clark handed her the bag he had brought: "I forgot my bag."

It was the bag!

His thoughtfulness flattered Clara Smith. She took the bag with both hands, not noticing that Anthony Clark had placed the bag she had gotten from the hotel reception with it.

Clara Smith obediently said goodbye to him: "Fifth Uncle, goodbye."

Anthony Clark nodded: "Mm."

To appear less eager to leave, Clara Smith quickened her pace, not running. She looked back every few dozen steps until Anthony Clark's car drove away, only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

...

Treasure Villa was an affluent area, filled with detached villas. Many prominent families in M Country lived here, as living here symbolized status and prestige.

Clara Smith wasn't the only daughter of the Smith family; she had three older brothers.

Her eldest brother, Ronny Smith, was abroad, holding a lowly professorship and living a life of meager leisure. It was rumored that he was preparing to return to W Country to continue his passion for literature.

Jackson Smith, the second brother, is a doctor. He's rumored to be so obsessed with traditional medicine that he tried tasting hundreds of herbs, resulting in several poisonings and hospitalizations in the ICU. It's a miracle he's still alive.

Hendery Smith, the third brother, is a poor artist, always smelling of paint and sculpting powder.

They're all doing rather poorly, including Clara Smith.

They're all relying on the empire their father built years ago.

The Smith family's current prosperity only appears superficial; they're not as glorious as they once were.

She's not cut out for business, and her three brothers are unreliable. It's all her father's doing, struggling to keep the family business afloat. If it weren't for their long-standing roots, they would have been squeezed out of the elite M Country circles long ago.

As for the Clark family, they are a prominent family in C Country.

The Smith family used to live next door to the Clark family before moving into Treasure Villa. She and Robert Clark grew up together. Robert Clark went to study in Y Country at fifteen and returned at twenty to enter the entertainment industry. Backed by the Clark family, he's doing very well and is now a huge star.

Her engagement to Robert Clark was arranged the year Robert Clark returned to W Country. Robert Clark had no objections, and Clara Smith, who had liked him since childhood, was naturally delighted.

Later, Robert Clark always used work as an excuse to create obstacles. Although good things often come with difficulties, she had waited too long and always wanted to take their relationship to the next level.   

So, on her best friend Rosie Clark's advice, she made the mistake last night.

If she had simply slept with the wrong person, it would have been easier to handle.

But that person was Anthony Clark, leaving her completely passive.

"You're back."

A sudden voice startled Clara Smith.

Looking up, she saw Lily Swift sitting upright on the sofa. Clara Smith was taken aback: "Mom, didn't you say you were going to a fashion show in D Country yesterday? Why are you back so soon?"

Lily Swift looked up at her daughter and slowly asked, "Where did you go last night?"

"Mom, why are you suddenly asking this?" Clara Smith was already starting to get nervous.

Lily Swift narrowed her eyes. Her eyes, lined with thin lines, made her look exceptionally young and assertive, but in reality, her personality... was also quite assertive. However, Lily Swift's assertiveness was mostly reserved for her husband, Clara Smith's father. Lily Swift : "I'll see you getting out of control if I don't discipline you for three days!"

Clara Smith: "..."

Lily Swift stood up and walked up to Clara Smith: "Tell me, where did you go last night?"

At this moment, Clara Smith was extremely flustered.

Lily Swift, being an experienced woman, noticed Clara Smith's every move. Seeing her daughter's eyes darting away, avoiding direct eye contact, Lily Swift guessed, "Did you do something bad?"

Clara Smith: "No."

Lily Swift: "You really did something bad."

Clara Smith: "..." She should have pretended to be mute.

Lily Swift took two steps back, crossing her arms, not wanting to put too much pressure on her daughter: "Just confess honestly. As long as it wasn't murder or robbery, Mom can cover for you."

As a wealthy wife from a prominent M Country family, Lily Swift's daily life was exquisite. She attended various tea parties with other wealthy women, fashion weeks, and banquets hosted by jewelry brands and other high-end companies—luxurious and fulfilling.

Clara Smith rarely saw her mother at home. She also rarely saw her father.

Despite being born into a family of six (an extra-quota birth), she lived like a left-behind child.

"Mom, can you really cover for me?" Clara Smith asked cautiously.

Lily Swift raised an eyebrow, her tone bold: "Of course. Tell me what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into, and Mom will cover for you."

Clara Smith swallowed hard and confessed, "I provoked Anthony Clark." As soon as she finished speaking, Lily Swift stared directly at Clara Smith, clearly quite shocked.

Receiving this gaze, Clara Smith began to panic. She asked, "What's wrong, Mom? Can this be forgiven?"

Lily Swift clicked her tongue, calmly walked back to the sofa, and straightened her skirt, saying, "It's nothing. Mom was possessed by a ghost just now. Those words weren't mine, don't take them seriously."

Clara Smith: "..."

The name Anthony Clark was more effective than any monster.

Indeed, Anthony Clark held absolute power in C Country.

Lily Swift said, "Have you forgotten what Mom taught you? Be brave, and take responsibility if something happens."

Clara Smith's heart clenched. Never mind, too much talk would only bring tears.

"I'm going upstairs." She turned away with a dejected face.

"Go ahead." Lily Swift waved.

Clara Smith prepared to go upstairs to lie down and calm herself. Just as she lay down, her phone rang.

She picked it up and saw it was Zoya Miller calling.   

Zoya Miller is her agent, but Clara Smith is just a nobody under Zoya Miller's management.

Clara Smith's major is dance. Having studied dance since childhood, she is now qualified to apply for a dance teacher position.

Since she doesn't have the background to inherit the family business, becoming a dance teacher seems like a good option, but the thought of Robert Clark makes her resentful. Robert Clark is doing very well in the entertainment industry and will continue to do so for the next few years. The distance between them seems like an insurmountable gap; she can't even get into his circle, let alone enter his world.

So, on a whim, she entered the entertainment industry, wanting to get closer to him.

She has only been signed to Zoya Miller's agency for two months, played an extra role as a palace maid once, and then nothing more.

Zoya Miller doesn't really care about her, after all, she already has a popular artist and another rising star under her management. Zoya Miller signed her because of her dance background and good looks. At the time, she had artists she wanted to promote and didn't want to miss out on Clara Smith, so she brought her in first and arranged various acting lessons for her. Later, she couldn't manage her anymore and just let her grow up.

Clara Smith answered the phone: "Sister Miller."

Zoya Miller, who called, didn't ask if she had time or if it was convenient, but directly arranged: "Pack your luggage tonight, come to the film studio tomorrow, there's a scene."

Clara Smith wanted to ask what scene it was.

Before she could ask, Zoya Miller said: "I'm very busy right now, I can't finish talking over the phone. Tomorrow when you get to the film studio, go directly to the 'Bright Moon's Hometown' crew and find Director Hubner."

Bright Moon's Hometown? Isn't that the film crew Robert Clark is currently filming?!

"But I..."

Clara Smith's words were interrupted by Zoya Miller: "Do you want to be famous?"

Zoya Miller was a very assertive manager, decisive and impatient.

Clara Smith almost choked with speechlessness, pursing her lips before saying: "Whether I become famous or not isn't something I can decide right now. Also, Sister Miller, my name is Clara Smith."

As her manager, she hadn't even fully memorized her name. She was just someone who could be summoned and dismissed at will!

As for going to the film studio, Clara Smith thought of Robert Clark. He should be returning to the country tonight, right? She should be able to see Robert Clark when she went to the film studio tomorrow.