Cloudwater Haven.
A high-end residential area with an elegant and unique environnt, and well-established security facilities.
It was already late when they arrived. The car drove all the way in, and besides the security guards on patrol, there were basically no pedestrians in sight.
The moonlight was pale, casting a layer of pristine silver-white on the community garden under the night sky, complented by unlted snow and bare branches, creating a unique charm even in the bleak winter days.
"Did you really sell the other two properties?" With one hand on the steering wheel, fingers lightly tapping, Miguel Smith inquired.
"Yes."
A few years ago, Nora Scott saved so money and bought a villa in Fenton City and Anchel each, the Cloudwater Haven residence was bought just in the past two years. However, recently so issues arose, and she sold both villas, keeping only the one in Cloudwater Haven to live in.
"Is it really that tight financially?"
"Rescue in an ergency."
"You’re really loyal..." Miguel Smith gazed at her with a sigh, and after a brief pause, he asked with concern, "Is your grandfather’s dical bill okay?"
"I’ve kept it aside."
"Let know if you need help."
"I know."
In the course of conversation, they had already arrived downstairs.
Unbuckling the seatbelt, Nora Scott picked up her military coat and casually asked, "Do you want to co up?"
Having just parked the car, Miguel Smith was startled for a mont, then incredulously complained, "I beg you, it’s so late at night, can’t you acknowledge my gender?"
Amused by his pretentious manner, Nora Scott retorted, "Why don’t you think I have an interest in you?"
"Do you have an interest in ?" Miguel Smith asked along.
"No."
Nora Scott answered simply and swiftly.
"..."
Pointless and self-deprecating.
Opening the car door, Nora Scott prepared to get out.
Suddenly, Miguel Smith called to her, "By the way, friendly reminder—"
"Hmm?"
Nora Scott paused, tilting her head to look over.
Gazing at her deeply, Miguel Smith, with a mysterious deanor, said in a slow, deliberate tone, "The developer of Cloudwater Haven is the Langley family. Did you know that?"
"..."
*
The next day, morning.
The topic of [Lily Turner and Nora Scott] unexpectedly hit the trending searches, and many netizens stared at it for quite a while, their first instinct—
Is the popular young star being targeted?
A fading star doing so promotional stunt?
Upon clicking in, they saw a few candid photos posted by several marketing accounts.
The main character in the photos was Lily Turner, unedited, capturing Lily Turner on set, with a ssy background, her makeup exquisite, looking radiant and outstanding, standing out among the rest.
The photos, which fans were supposed to admire for beauty, were scrutinized by a sharp-eyed busybody who noticed the presence of the "fading star Nora Scott" and enlarged the screenshot.
The bulky military coat covered her figure, the shooting angle was tricky, she appeared without makeup, coupled with the blurry image quality, compared to Lily Turner, it was like night and day.
The marketing accounts eagerly led the trends, comparing Nora Scott’s past historical looks with the current blurry screenshots, lanting Nora Scott’s fallen appearance.
[Ahhh, Nora Scott is my goddess! My eternal white moonlight! What has she been through in the past two years? No! Return the Sweet Beauty Scott with the looks that could outshine the whole crew!]
[No wonder she hasn’t been seen filming, with this appearance and outfit, no one would want her even for free.]
[Didn’t she stop acting? What’s she doing on set? Looks so pitiful.]
[Pure passerby, don’t know her. Probably trying to make a coback, this way of grabbing attention is truly novel. Without Lily Turner’s na, I wouldn’t have clicked in at all.]
[Rember the one who was once called ’the number one beauty in historical drama’? Don’t know how many actresses she outshone. How long has it been? Fans still praise her as natural, how could she crumble so fast without surgery?]
[Agree with the above. I also suspect Nora Scott had work done.]
[Just two words, she deserves it.]
[Dare to have plastic surgery as a minor, prepared to do anything to beco famous.]
...
Inside the detached villa.
Butler Loxley found Pedro Langley with so docunts.
"Master Pedro, most of the information about Miss Scott has been suppressed, can’t be found."
Flipping through the docunts, Pedro Langley frowned, "No findings?"
"It’s only known that Miss Scott often visits the Virtue Retreat and has a good relationship with the boss there."
People working at the Virtue Retreat are exceptionally tight-lipped, and upon further investigation, most of the staff there have so special background.
"Hmm."
"Miss Scott recently encountered sothing and sold her properties in Fenton City and Anchel. The funds from the sale are untraceable."
The flipping paused, Pedro Langley lowered his eyelids slightly, asking, "Where does she live now?"
"Cloudwater Haven."
After a mont’s thought, Pedro Langley said, "In the next couple of days, tidy up that house at Cloudwater Haven."
Brows showing a gratified smile, Butler Loxley nodded, "Yes."
"Additionally," Pedro Langley continued, "you don’t need to secretly investigate her matters anymore."
Nora Scott’s network of contacts is complex, it’s possible she knows all sorts of people. Since soone is suppressing her information, continuing to investigate might eventually lead to being discovered.
If Nora Scott knew about this...
Just in case.
Butler Loxley understood, "Yes."
Changing the topic, Butler Loxley thought of another matter, couldn’t help but remind, "The news online..."
"Have the photos been obtained?"
"Yes."
Pedro Langley’s deanor turned cold, eyes gleaming with a chilly light, his voice carrying a hint of danger—
"Like last ti, hand them over to Nathan Salt."
*
Bluetooth earpiece in place, Nora Scott appeared lazy and sleepy, shuffling in slippers as she walked into the kitchen.
"Disturbing my beauty sleep, what’s up?" There was a bit of impatience in her tone.
"Little ancestor, it’s already ten in the morning."
The voice of Boss Alex in the earpiece was quite helpless, yet mixed with a bit of indulgence.
Opening the fridge door, Nora Scott’s eyes scanned up and down, hunting for unexpired food, she said, "Get to the point."
"Soone is investigating you, just wanted to ask if you’ve gotten into trouble lately."
"Where’s the ti to get into trouble." Throwing the expired bread into the trash, Nora Scott continued rummaging, asking leisurely, "Who’s checking?"
"Don’t know, just know it’s from Fenton City. You have too many enemies; it’s hard to sort through without a direction."
"What enemies do I have?"
A package of unopened expired sausages was tossed into the trash bin.
"Need to remind you of those few big events you did around the country a few years ago?"
"...Forget it."
Old stories, almost forgotten without ntion.
After coming up empty-handed, Nora Scott irritably closed the fridge door. After a while of rummaging, she finally found a cup of instant noodles in the cabinet.
A few minutes later, Nora Scott sat on the living room sofa, waiting for the boiling water.
Being nagged by Boss Alex on the phone about the various downsides of eating instant noodles, Nora Scott’s irritation started to accumulate, and her fingers reached for the earpiece, just as she was about to hang up, she suddenly rembered another issue, and couldn’t help but ask—
"By the way, what’s going on with the Hall Master?"
"..."
Originally chatty Boss Alex instantly fell silent.
User Comments
0 comments from readers