"Yes, this is Maya Monroe. I wasn't selected, right? Okay, I got it."
After Maya hung up the phone, she and Ryan Spencer shared a prolonged moment of eye contact, both wide-eyed.
"See, I told you. In your current state, there's no way you'd be selected. 'Luna' is probably going to Kiki, but don't be discouraged. I'll help you find some contacts, and as long as you do your best in the showcase..."
The phone rang again, it was still the production team from "Wandering Beyond the Horizon."
Maya hesitated before answering, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding.
"Ms. Monroe, please don't hang up. You might have misunderstood; we're calling to congratulate you! You have successfully landed the role of 'Luna'!"
"...Hello? Ms. Monroe, are you still on the line? If so, please respond..."
Maya didn't hear another word.
Because her mind was being bombarded by one single statement:
Congratulations on landing the role of 'Luna'...
Landing the role of 'Luna'...
The role of 'Luna'...
Ryan saw the shock on Maya's face and assumed she was just slow to react.
"Not getting the part is normal. After all, this is Director Morgan's work, and a lot of people have their eyes on this juicy opportunity! This time you might have failed, but..."
Ryan suddenly received a text message on his phone, and after reading it, he could no longer keep his composure.
"Why didn't you say something sooner!? You actually passed the audition!!? Maya!!!"
*
The production team for "Wandering Beyond the Horizon" hadn't officially announced the cast list yet, but staff were already notifying the actors about their audition results. These notifications may come at different times, but not too far apart.
As soon as Kiki Monroe left the training room, everyone quickly gathered around her.
"Kiki, did you get a call from the production team? You're amazing, getting such great opportunities as soon as you entered the industry. I've heard 'Wandering Beyond the Horizon' is expected to win several awards!"
"I just saw Maya looking all down and out, like she's about to drop dead, moping about not being selected! Serves her right for always shooting her mouth off. This is just the reality check she needed! But Kiki, make sure to keep some distance from her; Maya can be quite vengeful, and you don't want her lashing out at you!"
...
No one noticed the slightly anxious look on Kiki's face.
To them, Kiki was the most likely to nab the role, and Maya's defeated look only seemed to confirm that assumption.
Kiki sighed, her expression complicated, before she quietly said, "Actually... I just got a call, and I wasn't selected by the production team..."
"How's that possible? Kiki, you performed so well! How could you not be selected? Didn't Director Morgan's eyes light up? Doesn't that mean you're outstanding?"
"Kiki, are you joking with us? But let's not joke about this; everyone here genuinely wishes the best for you! If you become a big star in the future, don't forget about us lower-tier folks!"
...
The 'lower-tier' label is modest, but they indeed weren't top-tier celebrities.
"I'm not joking around, and besides, I know someone in the production crew. They told me the role of 'Luna' actually went to..."
Kiki dropped the next bombshell.
"Maya!"
The people around couldn't help but express their shock.
"How is that possible? I might believe it if you said someone else, but how could it be Maya? With her second-rate acting skills, how could she have been selected?"
"Did Maya bribe Director Morgan? No, Shane Morgan is known for his integrity, he wouldn't take bribes. Was it the producer, then? Isn't there talk about a powerful backer behind Maya? It wouldn't be hard for them to shell out some cash for this, right?"
...
Kiki said nothing, but her eyes betrayed her deep resentment.
Why did Maya manage to snag the part so effortlessly after she'd worked so tirelessly? It's obvious that Maya paid for it...
Having had a smooth sail since childhood, Kiki felt the harshness of reality for the first time, and vowed to herself to change this situation.
Everyone in the industry knows that there's no one completely clean here. Landing a role often depends on one's capabilities, and although using money is frowned upon, it's undeniable that money is also part of one's capabilities.
So even though the people in the training room looked down on Maya, they didn't dare flaunt it in her face, choosing instead to quietly curse her behind her back.
Quentin Rowe had also somewhat heard about this matter, and his disdain for Maya only grew.
Maya is just a pretty face with no actual skill. The money she used to buy this role came from the Rowe Family, didn't it?
The Rowe Family is so influential and wealthy, yet they're stuck with such a disgraceful offspring. Truly, it's their misfortune!
Maya had no interest in playing the latest popular game to pass the time, as she was equally upset.
She also pondered over the events that happened in the morning.
According to the storyline, she should have been the one attracting ill will and getting smacked down by Kiki after Kiki landed the role, serving as a dramatic highlight.
But why has the plot deviated, making her the one who humiliated the female lead, Kiki?
To Maya's surprise, her fear of the storyline losing its punch never materialized, but rather, it grew at a very slow pace.
Maya was perplexed; she hadn't encountered such an odd situation in all her years in the industry.
Audiences' tastes are becoming more and more unpredictable.
Maya sighed.
All she could do now was stick to the plan and hope that the storyline would swiftly return to its intended course.
She didn't forget to comfort herself, noting that this current storyline's engagement level was rising faster than any other she'd seen before. At least this showed that her current approach wasn't wrong.
*
"Maya, here's some steamed buns, hamburgers, and dumplings... and your favorite taro milk tea! Ryan said you got such an amazing role, you should indulge yourself and eat your fill!"
Scott quickly placed the food containers on the table.
At Valerius Entertainment, they had a dining hall, but Maya was particular about her tastes, complaining that the food wasn't authentic enough, so her assistants always had to go out to buy her meals.
"Alright..." Maya unwrapped the chopsticks, looking at the feast on the table, but unusually, she had no appetite.
She was still brooding over the morning's events.
Because of the troubling news that she had been selected for the role of Luna, Maya was listless all day and couldn't muster the energy to enjoy her meal.
Scott, sitting beside her, couldn't quite figure out the change.
If it were before, Maya would already be flaunting her success for the world to see, sending out press releases to let everyone know just how incredible she was.
Scott could only think of one possibility.
"Maya, I've got some digestive tablets here; do you want some...?"