Chapter 70
Actorman replied, âLia, I came just to meet you, but Iâm not at school yet When I arrive, should I come to find you?â
Cordelia looked up at her friend, her expression dead serious. âDo we let him come to us, or do we go to him?â
Merry couldnât help but burst into laughter, âLia, enough already! Seriously, stop joking around!â
But Cordelia furrowed her brows, saying, âIâm not joking.â
Merry knew her character. With a sudden halt to her laughter, she pondered for a moment before asking, âLia, did this guy say heâs Bland?â
Cordelia nodded, and it clicked for Merry. She shot up from her seat, a frown knitting her brows, âLia, I get it now. Youâve been scammed!â
Cordelia blinked, her doe eyes clouded with confusion, âWhat?â
Merry pointed at Cordeliaâs phone, âIâve heard about these scams, people pretending to be celebrities to get money or stuff. Has he asked you for anything?â
Cordelia hesitated, âWell⦠heâs asked me to buy things for him.
Merryâs nod was fierce, âExactly! Damn it! This scammer has the nerve to target Lia. Give me your phone, Iâm going to give him a piece of my mind.â
Still puzzled, Cordelia handed over her phone to Merry.
Merry scrutinized the messages briefly, âHe must know that Bland is coming Greenmeadow International School, so heâs planning to lure you out. Could be a ransom or kidnapping scam. We need to deal with this guy harshly!â
How dare he tarnish her idolâs name!
Merry typed a message on Cordeliaâs phone, âHow about we meet after morning classes, in the equipment room at Greenmeadow International School?â
âIt was a secluded spot. Perfect for teaching the fraud a lesson without drawing attention.â Merry thought so.
Actorman replied with an overly chipper, âOkeyâdokey!â
Blandâs persona was the epitome of cool aloofness. Heâd never use such cutesy language.
Well, today at lunch, this con artist would regret ever crossing paths with them.
After sending the message, Merry handed the phone back to Cordelia and sat down, pulling out her phone to send an alert in their âFlame Unionâ group chat.
Merry said, âLiaâs in trouble, need backup!â
Yates was confused.
âSome scammer claims to be Bland and set up a meeting with Lia at noon.â replied Merry.
âGive me time and place.â
âAfter morning classes, equipment room.â
Cordelia, oblivious to the unfolding plan, had already dove back into her literature assignment utterly engrossed.
After two classes, the excitement over the visiting movie star meant that the usual aerobics break was canceled. Latham strolled in with a light step, announcing, âAlright folks, Iâve got some great news for you!â
His grin was infectious, âBland is here at the school, you all know that, right?â
Chapter 70
The classroom with shrieks .
Bland was not only a heartthrob a talented actor with a fan base spanning genders and ages.
eagerly awaited next words.
Someone called out, âWill we get a chance to meet him? Even a glimpse from afar would be amazing!â
Latham turned stern, âSchool rules are clear. No one is to approach Bland while filming to avoid disrupting the process.â
The students groaned in collective disappointment.
But Lathamâs next words were like a balm, âHowever, there is an opportunity now. The production needs some extras. Iâve signed you all up! Anyone who doesnât want to participate doesnât have to.â
The class erupted again, this time with cheers of joy and proclamations of love for Latham, who had just taken them on an emotional roller coaster.
Latham held out his hand and pressed the voices of the students in the class. Then he spoke again, âSince you have to attend classes, the extras are shooting in the afternoon selfâstudy class. In the third year of senior high school, our extracurricular activities must be reduced, and study time is not enough. I hope that after Bland leaves this time, everyone can study with peace of mind!â
âNo problem!â
The cohesion in the class was at an allâtime high.
Merry couldnât restrain her mood. She turned to Cordelia, and her heavily madeâup face was full of wonder: âAh, Lia, Iâm going to die, I want to see the real idol!â
As the energy in the room hit its peak, Merry turned to Cordelia, her heavily madeâup face ablaze with excitement, âOh my god, Cordelia, I canât handle this. Iâm going to see my idol!â
Cordelia didnât respond, lost in her thoughts.
Merry scrambled for her mirror, âI need to touch up my makeup. I canât meet my idol looking like this. Oh no, I didnât bring my remover⦠what do I doâ¦â
She and her twin sister, Leila, looked identical, but she detested being confused with Leilaâs fake persona, so she always wore makeup to stand out.
In the midst of Merryâs crisis, Latham called out, âMerry and Juliana, can I see you two for a moment?â
The classroom buzzed with speculation as the two girls followed Latham out.
âDid you hear about that movie Blandâs shooting? Thereâs a scene with his characterâs first love, a pianist who dies in a car crash. Itâs a small part, but crucial. They had an actress lined up, but she bailed. I bet Latham is considering Juliana for the role. Her piano skills are topânotch,â one student speculated.
Others couldnât help but envious of Julianaâs opportunity to act alongside Bland, a genuine privilege, even considering their backgrounds.
When Merry and Juliana returned, Juliana seemed composed, but Merry was visibly shaken like she was living in a dream.
Merry could hardly believe it when Latham thought of her for such an incredible opportunity.
Seated at the front of the classroom, Juliana recounted the event, which immediately sparked a reaction from her peers, âMan, Iâm suddenly regretting not sticking with those piano lessons!â
With a sly grin, Juliana chuckled, âNah, itâs not like that. The schoolâs nominating a few people to audition.â
âBut youâre the belle of the ball around here, and your piano skills are off the charts! Itâs gotta be you! The audition is just a formality, really. Everyone else is just there to fill the seats!â
Juliana remained silent.
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Chapter 70
Hayley, a classmate who always looked down on Cordelia with her acidâtongued remarks, overheard the conversation and glanced at Cordelia, who was sitting at the back of the room. She laughed mockingly, âWhatâs the point of burying yourself in books all the time? Too bad, no piano skills mean no chance of getting picked by Latham. Heâd rather have Merry to make up numbers than call on Cordelia!â
At those words, Juliana shifted her expression subtly: