Xanthea remained silent.
"Here for the top ten IPs today? You might as well prepare to leave empty-handed. See our chairman over there? No one can compete with Starlight Media, not with the Lockwood Group backing them!"
"We wonât know the result unless I give it a try."
Isabella let out a loud, mocking laugh, quickly covering her mouth to avoid being caught on camera, "Go ahead then; watch yourself crash and burn!"
She dropped her hand and glanced at Matthew and Miranda standing next to her.
"Didnât expect youâre so careless, letting everyone know...uhmm!"
Before Isabella could finish, Xanthea clamped a hand over her mouth, her narrowed eyes issuing a clear warning.
"Let go!"
Isabella stepped back, shooting Xanthea an annoyed glare before strutting off to join the other Starlight Media artists in the front row VIP seats.
This Xanthea, a pampered princess who wouldn't deign to dirty her hands, had skin even softer than her frequently pampered face. How could she survive the cutthroat entertainment industry against someone like her? She'd be begging for mercy soon enough!
She almost dropped a clanger.
Xanthea exhaled in relief as Matthew looked on in surprise at Isabella's retreating figure, "Isabella? The girl from next door in high school who always tried to copy you?"
"You remember?"
"Of course! Everyone loved you back then, except for her. Always turning against you, trying to imitate you, but it just came off as awkward. Xan, you're one of a kind!"
Xanthea couldn't help but cringe a little at his cheesy compliment.
Miranda chimed in, "But she's a different person now, top of the industry, backed by Starlight Media and tens of millions of loyal fans. Even you, Sis, itâs tough to surpass her now."
Xanthea smiled faintly, "Yeah, youâve done well for yourself. After all these years, youâre still trailing behind her. How can I possibly compare?"
My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace ï¤Chapter 76 Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)
ï¤Chapter 1927 Falling For My Contractual Wife (Brian and Grace)
ï¤Chapter 782 Mirandaâs face changed subtly as she noticed Xantheaâs biting sarcasm, a new sharpness to her tone that hadn't been there before.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now 11 AM, and I declare this yearâs online literary rights auction officially begins!
First up, we have the first item, Echoes of Eternity from the top fiction site - last yearâs highest-selling novel and one of the ten most coveted IPs for adaptation. Bidding starts at 500 thousand, with increments of no less than 10 thousand. Let the bidding begin!"
"510 thousand!"
"600 thousand!"
"700 thousand!"
"750 thousand!"
As the bidding war for Echoes of Eternity intensified, Matthew picked up his bidding paddle, "Xan, you interested in this one?"
Xanthea shook her head, which surprised Matthew a bit, âThis novelâs one of the most valuable IPs for adaptation.â
"The protagonist isnât quite right for me."
"Alright, just let me know if thereâs anything else you like. Iâll snag it for you as a debut gift."
"Thanks, Matt."