Chapter 2654
The more Ivy scrolled through the online chatter, the more anxious she felt. In the end, she handed
her phone over to Evadne.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Ivy went meet up with the director and the crew. Their first stop
was the college in the city where âBallad of Valor,â the film they were promoting, was shot. The
movie spun a yarn of young, starry-eyed love, targeting a youthful audience as its main
demographic.
College students were unpredictable, a tough crowd that didn't follow the beaten path.
Ivy's nerves were strung tight as guitar strings at the thought of facing this challenging
group.
The director noticed Ivy's pallor â a few shades lighter than usual
- a few shades lighter than usual and couldn't help but chuckle. âYou weren't this jittery when you
auditioned for the role of Valor. What's got you spooked today?â
Ivy pulled a face, âAren't you nervous? The thought of being grilled with random questions has me
tied up in knots, like I'm back in school facing a pop quiz.â
"Hey, they're just college kids. They'll ask you questions based on the film, and you, my dear, are the
living embodiment of Valor. What's there to fear? You can't get stage fright now you're our leading
lady!â
The other actors rallied around Ivy, offering words of encouragement. Among them was Ryan, a new
actor like Ivy, but with a seasoned model's experience in the limelight, today's Q&A session was
nothing big for him
bored any
But Ivy was different. She had been the target of online vitriol for quite some time before facing a
real audience. She didnât know how these people saw her or if they bias that might prevent them
from giving the film a fair chance. That was one she hadn't voiced to anyone except Balfour. And
under a circumstance
couldn't be there to offer comfort.
Though they were both swamped with their schedules, Balfour still found a mo call and bolster her
spirits before her event.
âHave you gone on yet?â he asked.
worry
âNo, otherwise how could I be talking to you?â vy muttered, her voice tinged with nerve
âDonât worry about the online drama; it's old news. They won't judge you with those biases. A good
movie speaks for itself. You've got to trust yourself. Remember when your teaser dropped and you
gained eight hundred thousand followers overnight? That's not something just anyone can do.â
Ivy stomped her foot in frustration, âBut back then, they weren't swayed by all that online
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Chapter 2654
nonsense. Ugh, it's so annoying. Why me? I donât want to be misunderstood. I wish they could get
to know who I really am from the start.â
Balfour could hear the depress in Ivy's voice and felt a pang of sympathy. These were unwarranted
troubles, and yet she had to bear them alone.
"As an actor, your work is what matters most. Today is the first step for them to get to know who
you really are. You can't back down, Ivy. The more you retreat, the more those lies gain traction. You
need to reach out, to show them who you truly are, to make them understand.â
"Okay, I'll give it my best shot.â
When the lights dimmed, Ivy took her seat among the audience and allowed herself to become
absorbed in the story of âBallad of Valor.â It was her first time watching the final cut. After wrapping
up filming, she had only caught glimpses of the editing process and had never seen the complete
work.
The story began with two girls biking down a country lane, their laughter as free as the wind in their
hair. The cheerful tinkle of their bicycle bells accompanied them as they turned into the schoolyard.
âValor, are we hitting our secret hideout later?â
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