Chapter 53

After the dinner party, when Lily returned to her home in Brentwood, it was almost 10 PM. She still had a pile of homework to do, but before that, she had a task to complete.

In the spacious and luxurious hall, illuminated like daylight by the crystal chandelier, Lily sat on a European leather sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, holding her phone and calling Lam-Willis.

"Lam, it's me, Lily. Are you free this weekend?"

"Hmm, what do you want to...?" Lam's voice was lazy, but then he perked up, "It's about Wei again?!"

"Yes." Lily chuckled, shaking her head in self-mockery. She just couldn't refuse that womanizer, that big jerk...

"Oh, Lily, are you under some witch's spell?" Lam's surprised and helpless words could also be interpreted as: Are you crazy?

"Listen to me first. Wei has been busy making a short film. He's already prepared everything and will start shooting tomorrow, planning to finish in three days. We thought, if you're free this weekend, you could come to the set with me."

Lily made the invitation, and the most convincing part was seeing it with one's own eyes. It was impossible to get Willis to visit the set, but Lam might. She had started acting at a young age and spent a lot of time on sets. She could tell if someone was professional or not just by watching for a while.

Then, when it came to persuading her father, Lam could help. That was the jerk's plan.

"Set!?! Are you sure you want to call it that?" Lam was truly amazed. "Lily, you're a smart person. What's going on? Is he threatening you?"

"No, what are you talking about." Lily was annoyed. If Lam weren't so arrogant, they would be good friends.

Lam didn't care about that, saying whatever came to mind: "I don't care about Wei's short film at all, and I don't see any potential. What can a ninth-grader produce? Even if he does produce something good, it won't matter. The matter is already over, the day before Thanksgiving. We were about to fly to Europe, and my old man called him. He messed up! You don't know how angry the old man was!"

She imitated her father's tone, suppressing his irritation and anger: "‘Wei, that kid... everything I thought about him was wrong! That kid is a fool, a fool who doesn't know who he is!’ He almost threw his phone! It's all over, got it?"

Lily frowned, knowing that Willis's anger wasn't a good sign. "But... if Wei's short film turns out well..."

"Even if it's good, it won't matter. Does Wei understand celebrities? Do you? Who wants to play around with a kid? Do you want to become a laughingstock to the world?" Lam laughed disdainfully. "Why don't you talk to your dad about it and see his reaction? Lily, wake up!"

I am awake! Lily frowned, stood up, and walked to the window. She didn't want to say more and pleaded, "Lam, just do me a favor and come take a look, okay?"

"Wait, you said he'll start shooting tomorrow, so you don't know what he'll produce, right? Aren't you afraid he'll make a mess?"

"Wei has a team of third-year USC students helping him! Even they trust him!" Lily was getting angry, not wanting to hear Lam's unreasonable insults about Wei.

"I'm not sure. That kid has a lot of tricks. Who knows if they're just some unemployed people..." Lam's temper flared, and his tone became lazy after being rebuked by Lily, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

Since she was the one asking for a favor, Lily took a deep breath, softened her tone, and said softly, "I just attended the pre-production dinner tonight. They are really college students. Lam, for my sake, okay?"

"Fine, fine, I'll stay for 15 minutes at most!" Lam was both impatient and helpless, and decisive. "This is the last time, Lily. In the matter of Wei, I'll help you one last time. You've already got all my blessings!"

"Thanks!" Lily laughed, rubbing her forehead. "I know you can't believe in him like I do because you don't understand him, but after this, you'll change your mind. Then you can continue to help him."

"Oh, my God... whatever. I hope I don't see a pile of garbage."

"It won't happen. I believe in him, I really do."

After ending the call, Lily said "YES" a few times in relief, muttering to herself, "Lam, don't envy me! Ha... you're really quite narcissistic..."

Speaking of which, was she really not at all anxious about this? She knew she wasn't. She had her doubts and worries, but she also had passion and excitement. He was so hardworking, with so many impressive achievements, a fantastic dream chaser. But he would do even more, and she believed...

While lost in thought, she turned around and saw her mother standing at the entrance of the hall, startling her. "Mom... when did you come back?"

"Just now." Jill Taverman was wearing an elegant black evening gown, her light golden hair styled in a bun, adorned with earrings and a pearl necklace, and wearing high heels. She held a handbag in her hands, her middle-aged face still retaining her charm, and she was smiling.

She had accidentally overheard a few sentences of her daughter's call, and because she knew some new developments, she was very worried.

"Lily, I want to talk to you." Taverman walked towards her daughter.

"Sure, what about?" Lily asked, puzzled, sitting down on the sofa.

"Your classmate, Wei." Taverman also sat down, holding her daughter's hand. "What's his production plan? What's he thinking?"

"Well, it's complicated..." Lily smiled and rolled her eyes, not wanting to elaborate. "Mom, thanks for your concern, but don't worry about it. You'll know eventually. I'm not even sure myself, ha ha."

Taverman didn't give up. She knew her daughter had attended Wei's pre-production dinner tonight and had recently started going out with him, Wei. Her daughter was in love.

She had already discreetly inquired at the school and learned who Wei was: a dangerous bad boy.

But he was a mature, smart, humorous, handsome, and talented bad boy, and the captain of the football team. He didn't care much about other girls, but he had a fatal attraction to Lily.

Going out with someone like him could easily lead to getting deeply involved... She had been madly in love with such a person, Phil Collins, indulging him and herself... What was the result?

And Lily was in her first love. Sweet and bitter first love, where one party would inevitably get hurt, maybe both, but never the bad boy. His first love was over in kindergarten.

Taverman didn't want to interfere, but she hoped Lily would be less hurt, and not take it so seriously...

But it seemed Lily was taking it very seriously, not like a casual teenage romance. She was about to get deeply involved.

Lily's life had already been greatly hurt by her parents' divorce. If her first love also went wrong, it would be unimaginable.

Moreover, Wei seemed to be more than just a bad boy.

"Lily, you have to tell me." Taverman stroked her daughter's hair and said gently, "Mom isn't worried about the few thousand dollars, but I'm afraid you'll get hurt."

"Ha, you mean... I'll be hurt by Wei? Yes, he's a jerk, but... ha ha ha!"

Lily couldn't help but laugh. How could he hurt her, hit her? The more she laughed, the funnier it seemed. "Mom, you don't know anything. There's nothing to worry about. To put it simply... since I met that jerk, I've been happier. Okay? I need to go back to my room and do my homework."

Looking at her daughter's bright eyes and sweet smile, as if she was the only one who understood someone in the world, Taverman saw a glimpse of her younger self. She frowned, knowing there were some things she couldn't leave unsaid...

"Mom thinks you already know this, right? Wei wants to be the producer and director of the 'Little Miss Sunshine' project. Bruce Willis and Focus Features both want to buy it, and they've offered good terms, but he refused. He wants more."

Lily frowned, wondering what her mother was getting at.

Taverman's expression turned serious. "He proposed a private deal. If Focus buys his family's 'The Wedding Date' for $1 million, he'll give the 'Little Miss Sunshine' project back to Focus for free, with the Dream Chasers Union getting a 5% stake. He won't insist on being the producer and director, but he wants an associate producer credit."

There were some things she didn't say. If this was true, it was extremely selfish and despicable!

His classmates trusted him, but he only cared about himself, making this dirty deal, turning a project worth millions into his family's property. If this was true, he was exploiting his classmates' youthful enthusiasm, exploiting Lily...

"Dear, do you think this is right?" she asked.

"I don't want to listen to you!" Lily's face turned red with anger in an instant. "Where did you hear these lies? It's ridiculous! Who, who is slandering Wei? Who!?"

"Focus people." Taverman sighed. "I'm not saying it's definitely true, Lily. Believe me, I understand the world better than you. Focus must have their reasons, but I'm asking you, does Wei want to be the producer and director? Did he refuse Willis? If so, even if Focus is lying, he has no justification. He's very selfish! What are his intentions? What does he want? You need to think about it."

Focus!? Lily immediately felt something was off. Why would Focus do this?

They wanted to buy back the project! She had heard Wei say that Focus was regretting it and had called him several times to buy it back, but he refused.

"They're lying! Mom, what else did they say to you? Why would they come to you?"

Taverman paused for a moment, letting her daughter calm down, then continued, "Focus people say Wei is a liar. Throughout the project transaction, he never clearly stated that his money was from crowdfunding. He said he just bought it for fun, and he was inconsistent in many places, hiding his true intentions."

Hearing this, Lily couldn't calm down, and her anger flared up again. "His intention was to secure the production budget and become the producer and director! That's it!"

"Isn't that selfish and foolish?"

"You don't know anything!"

Lily didn't want to argue with her mother anymore. She stood up, expressionless, and quickly walked out of the hall. "No more. Anyway, I won't be hurt by anything! Mom, just wait and see. When Wei's short film is made, you'll know he's not selfish and foolish, he's... insane!"

"Lily!" Taverman called out, but her daughter didn't turn back. She shouted, "Don't get too close to Wei for now, okay? Let some things become clear... Lily!"

Mom, this time you're the fool! Arrogant, stupid! You don't know anything! Lily thought to herself, taking big steps up the spiral staircase and calling Wei on her phone. As soon as he answered, she said, "Jerk, Focus Features is spreading rumors about you!"

On the other side of Brentwood, Wei had just returned home and was about to go to bed, ready to wake up early the next day to start shooting. He had already taken Friday and Saturday off from school, a privilege of a gifted student: approved.

Lily's call was unexpected. He hurried to his room, puzzled, and asked, "What?"

"My mom is crazy..."

After listening to Lily's story, Wei's forehead was covered in cold sweat, his brows furrowed, and his eyes filled with anger. "Damn, a bunch of despicable people..."

"What do they want?" Lily asked, puzzled.

Wei walked into his room, sat down by the bed, and said, scratching his head, "Hasn't Focus been trying to buy back the script recently? They offered $800,000 today, and I refused, which you know. They also asked if I would sell 'The Wedding Date,' as if it was a separate matter. I had no intention of selling it, as I wanted to re-edit it, so I refused. But they kept pestering me to sell... Damn, if I had been tempted, I would have been finished!"

He was really grateful he had refused outright, not even considering it. If Focus had gotten his "intention," those bastards would have linked the two matters, accusing him of a dirty deal and misusing company assets. He wouldn't have been able to escape it, and Focus wouldn't have bought it in the end.

"Why are they saying it now?" This was what Lily was puzzled about. Now, Wei definitely wouldn't fall for it.

"Because they know I won't sell, and pestering me is useless. They can only slander me this way!" Wei clenched his teeth, full of anger. "They're spreading rumors now, and some club members will have doubts, and some parents will worry... If I can't withstand the pressure and sell for $800,000, they'll achieve their goal."

"That's right, everyone doesn't know about Willis yet..." Lily exclaimed, suddenly understanding the malice and fear in it.

"Yes, if everyone finds out this way, will they think I'm selfish? Will they ask me, persuade me, scold me, and tell me to sell! All my friends, even my family, might do that. I might really break down, and they'll get the project back and happily produce it with Willis."

Wei clenched his fists, stood up, and walked to the punching bag, hitting it hard. "These bastards!"

He hadn't sworn at Lily in a long time, but this time he couldn't help it. "Bastards... trash..."

"They really are bastards!" Lily suddenly swore too, taking a few deep breaths to calm down. "What do we do now?"

Wei calmed himself down, thought for a moment, and said, "Some things can't be explained. No matter how much I talk, I can't dispel everyone's doubts. So I still need to make the short film well, to give everyone confidence. If I can make progress with Willis, no one will care what Focus says. Making the short film well is the most powerful way to fight back!"

"But we should tell everyone at school, right?" Lily didn't want him to be misunderstood.

"Yes, Focus will probably start acting tonight. By the end of the weekend, there will be many rumors at school. I'll tell Lev and the others to be prepared. Lily, don't worry. Some people think they can win with tricks, but that's not true. In the film industry, the work is the greatest power!"

"Good point, I'm not too worried, but my mom... I almost had a fight with her, ha, she's worried you... are using me."

"Don't argue with her. Her worries are understandable. She's just worried about her daughter."

"She should come and listen to what you have to say. Oh right! Lam agreed to visit the set, Saturday afternoon or Sunday, for 15 minutes."

"15 minutes? That's enough. Saturday afternoon is good. Lily, let's use this short film to shock everyone!"