John was so touched by the young actresses' passion for their craft that he kept encouraging them.
He genuinely believed they were looking for his words of wisdom.
I'm such a considerate guy, he thought, as he spoke with sincere earnestness.
While he was lost in his motivational speech, another girl appeared. She was tall, wearing simple clothes and a white sun hat, and yet John immediately noticed her among all the other beautiful faces. His eyes lit up at once, and he strode forward with enthusiasm.
"Beauty, I'm sure you must be just like these inspiring girls—willing to sacrifice everything for art, right?"
The girl smiled politely but with a certain sharpness in her voice. "Well, Mr. Lopez, you're right. I love art and would do anything for it. But, unlike these girls, I wouldn't sacrifice my body. So, please, get your hand off mine."
"Beauty, you misunderstand," John said, shaking his head with a grin. "Sacrificing your body is part of the effort to pursue your dreams. If you're sweating, it just means the man behind you isn't good enough."
Despite his words, he didn't release her hand; instead, he held it more firmly, a smile still plastered on his face.
The girl's expression shifted to annoyance, and with a swift movement, she stomped on his foot with her flat shoes. "Old rascal, get off!"
The girl wearing the sun hat was none other than Anita, who had just changed into more casual clothes.
She now looked completely different from the seductive figure in the sexy cheongsam. In these simple clothes, she exuded a fresh, sunny beauty.
The other actresses in the group, who had been somewhat irritated by John's overly enthusiastic speech, quickly turned pale when they realized it was Anita. They knew exactly who she was, and that instantly shifted their attitudes.
"Anita, we're leaving now. We didn't mean to disturb you," one of them said, avoiding John's gaze as they hurried off. Before they left, their eyes shot daggers at John.
They had come over with a clear intention: to flirt with him, hoping for a chance to climb the social ladder. They wanted him as their sugar daddy. Instead, John, being the straight and boring man he was, had turned it into an impromptu motivational speech.
They hadn't wanted to hear a speech. They wanted something entirely different—and John had missed the point.
To sacrifice for art? That had been a direct hint. And now, with Anita's arrival, they were embarrassed to stay any longer.
Anita, having broken free from John's grip, smirked at him. "So, how does it feel to be surrounded by beautiful women? Do you blame me for disturbing your fun?"
John grinned. "How could I? No matter how many beauties there are, none of them compare to you!"
"Flatterer," Anita said with a roll of her eyes. "Those girls are at least second-tier stars, you know."
"They're nothing compared to you," John said, unabashed.
"Although you're flattering me, I'll take it. But let's go. I didn't get dinner with the crew today. I'll go out with you. I've already let Amelia know."
Without hesitation, she hooked her arm around his, guiding him out.
"Wait a minute. You're a superstar. Aren't you worried about people gossiping if they see us shopping together?" John said, surprised.
Anita snorted dismissively. "Please. I've never cared about my image as a single woman. Even if we were in a relationship, it's no one's business."
"Don't you worry that you might lose some male fans?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"As I said, acting is my hobby. I want the audience to love me for my skills, not for my personal life. If they can't accept me shopping with a man, then that's on them, not me."
John raised an eyebrow, thinking back to how she had leaned against him earlier in front of everyone. "You used to hold my waist in front of so many people in the crew. You think there won't be any gossip? You old rascal," she added, laughing at the memory.
John chuckled. "Since you said it, I'm not worried anymore."
Though she claimed to be unbothered, Anita still obediently put on a mask to shield her identity, just in case. It would be troublesome if a crowd of fans recognized her and caused a scene.
Their simple attire worked wonders, and they didn't encounter much trouble while walking around the street. After a while, Anita grew hungry, so they went into a restaurant and asked for a private room.
Once they were seated and the food was ordered, John hesitated for a moment before asking, "Anita, I need to ask—do you have a sugar daddy?"
The entertainment world was a tricky place. Anita had standards that set her apart from most actresses—she didn't do kissing scenes or any explicit roles. Yet, she still received numerous invitations from famous directors. It was clear that there was more going on behind the scenes.
Moreover, after Anita had changed clothes earlier, several second-tier actresses had approached John, which hinted that there were resources or connections tied to Anita.
All signs pointed to the fact that Anita must have someone powerful behind her.
Anita paused for a moment, her smile widening. She playfully pinched her fingers and said, "No, I don't have a sugar daddy. But I have several fiancés. After all, I'm so beautiful. It's normal for rich men to want to marry me."
Fiancés? John blinked, speechless. "How many?"
His mind raced. Did she seriously mean that?
Anita's expression shifted, her playful demeanor now gone. "You're the one who made fun of me first."
Her face darkened, and she spat, "You old bastard. Do you think I'm the kind of woman who gets by with my body?"
"I'm sorry, Anita. I trust you," John quickly apologized, flustered. He stood up straight, trying to salvage the situation.