Chapter 136
Chapter 136
Eileen got back to the hotel and found Janice in her room, clutching her phone and wiping her tears with tissue. Two boxes of food sat on the table.
Eileen frowned and asked, “What’s up? Did someone mess with you?”
Janice sniffled, raising her phone, “No one’s messing with me, Eileen. I was watching this show, Fancy Island. It’s just too heartbreaking, I feel so bad for the main guy.”
Eileen forced a smile.
She sat down next to Janice, opened up one of the food boxes, and said while eating, “I think it’s alright. I didn’t feel it was particularly tragic when I was shooting.”
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Janice pouted, “But the guy’s backstory is so sad. I hope the female lead can cure him soon. Do you know when they’re gonna get together, Eileen?”
After thinking for a moment, Eileen said, “Probably at the end of the series.”
Janice fell silent for a while.
Then, Eileen’s phone buzzed. She saw it was another prize-winning message, but from a different number this time.
“These scamming teams are getting bolder and bolder,” Eileen was a bit upset.
Janice asked curiously, “What happened?”
Eileen showed her the message, “I got a text saying I won a phone and a computer. Problem is, I didn’t enter any raffles. How could I possibly win?”
Janice smirked, “Just a phone and a computer? I got a scam message the other day saying I won a beachfront villa. They wanted me to enter my ID number to verify my identity and claim the property.”
“You didn’t fill that out, did you?” Eileen asked.
Janice replied, “Of course not. Who would fall for these online scams nowadays?”
Eileen nodded, blocked the number, and said, “It’s a ‘prize trap’. Best case, you leak some personal info. Worst case, they ask you to pay some fees or taxes to collect your prize. Once you’ve transferred the money, they vanish.”
Janice agreed, “Yeah, and there are those fake fund and investment scams. They claim high returns, ask you to register online. You see your account balance increasing every day, but you can’t actually withdraw any of it. It’s just numbers, tricking you into depositing more money.”
Eileen nodded, “There are many other online scamming tactics…”
Most popular online scams exploit people’s desire for a quick buck.
Spending a certain amount at the supermarket gets you into a raffle. The little toys you win could even be used as keychains. But such sudden fortune is almost certainly fake.
Only fools would believe it!
Eileen and Janice chatted while eating.
After finishing the food, Eileen went to clean up and rest early.
Meanwhile, something else was happening elsewhere.
Chad was smoking nonstop. He’d already gone through three cigarettes.
Finally, one of his subordinates called.
He informed Chad that another number had been blocked.
Chad furrowed his brows, “How’s that possible? I was giving Eileen a computer and a phone. How could she reject that?”
Blake, sitting on a sofa across the room, asked, “Why didn’t we just send it to her hotel instead of using the prize message?”
Chad looked at Blake, “And if she asks where the items came from, what do we say?”
Blake suggested, “We say they’re from the show’s production team.”
Chad shook his head, “We need to communicate with the production team first. Otherwise, if Eileen asks them, they’ll expose our lie.”
Blake said, “Then let’s talk to the production team.”
Chad lit another cigarette, worriedly said, “Didn’t you guys say we should keep a low profile? If we talk to them, others will know, and word will get to Eileen sooner
or later.”
Blake sighed helplessly, “So we can’t do anything.”
After a few puffs, Chad suddenly suggested, “How about we ask Egbert?”
Blake didn’t want to contact Egbert.
He’d just been scolded by his father Derek for Egbert’s mistake.
But Egbert was the one who knew Eileen the best.
In the end, Chad called Egbert.
Egbert was on set: He took the call during a break.
“You’re asking how to give her something without raising suspicion and without her doubting where it came from, right?” Egbert asked calmly.
Chad said, “Yes, any good ideas?”
Egbert paused, then suggested, “Dump it in a trash can. She’ll pick it up when she walks by.”
Chad couldn’t believe it, “Seriously? She’d pick up trash?”
The next day, Chad was completely dumbfounded when he received a call from his subordinate.
The subordinate reported, “The items were placed on top of a public trash can on the hotel’s first floor. She circled it for ten minutes to make sure no one was coming to get it, then asked the front desk about it. They told her the items were broken and discarded by a guest. She then confidently took them.”
Chad couldn’t believe Eileen would pick up trash.
He felt like crying.
He sighed deeply and said wearily, “It’s fine. At least the items reached her. Let it be.
The subordinate said, “The items did reach her, but she sold them to a second-hand store after fixing them.”Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.
Chad took another deep breath, “Well, picked-up items aren’t hygienic. It’s better she sold them. Did she get enough money for a new computer and phone?”
The subordinate said, “No, she just kept the money.”
“But…” the subordinate added.
Chad quickly asked, “What?”
The subordinate said, “But she’s been hanging around that trash can whenever she has spare time. She even made a special trip back to the hotel after lunch today. and stood by the trash can for over half an hour before leaving.”
Chad was beat, he rubbed his head, took a hot minute to get his bearings, then muttered, “Book me a flight.”
Today, Eileen made a pretty penny, she was over the moon.
In the dance studio, Eileen was unusually all sweetness and light, it scared the bejesus out of the five people.
Today was the last training before the third stage performance. By nightfall, they were gonna start the dress rehearsal.
Before the dress rehearsal, Eileen bumped into Aurora backstage.
Aurora was fixing Tania’s hair. She glanced at Eileen as she walked by.
Eileen paid her no attention and headed off with her crew.
“Ms. Lopez.” Aurora suddenly stopped her.
As soon as Aurora spoke, the noisy backstage went quiet, everyone turned their heads.
Eileen stuffed her hands into her pockets, turned & raised an eyebrow at Aurora.
Aurora had a smile on her face, “I reckon there’s some misunderstanding between us.”
Eileen hummed nonchalantly, “Is that so?”
“Yes.” Aurora chuckled again, “I was hoping we could clear the air, but I guess there won’t be a chance for that. Because, after tomorrow, you’ll be out of the picture for good.”