Without any hesitation, Chloe quickly shook her head.

  "I don't want to become someone like her."

  She gave her explanation simultaneously.

  Hearing this explanation, Faye instinctively let out a light chuckle. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Chloe. In this young girl, she saw a long-unseen simplicity and clarity, and even her thoughts seemed so pure and kind.

  Finally, she nodded. "In this industry, forbearance can sometimes be a good trait, but it shouldn't become a permanent mark on your character."

  Chloe looked puzzled.

  Faye stated bluntly, "To put it simply, you can't keep enduring forever. Otherwise, people will think you're easy to bully. And in this industry, being 'easy to bully' is not a good thing."

  After all, she was a veteran, top-tier agent. Her few sentences were already enough to give Chloe much clarity.

  "Miss Faye, is someone like me... not suited to survive in this industry?" Chloe asked the question that had always troubled and unsettled her, yet she had never dared to voice.

  Unexpectedly, Faye immediately and decisively negated her self-doubt.

  Faye said without thinking, "Of course you are suited! This industry never lacks hard workers; what it lacks are geniuses. And you are a genius. You were born to be an actress!"

  "But I..."

  Faye took Chloe's hands, understanding her current doubts perfectly. She patted the back of Chloe's hand reassuringly. "You're still young. Perhaps you've been too well protected growing up, so suddenly entering this circle makes you to adapt. That's normal."

  "People always need a process of growth. The more you experience, the more you understand. You're still inexperienced in the world now, testing each step as you go, and walking warily. Even when someone bullies you, you know you should endure because you understand that pointing it out is useless. So you're not completely naive. You have more composure than many."

  "But composure isn't weakness, and it shouldn't make others think you're easy to bully. You can endure for a while, but you can't endure a lifetime."

  Chloe listened attentively, seeming to understand a bit.

  Miss Faye was telling her that small matters could be endured, but she shouldn't remain a weak and easily bullied person forever.

  "Thank you, Miss Faye. I feel much better inside," Chloe said with a well-behaved expression.

  Faye grew to like the young girl before her even more. Good qualities, a soft personality—it actually stirred a long-unseen protective instinct in her.

  "Don't thank me. You know I have ulterior motives regarding you."

  As Faye spoke, she glanced at Taylor and Edward and couldn't help but tease, "You already have assistants? You haven't found a better opportunity behind my back, have you?"

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "No, no, Miss Faye, please don't misunderstand. Edward and Taylor are from the production company, temporarily assigned to look after me."

  Hearing this, Faye nodded, then took a contract sample from her carry-on bag. "Anyway, you're tied up with the filming now, so I'm not in a hurry. Take your time to look over the contract. This is our company's standard template for artist agreements. Byran signed the same version."

  "If you have any issues with the terms, you can mark them, and we can discuss them later. Regardless, I still very much hope you will come to me."

  Chloe accepted it with both hands, nodding gratefully.

  Chloe didn't tell her sister about what happened on set today. She knew her sister must be very happy back in Novastra and didn't want to worry her.

  Grace was enjoying a rare leisure day, lounging at home, currently on a video call with Scarlett.

  'Honey, it's so boring without you here. I used to think it was great having just the two of us in the dorm, but now I wish a new roommate would come immediately to keep me company.'

  'Then why don't you go out more? If you're not in the dorm, you won't miss me so much.'

  Scarlett pouted. 'It was 36 degrees yesterday. The moment I stepped out of the dorm building, I almost cooked.'

  'Novastra is hot too. I was planning to visit my aunt's shop today, but I haven't left the house yet. Anyway, National Day is coming up soon. Just tough it out; it'll pass.'

  Just as she was speaking, the sound of the front door unlocking suddenly came from the entrance.

  Grace was startled, instinctively checking the time on the wall. 1:30 PM.

  Her mother was at work at this time, her brother at school. Who could be coming home?

  'Scarlett, I have to go. Talk later.'

  Grace hung up the video call directly and saw her mother opening the door and walking in.

  There was a sheen of sweat on her forehead, and her expression was somewhat heavy.

  "Mom?" Grace got up and went forward, surprised. "Why are you back at this time? Afternoon off?"

  Audrey sighed lightly, forcing a strained, artificial smile as she looked at her daughter. "I'll be off from now on."

  "What do you mean?" Grace didn't understand immediately.

  "Mom got laid off."

  Hearing this, Grace stood frozen. Although she herself had been thinking of ways to have her mother resign willingly, having fate suddenly step in to help also surprised her.

  "Why?" Grace asked with feigned concern.

  Audrey poured herself a glass of water, drank it, and then explained in a low, dispirited tone. "It's a normal personnel change at the hotel. They hired some new employees and laid off a batch of older ones. Mom might have seniority, but my education level is low, and I'm getting older too, so..."

  Grace knew Ray International Hotel was a foreign brand that always had educational thresholds for management. She hadn't expected that even a housekeeping staff member could be prioritized for layoffs due to low education.

  It made sense yet carried a hint of absurdity.

  However, Audrey just felt a bit downcast from the sudden unemployment, not overly sad.

  "The company gave compensation, all legal and compliant. Mom has nothing to complain about," Audrey said, then laughed herself. "Busy for half a lifetime without a break. Suddenly being laid off feels empty."

  "I'll ask your Aunt Eva later if they still need people. Having worked in a five-star hotel, I should be qualified."

  Aunt Eva?

  Grace thought about Aunt Eva and quickly grabbed her mother's arm. "Mom, forget about it. Aunt Eva's housekeeping company is way more exhausting than the hotel. Haven't you had enough of cleaning?"

  "What's tiring about cleaning?" Audrey said. "Mom raised three of you and never thought that was tiring."

  "That's not the point. You said yourself you've been busy for half a lifetime without a break. Now that you finally have this layoff, why are you in such a hurry to find something else to do?"

  "Chloe just started school and already got a role. I'm also making money in Aethelburg. Our family isn't short on money now."

  Audrey looked at her daughter. "Whether we're short on money or not, people can't just be idle. People waste away when they're idle."

  "Stop insisting on suffering when there's no need to. Are there really no other things to do besides going to work?"

  Grace pulled her mother into her room, jerking her chin towards the wardrobe. "Hurry up and change your clothes. I'm taking you out right now to experience how great life can be without a job."

  "Mom doesn't..."

  Grace glared, interrupting her mother's 'spellcasting', urging, "It's been ages since we went out together. Don't you want to?"