The next morning, William checked the review section for Donald’s book on his phone and finally grasped the terrifying influence of celebrities in this era.
He had gone to bed at dawn when the reviews numbered just over ten thousand. By the time he woke up, they had skyrocketed to over ninety thousand.
Do these people not sleep?
Skimming through the comments, he learned a thing or two.
Within the review section, there was a group referred to as “Trolls.” It seemed like these individuals were possibly paid by Joseph to criticize Donald. Additionally, there was a term he came across – “comment manipulation.”
Even in Donald’s own review section, Donald’s fans hardly had any say.
Apparently, the website had been reported so many times that many of its popular, money-making novels were banned.
The website’s management seemed to hope that Donald would keep a lower profile for the sake of peace, as the site had suffered significant losses from the ongoing chaos.
So, this “war” was not as straightforward as it appeared on the surface. It seemed more about who had more influence and money.
Casually checking the news, the story about Joseph being insulted by a third-rate screenwriter was second in popularity only to Mason’s novel getting banned. From the looks of online sentiment, the vast majority still supported Joseph.
William rummaged through his fridge and realized that, since he had been out for a few days, most of the vegetables weren’t very fresh. He found two tomatoes and decided to make tomato pasta.
Amy, holding a carrot in one hand and sipping from a half-box of milk in the other, made her way to William’s small courtyard.
Seeing the door open, she rushed in. Spotting William cooking pasta, her eyes widened in surprise, “Mr. Johnson, you’re back?”
William responded with a nod, asking, “Have you had breakfast? Want some pasta?”
“Yes!” Amy, visibly excited to see William, proudly remarked, “While you were away, I fed the bunny every day.”
“Go feed the bunny then. I’ll bring the pasta out to you when it’s done.” Upon his return, William had noticed that the rabbit in his yard was in good shape, clearly thanks to Amy’s care.
However, he suspected that Amy’s main reason for feeding the rabbit so diligently was out of concern it might not provide enough meat for a meal if too skinny.
Once the pasta was ready, William served a small plate for Amy and moved the table and chairs under the Chinese parasol tree, leisurely enjoying their meal.
While eating, Amy suddenly asked, “Mr. Johnson, can we not eat the little bunny?”
William looked up and replied, “Of course.”
He almost forgot,children, besides being particularly attached to food, are also easily emotionally attached to small animals.
The death of a pet dog or cat at home could make them cry for several days. Amy has been caring for this rabbit for some time now,her affection for it has surpassed her desire to eat it.
After breakfast, William strolled towards the school, as he usually did.
On the way, he greeted Maria and noted that while her stall’s business wasn’t booming, it wasn’t doing badly either. It seemed sufficient to support her family.
Upon his arrival at school, Wyatt and his friends immediately approached him with a barrage of questions.
“Bro, did you go to the New York Film Festival last night?” The question Wyatt and his friends were most curious about was this one. If others didn’t recognize William, how could they not?
“I did,” William admitted, seeing no reason to hide it.
“Man, last night’s New York Film Festival was absolutely grand,” Wyatt exclaimed excitedly. “Mason was a top-tier celebrity last night, and just like that, his fame cooled off. Were there any behind-the-scenes stories?”
William chuckled, “What kind of insider information could there be?”
“I have a feeling there might be some,” Wyatt chuckled. “William, were you with Evelyn last night? How far have you two progressed? I’ve heard that Evelyn is actually the granddaughter of Mr. Taylor, a top global billionaire. She truly is a wealthy heiress.”
Paul mumbled from the side, “It seems like all the women around William are wealthy heiresses.”
The female friends around William, the “dorm trio”, everyone has seen them.
Lila, Alice,aren’t they all heiresses from rich families?
Wyatt couldn’t help but sigh, “This world really favors good looks, huh? Does being handsome really grant one so much leeway?”
He recalled an incident at the school cafeteria where he and William had queued at the same counter for food. The server had given William noticeably more meat, while Wyatt had received a reprimand.
It appeared the saying “getting by on one’s looks” wasn’t just a casual remark.
As they chatted, they saw Lucy and her roommate Clara hurrying past.
Wyatt was unaware of the situation between William and Lucy. From a distance, he called out, “Lucy, where are you headed?”
Lucy looked somewhat anxious, her eyes darting nervously. Without acknowledging them, she followed Clara, briskly walking forward.
“Where are they off to? They seem like they’re in a hurry,” Wyatt commented. He’d always had a soft spot for Lucy, but unfortunately, she didn’t seem to reciprocate the feeling.
“Let’s go see. If something’s wrong, we might be able to help,” suggested one of the dormitory trio. While they were seen as “geeks” in the eyes of some girls and weren’t particularly close with Lucy, they felt her urgency was evident.
Having nothing else to do, William and Wyatt followed them.
Lucy and Clara reached the western gate of the school, where Lucy got into a black Mercedes-Benz car. Clara tried to get in after her but was stopped by a man who looked like a bodyguard.
William and his companions were about 30 feet away from Lucy and her group, but William could easily discern what was happening inside the car.
It was Joseph who was looking for Lucy.
Upon entering the car, Lucy immediately asked, “Where’s my phone?” 𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺
Joseph leisurely removed his sunglasses, revealing a peculiar smirk. “Lucy, do you genuinely not want to be with me?” he inquired.
Flushing deeply, Lucy responded, “I think it’s better if I just admire you from a distance.”
Joseph’s smile slowly faded. With a stern face, he stated, “Fine. Just set me up with Miss Taylor, and I promise the photos on your phone won’t get leaked.”
“You…” Lucy was so distressed she was near tears. Staring at Joseph, she said with disbelief, “How can you be like this? I liked you so much…”
“You liked me? But you don’t want to be with me,” Joseph said, sizing her up. He realized that she was quite attractive. Narrowing his eyes, he bluntly asked, “Have you ever been with anyone before?”
Furious, Lucy clenched her fists, her face turning even redder. Joseph, being a famous celebrity, had the audacity to ask such a question. What did he take her for?
“Looks like a virgin to me!” Joseph chuckled, “Since you like me, how about we do it here in this car? I’ll give you back your phone afterward. How’s that sound?”