Chapter 97: Chapter 96: You Can, But There’s No Need
Not until Norman Bennett sat at the head of the office desk did those few people hurry in and stand in a line before the man.
Charles Lee was at a loss for words, as it wasn’t easy to quell the rage of this top leader. Just as he was brewing a response, he heard the person at the head coldly say, "Why hasn’t the factory implemented national standards? Still using outdated technology!"
"This..." That question indeed stumped Charles Lee, but he quickly remembered something and hurriedly explained, "Hasn’t our Bennetts Group always operated this way?"
"The Bennetts are The Bennetts, Melody Harmony is Melody Harmony!"
Norman Bennett said this with particular emphasis. Without even looking at his expression, Elliana Lyle knew how angry the man was.
"But... but Mr. Bennett, we’re not proficient with this new technology yet, and the process is complicated and tedious. While it might be more environmentally friendly, it would also significantly increase the costs."
Elliana Lyle instantly wanted to say: Do you even know how much toxic gas will be emitted using outdated technology?
Of course, she didn’t voice this thought because it wasn’t necessary; Norman Bennett would handle it well.
Norman Bennett gazed at Charles Lee, his deep voice commanding respect without anger: "In early June last year, I already issued documents to each factory, requiring them to reform by the end of the year. And now you’re still telling me this?"
"Announce it, immediately halt operations for reorganization!"
What? Halt operations?
Charles Lee felt it was an overreaction from this Mr. Bennett, even questioning if there was something wrong with his mind. But for the factory’s sake, he still tried to persuade, "We can’t, Mr. Bennett. There’s still an urgent batch of orders. If we delay, we might lose money."
"These aren’t your concerns. Follow the latest national environmental standards to the letter."
The subsequent visits to other factories revealed the same issues, and Norman Bennett’s expression did not ease.
...
As the car traveled back, Elliana Lyle finally spoke to comfort him, "Norman Bennett, don’t be angry. Anger will age you faster."
Upon hearing the young girl’s voice, the man’s cold expression clearly softened. Seeing the young girl’s concerned demeanor, the man retorted, "Is that why you dislike me?"
"..."
"Ah? You saw through me?"
Elliana Lyle was visibly taken aback, but being an actress, wasn’t this type of acting just second nature?
Simultaneously, these words pulled the man away from his gloomy mood.
"No, you’re not allowed."
As he said this, Elliana Lyle’s eyes curved with smiles as she gazed at the man.
The man casually wrapped his arm around her waist, and a searing yet cold kiss landed without hesitation, a domineering approach with threads of tenderness.
The night was like silk, and the high-cold crescent outside the window was no match for him.
...
Only when the person in his arms softened did the man reluctantly let go.
Elliana Lyle gasped, almost suffocating herself. Once she calmed down, she started discussing serious matters with the man.
"Norman Bennett, why don’t you fire them? People like this, who violate national regulations, will cause trouble for the factory and the group in the future."
"I could, but there’s no need," the man said.
These words stunned Elliana Lyle for a moment, but wisely, she realized those people couldn’t be the main culprits. It should be the project leaders who are responsible.
With this thought, she suddenly became enlightened and said metaphorically, "Isn’t it like when the Emperor inspects, there’s no need to fire the gatekeeper of the Magistrate’s house but should trouble the Magistrate instead."
The man smiled dotingly in response, nodding slightly in agreement with her words.
Though it was already dark, they could still enjoy some rice dumplings together after returning since it wasn’t past midnight.
...
Through organizing in these past days, Elliana Lyle’s company finally became a formally legitimate studio, and she had her small team. After the lantern festival, she also had to return to school for her final semester of senior year, needing to sort out her thesis and prepare for graduation.
On the new February 9th, since she gets airsick, Norman Bennett had already booked high-speed train tickets to South City for her.
On the first day of school, Elliana Lyle woke up at 5 a.m. Early in her attire, she contemplated whether to bundle up tightly.
In the end, she dismissed the idea; after all, it was school, not an outside scenario.
At 8 a.m., a black car pulled up in front of the school gate, and Elliana Lyle got out here as Norman Bennett had gone to the company early, so Little Lee was the one driving her to school.
"Hey? Look, isn’t that Elliana Lyle?"
"It is, indeed!"
"Let’s go, let’s get an autograph."
Until 8:50, Elliana Lyle still hadn’t managed to report in, surrounded by a crowd of enthusiastic students, and she couldn’t refuse them.
Sure enough, she had been careless.
Finally, after much difficulty, she went to report in. Then she planned to visit the library to do some self-study.
Due to her internship last semester, she failed some courses, so she needed to retake exams this semester.
Library.
She borrowed a geography book and found a corner to sit, the library was much better than outside as, at least, hopefully, no one would bother her here.
"Isn’t that Elliana Lyle? This morning, she already blocked the school gate." A girl with pear blossom curls whispered to the girl next to her.
Next to her was another campus celebrity, the recognized school flower, Evelyn Dunn.
With excellent looks, although her height of 165 was not too tall, her body was proportioned to gold, always popular in school.
Evelyn Dunn also glanced towards the corner, coincidentally seeing a female student asking Elliana Lyle for an autograph, her shining phoenix eyes involuntarily narrowed, and her facial lines hardened, likely due to gritting her teeth.
The girl with pear blossom curls rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Look at her, she just happened to shoot two dramas, it’s nothing special."
The girl with pear blossom curls, named Kong Yan, always tagged along with Evelyn Dunn, considered a friend but more like a "servant-master" relationship.
In everyone’s eyes, Evelyn Dunn is the well-off rich girl, apparent from her branded clothes and shoes, even her phone was the latest model iPhone.
Evelyn Dunn turned and stopped looking towards Elliana Lyle, her tone flat: "She merely climbed through unspoken rules, not outstanding at all."
But she didn’t intentionally lower her voice, even if it was a normal volume, it seemed somewhat evident in the quiet library.
Naturally, Elliana Lyle heard this too. Due to South Wind Song’s popularity, she became well-known, attracting both admirers and detractors.
It was all understandable to her.
Hearing that, Kong Yan was curious, leaned in gossiping in a low voice, "Sister Yun, do you know something?"
"My uncle," Evelyn Dunn paused, then said, "My uncle is a director, he told me. You see, her clothes don’t even have a logo, and her phone’s an old model. Who else wouldn’t be able to buy a new phone after filming?"
"No wonder." Kong Yan nodded as if fully enlightened, harboring no doubt towards Evelyn Dunn’s words, fully convinced that Elliana Lyle gained opportunities through her body but didn’t get any money afterward.
...
A week later.
Elliana Lyle’s popularity at school soared, and most agreed she was the school flower of South University. This news infuriated Evelyn Dunn, who smashed things several times in the dormitory out of anger.
Previously, boys who circled around her with drinks and gifts had all shifted their attention to Elliana Lyle, wagging their tails.
Regarding this change, Evelyn Dunn was helpless. She could only squeeze Elliana Lyle with sarcasm in the library or study hall every day.
Yet she loathed Elliana Lyle’s indifferent, carefree demeanor, as if treating her like a clown.
That day, on the second Monday, Elliana Lyle went to the library to return a book and bumped into Evelyn Dunn and others. Without any expression, she walked past them directly towards the return counter.
Honestly, her mood was quite bad that day. Despite the airing of South Wind Song’s second season showcasing her versatile acting skills, online trolls became increasingly obnoxious.
One comment was: Do you think Elliana Lyle drove her mom to death to act tragic scenes, huh? How come her mom just inexplicably got hit and died precisely when the second season was changing its storyline? We haven’t heard about anyone hitting her, have we?
As for this poster, Luna was already investigating their true identity so Charles Lee could send them a lawyer’s letter.