Rebirth vs. Rebirth Tragedy to Triumph by Violeta and Zelena [[Chapters 281, to 290]] – Daisy Novels 

Chapter 281

Meanwhile, Wade chose the newcomer, Violeta.

Hattie felt that there was more to this situation than it seemed.

“Do you know who is investing in this drama?”

Zelena asked, “Why? What’s up?”

Hattie replied, “I feel like there’s something fishy about this. It’s better to investigate.”

The fact that Violeta caught Wade’s attention was no coincidence.

Even though people noticed her, it was unusual for her to secure a role so quickly, particularly as the female lead. It was almost too smooth.

Considering how sought-after Wade’s scripts were, this was quite surprising.

Wade was a gold-standard screenwriter. Almost every leading actor and actress in the industry has appeared in his dramas. His name had become synonymous with awards.

Anyone who had played a role in his scripts had at least one notable ‘work’ to their name, no matter how their career turned out afterward.

Especially as the female lead.

Hattie had heard on-set discussions about ‘The Quiet Ode’. Although it was a web series, it was a female-oriented drama.

The entire plot revolves around the female lead, Layla, and countless veteran actors supporting her role.

Such a series, as a debut show, is simply a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Violeta’s luck seemed to be extraordinary.

Hattie felt a pang of jealousy.

Zelena said, “Hattie, you have a wide network. Why don’t you dig around a bit? I’ll wait for your good news.”

Hattie agreed, “Alright.”

After hanging up the phone, Zelena rolled her eyes and threw it on the table.

She was now the only one remaining.

She was anxious but unsure of what to do.

Zelena tried to calm herself. She reminded herself to stay composed. Panic would do no good.

Even in urgency, she couldn’t act recklessly.

She had to meticulously plan every step she took.

Since Violeta was off filming and not at school, it was Zelena’s chance to make a good impression.

She had to maximize her gains while Violeta was away, waiting for the right opportunity to overshadow her.

Rumours were rampant online.

Without needing to investigate, Violeta knew who was behind the trouble.

At this point, what else could Zelena do besides this?

Frustrated and anxious must be her current state.

Violeta remembered how Zelena used to manipulate public opinion in their previous lives.

Before Violeta could take any action, the trending search dropped suddenly and without warning.

Initially, Violeta thought it was Niall who had intervened.

After calling him, she learned he was on a business trip in the western region and hadn’t been following online events.

Niall didn’t remove the trending search.

So who did?

Niall suggested, “It could be Hayden.”

“Hayden!?”

Niall chuckled and hinted, “Yes, give him a call. I’ve got something to handle; we can talk later.”

“Alright, bye.”

After hanging up, Violeta hesitated for a moment. She found Hayden’s number and called him.

The phone rang for almost half a minute before he answered.

Hayden’s calm voice came through the phone. He said, “Hello.”

“Hayden?”

“Yes, what’s up?”

Violeta said, “Well, I wanted to ask, did you remove the trending search? I just called Niall, and he told me to ask you.”

The other end of the line went silent.

Violeta checked her phone and saw that the call was still active.

“Hello? Hayden.”

After a moment, Hayden’s voice returned. He admitted, “Yes, I did.”

Violeta was astonished.

It really is Hayden.

He had removed the trending search for me.

She couldn’t quite understand why Hayden would do that. Was it out of friendship?

Violeta asked, “Why did you help me remove the trending search?”

The other end was very quiet. Violeta couldn’t hear anything, but she could hear a tapping sound like a pen hitting a desk.

After some time, Hayden responded, “I didn’t want you to receive criticism.”

“Thank you.”

He answered, “Don’t worry about it. Just treat me to a meal when I get back.”

“Sure, where are you now?”

“Newham.”

Violeta wanted to ask what he was doing in Newham but felt it was too much, so she didn’t.

“Alright, take care. I’ll hang up now.”

“Okay.”

Violeta put down the phone. She waited for three seconds, but the call hadn’t ended.

She wanted Hayden to hang up first, but since he didn’t, she put the phone back in her ear and heard-

“Hade, are you done with the call? Come to the meeting.”

“Alright.”

Violeta realized Hayden might be in the middle of working on his business.

She immediately hung up, feeling a bit embarrassed, thinking she had interrupted him and dragged out the call.

No wonder it took him so long to answer.

On the other side, in the conference room, everyone was waiting for Hayden to finish his call and join them.

Chapter 282

Around the table, there were many people dressed in executive suits. Directly across from Hayden was his uncle, Lionel Moller, the governor of Newham.

They were in the middle of a discussion when Hayden’s phone suddenly rang.

Only Hayden could get away with answering a call in front of Lionel. Anyone else doing that would be seen as a huge sign of disrespect.

Hayden didn’t pay much attention to whether the call had ended; he hoped Violeta would hang up.

He put his phone back in his pocket and sat down.

“Sorry about that.”

A man with glasses chuckled and said, “It’s fine. Young people and their phones-it’s normal. Unlike us, the old folks, we only receive calls from our wives checking on us.

The following days, Violeta trained her ankle to walk while practicing her lines at home.

Meanwhile, Zelena was busy at school, winning people over. After Nolan resigned as student council president, Zelena even ran for the position herself.

She became the new student council president at Toland University.

Hattie finally found out who funded ‘The Quiet Ode.’

To her surprise, all the investment came from one company, Atlas Petroleum.

Niall owned the company.

He had spent 105 million on the series..

Holy cow! The drama only had seven episodes. That meant each episode had an investment of 15 million.

A 105 million investment- doesn’t that mean each episode costs 15 million!?

This amount!

This amount of investment is simply terrifying!

This is clearly gearing up for a major production.

Who wouldn’t be envious of such an investment?

The news spread quickly, and the entire industry was shocked.

Hattie never imagined Niall would be so generous to Violeta.

Even though Niall was just Violeta’s cousin, it was unbelievable that he would spend so much on her.

Hattie shared the news with Zelena.

Zelena’s reaction mirrored Hattie’s disbelief.

“105 million! Hattie, are you sure?”

“Absolutely!”

Zelena frowned and asked, “That doesn’t make sense. You told me Violeta was Zoren’s sister. Niall is just her cousin, and yet he’s so generous? She’s an illegitimate child.”

The term ‘illegitimate child’ stung Hattie.

When Hattie started her acting career, the Ridges offered no help. It was all thanks to Hannah running around, seeking help for herself.

Hattie returned to the Ridges, but her value remained unchanged.

Liam had started working at the company, but only at ground level for now. It was a mere formality. Within two years, Liam would naturally become the general manager.

Who knew if Benson could catch up when he returned?

For now, Hannah has pinned her hopes on Hattie. She had to debut and win the Best New Actress award the next year, which is why Hannah worked so hard for her.

In contrast, Violeta had Niall spend an enormous sum on her debut.

What an honor! He truly adored Violeta.

Hattie felt extremely unbalanced.

Zelena realized her words had hurt Hattie. She quickly consoled and said, “Hattie, don’t overthink it. I was just speaking my mind.”

“No matter the investment, it’s the final product that counts. Your project also has significant funding. You’ll definitely win an award; don’t worry.

“Actually, making a debut doesn’t mean much. Just think about it. The bigger the hype, the worse it will be if the final product gets slammed online. That would be truly tragic. After that, no one would invest in Violeta.”

Zelena’s words sparked an idea in Hattie.

Everyone plays the hype game in the entertainment industry? Pre-release marketing was crucial.

When the series aired, Hattie could hire people to badmouth Violeta online and potentially turn the tide.

Hiring internet trolls was a common practice in showbiz.

It was standard practice to buy into the scandals of rivals.

After thinking about this, Hattie felt a bit better.

But back to the point.

“Hattie, I heard you became the new student council president.”

Zelena smiled and said, “Yeah, I did.”

After Nolan stepped down, the position was up for grabs. Zelena had worked hard, building relationships and even paying off some people. She finally became the student council president.

She planned to use her new role to deal with those who had supported Violeta.

Especially Kaylee, who had always stood by Violeta.

With Violeta out of school, Kaylee was on her own, making her the perfect target.

That evening, Violeta called Kaylee to check on her situation at school.

Violeta said, “Since I left, Zelena is likely to target you. If you run into any trouble, make sure to reach out to our counselor. I’ve already spoken to him, and he’ll look out for you.”

When something happened in class, the advisor was the first person responsible, even without Violeta’s good words. The counselor would help.

Once she had done so, the counselor would take a more proactive approach to supporting Kaylee.

Chapter 283

Kaylee said casually, “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m at school. What’s she going to do? Bully me on campus? She’d be asking for trouble. I’m not someone who just takes it lying down.”

Violeta replied, “That’s wonderful to hear. Still, I’m worried Zelena might use her position to mess with you.”

Kaylee reassured her, “It’s fine, Violeta. Just focus on your filming.”

Violeta agreed, “Alright. Oh, by the way, Kaylee, I’m lending you the apartment at Liberty Grove. I’ll have the keys sent to you at school tomorrow.”

Surprised, Kaylee said, “What? That’s not necessary. I’m fine living on campus.”

Violeta insisted, “It’s no problem. Keep the keys just in case.”

Kaylee relented, “Alright then. Thank you, Violeta.”

The next day, the access card and keys for Liberty Grove arrived in Kaylee’s hands.

A few days later, she found her bed linens soaked with water.

It’s important to note that Kaylee lived in a single dorm room.

Last semester, during the freshman military training, she and Violeta were on the same team. They won first place, earning

Kaylee a single dorm room.

Normally, she locked her door when she went to class.

Now, her bed was soaked, and it was obvious Zelena was behind it.

The student council had keys to all the single dorm rooms.

Kaylee was furious. She stormed to the surveillance room to check the footage and discovered that the culprit was a neighboring dorm, bribed by Zelena.

Kaylee caused a scene with the dorm supervisor.

To keep the peace, the supervisor made the girl apologize. Though she apologized, it was clear she was plotting something else.

The next day, Kaylee found a tiny, tricolored kitten in her room.

Soon after, someone reported to the dorm supervisor that Kaylee kept a pet in her dorm, which was against the rules. The supervisor found the kitten. Following the regulations, she

revoked Kaylee’s single dorm room privileges.

Kaylee could no longer stay on campus.

The counselor was helpless when he learned this.

He asked, “Why were you keeping a cat in your room?”

Kaylee was holding the kitten when she replied, “I wasn’t. I have no idea who put it there. I just felt sorry for it and fed it food once.”

The counselor sighed and said, “I’ll try to get you a spot in a regular dorm, but with the influx of freshmen, it might take some time.”

Kaylee was speechless.

The kitten she was holding in her arms mewed.

She sighed and scolded, “You have the nerve to meow? Now, because of you, I have nowhere to live.”

Despite her frustration, she couldn’t abandon the kitten.

Those people had exploited her kindness.

The kitten, now in her bag, soon poked its head out with the access card in its mouth.

Kaylee stared at the card. She was stunned.

Violeta had sent the access card for Liberty Grove, but Kaylee hadn’t planned on using it. Now, however…

“Meow.”

She had no place to stay for the night.

Kaylee took out her phone and called Violeta.

The phone was quickly connected as Violeta was on her way to Crurgh.

“Vio…”

Kaylee explained what had happened at school.

Violeta responded cheerfully, “Perfect timing. You can move into Liberty Grove now.”

Her apartment had everything she needed. Kaylee could move in with just her bag.

Even with Violeta’s approval, Kaylee remained polite.

She said, “Vio, I’ll move out as soon as I get a dorm room.”

“Kaylee, you don’t have to be such a stranger. That place is just sitting empty. You’re not inconveniencing me at all by moving in. I’m glad you’ll be adding some life to it.”

“Thank you, Vio.”

“No problem. I have to get off now. We’ll talk later.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Violeta’s car arrived at the Veilmist Lake estate.

Violeta carefully put her phone away and used her cane to step out. The ancient, elegant estate came into her sight.

The estate was built by Veilmist Lake using wood and brick in traditional techniques. It was a testament to ancient wisdom.

The state-owned Veilmist Lake, but this private estate encompassed nearly two-thirds of the best views.

The lake had been the backdrop for many classic period dramas.

However, the estate was privately owned.

Without connections, securing filming rights here was nearly impossible.

Even with permission, they occasionally only rented a small section for filming.

Violeta learned that they had secured the filming rights for the entire estate for this shoot.

She had no idea how they did it, but she credited the director’s impressive connections.

After all, Wade had stricter requirements for shooting locations than using green screens. Without securing such a perfect location, filming might have been delayed by several months.

Chapter 284

Luckily, the production team secured the location. It allowed Violeta to depart earlier to get familiar with the venue.

The female lead in the spin-off series was Layla, who was the lord of Dianthus Castle. The drama described Layla as a person who rarely leaves her castle because of her physical limitations.

However, to maintain eternal youth, she commanded her men to leave the castle and commit heinous acts, capturing young boys and girls so that she could practice dark magic.

Therefore, the castle served as the setting for the majority of Violeta’s scenes.

The seven-episode storyline includes how Layla became the lord of the castle and eventually transformed into the black witch with an unpredictable mood.

This undoubtedly demanded strong acting skills, as she transitioned from an innocent and naive girl to a later ruthless and cruel persona. Those were two very extreme ends.

Entering the estate.

Ward was discussing camera angles with the director.

Several crew members were setting up the scene.

When Violeta arrived, Wade beamed at her and said, “Our leading lady is here.”

A shy smile flashed across Violeta’s face, but she greeted them politely. “Hello, Mr. Howell and Director Rufus.”

It was Rufus’s first time meeting Violeta. Wade handpicked her, lavishing her with high praise. Before meeting Violeta, Rufus had developed a keen interest in her.

When he saw Violeta today, his gaze discreetly assessed her. At the very least, he was satisfied with her appearance.

Layla’s character was the bewitching beauty of the realm, and though she was a black witch, the villain was often

extraordinarily beautiful.

Violeta’s looks indeed matched the title of the most beautiful woman.

Wade asked, “Did you get motion sickness on the ride here? Would you like to sit down and rest for a bit?”

Violeta replied, “I’m fine. I could use some stretching.”

Rufus added, “How about having the crew show you around? The scenery here is truly beautiful.”

Just then, a crew member brought over the customized wheelchair for Layla.

Wade asked Violeta to give it a try.

Violeta set aside her crutches and sat in the wheelchair. She remarked, “It’s very comfortable.”

Watching Violeta in the wheelchair, Rufus already envisioned the scenes of ‘Layla’ sitting in it after a costume change.

He secretly thought to himself that Wade’s eye for casting was indeed sharp. After all, no one knew his characters better than he did.

Then, a crew member pushed Violeta around the castle.

It was hard to imagine that the initial shooting time for a mere seven-episode story was planned to span four months, even longer than the dozens of episodes of Nolan’s ‘Spring in Moon City’.

Wade’s meticulous attention to detail for the scenes was sometimes so extreme that even rain scenes couldn’t use water trucks but had to employ high-cost artificial rain.

Besides the female lead, only the third female role was cast.

All other roles required the actors to come to Crurgh’s Veilmist Lake for auditions, which took a whole-day round trip.

Despite these demands, a plethora of actors still flocked to Crurgh.

A week later, half of the entertainment industry flooded into Crurgh. Some even jokingly called Veilmist Lake a mini-Hori Studio.

Violeta stayed at Veilmist Lake for nearly half a month. She had memorized the script thoroughly.

During this half-month, Wade and Rufus auditioned thousands of actors together, from the second female lead with many scenes to minor characters with only a few lines.

Violeta alone had nearly eighty sets of costumes made for her.

Finally, Wade selected the ten most satisfying sets to use during filming.

That evening, they had a gathering.

At the same table were industry big names, with Violeta being the only new actress. She sat next to Wade.

The second and third female leads and the supporting male actors had all been decided.

They were all seasoned actors in the entertainment industry.

Many at the table were senior actors Violeta had worked with as an extra in her previous life, all with excellent reputations, solidly B-class actors and above.

Violeta was most surprised by Jaime Ingram sitting next to Rufus.

Jaime had just won the Best Actor award last year.

A newly crowned best actor is willing to take on a supporting role.

With such a lineup, the 105 million investment was well spent.

Beyond the money, Wade’s connections were extraordinary.

Even a web series script could attract so many talented actors willing to participate. Everyone was confident that this series would be remarkable.

When toasting them, Violeta could hardly contain her excitement. Sitting with these people was something she had never dared to dream of in her previous life.

To debut in a role written by Wade, and as the female lead, no less, was the kind of thing that would make one smile even in their dreams.

And now, it has all become a reality.

At first, Violeta was a bit reserved, but these people were so kind and approachable, without any airs.

Everyone happily chatted and drank together. Due to her leg discomfort, they took special care of Violeta, treating her like a younger sister.

Raising her glass, Violeta said, “It’s an honour to meet you all. I look forward to working with everyone in the coming months.”

Sybil Carlson was the actress who played the second female lead.

She smiled and said, “Violeta, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Chapter 285

Someone nearby commented, “We owe this gathering to Mr. Howell’s script. Violeta, you’re the luckiest among us, landing the lead role in Mr. Howell’s production right from the start. We’re all envious.”

Exactly. When I first started, I never had such an opportunity.

You’re so young, and the future looks bright for you!

“Haha!”

Their words were filled with envy and a touch of bitterness, recalling their own struggles.

Violeta’s starting point was something many who had joined the entertainment circles for years hadn’t achieved even now.

This wasn’t just luck; Violeta had caught Wade’s eye. Moreover, her brother had invested a hefty sum in the project.

A 105 million-dollar investment wasn’t a small amount.

After finalizing the cast, they finished their costumes and started filming.

For four months, Violeta poured her heart and soul into the role. She worked tirelessly for the job.

This wasn’t just for show.

After she read the entire script, she found the story rich and full of depth.

Even though it was only seven episodes long, after editing, each episode lasted more than an hour, with some approaching nearly two hours.

That’s almost the length of a feature film.

Under Wade’s guidance and instruction, Violeta quickly immersed herself in her role, grasping the instructions right away.

She retained the raw talent of a newcomer, nor did she have the rigid and stale quality of more experienced actors. Her adaptability was exceptionally strong.

Rufus had initially worried whether Violeta could handle the role. After seeing her performance, he realized she had a natural camera presence and a unique understanding of the character. She grasped those instructions well.

Beyond talent, it was clear she worked hard.

Talent in the entertainment industry, while somewhat rare, was not entirely lacking.

There were many talented actors who often started to forget their original aspirations and gradually squandered their natural abilities as time went on.

Rufus was a renowned director. He had worked with many talented actors.

However, he and Wade were particularly impressed with Violeta.

Violeta had mentioned she was a fan of Wade’s works, having read many of his scripts. They took this as a polite compliment, not taking it seriously.

They realized Violeta meant every word while filming.

Even without looking at the script, Violeta had a comprehensive understanding of her character.

Violeta also accurately quoted the character’s lines and catchphrases from the original series.

Her camera sense was as if she had years of on-set experience.

She naturally embodied the combat essence that Wade sought, often without needing much direction.

Violeta was skilled at performing complex upper-body combat moves and handling wire work with ease.

Violeta was so professional that she didn’t need a stunt double.

Rufus and Wade were impressed by her ability to deliver these performances at just twenty years old. They attributed her skills to a combination of hard work and talent.

They had no idea that Violeta’s current abilities stemmed from years of experience as a stunt double and special effects performer in her previous life.

Violeta had a strong sense of the camera because she often wore green suits to perform stunts that the lead actors couldn’t handle.

Despite not being the lead, she had to execute every move flawlessly in front of the camera to avoid any delays in the shooting schedule.

She didn’t need a stunt double because she was one.

Of course, Wade had high standards for his actors. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t easily allow them to use doubles.

The crew had initially hired a professional instructor, specifically Violeta.

They had assumed that Violeta, being a seemingly delicate girl with no prior filming experience, would surely delay the shooting schedule. Surprisingly, Violeta didn’t need the instructor’s help.

Her professionalism inspired even the veteran actors to practice their moves more diligently.

Wade felt like he had discovered a gem.

Violeta perfectly embodied his ideal female lead for ‘Spring in Moon City’.

Layla’s character was less complex than the protagonist of ‘Spring in Moon City’.

The story of Spring in Moon City revolves around a strong female lead.

The heroine transforms from a fallen princess into the top warrior in the warrior world. She then took on the task of restoring her kingdom, led an army, and became a general. Ultimately, she became an empress who unifies the land and brings peace to the world.

The character had many facets.

Wade initially thought Violeta’s appearance suited the role.

Filming ‘The Quiet Ode’ was partly a way for him to test the waters, given that web series were a new domain, and partly because Niall had invested significantly, which allowed Wade to assess Violeta’s potential.

If Violeta didn’t fit the lead role in ‘Spring in Moon City’, Wade planned to find someone else.

Her performance was a delightful surprise for Wade.

Violeta’s attractive looks were just one of her many strengths.

合

Chapter 286

After the shoot wrapped up that day, Jaime celebrated the end

of the project with a wrap party that night.

He toasts to everyone, expressing his hopes for the show’s success.

“Violeta, you have a real shot at winning the Best New Actress Award next year,” he said, raising his glass.

After he played a role in this series, Jaime was more aware than anyone of its grand production scale. Each episode had a budget comparable to that of a movie.

Every scene was meticulously crafted, and every costume and prop was carefully designed.

The lead actress was the focal point of this series. Winning an award seemed almost inevitable; it was just a question of which one.

If Violeta won the Best Newcomer Award, she would undoubtedly be the most surprising breakthrough actress of the year.

However, strict confidentiality agreements signed by all the actors prevented the leak of any details.

Despite this, many online critics doubted the series.

They claimed Wade was past his prime. He had resorted to low-budget web series to make money.

Many predicted that he would lose his position as a top-notch screenwriter.

Zelena’s earlier criticism of Violeta had an impact on those

internet users. They were skeptical about the show’s quality and her performance.

Violeta smiled and said, “Thank you. I’ll take your word for it.

Jaime looked at Violeta with admiration, and he said, “I look forward to working with you again.”

“Me too.”

Two-thirds into filming.

Violeta’s ankle had mostly healed, but she still needed to sit in a wheelchair for certain scenes.

She was almost three months away from home. Her parents missed her terribly. They came to Crurgh to visit the production team. Niall also tagged along.

Though Violeta didn’t want to delay filming, she had to keep her parents with her and asked the director for a day off.

Niall had already informed Wade ahead of time. They planned to have dinner that evening with Rufus and Wade.

During dinner, Rufus and Wade couldn’t stop praising Violeta.

The news that everything went well reassured Anton and Irene.

Rufus had known about Violeta’s background for a while, but meeting her parents confirmed the rumours he’d heard.

Despite her privileged background, Violeta’s dedication to her craft was truly remarkable.

Rufus became even more impressed with her.

After dinner, Violeta accompanied her parents back to their hotel.

The next day, Niall left Crurgh.

Violeta resumed filming while her parents explored the city for two days.

Concerned about her well-being, Irene bought lots of supplies for the film crews and treated them to coffee.

One semester was four and a half months long.

Violeta’s filming schedule spanned the entire first semester and the holidays. When she finally returned to school, it was time to start preparing for exams.

On the day filming wrapped up, Violeta wore her last costume and filmed a brief vlog.

She documented her day, from makeup to the final wrap.

Later, she posted it on Facebook with the caption, ‘Goodbye, Layla.’

This was her first significant role, one she would always remember.

After posting, Violeta logged out and joined the wrap party.

Though the filming was done, post-production still required editing and approval, tasks she left to the capable hands of Wade and Rufus.

The day she left Crurgh, the weather was perfect.

The next day, Violeta returned to Quinston.

Kaylee was excited to hear about Violeta’s return. She went to meet her.

As soon as she exited the station, she saw Kaylee waving enthusiastically from across the street.

“Vio!”

Violeta ran over to her friend when she spotted her. She exclaimed, “Kaylee, it’s been a while!”

Kaylee grinned and asked, “Hehe, superstar! How was filming?”

“Not bad. It went pretty well. You should try it sometime. How has school been for you?”

During the break, Kaylee continued working at Sunset Cafe.

They hadn’t been in touch much, partly because Kaylee didn’t want to disturb Violeta during filming and partly because she didn’t want to rely on her too much. After all, she was an adult and couldn’t depend on Violeta for everything.

The car arrived. The two continued chatting as they got in.

“How’s Fiona doing? How’s business going during the school break?”

Since Violeta had returned, Kaylee knew there were some things she just had to say.

“The business hasn’t been great. A new snack bar opened

across from us and stole a lot of our customers.”

Violeta paused and asked, “A snack bar?”

Kaylee nodded and said, “Yeah, it opened after you left for filming. It’s run by Zelena.”

Violeta fell silent.

Zelena opened a shop.

Right across the street and competing for business with us.

Hmm! Interesting.

Violeta smirked and asked, “What else has she been up to?”

名

“She became the student council president and head of the dance club. Lucy has left too.”

✩

Chapter 287

“Oh, by the way, Hattie came back to school a month before you did, but she hasn’t been attending classes, just keeping her enrollment status.”

Previously, Zelena had targeted Kaylee, causing her to lose her single dorm room. The counselor’s efforts secured Kaylee a spot in a regular dorm.

Kaylee had moved out of Liberty Grove.

Despite this, she left her three-colored cat, Cleopatra, in the apartment. It was now being taken care of by the housekeeper.

“Cleopatra?”

“Yes, I named the cat Cleopatra. Haha, she’s the beauty of the three-colored cats, so Cleopatra seemed appropriate.”

“That’s quite a good name.”

Originally, Violeta planned to return to Quinston and go home at once.

When she heard Kaylee mention that Zelena had opened a shop right across from her café, she changed her mind and decided to check out this new shop.

The car dropped them off at Toland University.

Violeta didn’t enter the campus. Instead, she turned towards Sunset Café with Kaylee.

Along the way, her phone kept buzzing. Violeta went out to check.

It was a message from Zoren, who had heard about her return in the group chat. Violeta replied briefly, ‘Yes, I’m back. Let’s have dinner later.’

Zoren replied, ‘Yohoo! The superstar is back! Can I still have dinner with you, superstar?’

Violeta sent him an emoji, and she placed her phone back in her pocket.

The chat continued, but she didn’t pay it any more attention.

Arriving at Sunset Café, the familiar sign greeted her. When Fiona saw Violeta through the glass, she happily came out to welcome her.

“Violeta, you’re back!”

Violeta smiled at Fiona and said, “Yes, I’m back.”

Then she noticed a new shop across the street with a sign reading ‘The Breeze’.

It sold a variety of items, including skewers, cold drinks, ice cream, cakes, etc.

It offered a variety of foods at a low price.

Naturally, it attracted many students, who were mostly on tight budgets, except for a few wealthy ones.

Zelena could open a shop, but opening it right across from Sunset Café was clearly an attempt to steal business.

She named it ‘The Breeze’ to mimic Sunset Café.

This was too obvious!

Wait a minute! In her previous life, Zelena hadn’t developed her side business so quickly.

This time, she was ahead of schedule.

Violeta lowered her eyes and pondered this.

Fiona’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She said, “Ever since she opened her shop, it’s been competing with ours. Since our coffee costs the same as a full meal there, many students have been choosing to visit her shop instead.

“But fortunately, we still have some loyal customers.”

In business, retaining loyal customers is crucial.

This area wasn’t a bustling tourist spot with a constant flow of new visitors.

Despite experiencing a full house in the past, the current drop in business naturally left Fiona a bit disappointed.

Fiona continued, “But Vio, this isn’t sustainable. Should we consider lowering our prices?”

“Absolutely not.”

Violeta immediately rejected Fiona’s suggestion. “Our coffee prices remain as they are. We only offer discounts during the holidays. We can introduce new limited-time items, but the old ones stay at the same price.”

Kaylee remained silent.

Violeta continued, “Why should we let others affect us? What she charges is her business. We know our ingredients and costs. Quality items deserve a higher price.”

She didn’t know why Zelena suddenly wanted to open a shop.

However, her plan to undercut Sunset Café was misguided.

Violeta wouldn’t lower the prices.

They used renowned Mesir coffee beans, as well as beans from Culobia.

With such high raw material costs, lowering prices would squeeze their profit margins, essentially selling high-end products at low-end prices, which Violeta refused to do.

“Our coffee sells well as it is. There’s no need to lower the prices.”

Fiona was persuaded by Violeta. Indeed, their café didn’t lack customers.

Though business wasn’t as satisfactory as before, the shop was small. Following Violeta’s purchase of the property, she also acquired and connected the second floor. Fiona was the only regular employee. Occasionally, Kaylee would help out.

Aside from daily operational costs, employee expenses were minimal.

The café was usually quiet and needed a few staff.

In contrast, the shop across the street was noisy every day, employing five staff members. Their operational costs and wages must be considerable.

Since their shop’s fundamentals were stable, there was no need to engage in a price war.

“Yes, Violeta, you’re right. I was being foolish.”

Violeta smiled at Fiona and said, “My dad promised to help me open a chain. Rest assured, since we’re going the high-end route, there’s no need to compete with lower-end businesses.”

“Alright.”

After checking the shop, Violeta and Kaylee headed to the university.

First, they greeted the counselor. The counselor was delighted to see Violeta. After all, he considered her the most promising among her peers.

Chapter 288

Since Violeta hadn’t attended classes this semester, special considerations were made for her exams.

Violeta insisted, “It’s fine; I can take the exams.”

….

The counsellor responded, “No need to push yourself.”

Violeta smiled gently and said, “I’m not.”

Despite not attending classes, she felt confident about the exams.

The exams had two components: continuous assessment, where teachers graded based on various aspects.

Secondly, there was a written test.

Though Violeta had missed classes due to filming, she had full marks for continuous assessment. All that remained was the written exam.

Despite her filming schedule, she didn’t want to delay graduation.

While she could have used connections to pass, she insisted on taking the exam herself, proving her determination and integrity.

As Violeta was leaving the school, she saw Zelena walking towards her with Gillian.

From a distance, Zelena noticed Violeta walking alongside Kaylee.

Just as they were about to pass each other, both stopped in sync.

Violeta’s calm gaze met Zelena’s. She smiled and said, “Violeta, it’s nice to see you back from filming.

Have you visited the Breeze? The snacks there are quite good. Maybe I’ll take you there sometime.

Violeta’s expression remained unchanged, her tone steady. “I

have. There are many customers, and I don’t like crowds. Save your money on bribing the subject teachers.”

Zelena chuckled and admitted, “Indeed, there are more customers at my shop compared with your coffee shop. You won’t be upset that I took some of your customers away, will you?”

It was certain that the Sunset Cafe’s revenue had decreased over the past few months because of the Breeze’s influence.

Zelena aimed to provoke Violeta.

But Violeta didn’t take the bait. Instead, she calmly said, “Zelena, just as people are ranked, so are shops.”

Zelena struggled to retort.

“Your tactic is lousy.”

With that, Violeta walked away with Kaylee.

Zelena was quite angry. She turned and glared at Violeta’s retreating figure.

Gillian huffed indignantly and said, “What does she mean? Does she think those who eat snacks are lowly? What a poor character!”

……

Violeta had a short rest at home.

In the afternoon, she went out for lunch with Zoren.

He was the only one who joined her. Liam was working at his family company, and Jasper had gone to Wiltonshire a month ago.

Zoren was the only one with plenty of free time. He was busy with charity work, driving around the city with his tennis club friends to rescue stray animals.

“Zoren, I’ve really changed my opinion of you.”

Violeta said earnestly to her brother, “I used to think you were unreliable, but what you’re doing now is truly commendable!”

She gave Zoren a thumbs-up.

Dedicating oneself to charity, especially in the early stages when it was not profitable, Zoren’s work was admirable.

Her brother was a rich kid who had grown up in luxury, but Zoren was willing to drive for hours to remote areas to save animals. Violeta was genuinely impressed.

Zoren said, “Well, I hadn’t planned on it initially. After seeing those pictures, I think those animals are truly pitiful.” Violeta took a sip of her soup and complimented, “That’s wonderful. Uncle will be happy to know this.”

“By the way, do you know when Hayden is coming back?” Violeta asked.

Zoren looked puzzled and wondered, “Why do you ask?”

“I promised to treat him to a meal. Hasn’t Hayden come back these past few months?”

Zoren shook his head and said, “He came back for exams last semester, then left again.

“I heard he’s working in Newham now, but I don’t know what exactly he’s doing. His uncle is there, so he can help him out.”

“Oh, I see,” Violeta replied.

Reflecting on her previous life, Violeta realized she had very little knowledge about Hayden.

People whom they frequently met in university would return to their respective social circles after graduation.

Everyone has their own destiny.

“When are your exams?” Zoren asked.

“Soon. Next week. I need to study hard these next few days,” Violeta replied.

“Alright, I won’t ask you out this week, then. Study well. If you’re taking exams, Hayden should be back for them too. Jas and Liam will also return for exams. We can then meet up.”

“Sure.”

Violeta agreed.

After finishing their meal, Zoren drove Violeta home. He stayed for a cup of tea before leaving.

During Violeta’s absence, Hera had been sent back from abroad. She had been well-fed, gaining quite a bit of weight.

Irene was worried that without proper training, Hera might become wild. So, she had Anton find a specialized falcon trainer who could take Hera out daily for training while Violeta was away.

Violeta was concerned that Hera might not recognize her anymore.

To her relief, Hera flew to her arm and ate the meat she offered.

Tuna, on the other hand, had become spoiled by its comfortable life.

It had lost all of its wildness. Now, it was just a large, more voracious sled dog.

Violeta had previously worried that Tuna might become aggressive, but those fears were unfounded.

Tuna was just a playful wolf that rolled over for treats.

The next day, Violeta spent her time in the library and diligently prepared for her final exams.

Chapter 289

After a long absence, George showed up with a laptop in hand.

He sat across from Violeta and told her some news.

“Violeta, have you logged into the dark web lately?”

“No, I’ve been busy filming. Why?”

“The dark web has lifted your bounty and even established a Top Hackers League. You’re ranked first.”

“What?”

Violeta was stunned and asked, “I’m first.”

To be honest, Violeta didn’t consider her hacking skills to be invincible. She just hadn’t encountered anyone better yet.

Aside from that, she didn’t intend to mix with the underworld. She wanted to live a clean life, not end up as a criminal.

Why get involved when there is a bright future ahead?

As a result, Violeta was shocked to rank first.

It must have been because of that incident where she used a

utility knife to threaten those people.

“Don’t be so surprised. Where’s the key?”

Key?

Thinking back, Violeta remembered that the key had accidentally fallen, and Tuna had swallowed it while she was playing with it.

Later, she had the servants monitor Tuna’s bowel movements to retrieve the key.

The servant was not aware of its significance. After finding it, he placed it on Violeta’s desk.

Now the key had been retrieved and placed separately.

There were only three keys that controlled all the data servers on the dark web. At that moment, she grabbed one of the keys and instructed the five elderly men to remove the bounty from the dark web before she could return it.

Half a year had passed, and no one had contacted Violeta.

Now, George had come to ask for the key.

The key itself wasn’t exceptionally valuable, but it held significant data.

Violeta’s mind turned quickly. She cautiously asked, “What key?”

George chuckled and said, “Of course, I am talking about the key to the dark web’s server.”

Violeta replied, “Is that so? I don’t know anything about it.”

George said, “Sigh! Come on, I’m telling the truth. They sent me to get it. I’ve also made it onto the leaderboard. Now I’m making money by accepting some small bounties on the dark web. They knew I was in Quinston, so they asked me to fetch it.”

Violeta’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she asked, “Proof?”

George smirked and pulled out a wrapped piece of a utility knife blade from his pocket.

That blade…

名

Violeta instantly recognized it as the one she had used to stab one of the five men’s hands.

It seemed George was indeed working for them.

George explained, “They knew you wouldn’t easily trust me, so they gave me this. No idea what it’s for, but they said you’d trust me after seeing it.”

Violeta said, “I’ll bring it to the library tomorrow. I don’t have it on me right now.”

George nodded. “Alright.”

“But Violeta, you’re incredible. Out of the three keys, you managed to take one. The bounty was lifted too. How did you do it?”

Violeta raised her eyes slightly and said, “That’s a secret. Just take the key tomorrow and leave me out of it.”

George agreed, “Got it. I won’t disturb your studies anymore. Drop by the internet cafe sometime.”

“Sure.”

The next day, Violeta handed George the key and closed that chapter.

Four days later, the final exam began.

Violeta left the exam room and went to the counselor’s office.

Just like in her previous life, the counselor had a soft spot for Violeta. She gave her a heads-up about a historical drama crew coming to the school to select an actress who could perform ballet.

“I think this role suits you. Even though you might not be interested after working with Mr. Howell, it’s still a lead role. If you have time, you should practice ballet for another opportunity.”

Violeta said, “Thank you, counselor.”

She was grateful that the counselor, just like in her previous life, could give her this information in advance.

Although she had already filmed ‘The Quiet Ode’ in this life, she didn’t look down on this role.

“I’ll prepare seriously.”

The counselor patted Violeta’s shoulder with satisfaction and said, “I have high hopes for you!”

However, they never expected that while the counselor was revealing this news to Violeta in the office, Zelena was standing right outside by the wall.

She had heard every word of the conversation between the counselor and Violeta clearly.

A lead role as the Flajan best dancer?

And a lead role at that.

It’s a great role, and the counselor wants to give it to Violeta.

Zelena had come to deliver a fire safety manual to the office, but she accidentally overheard their conversation. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have known that the counselor held Violeta in such high regard.

She kept all the good opportunities for Violeta.

Why?

Zelena clenched the manual in her hand and stormed off.

Since the lead role was open for public auditions, it was a fair game for everyone.

Violeta had already gotten a role in Wade’s web series. What right did she have to hog another debut-worthy role?

Zelena was exasperated, and her expression contorted due to her rage.

Hattie and Violeta had projects. I’m the only one without one!

She was determined to secure the role of the Flajan dancer.

Hayden returned from Newham to take exams and submit his thesis.

Chapter 290

They received their graduation photos earlier, in their caps and gowns. In the afternoon, when they met up at the pool hall, Zoren proudly showed off the photos.

“Vio, look at how handsome your brother is! Hahaha.”

Violeta took the graduation photos. She looked at both the class photo and one of the four group photos.

In the photo of the four of them, Hayden and Zoren stood in the middle, with Jasper on the left and Liam on the right, with the stone at Toland University’s West Gate behind them, engraved with the school motto.

All four of them looked very handsome and carried themselves with an air of sophistication.

After graduation, they wouldn’t see each other daily like before. They were all heading in different directions for their future careers.

The young men who had entered university at age eighteen were finally about to stand on their own.

Violeta’s gaze lingered on each of their faces. Her gaze paused slightly longer on Hayden’s before handing the photos back to Zoren.

“Okay, okay, you’re the most handsome.”

This time, Kaylee had come along with Violeta. She also looked at the photos as she leaned on Violeta’s shoulder. Her expression was one of envy. “That’s great! You guys are graduating, but we still have two more years.”

名

As Zoren put the photos away, he said, “What’s there to envy? When you’re studying, you can still ask your family for money. Once you graduate, without any skills, you can’t just go ask for money from home without getting scolded.”

Violeta smiled calmly and said, “Don’t worry, bro. Just keep rescuing animals with them. Loving Home’s brand will definitely take off in the future!”

Zoren laughed, “What? Are you a goddess? Do your words hold that much power?”

Violeta admitted, “Of course! If you don’t believe me, come and pay your respects. Just wait a few years and see if I’m right!”

When Jasper heard this, he gave Zoren a playful kick. “You heard her; go pay your respects!”

Unprepared, Zoren staggered forward. He crashed his forehead against Kaylee’s as she stood up from the couch.

“Ouch!”

Kaylee immediately clutched her forehead.

Zoren’s forehead hurt too, but he endured it and turned to glare at Jasper. “You dog!”

“Are you okay, Kaylee?” Zoren asked, concerned.

Kaylee waved it off and said, “I’m fine.”

Violeta glanced at Kaylee’s reddened forehead and said, “It’s all red. You need to take responsibility. It’s going to swell up soon.”

Zoren protested, “I’ve got a bump too. Jasper should take responsibility!”

Jasper quickly put down his cue and walked away nonchalantly, pretending not to hear.

Liam took a sip of his drink. He laughed, “Haha.”

Hayden had just finished a phone call by the window. He returned to see Liam laughing. Hayden glanced at Violeta and asked, “What’s so funny?”

Liam pointed to Jasper and then to Zoren, explaining with a laugh.

“Jas kicked Zoren, who then bumped his head into Kaylee’s. It was hilarious. You should have seen it, Hade.”

Kaylee couldn’t handle teasing; her face turned as red as her forehead.

She blushed.

Violeta continued to tease Kaylee and said, “Does that count as a bow?”

“Huh? What bow?”

“Of course, it’s the bow during the wedding ceremony!”

“No, it’s not!”

Kaylee’s face turned even redder. She hadn’t thought about it at all.

Violeta laughed. She noticed that Kaylee was genuinely shy and stopped teasing her.

Hayden noticed Zoren’s slight discomfort; he handed him a cue and said, “Stop showing off the photos and play pool.”

Two hours passed.

Violeta joined in for a couple of rounds.

When it was time to eat, they all went for fondue.

This meal was a final farewell to their school life.

After graduation, Hayden was headed to Newham for work and might not return to Quinston for several years unless his job required a transfer.

Jasper felt like he hadn’t had enough fun. He planned to spend two years in Wiltonshire before returning to take over the family business.

Liam, who once shared Jasper’s idea of going abroad, now had to step up and adapt to his responsibilities at Ridge Group due to family circumstances.

Zoren pinned his hopes on Loving Home’s website. If the website succeeded, he could delay returning home to take over the family business.

At the end of the meal, they raised their glasses for a toast.

“To success!”

“To a bright future!”

“Too early promotions!”

They continue to toast with each other. Everyone’s faces were lit up with smiles.

Violeta paid for the meal. She used the opportunity to repay Hayden for helping her suppress a trending topic earlier.

The evening wind was strong. Kaylee had to return to her dorm to catch a bus home the next morning.

Violeta suggested to Zoren, saying, “Bro, you should take Kaylee back.”

Zoren glanced at Hayden. Then he put on his motorcycle gloves and handed another helmet to Kaylee.

“Alright, then Hade can take you home later.

“I’m leaving now. Bye!”

He drove off with Kaylee.

Jasper and Liam shared a ride back.

Hayden hadn’t driven, so Violeta intended to call a cab. Instead, he called his driver. They waited by the roadside.

Violeta stood next to Hayden. Her height only reached his shoulder. She wore a bright red sweatshirt and stuffed her hands into its front pocket. Violeta tilted her head and asked him curiously.

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