Chapter 8 The Role

• After the sweet afternoon kiss, the two of them had grown closer. At least in the evening, Lani could lean on Kane to watch TV and enjoy some fruit snacks. They continued to watch the TV series they had started the day before, their eyes fixed on the large screen.
• Lani's phone rang, shattering the harmony around them. She glanced at the caller ID and felt a wave of weariness. These days, she had been constantly bothered by Hebe, Amory, and Derek, and it was giving her a major headache.
• Lani icily silenced her phone, but Hebe, apparently with a lot of free time on her hands, kept calling, so Lani reluctantly answered. Kane sat beside her, pausing the movie to allow Lani to hear the conversation.
• "What's the matter, my dear sister? Haven't seen you for a few days, and you don't even want to answer my calls?" Hebe's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
• Since Lani couldn't use her injured leg comfortably, she sat next to Kane and raised an eyebrow. She had grown tired of Hebe, and after recent events, she didn't feel like giving in anymore.
• "Sister? My mother had only one daughter, and that's me. There's no room for someone as shameless and ignorant as you," Lani retorted, her tone calm but filled with underlying tension.
• Hebe chuckled coldly, admiring her freshly done nails as she continued, "Is that so? Do you want to hear how your father gave me an amazing role?"
• A sense of unease washed over Lani, and she instinctively gripped the edge of the table. She exchanged a worried glance with Kane beside her before responding, trying to sound unfazed, "I can guess. You're still as despicable as ever, always snatching things away from others. Just like your mother, seducing men who are already married and shamelessly flaunting it in front of my mom."
• Lani had known from a young age about her father's affair with Doris and how they had conspired against her mother to steal her wealth. She spoke calmly as if recounting old news, but her grip on the table tightened as she thought about the past.
• "Don't pretend to be comfortable, Lani. Let me tell you, my father has connections with the director, and he secured the lead role in me in the movie you were supposed to star in. It's the film directed by Zhang that you value the most. It looks like you'll have plenty of free time at home in the last few months of this year."
• This wasn't the first time Hebe had stolen a role from Lani, but it still disgusted her. This was the film project Lani had been looking forward to the most this year, and her role had been confirmed three months ago. She never expected it would end up going to Hebe. Lani laughed out of frustration and shot back, "I see. You seem to have a knack for inheriting the leftovers I leave behind or things I've already used. From boyfriends to roles, don't you find it disgusting? I feel embarrassed for you."
• "But it's true, isn't it? You're just like your mom, always coveting what belongs to others. So I'll give it to you and see who ends up living more comfortably in the end."
• Lani spoke coldly before ending the call, her face turning pale and flushed with anger. Kane, sitting beside her, held her hand in reassurance and gently stroked her cheek as he asked, "Is she your stepsister? She took your role."
• Kane listened to Lani's conversation and gathered some understanding of the situation. Lani then comfortably nodded and briefed Kane on the situation. Kane's eyes briefly displayed unfamiliar emotions, but he quickly returned to his usual self, gently embracing Lani to console her.
• "It's okay; consider this having more time to rest at the end of this year. You'll get even better roles in the future," Kane reassured her.
• Lani nodded in agreement and hugged Kane back. The sense of calm and warmth beside Kane always made her feel incredibly secure. They both regulated their emotions and continued watching the movie together, not letting Hebe's disruption spoil the sweetness of the evening.
• By the time the movie ended, it was getting late. Kane gently persuaded Lani to go to bed early and then lifted her to her room. At this point, his movements were much more natural, and Lani felt comfortable in his arms, sensing his warm and strong hands on her back and legs.
• After placing Lani on the bed, Kane planted a light kiss on her forehead, helped her tuck in, turned off the lights, and then slowly left the room.
• Back in his room, the amiable and composed facade that Kane had adopted earlier was no more. He took out his phone, dialed a number, and the person on the other end quickly answered. Kane typed a few messages on the table's surface and then asked slowly, "What's the project directed by Zhang at the end of this year? Why did the lead actress change from Lani to Hebe?"
• Kane had figured out some of the situations from Lani's conversation. The other person provided a concise update on the situation and mentioned the key points of the film project. Kane furrowed his brow slightly, as he had wanted to secure the role for Lani, but now he felt it might not be suitable for her. Lani deserved a better lead role in a more promising film.
• Kane's voice turned colder as he inquired further, "Who's the main investor for this project?"
• After hearing the name, Kane chuckled softly. It turned out to be an acquaintance. He discreetly reminded the person on the other end to instruct the film's main investor to withdraw funding immediately upon the start of filming. He wanted to see how well Hebe's father could protect her in this situation.
• By withdrawing the funds directly, it would cause a shortage of budget for the film. If they didn't secure additional funding in time, production would have to halt. This was the price to pay for bullying Lani and enabling Hebe to take what rightfully belonged to her.
• Following this, Kane casually continued the conversation, "Are there any good scripts recently, ones predicted to be hot this year? Please arrange a lead role for Lani. Remember not to disclose my identity."
• After giving instructions, the other person quickly mentioned a few film scripts. Kane chose one by a renowned country director, featuring a famous cast and promising acting opportunities. However, they were still looking for an actress to play the lead role. The person on the other end agreed to arrange for the film crew to contact Lani, and Kane finally felt a sense of relief.
• "Invest an additional three hundred thousand dollars into the production team. I want Lani to have the best costumes and the most professional makeup artist," Kane instructed.
• After ensuring everything was in order, Kane hung up the phone and returned to his usual role as an office worker, his demeanor calm. He entered the bathroom to wash his face, then lay down on the large bed. He had been looking forward to these days, and he wanted those who had bullied Lani to know that they would never end well.