Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Fan Meeting

Naomi Kenway opened her eyes, feeling the powder puff pat against her face. “Things will keep getting better,” she said. “All your years of hard work are finally paying off.”

Laura Grant nodded. She took out her phone and glanced at it. “The fans for the Q&A have been arranged in advance,” she said. “The questions are all standard, so just answer them objectively. Some fans might ask for some interaction. As long as it’s reasonable, try not to turn them down.”

Naomi Kenway nodded. Once the lipstick was applied, her makeup was complete.

Laura Grant set down her bag and leaned in for a look, her brow furrowing slightly. “Why did you go with such an understated look? Naomi’s features aren’t suited for light makeup like this. Bolder colors work better for someone with such striking features.”

The makeup artist paused, taken aback. “I thought a softer look would make her seem more approachable. Besides, this style is really popular right now. A lot of celebrities have been trying it.”

“There’s no need for that. Light makeup just washes out her best features.”

“Get up,” Laura Grant said, taking the makeup artist’s place in front of Naomi. She picked up a brush. “I have some experience. Do you trust me, Naomi?”

“Since we’re partners, of course I trust you.”

“Good.” Laura Grant’s gaze was intent. As she worked, she said, “What’s popular isn’t always what’s right for you. Your features are already so strong. All you need is a little enhancement that complements them, and the effect will be amazing.”

She stopped what she was doing and gestured for Naomi to look in the mirror.

The woman in the mirror had dark hair and red lips. Her brilliant, beautiful features now had a captivating edge, creating a stunning, high-impact look.

Naomi was a little surprised herself. “I don’t usually pay much attention to makeup, but this… this is really beautiful.”

Laura Grant nodded. “Finding the right style is crucial.” She leaned in, studying her work, and smiled in satisfaction. “A face like yours is a rare find, even in the entertainment industry. I’ve really struck gold with you.”

“The viewership for the *Super Mom* livestream keeps climbing, and you’ve gotten a few invitations for variety shows lately. That kind of show doesn’t require any acting skills. Honestly, if we stir up some buzz around a few topics, becoming a traffic star wouldn’t be a bad move. It would be easier for you. What do you think? The gap between a traffic star and a serious actor is a massive chasm. We need to decide on a path before we can move forward. So, what do you want?”

“I think…” Naomi said, hesitating, “I don’t want to give up before I’ve even tried. Besides, the trends for traffic stars change so quickly. No one can guarantee they’ll stay at the top for long.”

Laura Grant’s lips parted, but she didn’t say anything more. ’She had already done the analysis. Based on Naomi’s past performances, her chances of making it as a serious actress were slim to none. But Naomi’s spirits were high, and Laura had no intention of pouring cold water on her enthusiasm. Perhaps after trying and failing, she would realize what the right choice was.’

Naomi let an assistant straighten her clothes. “Lily, did you learn how to do makeup before? You seem like a real professional.”

At the mention of the past, a nostalgic look crossed Laura’s face. “Before I became a manager, I was just an invisible little assistant on set. I had to learn a bit of everything just to make a living back then. I never thought those skills would still come in handy.”

Soon, it was time. As Naomi Kenway walked into the venue, she heard people shouting her name wildly. Unlike the seething hatred she’d heard before, these voices were filled with nothing but joy and excitement.

Naomi accepted a few bouquets from the fans, saying “thank you” several times.

As per the fan meet’s schedule, the Q&A session was next. Just as Laura had said, the fans asking questions were all major figures in her fan club, and the questions had been agreed upon by both sides in advance.

“Nina, I love you! I’ve been a fan for a long, long time. I followed the whole parenting show you were on. What do you feel you gained from that experience?”

Naomi said, “I definitely gained a lot. I feel like Ian and I grew much closer over the course of our travels. Because of… my work, I had neglected him before, and I’ve always felt incredibly guilty about that.”

“Nina, that rap you did when you were selling fruit—did you write that yourself?”

Naomi nodded and laughed. “The lyrics were a little childish. I figured everyone could tell.”

“Could you sing another one for us live?”

Naomi agreed and began to sing a cappella. Some fans clapped along to the beat, and the atmosphere grew warm and cozy.

After that round of questions, Naomi felt a little thirsty. She picked up the bottle of mineral water on the table, but the moment she twisted it open, she felt something was wrong.

She sniffed it carefully. Sure enough, there was a pungent odor.

“What is it?” Laura, who was beside her, leaned in. She took the water bottle from Naomi’s hand and sniffed it. “Is there something wrong with the water?” she asked, confused.

“This water smells awful. I think someone put something in it.”

Laura Grant’s brow furrowed, her expression turning serious. A moment later, she returned and handed Naomi a new, sealed bottle of water. “This one should be fine.”

Naomi took it and asked, “What was wrong with that other bottle?”

“Someone put glue in it. They did it very carefully; you couldn’t tell at all from the outside. Thank goodness you were paying attention, or you’d be in the hospital getting your stomach pumped right now. The bottle must have been swapped out. I’ve already contacted the venue manager and demanded an explanation.”

Naomi nodded. She twisted open the cap and, out of caution, sniffed it again. Only after confirming it was safe did she take a sip.

’She was incredibly relieved she hadn’t brought Ian Shaw with her. With so many anti-fans, a fan meet was definitely a risky event.’

The fans below remained in a state of high excitement, completely unaware of the close call that had just happened on stage. After a moment to compose themselves, the next round of questions began.

“Naomi Kenway, was Lindsay Woods just a stepping stone for you to clean up your image? She’s been banned and can’t speak for herself. Did you plan it that way?”

The female voice was cold, the question sharp.

Naomi and Laura exchanged a look. They knew this wasn’t one of the pre-approved questions. The person in front of them was almost certainly an anti-fan who had snuck in to cause trouble.

Naomi held the microphone, her voice steady. “I’ve already posted more than enough proof, haven’t I? The chat logs, the voice messages, the testimony from people at the company… what is there left to be confused about?”

According to the rules, each selected fan had the opportunity to ask three questions.

But the woman clearly had no intention of letting Naomi off the hook that easily. “Before you went on that reality show, did the director leak the contents of each episode to you in advance? Is that how you managed to get first place every time?”

Her questions grew more and more outrageous. Laura interjected, “Next question! Next question!”

“Why won’t you answer? Is it because you have a guilty conscience?!”

Naomi held Laura back, her gaze turning ice-cold as she stared at the woman. “What do I have to feel guilty about? If you have questions about the show’s fairness, you can take it up with the production team. Don’t come here looking for a fight.”

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