Darkstone Code-Chapter 817 - 815: Parent-Teacher Conference

For the broker, she has seen many kinds of people: men, women, the elderly, and children.

Young men, young women, middle-aged men, elderly people.

Her job requires her not only to have professional skills but also to learn to observe these people, to interpret some thoughts beneath their expressions.

The moment a person changes from happy to unhappy is very brief, yet the change in muscle is very obvious. It’s like the contrast between the corners of a mouth turning upward and downward; regardless of how fast the change is, their opposing forms remain unchanged.

The girl in front of her has become less cheerful because of what she just said, which is quite normal.

Everyone hopes to live better than others and be wealthier than others, which is the most simple wish many people have.

But some people’s thoughts might not even be realized by themselves, like "Everyone advises me to give up, but I insist," or "I’ve given up, why do you persist?"

The broker didn’t want to delve into Nelly’s psychological world; she just knew the girl’s emotions were affected.

"Your friend is more complex than you imagine." The broker is well-versed in conversation skills; she knows what Nelly wants, so she gives it to her.

"She... what’s wrong with her?" Nelly’s attention shifted quickly.

The broker calmly took out a pack of ladies’ cigarettes from her pocket and lit one.

This period was just when ladies’ cigarettes began to crazily develop. The women’s rights movement turned smoking into a trendy behavior for women; if a girl cannot smoke, she indicates a conservative mindset.

Although it sounds ludicrous, this is the social phenomenon the masses are facing now.

Ladies’ cigarettes use flue-cured tobacco. The tobacco is dried, sliced then toasted and further processed, making it milder than raw tobacco. They also add more flavors to prevent the mouth’s unpleasant taste during smoking, though this is unavoidable.

Raw tobacco is simply dried and sliced without toasting or processing; it has a heavier, stronger taste that can penetrate the top of one’s head with a single puff.

The heavy nicotine and other chemicals’ "throat hit" is a favorite among veteran smokers; they love the feeling of being hit hard.

Of course, the mainstream consumer market is actually raw tobacco; veteran smokers are the main consumer group.

However, some media and investigative agencies claim the birth and popularity of ladies’ cigarettes heightened the tendency of teenagers starting to smoke. Some agencies believe laws should be quickly established for cigarette sales.

The call from these people is not very effective, especially with tobacco groups who send money to Congress every day; those in Congress will not pass it.

Nelly looked surprised at the broker’s smoking and found her smoking posture quite stylish, somewhat appealing.

In this era, all new things become trends and inevitably attract people.

Fortunately, her attention was quickly diverted.

"Your friend is a high-class escort. Her nightly rate is twelve hundred dollars, with a weekly rate of five thousand dollars."

When the broker spoke this truth, Nelly was stunned for several seconds before reacting, "You mean, she’s a call girl?"

"A high-class call girl!" The broker added, "That’s why we need her."

"In the Federation, works able to achieve big awards never lack ’dark politics,’ ’twisted souls,’ ’explicit nudity,’ and ’moral inquiry’!"

"To win an award, one must possess at least one and utilize it to the extreme, or possess them all."

"After rewriting the script, we need a female role who can bare before the camera, and also have subtle relations with the male lead and male supporting roles."

"Those girls filming adult movies have faces that most people recognize to varying degrees; we want an amateur. Only the slightly naive performance of newcomers can move the judges!"

"This way, you only need to play yourself well enough!"

The rewritten script actually uses a few people’s depravity to highlight pure despair. Even if Nelly has no sophisticated acting skills, she can fit the role.

Because all other characters are too dark, even if the lead is gray, when placed among others, she is pure.

This idea is excellent and can be cloaked in an "art film" guise, which benefits the company’s future development greatly.

Previously, Fox Film Corporation did not consider the issue of listing, so winning an award was unimportant. But once listing decisions are made, each major award represents a rocket-like rise in stock prices.

For money, they’ve decided to invest heavily to snatch a few big awards.

Upon hearing this, Nelly was silent for a moment, feeling somewhat relieved but also a bit hesitant, "I don’t know if she’ll agree. It’s very difficult, what you said."

Nelly felt uncertain that her former roommate would agree to strip before the camera, especially in front of many people.

The broker just smiled, "Have her come to the office tomorrow, someone will persuade her."

"And you, you’d better memorize the script now!"

The next day, as promised, Nelly’s former roommate arrived at Fox Film Corporation and stayed in the office for a long time. Nelly thought she wouldn’t agree, but then she saw the broker escorting her out.

The expressions on their faces had already indicated their intention to cooperate. Nelly and the former roommate nodded to each other from a distance, and then the latter left.

Oddly enough, it was as if a thick, towering wall had suddenly appeared between them, thicker and taller than before!

"How did you convince her?", Nelly asked curiously as she walked into the broker’s office.

The broker said with a smirk, "I told her that if she’s willing to join, we will find a way to help her get a nomination for Augustine’s Best Supporting Actress, maybe even win the award."

The broker’s words left Nelly unsure of what to say. Shortly thereafter, she was scheduled for director’s training; she needed to master that pure gaze before the film officially started shooting.

In reality, the broker hadn’t been entirely truthful. At first, the female roommate had disagreed.

Being someone’s mistress, serving as a high-end escort, are very private matters. No one discusses this because it’s not honorable for either party, making chances of exposure low.

But appearing nude in front of the crew and simulating stunts, the whole world can then know what she looks like, her identifying features.

In essence, she was against it, but the broker then told her that if she could get that nomination, perhaps even the award.

Then her income from one night’s work would jump from twelve hundred dollars before commission to twelve thousand dollars or more!

Plus, she would gain more acting opportunities. After all, people find it hard to negotiate with a well-known supporting actress without flaws, but for a somewhat... free-spirited famous supporting actress, it’s easier to negotiate fees, and there are plenty of scripts suitable for her.

Eventually, interest triumphed over dreams, just like every time before, the former roommate signed the performance agreement with the company.

At the same time, she realized that her seemingly innocent roommate Nelly might not be as naive as she appeared.

Lynch, far away in Bupen, surely unaware of the events in Laridemo, was fiddling with steaks on a barbecue grill.

A very handsome little boy was by his side, helping to add some cooking oil or spices to the steaks.

This little boy was Vera’s son, now seven years old, attending the best elementary school in Bupen.

Tuition was actually very low, sometimes even compensated—private schools offer various scholarships to provide necessary economic assistance to excellent students.

Kids of mayors and legislators often enjoy such treatment because of their noble bloodline and outstanding study, which is nonsense, just an open secret deal.

The school principal was very perceptive, somehow hearing some rumors, and immediately waived the child’s tuition, even offering a scholarship—a truly understanding person.

Vera tidied up the dining table, laying out the tablecloth.

This was the yard at the back of the villa. It happened to be the weekend; Lynch fancied eating barbecue and decided to come here.

The little boy, busy buzzing around, was delighted and obedient—Lynch liked him very much.

"I think it’s almost done," Lynch stated, poking the steak with a barbecue fork, noticing no more blood oozed out.

For Federation people, steaks at least seventy percent cooked are fit for human consumption; those half-raw ones not even dogs would eat.

However, perhaps not long before others might change this habit, fortunately, those people don’t fancy eating filth.

They put the steaks on a platter, carried it to the table, where Vera had already prepared lots of fruits, vegetables, and some pickles.

She sat there, watching Lynch and her son chat and laugh, winter sunlight suddenly warmed the moment.

"I’m hungry; I think we can start now, gentlemen!"

The two "men" quickly settled at the table, talking about very ordinary, familial matters.

The little boy spoke about interesting things happening at school or occasionally mentioned Vera’s silly acts at home. Overall, it was a very enjoyable meal without any worries.

After eating, the little boy left with his plate, leaving the backyard to Vera and Lynch.

Lynch held Vera’s hand as they sat in the swing chair, saying nothing.

After a while, Vera sighed, "I know I shouldn’t ask this of you, but I can’t find anyone else to help me at the moment."

"What’s the matter?", Lynch asked.

"The school requires the child’s father to attend a parent-teacher meeting..."