Chapter 365: Extra 4: The Safeguard Affair

Although it was almost evening, the temperature hadn’t dropped at all. Standing outside for just a moment left her skin feeling damp and sticky.

Joanna Kennedy was often in awe of her fans. They could endure any environment. Whether it was that night in the biting wind or tonight at the humid hotel entrance, Joanna’s Fans were always there waiting for her.

“I need to head back and rest, so everyone should go home. We’ll have plenty of other chances to meet,” Joanna urged.

“Jojo, can you take letters?” a fan asked, looking at Joanna Kennedy with hopeful eyes.

“It’s just a simple letter, there’s nothing else inside.”

Joanna Kennedy rarely accepted gifts from fans, though she would sometimes take letters and cards. Seeing the eager look on her fan’s face, she quickly walked over and took the card. “Thank you, I love it…”

“Of course, Jojo!”

“I wrote a letter too, Jojo…”

“Jojo, take mine too!”

“…”

After making her way around collecting letters, Joanna Kennedy’s arms were nearly full. She nonchalantly handed them to the man who had been standing behind her the whole time, then said a few more words before finally convincing her fans to head home.

「Inside the hotel room」

Simon Lockwood placed the letters neatly into a bag. “For the trip back?”

“Mhm,” Joanna Kennedy nodded.

Simon Lockwood gently pinched her cheek and chuckled. “This happy?”

“Uh-huh, you wouldn’t get it,” Joanna said.

Simon Lockwood really didn’t get it. But as long as Joanna Kennedy was happy, that was all that mattered.

On the day the movie wrapped, the director had specially invited Simon Lockwood, likely out of gratitude for the “herbal tea” he’d brought over the past few days. However, Simon tactfully refused.

Joanna Kennedy found it strange and asked Simon why he wasn’t going. His answer was, “I’m not part of the cast or crew, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be there.”

It was a perfectly valid reason, but there was another, more important one. As a public figure, Joanna’s actions were constantly under scrutiny, and even the smallest thing could be interpreted as unprofessional.

Simon Lockwood didn’t want to become ammunition for others to use against Joanna Kennedy.

He sat in the car waiting for Joanna. About an hour later, people started trickling out of the restaurant. From a distance, Simon spotted Joanna laughing and chatting with others.

Joanna hadn’t been drinking; she’d only had a few sips of a cocktail. ‘Cocktails don’t count as alcohol.’ The second female lead from the cast was a great conversationalist—cheerful and lively. Joanna quite enjoyed chatting with the actress.

“Hey, Jojo, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

The other actress glanced around and lowered her voice. Her secretive manner piqued Joanna’s curiosity. A second later, she heard her ask, “Between you and your man, who proposed to whom?”

“…”

“Oh, come on, tell me, tell me. I really want to know.”

“…I guess you could say I was the one who proposed.”

The other actress froze, her mouth agape in astonishment.

‘Joanna felt a little embarrassed. The question had caught her off guard, and she hadn’t known how to answer. After all, things between her and Simon were so complicated.’

‘After thinking it over carefully, Joanna decided it really did count as her proposing.’

‘No, not a proposal. I just dragged him to get our marriage license stamped, without giving Simon any time to think. Looking at it that way, I was pretty assertive, hehehe…’

As Joanna’s thoughts drifted, her eyes curved and she broke into a wide grin, looking absolutely smitten.

‘She was the one who proposed and she’s *this* happy about it?’ The look the other actress gave Joanna became complicated, as if she were looking at a complete fool.

“Oh, Jojo,” the actress said, unable to watch. “As someone with experience, let me give you some honest advice, sis. You can’t be too into a man. You have to be reserved, play hard to get, and make him take the initiative.”

‘What she didn’t say was that she felt Joanna was coming on too strong, and that it wouldn’t end well. Besides, the guy was younger, not even out of college yet. The chances of him having a change of heart were huge.’

‘They impulsively got their marriage license during the honeymoon phase; in the future, they could just as impulsively get a divorce after one fight.’

Joanna had no idea what people thought, and she was momentarily baffled by this heartfelt advice.

‘But… play hard to get with Simon? I really wouldn’t dare.’

Once in the car, Simon turned to fasten her seatbelt. His head was lowered, his short black hair fluffy and smooth. It looked so soft to the touch. Joanna didn’t hold back, reaching out and ruffling it a couple of times.

“Simon, what shampoo do you use? Your hair is amazing,” Joanna said, full of envy.

“Safeguard,” Simon said without batting an eye.

Joanna: “…”

Joanna rolled her eyes. ‘He’s even better at bluffing than I am.’ Safeguard, huh? She gritted her teeth. “Simon Lockwood, if I don’t see you washing your hair with Safeguard tonight, you’re dead!”

“…Are you sure?” A strange glint flashed in Simon’s eyes, and his tone held a slight chill, but Joanna didn’t notice. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“Fine,” Simon agreed crisply.

Joanna paused, then let out a disdainful scoff. ‘She didn’t believe for a second he would actually wash his hair with a bar of Safeguard soap.’

Half an hour later, Joanna wanted to kick herself. ‘Why am I always so good at digging my own grave?!’

“I-I’m not watching!” Joanna clung to the bathroom door, trying to get out, but before her fingers could even touch the doorknob, she was dragged back inside.

“Simon Lockwood, I already said I’m not watching! D-don’t you go too far!”

“Not keeping your promise?” The bathroom was thick with steam. Hot water sprayed from the showerhead, soaking his clothes. Simon stood under the spray, the overhead light casting shadows on his face.

Joanna couldn’t see his expression clearly, but she could sense the danger. She swallowed hard, forcing herself not to stare at the impressive lines of his body, now visible through his soaked clothes. “Wh-what promise? Simon, don’t you dare exaggerate.”

“You were the one who said you wanted to watch,” Simon replied unhurriedly.

“Well, now I’m saying I don’t want to watch!”

“No.”

“…”

Joanna was forced to “watch” the hair-washing performance. By the time they finally left the bathroom, not only was Simon’s hair wet, but she herself had received a “baptism” from head to toe.

A cruel and inhuman “baptism.”

‘So it was true. Simon’s gentleness, his consideration, that cool, ascetic act he’d been putting on for days—it was all fake. He’d been saving up all his energy and unleashed it all tonight.’

‘Joanna finally understood. Simon had been planning this for ages. No wonder he’d been making her nourishing soups and plying her with all kinds of gourmet foods and desserts. He was just fattening the lamb for the slaughter!’

‘He was just waiting for her to wrap filming, and she, like a complete fool, had walked right into his trap without a clue. Joanna felt like the world’s biggest idiot.’

“Letting off steam?” Simon’s eyes were half-lidded, his voice low, pleasant, and laced with satisfaction. This just made Joanna angrier. She bit down harder on his finger, not letting go even when her own teeth started to ache.

Simon tried to pull his finger away, but when he couldn’t, he simply let her keep biting.