Chapter 549: Carrying the Scandal to the End

"I’ll wait here for a bit."

Auntie Lana immediately went to make tea.

Rose Shaw sat for a while before a small figure came down from upstairs, a little piglet trotting closely at his heels.

"Hello, Ian."

"Auntie Rose," Ian Monroe called out politely.

He used to be terrified of Rose Shaw. But after meeting her a few more times and seeing how she was with his mom, he wasn’t afraid anymore.

Even though he was young, he could tell who was good to his mom and who wasn’t.

"Long time no see. You’ve gotten taller, and you’ve filled out a bit." Rose Shaw walked over and took Ian Monroe’s small hand. "Auntie Rose brought you some presents. See if you like them."

Seeing Ian Monroe again this time, it was Rose Shaw who felt a little awkward.

’She really had no experience with children.’

Ian Monroe unwrapped the presents and nodded with a smile. "I like them a lot. Thank you, Auntie Rose."

"Your birthday is coming up soon. This is your birthday present from Auntie Rose."

Ian Monroe was still young and didn’t remember some things very well, but seeing this present sparked a vague memory—it seemed like Rose Shaw had bought him a birthday cake once before.

"Auntie Rose, I have a class soon. Can you stay and eat with me?"

"Of course," Rose Shaw nodded immediately. ’I was bored anyway. And with President Fairchild and Melody both out, I can stay and keep Ian company.’

"I’m going to my class now, then. I’ll let Bunny stay here and keep you company."

"Okay! Bunny, come here. Let me see how much heavier you’ve gotten."

...

The Golden Orchid Award ceremony was a star-studded affair, a glamorous battlefield of fame and fortune where rivalries played out in the shadows.

Melody Monroe sat in a chair while Asher Archer styled her.

Keith Coleman stood to the side, gathering all sorts of information.

Suddenly, he saw the name of a special guest presenter.

’Damn! Fairchild is really stirring things up! Looks like he’s planning to take these rumors all the way.’

"Melody, looks like everyone’s arriving in pairs. You want to pair up with someone?" Keith Coleman asked, walking over to Melody Monroe with his phone in hand.

"Usually it’s on-screen couples who pair up. Hundreds of media outlets from all over the country are gathered here today."

"Is it okay if I don’t?"

"Of course you can," Keith Coleman said, secretly sighing in relief.

’He was terrified Melody Monroe would choose to pair up with Zane Langdon. Just the thought of it made him imagine how high Fairchild’s rage meter would climb.’

"Nervous?" Keith Coleman asked, noticing Melody Monroe was clenching her hands. He wanted to find a way to help her relax.

"A little. It is my first time at a gala like this, after all." Melody Monroe took a few deep breaths.

"You’re just up for a newcomer award, not one of the leads, so don’t worry too much. The competition for Best Actress at the Golden Orchid Awards today is what’s really fierce. It was supposed to be Aya Winters’s award, but then she had her incident, so now the others have a chance again."

"So, is Zane Langdon the Best Actor?"

"No. Giving this award to Zane Langdon would be an insult to him. He’s a presenter."

"Oh," Melody Monroe nodded.

"It’s hard to say who’ll win Best Actor, but York Preston from Stellaris is the most promising candidate. I used to be overseas and had no idea the domestic entertainment scene was this wild. You really can’t underestimate the power of fans. I’ve never witnessed a fanbase this strong before."

"I hope our studio will have a contender for Best Actor next year, too."

"Let’s focus on getting the Best Actress award in the bag first."

Chatting with Keith Coleman like this really did help Melody Monroe relax.