Possessed No More: The True Star Returns to Claim Her Throne-Chapter 26: A Job Comes Knocking

It was true she had a lot of night scenes. After all, her character, Shannon Sutton, was a dancer at The Elysian, and The Elysian was most lively at night.

Hair and makeup took over half an hour. By the time she was ready, night had just fallen, and it was time to film the scene where Shannon Sutton’s song catches a warlord’s eye.

Director Miles was hunched over, staring at the enchanting woman on the monitor, his eyes growing brighter and brighter. When the scene finally ended, he slapped his thigh. "She’s the one! This kid must have taken some advanced acting classes. Her acting was never this full of Spiritual Energy before!"

Due to the super typhoon—oh, no, that’s not right—it was due to the massive exposé of scandals by gossip accounts targeting its artists. All of Starmaker Entertainment’s semi-famous talents had been taken down. Two artists in his own film crew had their careers collapse. A suitable replacement for the male actor had already been found, but he still couldn’t find the right person to play the second female lead: Jonah Ingram, the Ninth Princess of the Demons.

As a princess of the Demons, Jonah Ingram volunteered to help her father, the Demon Lord, eliminate his greatest rival, Immortal Lord Caelus. She transformed into a human and used a Divine Artifact to conceal her Demonic Qi and cultivation, taking advantage of the Empyrean Sect’s recruitment of new disciples to study under Immortal Lord Caelus.

Upon first entering the Celestial Sect, the Demon Princess is pure and adorable, but later on, she becomes incomparably bewitching. Even Immortal Lord Caelus is nearly seduced by her, his Daoist heart almost shattered.

There’s no shortage of beautiful people in the entertainment industry, but there aren’t many who can embody both pure adorableness and unparalleled seductiveness.

But Riley Perry perfectly embodied these two states on and off camera, and Director Miles was practically ecstatic.

"Old Quinn, how many more days of filming does she have?"

Director Quinn replied, "If we rush it, it’ll still take about a week, I’d say?"

Director Miles said, "That’s not right. During dinner, you said if things went smoothly, Riley Perry would wrap up in another three days? Why change your story now? You trying to mess with me?"

Director Quinn laughed. "Just kidding! So, you’re interested? But shouldn’t you ask her if she’s even available first?"

Director Miles slapped his shiny head, then beckoned to Riley Perry, who had just finished a drink of water. "Ria, come over here."

The crew’s eyes immediately shifted to Riley Perry.

Ignoring everyone’s stares, Riley Perry walked over in her high heels. Director Miles was truly impressed. The moment filming began, the girl transformed into a seductive beauty, from her walk to her speech to her every expression. But the second the director yelled ’cut,’ despite being in the same makeup and costume, she would instantly revert to a beautiful, innocent sweetheart. An actor like that was a rare find indeed.

"Director Miles, did you need something?"

Director Miles beamed like a happy Buddha. "Your scenes here are wrapping up in a few days, right? How about coming to save my show?"

Riley Perry’s eyes instantly widened in pleasant surprise. "Does it pay well?"

Director Miles was dumbfounded. ’This was the first actor who, when offered a role in one of my films, didn’t ask about the character, the screen time, or their co-stars, but only about the money!’

Director Quinn burst out laughing at her response. "This kid is so blunt!"

Riley Perry ran a hand through her hair, looking a bit sheepish. "What can I do? A girl’s gotta eat. Of course I have to ask how much it pays!"

"How much do you want?" Director Miles decided to tease her a little.

"The more the better, obviously. But no matter how much I earn, I only get a small cut. The company takes the lion’s share. I’m just their money-making machine."

Director Miles asked casually, "What’s your split with the company?"

Riley Perry didn’t hide it. "Forty-sixty. I get forty, the company gets sixty."

Director Miles instantly regretted asking; it was a private matter. He never expected the young woman before him to be so frank and actually tell him.

’At that moment, he suddenly wanted to get Riley Perry to switch companies. With my reputation, I could definitely get her a sixty-forty split, with her getting sixty, right?’

"Which company are you with?"

"Stardust."

Director Miles fell silent.

’Among the major entertainment companies in the industry, Stardust was known for having the best artist compensation. But then it hit him. Wait a minute... with her acting skills before, a forty-sixty split was actually pretty generous!’

"Oh, that’s great, that’s great. So, how about it? Are you available? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re well compensated!"

"Yes, I am! So when should I come for the audition?"

Director Miles waved a hand dismissively. "No need to audition. I trust my eyes. Just give me your agent’s number, and I’ll discuss the rest with them."

The truth was, he had no more time to waste. The movie was already two-thirds filmed when the actress playing the second female lead had her scandal. If he didn’t find a replacement to shoot her scenes soon, the film’s release would be delayed.

Riley Perry obediently recited the number and went to prepare for her next scene. ’No audition? That saves me some trouble,’ she thought.

That evening, after finishing her scenes and returning to the hotel, Riley Perry got a call from Joanna. "Well, look at you, my dear lady! I didn’t expect you to be out there sourcing your own roles!"

"Director Miles wants me to come over tomorrow to sign the contract. The role is the second female lead, and the pay is fantastic!"

"Tsk! My luck with money is just unstoppable!"

Joanna sounded even more excited. "And you won’t believe this, but a pretty good variety show has been trying to sign you. I was just about to talk to you about it when Director Miles called."

"What kind of show?"

"It’s a dating show. This is the second season; the first one was a huge hit."

Riley Perry frowned immediately. "Nana, as a panelist or as one of the cast members?" She had never seen the show.

"A cast member, of course. The show doesn’t have a panel."

Riley Perry said, "Just turn it down for me. It’s not a good fit."

Joanna suddenly went, "Oh! Silly me. I forgot you have a patron now. Going on a show like that really wouldn’t be appropriate. It’s a shame, though. They made a very generous offer."

Riley Perry didn’t explain. Even without Cole Sinclair, she had no interest in a fake relationship for publicity. But if that’s how Joanna wanted to understand it, so be it. "I’ll have Rhona pick you up at the airport. See you tomorrow, Nana."

She had originally thought her remaining days on the set of *Starfire* would be peaceful. But when the new actor playing the fourth male lead started pestering her on set the very next day, she knew she had been naive.

"Ria, let’s run our lines," the young heartthrob said, blinking pitifully at Riley Perry. "I’m not very experienced, and I’m afraid I’ll drag you down later."

This was already the third time Raymond Warren had approached her, using a different excuse each time. She had yet to see if he could act, but one thing was certain: this kid was Grade-A ’green tea.’

"Ria, you’re not going to turn me down again, are you?"

And she had. Riley Perry had already rejected him twice. The first time, he’d run over to offer her a cup of milk tea—a special one, just for her, that no one else got.

Riley Perry didn’t accept it.

The second time, he rushed over with a bottle of water the moment she finished a scene.

’I mean, really, who would accept it?’

This was the third time.

’Little bro, you’re trying way too hard,’ Riley Perry thought. ’Anyone with half a brain can see you’re up to no good, being so pushy.’

"Alright, then. Let’s run them."

Raymond Warren immediately pulled out his script, preparing to read his lines from the page.

Riley Perry’s eyes curved into crescents. "Oh, you still need to read them? Why don’t you memorize your lines first, and then we can run them."

Raymond Warren’s face stiffened. "Ria, you’ve memorized all your lines already?"