Next One Is a Babe

Aurora was evidently annoyed by the unwanted attention, and after a while, she said to Cindy, "Let's just go home. I hate that everyone here knows who I am and is giving me odd looks."

Cindy empathized with her. She hummed in response and cut their evening stroll short as they made their way home.

Upon arriving back at the apartment, Cindy went to wash up while Aurora jumped into the shower in the hallway bathroom.

Cindy couldn't help feeling as if something was amiss now that Ian was not home. She had grown used to having him around, and after he had left for the set, there was a strange hollowness about the apartment that she couldn't ignore.

After Cindy washed up, she put on a change of clothes and checked the time. She wondered if Ian was already filming his scenes. After all, he was probably tied up with work now given how late he had returned to the set.

Presently, she settled down in bed and took out her phone to scroll through the news. Since Ian's news had been circulating online, the rumors surrounding Valerie's love life had quieted down. Where the gossip-mongering audience had once been heavily invested in her relationship, they now diverted their attention to the recent events in Ian's life instead.

Cindy searched up Valerie's name to check on the latest news and found that while her company did not come out with a statement in response to the rumors, she had actually posted something on her personal account, though she kept the content brief and vague.

She told her fans that she was doing well and that there was nothing to worry about. Then, it was followed by a request that they check out her latest projects.

From the looks of it, and as far as anyone was concerned, she was silently acknowledging the rumors of her dating the lesser-known male celebrity. Cindy browsed through the fans' replies in the comments section. Some urged Valerie to clarify the rumors while others congratulated her and wished her all the best in this newfound relationship. The latter ones were supportive in that they wanted to see her happy, and some even pointed out that they only ever cared about her projects and had no interest in her personal affairs.

All in all, Valerie's fans knew how capable she was, and they didn't have much else to say about her personal life as long as she delivered professionally. Most of her fans were understanding of her situation, and they would've surely been worried had she continued to stay single at her age.

The comments section was largely peaceful and agreeable, and after a brief scroll through the fans' replies, Cindy exited the webpage.

She thought about Ian, who probably hadn't shown the full extent of his capabilities just yet and had not amassed the unwavering support of his fans. That said, there was a significant improvement in the way his fans treated his love life, and their aversion toward Ian's relationship with her had waned over time.

Cindy set her phone aside and lay down in bed. Since she couldn't sleep, she spent the next few minutes staring up at the ceiling. Ian's contract was coming to an end soon, and she wondered if he had made any plans for what was going to happen after that.

She wouldn't mind if the both of them continued the way they were, but if she had to be selfish, she would much prefer if there was a change in circumstances. She wanted to be together with Ian without having to fear what the rest of the world thought, and she wanted to bring him back to her hometown so that she could show him her father's grave.

Then again, if Ian truly wanted to renew his contract, it might take a while before he had any free time in his schedule. Hannah had mentioned that several business meetings surrounded the issue of Ian's contract renewal; if he stayed on with the agency, the matter of endorsement and other business deals could be settled as well.