True Tycoon Her Empire, Her Rules

As soon as Winnie spoke, the guests who had been thinking of smoothing things over suddenly fell silent.

For some reason, I believed her when she said it. Don’t ask why, and it’s just that she has a certain sixth sense.”

“Oh man, Joseph could be in for a scandal..”

“Seventeen, still a minor. What could he possibly do?”

1 know. Joseph was just seventeen when he starred in “Breeze of Youth,” his first lead role, and it was that gig that really put him on the map.”

“Back then, I totally shipped him with Raines.”

“All that shipping will be the death of you.”

“No, it just means I have a well–rounded appetite for celebrity gossip.”

“Could Winnie be hinting that Joseph and Raines were together?”

“If that’s true, I support it.”

These topics might be sensitive back home, but there was no shortage of celebs who built their fanbase on such rumors, though they usually just played along for the cameras. Real–deal cases were rare, and those who dared to bring it into the light were even rarer.

When Joseph heard Winnie mention being seventeen, he paled slightly. Despite trying to stay cool, his youth betrayed him, and he couldn’t quite hide his emotions. To anyone observing, it screamed ‘guilty

conscience.‘

“What could I possibly have done, Winnie? I don’t know what I did to upset you, but I’ve always admired you,” he said.

Perhaps fearing that saying more would only worsen things, Joseph quickly conceded, “Forget it, let’s just say it was my fault. You’ve all worked hard this morning, go get some rest

With that, he turned and walked away with a mix of dejection and feigned magnanimity on his face, leaving the guests and crew exchanging bewildered looks.

Sean was particularly confused. “Why’s he talking so weird?”

He hadn’t mingled much with people, so he wasn’t familiar with the kind of talk called ‘nice guy‘ spiel.

But even if he didn’t get it, plenty in the live stream’s chat did.

“Sean, you’re right on, that’s the classic ‘nice guy‘ spiel.”

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I’ve lived to see a male nice guy‘ In action.

“Can we not with the snarky comments in the chat? Can’t you see Joseph’s already feeling bad?”

“Hard to tell if the comment above is friend or foe.”

“He used to come off as such a fresh–faced, talented actor. What’s with the sudden weird

vibes?”

“Winnie, with her privileged background, openly targets the male actor on the show, and you’re not calling her out? Just picking on Joseph?”

“What’s the right reaction when you’re targeted? Is Joseph wrong for not wanting to argue with her?”

Joseph’s fans and Winnie’s reality show fans started a war in the chat, and amidst the chaos, someone finally brought up the story Winnie had mentioned when Joseph was

seventeen.

“Guys, I just did a search for news about Joseph from that year, and there’s a story about a young actor who mysteriously accused Joseph of pushing him and causing an injury. Could this be what Winnie was referring to?”

“I remember that. Joseph’s fans went ballistic, and later the young actor apologized.”

“I know that kid. He didn’t have a big role in the drama, but he was so shy and cute. I really liked him. It’s a pity he got scared off by the fan backlash and quit acting.”

“I remember now too, the little boy was just fourteen, kind of adorable. There was even a promotional photo that was widely circulated.”

“Doesn’t seem like there’s much to criticize, right? A young guy lashes out and hurts someone, but he apologized afterward?”

“With Winnie making such a point of it, there must be more to the story with Joseph,

right?”

It’s just a set scuffle, how deep could it go? You’re overthinking it.”

“Guys, I’ve got a bold theory.”

“Stop. I don’t want to hear it.”

The live stream viewers took their debate from the live chat to Twitter, and Bagot was worried about Joseph too. After all, if Winnie said it on the show, it hadn’t been proven

wrong yet.

Bagot figured he’d better start looking for a guest to fill in for the next show.

He was just exhausted.

With no concrete evidence against Joseph, the guests took a break and then continued iming at Cloverfield Cottage in the afternoon.

The chief had decided to follow Winnie’s advice to erect a memorial plaque, and while the film crew was still there, they asked her to check out the family shrine’s location and offer guidance on the proper protocols for the memorial.

Winnie wasn’t too familiar with geomantic omen, so she passed that task to Mervin and just wandered around the village.

The villagers knew that among the filming crew, there were real experts, and while Mervin was busy, some approached Winnie for help.

“Miss, I heard you know a thing or two about magic. Could you have a look at my baby? He was such an angel when he was born, but since he turned one, he cries nonstop, and nothing calms him down. We’re all at our wits‘ end.”

A woman, cradling a child, came up to Winnie, and some villagers chimed in,

“That grandson of yours is just a crier. What’s the point of bothering her?”

“Yeah, it’s not like he’s got a hex on him. These TV stars don’t deal with that stuff.”

As people around her started to gabble, the woman shushed them and was about to speak when the baby in her arms began to wail again.

The cry was piercing and loud, leaving the viewers in the livestream momentarily stunned. Everyone urged the woman to take the child home and not disturb the experts working.

Just as the woman was about to leave, somewhat helpless, Winnie called out to her.

“Wait.”

The woman turned back, her face filled with hope, as Winnie looked over the child and seemed to have a realization.

“Madam, was this child longed for?” Winnie asked.

Before she could answer, a villager responded,

“Absolutely. She prayed for years before her daughter–in-law finally gave birth to this precious grandson.”

The woman, hearing Winnie pinpoint the fact that the child was longed for, became visibly

anxious.

“Miss, is there a problem?”

You’re not suggesting that a longed–for child is unstable, that he could be taken back?

Seeing her worried expression turning pale, Winnie quickly reassured her,

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Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with the child.” Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

She continued, “Since he was prayed for, there’s usually a vow to be fulfilled. Now that he’s a year old, you should probably take him to fulfill that promise.”

She froze for a second when Winnie spoke up, and so did the neighbors gathered around on the porch. Her expression quickly shifted to one of realization as she stamped her foot on the wooden floorboards.

“Of course. How could I forget? I made a promise, didn’t I? No wonder the little tyke’s been fussin‘ and carryin‘ on.”

She spoke with a look of vexation, then turned to Winnie with a troubled gaze. “But, you see, Winnie, I prayed for help in so many places. Where do I even start to give my thanks?”