The crisp sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed through the hallway. Crew members scurrying back and forth instinctively cleared a path in the middle. Wearing sunglasses and accompanied by her assistant, Britney Spears quickly turned into the corridor where the dressing rooms were located.
Britney had been famous for less than half a year, yet she already carried herself with the full poise of a star.
Arriving at the dressing room, the assistant stepped forward to open the door, waiting for Britney to enter before following her inside.
Just as she stepped in, Britney felt her high heels step on something. Looking down, she saw a newspaper lying on the floor, with one line of large text particularly eye-catching.
"Shocking News—The lead actor for Britney Spears' new MV is a fan of Christina Aguilera!"
Seeing the name Christina Aguilera, some unpleasant memories from the Mickey Mouse Club instantly flooded back into Britney's mind.
Back then, to steal the spotlight, she and Christina Aguilera had been at each other's throats.
She bent down to pick up the newspaper and found it was a supplement from the American News Report. Besides the striking headline, the report was accompanied by a photo. She had an impression of the person in the photo; he was one of the three candidates for this costume screen test, and the one Director Martin Jackson had strongly recommended to her.
"He's a fan of that little bitch?" Britney's mood soured whenever she thought of Christina Aguilera. "A die-hard fan at that?"
In a fit of pique, she crumpled the newspaper, tossed it into the trash bin, and sat on the sofa without saying a word.
Seeing Britney get angry for no apparent reason, the assistant quickly poured her a glass of water and cautiously retreated to the side. Stars were never easy to serve.
Sitting on the sofa, Britney recalled more unpleasantness with Christina Aguilera during their time at the Mickey Mouse Club. Especially after Christina Aguilera became famous last year, she had even made a special phone call to brag to her... "Hey, wait!"
Suddenly, a girl's shout came from the hallway outside. "Matthew Horner, you dropped something."
Next, Britney heard a man's voice. "That's not mine! Why would I like Christina Aguilera? She looks like an ugly hag and her singing is terrible. Only an idiot would buy her album."
Singing is terrible? Ugly hag? Only an idiot would buy her album? Hearing these words, Britney Spears' mood suddenly brightened. The person outside was absolutely right; he had practically spoken her mind!
"Matthew Horner, is it really not yours? Then I'm throwing it away."
This time the girl's voice was a bit quieter, as if the two were walking further away. The man's voice also became muffled. "Hurry up and throw it in the trash. I feel like throwing up just seeing Christina Aguilera."
Britney blinked. Christina Aguilera was indeed nauseating.
"Huh, the name Matthew Horner sounds a bit familiar?" She thought for a moment and remembered. "I think I saw him at the last audition."
The assistant checked the time and reminded her softly, "It's almost time for the screen test."
She felt completely baffled. Britney Spears had first flared up in anger, then returned to normal, and now she was even smiling.
Outside the dressing room, Amanda accompanied Matthew toward the makeup room and asked, "Was I okay?"
Matthew gave her a thumbs up. "Fantastic!"
The makeup room was just ahead. Amanda said, "I'm off, you go in."
"Mm."
Matthew nodded, waved to Amanda, walked into the makeup room, found a place to stand, and waited.
Frankly speaking, his plan wasn't perfect, even a bit forced. If it were someone in their thirties or forties, or even someone in their twenties with some life experience, they might have been suspicious. But Britney Spears was only eighteen. In the entertainment gossip he had read,
she was famously airheaded and easily provoked by external stimuli.
Since he wasn't willing to sell his ass like Michael Sheen, he had to take a gamble on this kind of thing. He was betting that Britney Spears really hated Christina Aguilera.
As long as Britney Spears loathed Christina Aguilera, the possibility of success would be very high.
Then again, as a nobody with nothing to his name and not being some top-tier genius, how could he formulate a flawless, all-encompassing plan?
Matthew dared to gamble because he had nothing to lose.
Right at nine-thirty, the assistant named York came to the makeup room to notify James Brandt to go to the audition room. When he left, he saw Matthew and specifically nodded to him.
Michael Sheen saw all of this. Seeing that Matthew could even strike up a relationship with the Crew's assistant, he was envious but also admired Matthew's ability to scheme.
"This guy is really good at networking." Michael Sheen shifted his body slightly, unable to understand why, after several days, his backside still burned with pain. However, he was full of confidence. "Too bad, no matter how good you are at networking, the winner of this screen test will be me."
Glancing at Matthew, Michael Sheen walked over with an awkward gait. Matthew smiled at him and asked with concern, "Feet still not better?"
The embarrassment on Michael Sheen's face flashed and vanished. "It's fine, almost better now." He quickly changed the subject. "Why did Helen Herman look for you just now?"
"She gave me a lecture," Matthew said intentionally.
"Why?" Michael Sheen was puzzled.
"After I had lunch with you that day, I called Helen." Matthew started spouting nonsense again. "I wanted to withdraw from this costume screen test, but Helen wouldn't agree and forced me to come. She just called me over to scold me."
He shook his head. "Sigh, this role is already yours. What am I even doing here?"
"You're a real friend, Matthew."
Hearing that he wanted to voluntarily withdraw from the screen test, Michael Sheen was a bit moved. Not much, but a little. "If I become famous, I'll definitely help you."
"Mm." Matthew was essentially treating his interactions with Michael Sheen as practice for his acting skills. "I believe that day will come soon!"
Michael Sheen smiled. If he became famous, he would definitely bring Matthew Horner along to be his background extra. A role with lines? Forget it, Matthew Horner didn't have that kind of ability... Matthew and Michael Sheen chatted idly. After only ten minutes or so, the assistant named York pushed open the makeup room door again.
"Matthew." He called out to Matthew. "It's your turn."
"Coming."
Michael Sheen watched Matthew close the makeup room door and curled his lip. "Just like James Brandt, it's just going through the motions."
James Brandt walked into the makeup room at that moment, frustration written all over his face.
"Ten minutes or so at most." Michael Sheen looked at his watch. "Matthew Horner will be back just like him."
Time ticked by, and fifteen minutes passed in a flash. Michael Sheen quietly rubbed between his buttocks. When Matthew didn't return, he couldn't help but look at his watch again.
"No rush, it's only been fifteen minutes." He remained calm.
Another ten minutes passed. James Brandt had finished removing his makeup and left, but Matthew still hadn't returned.
Michael Sheen was really finding it hard to stand. Another ten minutes passed, and there was still no movement from the makeup room door.
"What's going on? He should have just gone through the motions like James Brandt." Michael Sheen was clearly getting anxious. "Could there be an unexpected situation?"
He reached back to touch his backside. "No, absolutely not. Director Martin Jackson will definitely keep his promise!"
But forty minutes had passed, and Matthew still hadn't returned. Michael Sheen's sense of foreboding grew. The panic of having paid a painful price without receiving the corresponding reward began to surface.
Reaching back to touch between his buttocks, Michael Sheen thought of everything that happened that night, the humiliation he endured, and the still-burning pain. His expression grew increasingly grim.
What if... what if... Martin Jackson doesn't keep his promise and I don't get this role? What should I do? Would I have sacrificed for nothing?
"If I paid the price, I must have a return!" he murmured. "There must be a return."
Meanwhile, in the audition room, Director Martin Jackson, who was presiding over the screen test, whispered to the record company representative next to him, "is it okay now?"
The record company representative looked at Britney. Britney looked up from behind the monitor and gave a slight nod.
"It's okay," he said to the director.
"Stop!" Martin Jackson called an end to the audition. "Come over here."
In fact, ten minutes into the audition, he had wanted to dismiss this guy named Matthew Horner, but Britney Spears hadn't agreed, so he had to continue.
Matthew walked out from the beach set with poise. Whether facing Martin Jackson or the record company representative, he maintained a humble expression, as if the events at the hotel that night had never happened.
"is there anything else?" Martin Jackson asked again in a low voice.
If there was nothing else, he planned to dismiss the guy as soon as possible.
"I have a few questions." Britney Spears suddenly spoke up, not caring whether Martin Jackson agreed or not, and asked directly, "Are you Matthew Horner?"
Matthew nodded. "I am Matthew Horner."
"Before coming to the audition," Britney had specifically gone to check the trash bin in the hallway, "did you throw something away?"
"Uh..." Matthew smiled sheepishly. "Someone gave me a record. It wasn't mine, so I just threw it away."
Britney Spears confirmed she was right and said, "Alright, I'm done asking. You can go."
Martin Jackson waved Matthew away. Matthew turned to leave, and before exiting, he heard, "York, bring Michael Sheen in."