Chapter 235:

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Carrie’s thoughts drifted to the opulent yacht they had been on earlier, piecing together the likelihood of Daxton’s affluent background.

Meanwhile, Asher peered at the nearly empty coffee pot, disappointment flickering across his face. “Looks like the caramel macchiato’s all gone, huh?”

Beverly extended the caramel macchiato she hadn’t yet sipped. “I have a caramel macchiato here, haven’t touched it yet,” she said, offering the coffee to him.

Asher hesitated. “You’re not going to have it?” he asked.

“I just picked it up without thinking. I’m really not fussy about what I drink,” Beverly responded with a shrug.

“Let’s swap,” Asher insisted, exchanging her coffee for his milk tea.

From the corner, Daxton watched the exchange briefly before redirecting his attention to Carrie. “Have you managed to sort out that trending topic mess?”

Carrie sighed heavily, toying with the chicken leg on her plate. “It’s more or less handled, but at a cost. My reputation has taken a hit, labeled as a woman who’s chasing fame by fabricating a romance with Asher.”

At that, Asher slammed his drink down, his face clouded with anger. “The nerve of those people—they’re not even real fans! I’ve looked at their profiles; tons of them are fakes. It’s just trolls and haters fanning the flames! Maybe I should just call them out on Twitter or get a lawyer to handle it.”

“No!” Carrie cut in sharply. “Remember what I told you on WhatsApp? It’s better to stay quiet. Even if these fake accounts seem to be defending you, your real fans might get caught in the crossfire if you lash out.”

Godwin, wiping sweat from his brow, interjected with a weary tone. “You’re only going to make things worse for your idol, Asher. The more you try to shield Carrie, the more your fans will resent her. Trust me, managing a star like you is as tough as overseeing a bunch of toddlers in a nursery.”

Daxton meticulously filled his bowl with apples from a salad bowl. “Maybe the crew could tweet about your genuine moments,” he suggested, looking around the table.

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Shaking his head dismissively, Godwin replied, “The crew’s words might not carry much weight. Fans could suspect they’re just covering for Carrie.”

“You’ve got a point,” Carrie chimed in, stabbing a chunk of cantaloupe with her fork.

She eyed Daxton’s assortment of apples and asked nonchalantly, “You like apples, huh? I’m not really into them.”

Crunching on an apple, Daxton posed another idea. “What about a crew member who’s actually a fan of Asher? Someone who witnesses your interactions daily could be quite persuasive.”

“No way!” the trio—Carrie, Asher, and Godwin—exclaimed together.

Carrie took a moment to explain. “Daxton, you might not get it. It’s pretty rare for our crew to attract die-hard fans.”

Asher contributed his own experience. “We had an incident with a staff member who was overly enthusiastic, covertly recording me. It nearly led to leaks before the film even premiered. That’s why Silver Elephant Media has a strict policy against employing fans now.”

Tilting his head slightly, Daxton raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “But what if one did manage to slip by?”

Carrie responded, her voice laced with realism, “A true fan would be actively involved in fan rankings, voting, and concerts. With today’s online identity verification, it’s tough to stay under the radar. And if they’re merely casual fans, their testimonials wouldn’t hold much sway.”

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