As she put the phone down, Angela breathed a sigh of relief, the discomfort caused by the delayed second menstrual cycle, which had been six months overdue, was finally alleviated to some degree. But it was only a slight improvement.
Although the occurrence of the second period after six months was a normal physiological phenomenon, the significant flow made it clear that she could expect several days of menstrual pain.
"Damn it," she thought, she had been perfectly fine during the premiere yesterday, and now this cursed thing came today. Fortunately, she had felt a slight pain in her lower abdomen before going to bed last night, so she had had the foresight to put on a sanitary pad. Otherwise she would have been a bloody mess this morning.
Angela rubbed her forehead, the blood loss giving her a slight headache. Maybe she should be thankful that it hadn't happened during the premiere or at school, otherwise it would have been a big embarrassment.
Being a woman was truly a painful experience, Angela thought with a troubled expression as she adjusted her posture on the bed to sit a little higher.
She gathered the scattered newspapers on the bed and read through them again. She had to admit, these movie critics had a sharp eye. The biggest problem with the whole movie《Hide and Seek》was its lack of substance. Never mind comparing it to《The Shining》or《The Silence of the Lambs》even《Alien 2》had more thought-provoking elements.
The highlight was nothing more than playing with the audience, and she sympathized with David Fincher for that. When she thought about his future works like《Seven,》《The Game》or《Fight Club》they all had a deep meaning. She wondered how he would feel when he looked back on his first movie as a director.
As for her acting, she had received considerable recognition. While there was some criticism, the majority of critics praised her ability to hold her ground next to Al. However, the current source of her distress was the review published by the《Los Angeles Times.》
She had anticipated its publication and even rehearsed her responses, but when that private nickname - "Hollywood's Genius Girl" - was used to describe her publicly, a strange sense of inertia washed over her. So when Natalie called, she expressed a lack of mental readiness.
In truth, this reaction was not surprising. Whether reflecting on her past life as a NEET or considering her present existence as a young woman, she had never encountered anything like it. Completely ignoring her past life, even in this current one, whether it was school plays or grand banquets at Buckingham Palace, none had provided her with relevant experiences. So the feeling of drifting was to be expected.
"Let it all go, let's address things as they come." Angela thought a little irritated. Her penchant for hermit-like traits had now transitioned smoothly into an ostrich-like mode. She rose from her bed and strolled to the balcony, where she stretched in the sunlight. After a deep breath of fresh air and a few energetic hops, she regained her composure. Opting for a change of attire, she decided to take a leisurely stroll in the garden.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, accompanied by Jennifer's voice, "Hello, little one, your friends are here.
"My friends? Who?" Angela inquired. Before she could reach the door, the housekeeper had already swung it open and offered a warm smile at the entrance. She stepped aside to reveal a head with red hair pulled back in a ponytail, and as the person smiled, two subtle dimples appeared - it was Lindsay!
Following her, another head appeared, with slightly shorter golden-brown hair cascading down to partially obscure her face. Though some features were obscured, her bright eyes conveyed a shy smile - unmistakably Jessica!
Angela's mouth hung open until Jennifer's repeated calls brought her back to reality. She looked at her with a mixture of astonishment and a strange expression before addressing her, "Thank you, Aunt Jennifer. Could you bring us some drinks and snacks?"
Although Jennifer could sense an underlying tension between the girls, she didn't let it get to her and agreed, making her way downstairs. Lindsay and Jessica, both looking uncomfortable, entered Angela's room. Lindsay cleared her throat as if preparing to speak, but after a hesitant start, she turned to Jessica for support. But Jessica kept an elusive look on her face, avoiding direct eye contact.
Faced with these two awkward figures before her, Angela found herself unable to muster any lingering anger. Despite her earlier proclamation to withhold forgiveness without apology upon misunderstanding Natalie's call, their physical presence seemed to melt her resolve.
With a wry, inward smile, Angela placed her hands on her hips and playfully chided, "Okay, are you going to stand there forever? Or should I formally invite you to sit down?"
Both Lindsay and Jessica looked embarrassed. Then, as if in sync, they began to speak, "Angie, we're really sorry..."
Their simultaneous utterance caught them off guard, and they exchanged a confused look before breaking into a round of laughter. Angela couldn't help but join in, teasing, "Looks like you two are turning into more than just friends - maybe sisters."
"Who knows?" Jessica replied with playful glee.
"Jessica is my sister!" Lindsay explained with straightforward conviction.
"All right, all right, you're officially sisters," Angela conceded with a shrug. It was odd, actually - considering her involvement, these two shouldn't have shared any connection at all.
"I caught wind of the premiere of the movie you starred in《Hide and Seek》in yesterday's newspaper. So I thought I'd jump at the chance to come see you," Jessica explained, noting Angela's still pajama-clad appearance. "Lindsay did the same, although she beat me to it and contacted me first. We decided to come together."
Angela nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. "You know me, not a morning person."
Jessica chuckled, "Not even for your big movie premiere?"
"No, I'm just resting in bed," Angela gestured to the slightly disheveled bedclothes. She wondered if she could classify menstruation as a form of illness, though she dismissed the thought.
"Recuperating? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" Jessica leaned forward slightly as if to take her temperature. Lindsay, always playful, joined in by mockingly poking Angela's side.
"Hey, hey, wait! What are you doing?" Angela shouted, taking a step back and crossing her arms defensively. After the previous incident, she was a bit wary of personal space invasions.
Lindsay and Jessica shared an embarrassed chuckle, the sight of Angela's guarded expression proving amusing. They exchanged a look and burst out laughing again.
Just then, Jennifer entered with a tray of pastries and a large bottle of juice. Angela invited her friends onto the balcony to bask in the sunlight, and they delved into discussions about the previous night's premiere. Although the underlying tensions had faded, certain dynamics remained unchanged. Little did Angela know that some things were bound to repeat themselves.
After a pleasant morning with Lindsay and Jessica, their time together was interrupted in the afternoon when Uncle Sparrow brought news related to Disney. One piece of news was an official announcement from Hollywood Records, a Disney subsidiary, that the instrumental EP《Recollections》had sold over one million copies.
Angela raised an eyebrow, skepticism in her voice. "Are you sure about that, Uncle Sparrow?" She didn't mean to cast doubt, but she had done some research on the instrumental music market. Reaching the goal in just over three months surprised her.
"The problem should be minimal. Disney's strategy was effective. They targeted the fan base of your previous EP. If even a fraction of those fans buy this instrumental EP, it easily reaches a million in sales," Sparrow explained. "Also, the data has been reported in reputable publications. I doubt it's fabricated. Of course, I'll dig deeper for exact numbers."
Angela shrugged. "I guess that means I should start writing songs now, in preparation for my official album?"
"According to the contract, yes," Sparrow nodded.
"All right, spill the other piece of news," Angela sighed, her curiosity piqued.
"This is from the record company. Disney's Film and Entertainment Division wants you to sing the theme song for《The Lion King》"
"The theme song?《Can You Feel the Love Tonight》? But that's a duet, right?" Angela was taken aback.
"No, that's a ballad. They're actually interested in you singing the opening song《Circle of Life》" Sparrow clarified.
"《Circle of Life》?" Angela's surprise persisted. It was true that a female voice sang《Circle of Life》but Disney's strategy seemed particularly clever.
" Nevertheless, you're still a newcomer and your album release is already in the pipeline. This could be a fantastic promotional opportunity. They're quite invested," Angela shook her head with a smile.
"And they've also made an offer for you to do the voice of young Nala," Sparrow added.
"They really don't miss a trick, do they? So, dear Uncle Sparrow, is《The Lion King》already in production?" Angela inquired, resting her chin in her hands.
"Actually, no. I inquired about it. Their creative team is in Africa right now, doing more research. But I suspect they'll be back soon to start production. Otherwise, they wouldn't have made this offer now."
After a moment of thought, a mischievous grin crept across Angela's face.
"All right, I'm on board to sing《Circle of Life.》I might even write an extra song for《The Lion King.》And, of course, I'm open to voice acting," she exclaimed in a spirited tone, her mischief becoming more obvious. "But here's my condition for the voice acting - I want to voice Shenzi! Yes, you heard me right, the hyena!"
[TL Note:
-> The script and songs for《The Lion King》where first mentioned in chapter 5]
As she put the phone down, Angela breathed a sigh of relief, the discomfort caused by the delayed second menstrual cycle, which had been six months overdue, was finally alleviated to some degree. But it was only a slight improvement.
Although the occurrence of the second period after six months was a normal physiological phenomenon, the significant flow made it clear that she could expect several days of menstrual pain.
"Damn it," she thought, she had been perfectly fine during the premiere yesterday, and now this cursed thing came today. Fortunately, she had felt a slight pain in her lower abdomen before going to bed last night, so she had had the foresight to put on a sanitary pad. Otherwise she would have been a bloody mess this morning.
Angela rubbed her forehead, the blood loss giving her a slight headache. Maybe she should be thankful that it hadn't happened during the premiere or at school, otherwise it would have been a big embarrassment.
Being a woman was truly a painful experience, Angela thought with a troubled expression as she adjusted her posture on the bed to sit a little higher.
She gathered the scattered newspapers on the bed and read through them again. She had to admit, these movie critics had a sharp eye. The biggest problem with the whole movie《Hide and Seek》was its lack of substance. Never mind comparing it to《The Shining》or《The Silence of the Lambs》even《Alien 2》had more thought-provoking elements.
The highlight was nothing more than playing with the audience, and she sympathized with David Fincher for that. When she thought about his future works like《Seven,》《The Game》or《Fight Club》they all had a deep meaning. She wondered how he would feel when he looked back on his first movie as a director.
As for her acting, she had received considerable recognition. While there was some criticism, the majority of critics praised her ability to hold her ground next to Al. However, the current source of her distress was the review published by the《Los Angeles Times.》
She had anticipated its publication and even rehearsed her responses, but when that private nickname - "Hollywood's Genius Girl" - was used to describe her publicly, a strange sense of inertia washed over her. So when Natalie called, she expressed a lack of mental readiness.
In truth, this reaction was not surprising. Whether reflecting on her past life as a NEET or considering her present existence as a young woman, she had never encountered anything like it. Completely ignoring her past life, even in this current one, whether it was school plays or grand banquets at Buckingham Palace, none had provided her with relevant experiences. So the feeling of drifting was to be expected.
"Let it all go, let's address things as they come." Angela thought a little irritated. Her penchant for hermit-like traits had now transitioned smoothly into an ostrich-like mode. She rose from her bed and strolled to the balcony, where she stretched in the sunlight. After a deep breath of fresh air and a few energetic hops, she regained her composure. Opting for a change of attire, she decided to take a leisurely stroll in the garden.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, accompanied by Jennifer's voice, "Hello, little one, your friends are here.
"My friends? Who?" Angela inquired. Before she could reach the door, the housekeeper had already swung it open and offered a warm smile at the entrance. She stepped aside to reveal a head with red hair pulled back in a ponytail, and as the person smiled, two subtle dimples appeared - it was Lindsay!
Following her, another head appeared, with slightly shorter golden-brown hair cascading down to partially obscure her face. Though some features were obscured, her bright eyes conveyed a shy smile - unmistakably Jessica!
Angela's mouth hung open until Jennifer's repeated calls brought her back to reality. She looked at her with a mixture of astonishment and a strange expression before addressing her, "Thank you, Aunt Jennifer. Could you bring us some drinks and snacks?"
Although Jennifer could sense an underlying tension between the girls, she didn't let it get to her and agreed, making her way downstairs. Lindsay and Jessica, both looking uncomfortable, entered Angela's room. Lindsay cleared her throat as if preparing to speak, but after a hesitant start, she turned to Jessica for support. But Jessica kept an elusive look on her face, avoiding direct eye contact.
Faced with these two awkward figures before her, Angela found herself unable to muster any lingering anger. Despite her earlier proclamation to withhold forgiveness without apology upon misunderstanding Natalie's call, their physical presence seemed to melt her resolve.
With a wry, inward smile, Angela placed her hands on her hips and playfully chided, "Okay, are you going to stand there forever? Or should I formally invite you to sit down?"
Both Lindsay and Jessica looked embarrassed. Then, as if in sync, they began to speak, "Angie, we're really sorry..."
Their simultaneous utterance caught them off guard, and they exchanged a confused look before breaking into a round of laughter. Angela couldn't help but join in, teasing, "Looks like you two are turning into more than just friends - maybe sisters."
"Who knows?" Jessica replied with playful glee.
"Jessica is my sister!" Lindsay explained with straightforward conviction.
"All right, all right, you're officially sisters," Angela conceded with a shrug. It was odd, actually - considering her involvement, these two shouldn't have shared any connection at all.
"I caught wind of the premiere of the movie you starred in《Hide and Seek》in yesterday's newspaper. So I thought I'd jump at the chance to come see you," Jessica explained, noting Angela's still pajama-clad appearance. "Lindsay did the same, although she beat me to it and contacted me first. We decided to come together."
Angela nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. "You know me, not a morning person."
Jessica chuckled, "Not even for your big movie premiere?"
"No, I'm just resting in bed," Angela gestured to the slightly disheveled bedclothes. She wondered if she could classify menstruation as a form of illness, though she dismissed the thought.
"Recuperating? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" Jessica leaned forward slightly as if to take her temperature. Lindsay, always playful, joined in by mockingly poking Angela's side.
"Hey, hey, wait! What are you doing?" Angela shouted, taking a step back and crossing her arms defensively. After the previous incident, she was a bit wary of personal space invasions.
Lindsay and Jessica shared an embarrassed chuckle, the sight of Angela's guarded expression proving amusing. They exchanged a look and burst out laughing again.
Just then, Jennifer entered with a tray of pastries and a large bottle of juice. Angela invited her friends onto the balcony to bask in the sunlight, and they delved into discussions about the previous night's premiere. Although the underlying tensions had faded, certain dynamics remained unchanged. Little did Angela know that some things were bound to repeat themselves.
After a pleasant morning with Lindsay and Jessica, their time together was interrupted in the afternoon when Uncle Sparrow brought news related to Disney. One piece of news was an official announcement from Hollywood Records, a Disney subsidiary, that the instrumental EP《Recollections》had sold over one million copies.
Angela raised an eyebrow, skepticism in her voice. "Are you sure about that, Uncle Sparrow?" She didn't mean to cast doubt, but she had done some research on the instrumental music market. Reaching the goal in just over three months surprised her.
"The problem should be minimal. Disney's strategy was effective. They targeted the fan base of your previous EP. If even a fraction of those fans buy this instrumental EP, it easily reaches a million in sales," Sparrow explained. "Also, the data has been reported in reputable publications. I doubt it's fabricated. Of course, I'll dig deeper for exact numbers."
Angela shrugged. "I guess that means I should start writing songs now, in preparation for my official album?"
"According to the contract, yes," Sparrow nodded.
"All right, spill the other piece of news," Angela sighed, her curiosity piqued.
"This is from the record company. Disney's Film and Entertainment Division wants you to sing the theme song for《The Lion King》"
"The theme song?《Can You Feel the Love Tonight》? But that's a duet, right?" Angela was taken aback.
"No, that's a ballad. They're actually interested in you singing the opening song《Circle of Life》" Sparrow clarified.
"《Circle of Life》?" Angela's surprise persisted. It was true that a female voice sang《Circle of Life》but Disney's strategy seemed particularly clever.
" Nevertheless, you're still a newcomer and your album release is already in the pipeline. This could be a fantastic promotional opportunity. They're quite invested," Angela shook her head with a smile.
"And they've also made an offer for you to do the voice of young Nala," Sparrow added.
"They really don't miss a trick, do they? So, dear Uncle Sparrow, is《The Lion King》already in production?" Angela inquired, resting her chin in her hands.
"Actually, no. I inquired about it. Their creative team is in Africa right now, doing more research. But I suspect they'll be back soon to start production. Otherwise, they wouldn't have made this offer now."
After a moment of thought, a mischievous grin crept across Angela's face.
"All right, I'm on board to sing《Circle of Life.》I might even write an extra song for《The Lion King.》And, of course, I'm open to voice acting," she exclaimed in a spirited tone, her mischief becoming more obvious. "But here's my condition for the voice acting - I want to voice Shenzi! Yes, you heard me right, the hyena!"
[TL Note:
-> The script and songs for《The Lion King》where first mentioned in chapter 5]
