Chapter 1465

If possible, he would have minimized the damage, but that clearly wasn’t his priority.

“What I mean is, I never had any intention of replacing you. The reason I called was to tell you to relax. The show will go on as planned.”

Aurora’s eyes widened, her lips parting slightly in surprise. “That’s… honestly unexpected.”

He chuckled softly. “Perfectly reasonable, actually. You don’t need to worry about me dropping you. That’s not even an option. I’ve never worked with someone as professional and easy to collaborate with as you. Why would I replace you over a few baseless rumors? That’d be shooting myself in the foot.”

His words struck her deeply.

“Then I understand,” Aurora said earnestly. “As long as you’re not replacing me, I’ll do everything I can to keep the show running smoothly.”

“Good. Then we’ll stick to the original schedule.”

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Should I release a statement about the rumors?”

“Not yet. Let it simmer for a while. Whoever’s behind this clearly isn’t done–they probably have more to leak. I’ve been in this business long enough to recognize a setup when I see one. They’re deliberately targeting you. If you step back now or if I remove you, that’s exactly what they want.”

Aurora couldn’t help but admire his sharp instincts. “I think you’re right. They’re obviously trying to get a reaction out of me.”

“My advice?” the director said in a measured tone.

“Find out who’s behind it, and fast. You’re running a studio now. This could affect your company’s reputation and investor confidence. The studio’s still young; this is the time to build the right network and protect your brand.”

His words carried genuine concern, and Aurora felt a wave of gratitude. Her studio was still in its early days, yet she had already met people who were willing to stand by her when things got difficult. Her emotions were mixed. The director’s support made her realize she needed to work even harder–to be worthy of the kindness people were showing her.

“Alright then, let’s leave it at that,” Aurora said, taking the initiative to end the call. She still had other things to take care of.

“No problem,” the director replied. “If there’s anything else, I’ll let you know. And don’t take what’s happening online too seriously. It all changes in a heartbeat. If you start caring too much, that’s exactly what they’ll laugh about behind your back.”

“Thank you, Mr. Smith. I understand.”

Aurora meant it. Ever since she founded her studio, she had encountered no real enemies, only people who had taught her valuable lessons.

Still, there was always that one person who just wouldn’t stop making trouble. She didn’t need to think hard to know exactly who it was.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned back in her chair. A moment later, Ian pushed open the door and stepped inside.

“Boss, have you seen what’s going on online?” he asked, his expression conflicted. He had lingered outside for quite a while, unsure whether to bring it up. In the end, he decided she deserved to know.