Perfect Imperfection: Resurrection of the Wayward Heart

The Scandal was really a dessert sent from heaven, from Agent Yan's point of view. A cost and labor free exposure was something he couldn't let go of just like that. Not without sucking off some value from it.

So, he suggested the other party to buy some time and let Viviana gain some 'popularity.'

The man on the other side was shocked for a second, then remembered that this was Viviana, the notorious scandal queen that they were talking about. How could she let this opportunity slip just like that?

Han Jun's side had suspected that there was some other people's hand in fanning the flame. But with Agent Yan's statement, it was clear who was behind that.

'No wonder people avoid being in the same frame as Viviana. She could even sell her reputation to become more popular.'

Han Jun's agent thought. But then quickly dismissed it.

Well, it wasn't his artist who was going to be black marked anyway. It doesn't matter if they clarified it now or a day later as Han Jun had not done anything shameful. So, they agreed to the suggestion.

"Agent Yan said other party would be releasing a clarification statement in a few hours." Manager An replied tactfully.

"Okay."

Viviana acknowledged without further question.

"Whatever he arranges for me."

Muttering that, the actress headed to where her bed room was.

What An Mey did not mention was that Han Jun's agent contacted early morning, at dawn, just as the post made by the media had started to pick up attention. And if Agent Yan had made the decision to clarify it just then or even two hours later from then, the situation would have not reached to such level.

In fact, Viviana would be in more disadvantageous situation the longer they delay the clarification. The netizens would question why she and her PR did not clarify the matter faster if she was an innocent bystander who was pulled into the current by the media.

She would be, once again, accused of creating hype.

And if the situation had been clarified faster, the media would be the one being accused instead. And maybe, even Viviana's previously ruined reputation could be cleared to some extend too by stating that the media were sprouting out nonsense with their imaginations being the core causes of her scandals.

But it was clear that Agent Yan did not want Viviana to be cleared from those previous accusations. Instead, his plans were to pour more dirt on her in the name of gaining more popularity. Make Viviana so dirty that Lyra would appear flawless when always compared to her.

An Mey wondered if she should inform Viviana of this. But when she saw the retreating figure of the girl, she rejected her own idea.

After all, there was no doubt that the actress was aware of the devious plans her agent had for her. And instead of acting against the odds given to her, she chose to ride along with it. A person who was knowingly following into the path of her own destruction as led by other without a question.

What change would her few words bring to the self-destructing artist who was enjoying her own scandal more than a bystander?

It would just be a waste of her breath.

An Mey had been Viviana's agent for more than five months, almost six months now. In this short, yet long period of time, she was able to catch some of the actress's character. And she could not say she was pleased with it.

Before An Mey met Viviana, she had a lot in her mind. Her past, her present, the task she was given and her purpose for doing what she did. She was ready to meet yet another brainless arrogant actress. As all the rumors and the choice of her scripts indicates she was one.

But the person she met was not what she'd expected. Within the first week of their interaction with Viviana, An Mey came to know that she was a person with complex personality.

Ambition, passion, wealth, or enjoyment. Every artist in the industry fit into at least one of those words. Most artist come into the industry to fulfil their dreams with their passion as their backbone.

Some join to earn money while some having too much of it come to try something new and enjoy. And all this artist had something in common, ambition.

Some are ambitious to be a better actor, singer, dancer, etc. To become a star admired by millions and millions of fans. Some the ambitions to become a more worthy artist and receive awards. While some just want to earn more. Some, to make connection and climb the social ladder. And all strive to be more popular.

An Mey herself was also a very ambitious person. She was just waiting for the right opportunity to appear and she would snatch it at any cost to become a recognized Agent. More successful than Agent Yan.

And her ambitious character was the reason why she could not understand the actress she was assigned to.

Viviana could be labelled as the oddest ball of all the odd balls of the entertainment industry. Ambition, passion, wealth or enjoyment. None of those words seemed to be a perfect adjective to describe her. 

Viviana had no passion. She didn't care to judge and select her script. Her debuting role was a supporting female character who acted as the protagonist's backstabbing friend.

The next two roles she was given were also of similar characters, the ones to cross the protagonist's path and create adversity in the protagonist's life. Later she was typecasted into such roles.

And there were many articles about her creating hype with other celebrities. Both An Mey and Elisa had been warned to keep Viviana from trouble. They feared that the actress would cause troubles and 'trap' other just as the media portrays her.

But they had never seen Viviana ever initiate a conversation with any man. In fact, she rarely initiated any conversation. She hardly even talked with the director of her crew. And she never interacted with any male artist outside her required frame of work.

Never had they expected that there was no need for Viviana to go after troubles as troubles came banging on her door. But if given the chance she would open the door for them to see how much chaos they would create.

But Manager An could not blame another person for Viviana's reputation. As Viviana herself, cared even less about her popularity and reputation than the script she received. She let the rumors fly around her and cared not to clarify. So much that the very inclusion of her name in a sentence had become a scandal itself. 

And behind this was none other than her own agent. Agent Yan. And An Mey was given the task to become his eyes. To watch the caged bird, who refuses to sing.

Manager An loathed Viviana's unpassionate and unambitious nature. She sometimes doubted if Viviana was human, or that she was lap produced a humanoid AI programmed to perform her function and nothing else. Her function being the backdrop of Lyra James, the favorite of Agent Yan. Being the bad example make Lyra appear as an angel.

Manager An's mind was filled with curiosity. It was no secret that she was sent by Agent Yan to keep an eye on the notorious actress. Viviana herself knew this.

She knew Agent Yan's motives. The blade hidden in his words. Viviana knew that the agent was not making her popular but slowly blackening her. To make her the dark backdrop for someone else to shine. Yet…

Yet. Viviana remained passive. Taking every hit given to her.

This made An Mey despise Viviana even more. For not fighting back. Although she was following Agent Yan's order to climb up higher in her position and gain a footing in the industry, she would never let anyone climb on top her and dictate her like Vivian was letting Agent Yan do.

She had seen her works. She had seen her talents. She wanted to ask her,

Why?

"Who would've suggested for such delay, it's not surprising at all." Hissed out Viviana.

Just Why?

"Gaining popularity? Why don't he just say he's feed me a sugar-coated poison!"

"And why don't you say anything?" An Mey couldn't hold back.

Why don't you say you don't want to be treated in such way? That you don't want such popularity. Why don't you complain?

An Mey continued the rest of the questions she wanted to ask in her mind. Now that she had finally let her curious cat out, she was hoping for at least a decent answer.

But all she got was a blank stare. Viviana looked deep into An Mey's eyes as if she was reading her soul itself. The manager, whose eyes now was caught and could not move away felt the hairs at the back of her head stand up.

A chill ran through her spine. The Viviana she saw at that moment was a Viviana she had never seen before. A Viviana she never knew existed.

She could not break the eye contact until the younger woman gave her mocking smirk, as though she had finished reading her mind and had seen all her weakness.

"Say what?" Viviana scoffed, "Say what you couldn't?"