My Good-for-Nothing Brother

: Chapter

I was at the press launch for the Female-Led Prestige Drama I was funding and directing.

And on the spot, the Starlet my brother was promoting exposed my "true colors."

"Some new-generation female director? I personally saw her entertain several investors in one night. There was a constant stream of men coming out of her room."

"Sister, you're working so hard. How about your Sweetheart takes you for a little health check-up?"

My brother chimed in, a malicious grin on his face.

"Can't even land a single sponsorship? Haven't you slept with the right backers yet?"

Instantly, I was the laughingstock of the entire internet.

Everyone thought I was a shameless bitch who'd slept her way to the top.

But I just smiled.

'Since you love cozying up to capital so much, then let me, the real capital behind the scenes, play a little game with you!'

1

I held a grand press conference to promote the Female-Led Prestige Drama that I was funding and directing.

Under the flashing lights, I held a microphone.

"I may be a rookie director, but I dare say, this is going to be a fantastic film."

"I want to share my vision with everyone and show them the power of a new generation of women."

My passionate speech was met with a thunderous, unending round of applause.

Countless cameras were pointed at me. But beneath the wave of applause, a jarring voice cut through.

"Some new-generation female director? I personally saw her entertain several investors in one night. There was a constant stream of men coming out of her room."

My brother, Julian Sterling, walked in with Sylvia Vance, the Starlet he was heavily promoting.

Sylvia Vance was leaning against Julian Sterling's chest, her gaze dripping with contempt as she looked at me.

She'd starred in several hit shows thanks to Julian Sterling's investments, so she had a massive following of her own.

Her words stunned the entire room. The reporters swarmed her, their cameras flashing, hungry for more scandalous details.

Sylvia Vance spoke again. "Sister, you're working so hard. How about your Sweetheart takes you for a little health check-up?"

Not wanting to disappoint them, Julian Sterling sneered, "Can't even land a single sponsorship? Haven't you slept with the right backers yet?"

The reporters flocked to them like dogs that had just smelled meat on a bone.

"As the director's own brother, do you have some inside information for us?"

"Is it true that the director has an improper relationship with her investors, just as you've claimed?"

My partner, June Quinn, standing beside me, couldn't stand to see them slander me like this. She said angrily, "This is all complete nonsense! How can they malign you like this?"

"And Julian Sterling is going too far! How could he say that about his own sister just to fight over the family inheritance?"

She was about to rush the stage, but I grabbed her arm and held her back.

"Don't."

June Quinn's face was flushed with anger. "Are you just going to let them smear your name like that? What they're saying is horrible!"

I just smiled. "Let the bullets fly a little longer."

Infamy is still a form of fame. Julian Sterling and Sylvia Vance's little stunt was actually giving my film the publicity it needed.

Just as I expected, the next day I was the laughingstock of the entire internet. Vicious rumors about me were flying everywhere.

It was undoubtedly the handiwork of my dear brother.

"Seraphina Sterling's Slutty New Movie."

"Seraphina Sterling's Immoral Conduct."

The first few Trending Topics were all negative tags about me, each one marked with a fiery red "Hot" icon.

No doubt about it, this was my brother's doing.

Julian Sterling is the type of person who loves to kick people when they're down, and he especially enjoys using public opinion as a weapon.

The entire internet was buzzing about yesterday's press conference. Everyone believed I was a despicable bitch who had slept her way to the top, and they all rushed to condemn me.

"What right does someone who sells her body for resources have to direct a Female-Led Prestige Drama?"

"Whores can even show off in public these days?"

The staff at my studio were running around in a panic after seeing these online comments, urging me to make a public statement so it wouldn't affect the film's promotion.

But I wasn't worried in the slightest. While screenshotting the hateful comments and the Gossip Blogs spreading rumors, I spoke slowly. "What do you all know? Infamy is still a form of fame. If you ask me, I should be thanking my dear brother. Without him, would our movie be getting this much attention?"

I let out a small laugh, looking at their worried faces. "Relax. I'm not afraid because I've done nothing wrong. Those are all lies. The rumors will eventually fall apart on their own."

June Quinn was the first to let out a sigh of relief.

"Seraphina, I believe you."

Seeing how confident I was, the rest of the team calmed down as well.

As I watched the number of malicious stories about me on my phone grow, I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

'My dear brother, I wonder if you understand the story of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. Since you love cozying up to capital so much, then let me, the real capital behind the scenes, play a little game with you.'