The Trending Topic Herself: The Villainess is the Superstar!-Chapter 24: Gift

Maya sat at her spot waiting for Scott and the others to bring her food, occasionally pulling out her phone to swipe it.

She heard footsteps approaching from afar and immediately raised her head.

Leo’s face was tender: "Did I scare you?"

"You wouldn’t scare me that easily." Maya waved her hand: "Leo, find a place and sit wherever you like. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Perfect, join me later for a meal! Don’t be a stranger!"

Leo inadvertently drowned in those sparkling eyes, tender like spring water, making one willing to be immersed.

Probably amused by her lively words, Leo sat opposite her, keeping a moderate distance.

"You go ahead, I’m not too hungry yet."

Maya nodded, without insisting: "A few days later is the old lady’s birthday banquet, will you be going?"

"The old lady doesn’t want a grand celebration, probably just a family gathering, no plans to invite outsiders."

Maya nodded again and asked him, "Do you know what the old lady likes? Honestly..." Maya hung her head, somewhat embarrassed: "I haven’t prepared a gift yet."

"Usually others go to great lengths to please the old lady, even preparing months in advance, and here you are, a bit scatterbrained." Leo chuckled lightly but earnestly helped her think: "The old lady has a rather refined taste, generally likes to study calligraphy and paintings. If you want to impress her, you could make something by hand as a gift, showing thoughtfulness. Apart from that, you could also send some rare medicines, isn’t her health not too great?"

Maya seriously noted this down, considering these gifts as blacklist items, certainly not to be given.

Especially calligraphy; in the storyline, Kiki caused a sensation at the birthday banquet by gifting her own handwritten script, outshining everyone and winning the old lady’s favor.

In the emotional development between the male lead Eric Rowe and the female lead Kiki Monroe, Grandma Rowe was a strong supporter.

"Then... do you know what the old lady dislikes?"

"Why are you asking this?"

"I just think by knowing it, I can avoid giving what she dislikes, leaving a good impression."

Leo pondered briefly: "I haven’t heard of Grandma Rowe having any particular taboos."

He then reassured her: "Grandma Rowe is quite kind, as long as there’s sincerity, she’ll appreciate it."

Maya responded, contemplating his words.

"Actually, most of this is what I’ve heard. If you want to ask more details, you could give Ian a call, he’ll likely know more."

Maya carelessly nodded, but thought that someone with Ian’s cold temperament wouldn’t share much with her.

She smiled and said, "Thanks, Leo."

Leo was slightly taken aback, forgetting how long it had been since he’d seen her genuine smile. Her usual expressions often carried sarcasm.

The knot in his heart seemed to have eased a bit: "There’s no need to thank me, I really wish to know more, to give you answers to all your questions."

Maya didn’t take his words to heart: "Leo, sit here for a while; I’ll go check on Scott and the others. Why haven’t they come back yet?"

She was probably only this enthusiastic about meal times.

Leo chuckled briefly and then stood up to leave.

Maya had barely taken a few steps when she ran into Ryan.

Ryan looked somewhat disheveled, with some dust on his trench coat: "Where are you headed?"

Ryan didn’t like her eating so much, so Maya didn’t say she was looking for Scott and the others to get lunch.

"I’m just wandering around."

Ryan instinctively glanced at her face and, seeing her calm demeanor, withdrew his gaze.

But he found it hard to believe that someone like Maya, who’d rather sit than stand, would wander around.

Ryan returned with her to the rest area, glanced around, and asked her, "Madeline Underwood hasn’t given you a hard time, has she? The old grievances between you two aren’t something that can be resolved quickly. Rumor has it she’s dating one of the company’s higher-ups, so I fear she might target you."

"It’s fine."

No matter how powerful a higher-up is, could they surpass Ian Rowe? Valerius Entertainment is a subsidiary of the Valerius Group, and Ian Rowe is the practical ruler.

Seeing she didn’t want to bring up the troublesome topic, Ryan switched subjects: "I had something urgent and went out briefly, but I heard from Scott and the others that you performed exceptionally well, even Director Morgan praised you consistently; you didn’t disappoint me. I know you will inevitably define your direction someday..."

Having been praised by Ryan like that, if it wasn’t for the person involved, Maya would probably think she was the epitome of hard work and diligence, leaving even Kiki far behind.

By coincidence, Scott and the others returned with the food box, greeted Ryan, and arranged the bowls and plates in a triangle.

This was Maya’s preference; she said it increased her appetite.

Maya could feel Ryan’s piercing gaze on her shoulder, almost eager to burn a big hole in her back.

"Quite a lavish spread."

Maya remained composed: "I’m just feeling a bit down after seeing Madeline Underwood and eating this way to relieve stress. Ryan, don’t misunderstand and think I eat like this every day."

Scott lowered his head silently; aside from anything else, with him reporting a few of Maya’s activities daily, how could Ryan not know?

Ryan didn’t expose her but observed her cheeks and chin, noting she hadn’t gained any weight. Even her complexion had improved significantly, unlike before when resentment clung to her, now she bloomed radiantly like spring flowers.

"If you gain a bit of weight in a while, you’ll get trending again with critics."

Maya didn’t care; trending daily was as simple as eating and drinking water.

Ever since arriving in this task world, Maya rarely went out, but a few times she dined at restaurants and was recognized by strangers. Their reaction was not to steer clear but to express disdain and disgust.

Indeed, the villain’s road is fraught with hardships.

Maya thought so.

*

Kiki absentmindedly chatted with Madeline Underwood about domestic matters, but her gaze constantly drifted toward Maya.

She watched as Leo left and Ryan accompanied her back, never lacking companions.

Kiki hadn’t told Maya that she was also attending Grandma Rowe’s birthday banquet, something Quentin promised her.

She privately had some contact with Quentin, who seemed to appreciate her, or perhaps wanted to embarrass Maya; whatever the reason, she got this opportunity.