Guilty as Gorgeous | Chapter 22
"If you can't fix it, just play dead."
She spoke bluntly, still at a loss for what to do.
"Wan Hom told the reporters and those 'Queen Bee' gossip pages that she couldn't reach you because you're on vacation. Her phone must be ringing off the hook; she's probably about to shut it off and run."
"No wonder she didn't reply to my Line."
Phutphitchaya concluded, knowing very few people possessed her private number.
"She'll probably call to report in tonight. So, for now, you're not giving any statements, right?"
Windy asked accommodatingly. Despite the changing times, reporters and celebrities still shared a symbiotic relationship—a 'water relies on the boat, tiger relies on the forest' kind of deal. Sometimes, reporters knew the truth long before the public but kept it under wraps if an actor asked, waiting until they were ready to speak.
"Not yet. Please, do this for me just this once, P'Windy."
"Oh! That's a small thing. But... won't you give me a little whisper about that passionate kiss of yours?" The other party used a coy, high-pitched tone, fishing for details of the heated encounter. "Was it as delicious as his face suggests? I've heard this one has women falling at his feet left and right."
"Why don't you go ask Nisakorn?"
"My, my! Jealous already, are we?"
That reaction alone was clearer than any verbal confirmation. Winth practically wanted to clap and cheer in triumph.
"I'm hanging up now."
"Suit yourself, dear. Regardless, I'll take care of this for you. Don't overthink it."
"Thank you, P'Windy."
Once off the phone with her close contact, the actress let her head fall back against the seat, looking utterly despondent.
"Is something wrong, P'Paan?"
"It's nothing."
"You looked so stressed on the phone."
"It is stressful."
Her voice dropped to a low, warning register that made the listener shrink back.
"Would you like some juice, dear? It might freshen you up."
Their mother leaned over, asking tenderly with a face of pure innocence.
"A little would be nice, Mom." The actress forced a bright smile.
They arrived back in Bangkok in the late afternoon. Phutphitchaya immediately summoned the 'little villain' to her room for a lecture about giving out her Line ID without permission. She also strictly forbade her from turning on entertainment news or reading gossip pages near their mother for the time being.
Fortunately, her mother lived a life largely disconnected from the world of social media.
"Is there some kind of news?" Dark eyes, which had been faking contrition, suddenly snapped wide with curiosity.
"A smart girl like you will find out soon enough."
Phutphitchaya poked her sister's forehead with a mix of irritation and affection.
Phutphitchaya kept her phone off after that, communicating with her manager via WhatsApp on another device instead. Wikrant insisted she would handle the press and requested that reporters not interview her during her upcoming public appearances.
The young woman kept her head down and ignored the noise, which helped to an extent. After a few days, she had to walk a fashion show for a boutique owned by a high-society designer. She was met with peculiar looks, but no one dared to ask.
A few close colleagues simply walked over to rub her shoulders in the dressing room.
"Are you okay, Shanya?"
"I'm fine. Thanks."
That was the end of it; they moved on to other topics.
The first day would have ended smoothly if the final model for the finale—who had arrived late, leaving just enough time to dress and walk—hadn't swept into the shared backstage area. Every eye turned, and the whispering resumed.
The friction between the leading lady and the villainess was well-known within the industry. Usually, the two women never showed any negative reactions when meeting or appearing together in public. Today, however, Nisakorn's gaze snapped toward her rival the moment she arrived. Many noticed a look of sheer enmity, as if she could tear the other woman to pieces, while Phutphitchaya didn't even bother to look back.
"Oh! I didn't know Ni was walking the finale today."
Someone greeted her not far from Phutphitchaya's vanity.
"P'Kay just contacted me yesterday because the person originally booked fell suddenly ill."
"Have you seen the news yet...?" the speaker, who was close to Nisakorn, asked in a low voice. "It even made the evening news."
"I'm not interested."
"Have you talked to... er... him yet?"
"He's busy with work. He's in America for several days."
She felt compelled to answer because she had led this group of friends to believe she was dating Panthakant, using word-of-mouth to generate buzz around them.
"And did he offer an excuse?"
"He didn't, because I didn't ask," Nisakorn replied, suppressing her boiling rage.
She never dreamed a photo like that would surface to insult her in such a way. But the question she wanted to know most was... When on earth did these two meet?
It must have been her. Shanya must have thrown herself at Panthakant just to spite her for all the scandals throughout the year. Otherwise, why would she sacrifice her own body just to become infamous overnight?
Reporters didn't dare interview her father or Panthakant, as both were major businessmen, not industry actors. Phutphitchaya remained tight-lipped, as did her manager, who simply replied:
"Please let this be a private matter for Shanya."
"But Shanya is a famous actress, a public figure. Doesn't this image look inappropriate?"
"Shanya herself is distressed. She never expected the situation to escalate this far. Besides, news like this only damages the woman. If possible, it's better to wait and interview the gentleman involved."
"Has Shanya known the businessman in the photo for long? There was no news before this."
"I decline to answer that."
"But it seems the gentleman was previously linked to an actress on the same channel. Will this... cause a 'feud' between your actor and the other party?"
"Shanya never has feuds with anyone. She's a good person; her fans and everyone else know that. Past scandals happened because malicious people intended to cause her trouble. I'll go as far as to issue a challenge... if anyone has real evidence to incriminate her, bring it out."
Wikrant's voice was firm as she looked through the multiple lenses, provoking Phutphitchaya's ire.
"Won't there be a 'clear-the-air' session with the... er... rival actress?"
"Hmm, how should I put this? As far as I know, the actress in question has never given an interview anywhere stating she is dating the gentleman. What you reporters know are just rumors passed around, right? But internally, I've received a different message. So I don't know the truth of their status. I can't clear the air on their behalf... Let's just say if the rival is truly dating him, she can call to clear it herself or give an interview. Both Shanya and I are happy to accept the consequences because our intentions are pure."
That declaration was nothing short of a shrewdly crafted challenge and a declaration of war, throwing the ball back into her court.
"Are you saying they might not be dating, and Shanya isn't the 'third hand'?"
"I can't answer for anyone regarding their dating status, but I confirm Shanya is definitely not a 'third hand'."
"And will Shanya come out to explain this, Wan Hom?"
"As I said, she's not ready yet. But she apologizes for the inappropriate image that surfaced."
"At the very least, Shanya should say something."
"Perhaps she will, but I'm not making any promises. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have very urgent business..."
Because of that, the media ran with the story relentlessly, using only the photos and the manager's interview, leaving readers to speculate wildly. There was no doubt that Phutphitchaya would have a surge of work following this, making her schedule even more packed than before.
Nisakorn knew many people were waiting to gloat if they found out the channel's number one villainess could steal a man from her.
"Why don't you ask her? A photo like this makes you look bad, Ni."
Nisakorn wanted to find something to strike the speaker's mouth with, but she had to restrain herself because she had used this person for her own benefit many times before.
"We date with mutual respect," she said, raising her voice slightly so others could hear. "Like some people said in their interviews—I've never even stated what our status is. If he wants to 'stray' a little, it's not something I need to be troubled about."
"But him doing this is like not respecting you at all. It looks like he's playing both sides," the 'instigator' acted distressed on her behalf.
"A person like me is no one's second choice. Don't you worry."
"Others might not see it that way. Aren't you being too much of an off-screen leading lady? If you just stood up and claimed ownership, the other person would just be a 'third hand' or a toy, condemned by society. They've already challenged you."
The speaker cast a sidelong glance in a certain direction, as if afraid others wouldn't know who they were talking about.
Nisakorn's smile twitched. "Well, you can't blame just one side for things like this. It takes two hands to clap."
"But if those 'luring hands' have plenty of experience with both the young and the old, even a good man can stumble and stray."
"Then we must not be soulmates."
"Ugh! Acting like a saint just like in the dramas! My goodness! If I were treated like this, I wouldn't..."
Another 'chorus' member chimed in, glaring at the actress on the other side who sat there unbothered, acting as if it weren't her business, her irritation growing on Nisakorn's behalf.