制霸好莱坞

"Yes, Chesa has taken advantage of the family," Lillian said, holding up a black dress and inspecting it before shaking her head and putting it back on the hanger. "You know, he's been all over the place since he was a kid. For a while, he lived with his grandparents in New York – that's when we met. Then, for another stretch, he lived with his mother and stepfather in France. He didn't really settle down until he came back to LA for high school. He's always been the kind of kid who follows adults around to make connections. His family jokes that he's the one who knows everyone, while the rest of them only know parts of the circle."

Jenny also picked up a black dress, admiring the sleek lines. Chanel's little black dresses were classics—timeless if you picked the right one. "Really? He doesn't seem like the kind of person raised by so many different families. But you're right. Cesare does seem like the type who has never known what it's like to be a carefree child, the kind who never got caught with his pants down."

Lillian chuckled. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Cesare's parents were always busy. You know they divorced later on, right? And his grandparents weren't exactly child-rearing types. They were going through their own divorce when Cesare moved in with them, so it's kind of a miracle he turned out as he did. Everyone says he's the most serious person in the Schmidt family—an anomaly, really."

"Oh, so his biological father's last name is Schmidt." Jenny picked out a dress and showed it to Lillian. "What do you think of this one?"

"It's lovely," Lillian said, glancing at the price tag. "But a bit too cheap for my taste."

Jenny suppressed a sigh. There was no doubt Lillian had been arguing with Cesare again.

—

Earlier that day, Lillian had handed Jenny a credit card the moment they walked into the store. "All expenses today are on Cesare," she had declared.

Jenny wasn't one to be overly modest about such things. Cesare needed her to look impressive in front of Robert, and if he was willing to pay, why refuse?

But that didn't mean Jenny was about to go on a shopping spree. She had planned to pick up one small designer skirt—something versatile that could work for multiple occasions. As for the rest, she was planning to make use of Jenny's original wardrobe. Maybe a new pair of shoes if she found something suitable, but nothing else. Jenny wasn't about to blow Cesare's money on frivolous purchases.

Lillian, however, was on a completely different wavelength. As soon as they entered Dior, she made a beeline for the most expensive dresses, as though she planned to max out Cesare's card in one go. Jenny gently steered her toward something more suitable for dinner, but Lillian's new plan was to fill Jenny's closet with multiple outfits. Jenny had to put her foot down and insist on buying just one dress.

So here they were, Lillian's eyes set on finding the most extravagant small dress she could find. She wouldn't be happy unless she'd drained Cesare's account by the end of the day. Lillian was in no mood to play nice today—she was acting more like a spoiled princess.

Jenny didn't indulge her. She picked a dress, tried it on, and when she came out, the result was undeniably flattering. "This one's perfect. I have a pair of shoes at home that will go with it. Alright, my shopping is done."

Lillian pouted. "You're no fun."

Jenny smiled and led her to the checkout. After Lillian paid, she teased, "Now it's my turn. Why don't you use Chesa's card and max it out? Who made him angry, anyway?"

Lillian chuckled nervously. "I see what you're doing now."

But she still slipped the card into her bag. "I do feel like shopping, but I don't want to spend his money like that." She grinned mischievously. "Come on, help me try on the skirt I like."

Ah, women and shopping. They complimented each other, offered opinions, and discussed their purchases as if they were dissecting the meaning of life. Jenny was used to it. In her past life, she'd gone shopping with her mother-in-law countless times. Now, it was second nature to coax Lillian into a good mood.

And in the end, Lillian did indeed buy several gorgeous outfits, including jewelry, perfume, and beauty products, easily racking up a bill of over $10,000. By the time they were done, their legs were sore, and they grabbed a quick lunch.

"Much better," Lillian declared, after loading up on junk food. "But now, why don't you ask me why I fought with Cesare?"

Jenny wasn't keen on meddling in Cesare's personal life, but Lillian was her close friend, so sometimes it was unavoidable. "Alright, why did you fight with Cesare?"

Lillian paused, offering a hesitant smile. "Sorry, I shouldn't be telling you all this."

She took a deep breath and her expression darkened. "It's because of how I feel here in LA. You know I'm from New York, right? I came to LA for medical school because of Cesare. All my friends and college classmates are back in New York, and I've got nobody here. I'm only here for him. But even though I'm willing to do it for him, I sometimes wonder if it's too much. You know?"

It was clear Lillian loved Cesare deeply. Jenny furrowed her brow. "But what's the problem then?"

Lillian looked away, shaking her head, a sense of loss in her eyes. "I don't know. We have everything, Jenny. We're both healthy, successful, young, and in love... but it still doesn't feel enough."

Their food arrived, and they fell into a brief silence while eating. After a moment, Lillian continued. "Maybe it's because we're both so busy. Cesare is almost never home except to sleep, and I'm often working late or switching shifts. Maybe I should go into general practice after my internship, just so I can have more time with him."

Jenny understood how lonely Lillian must be, with most of her social circle in New York. "Maybe that's a good idea. In a lot of families, the man is the breadwinner, and the woman stays home. Cesare's income could easily cover things, and even if it didn't, you have your own funds. After marriage, you could choose to stay home full time, if you wanted to."

"I don't want to give up my career," Lillian replied with a shake of her head, laughing lightly. "What I just said was nonsense. I can't imagine myself as a general practitioner, let alone quitting my job. Jenny, I'm already so dependent on Cesare. If I gave up my career, he'd be my entire world. And you know, many women live like that, my sisters do, too. It's not that I'm against it... I even envy them, but..." She sighed deeply. "If I relied on him that much, I think I'd feel uneasy."

"Do you think he doesn't love you enough?" Jenny asked gently. "Or do you not trust him? This seems like a serious issue you need to talk about."

"Most of our fights are about this," Lillian confessed. "My therapist even said I should talk to him about it. She thinks trust is the real obstacle between us. But… Cesare thinks everything is fine. He doesn't see the problem."

Lillian sighed again. "That's why I'm staying in my own place and not using his credit card. Even though he'd be happy to pay for everything... I don't want him to say, 'Look, baby, I spent hundreds of thousands on you. Doesn't that prove I love you?'"

Jenny listened quietly as Lillian vented her frustrations. After a whole afternoon of talking, they finally parted ways in the parking lot, each heading home on their own.

Later, Jenny worked late into the night, practicing for her dinner with Rob. The clock was ticking, and every moment counted. Jenny had studied "Chicago" intensely in the performance space, simulating the stage effects, rehearsing her singing and dancing. After more than 70 hours of practice, she felt ready—but she knew the final test was still ahead: impressing Rob Marshall.