From Trash to Treasure: The Sinclair Family's Beloved Genius

In the previous life, the movie Nina Sinclair starred in won the top prize at the 28th Film Festival. She won the Best Actress award for her role, and the film launched her career, making her the youngest Film Queen in the country. You could say she started at the very top.

However, in the previous life, Gabriel Sinclair didn’t end up starring in this film.

The events of her past life were a blur, and there was much she couldn’t remember clearly.

After a moment of silence, Chloe hesitated before asking, "Gabriel, are you still going to star in this film?"

Gabriel Sinclair replied without a second thought, "The female lead dropped out, not me."

This film had a very broad appeal. Its themes are realistic, which makes it easier to resonate with the audience.

If this film is released, it could be his breakout role, allowing him to completely reinvent his image. He might even have a shot at the Best Actor award at the 28th Film Festival.

Hearing Gabriel’s words, however, made Chloe’s frown deepen.

’Gabriel didn’t seem to have any intention of quitting the film. But if that’s the case, why wasn’t he the male lead in the previous life?’

Chloe’s brows furrowed, feeling as if she had overlooked something important.

She couldn’t recall what it was, which left her with a faint sense of unease. So, she reminded him, "Gabriel, just be extra careful on set."

Hearing Chloe’s words of concern, Gabriel was overjoyed and nodded eagerly.

However, Chloe could tell from his expression that he wasn’t taking her seriously. Her face grew solemn. "Gabriel, I’m not joking."

Gabriel froze, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Now that the director has kicked the lead actress off the set, there’s no telling how many other starlets will be scrambling for the role. It’s not impossible that some of them will try to use you to get ahead."

Gabriel obviously hadn’t considered that. He stood there stunned, a clueless look flashing in his eyes.

But soon enough, Gabriel suddenly burst out laughing. "Alright, I’ll listen to you."

Standing to the side, Archer heard their exchange, and his jaw dropped so wide you could have fit an egg in his mouth.

’He could hardly believe this was his artist.’

Their manager had told Gabriel the same thing countless times, but he’d never listened.

But this time, Miss Sinclair had only said a few words, and not only did Gabriel agree with a grin, but he even seemed to be enjoying the admonishment.

’Could this be the legendary "sister complex"?’

"Boss, you have a shoot this afternoon. It’s getting late, so we should probably get going."

Gabriel glanced at the time, clearly reluctant. He grumbled, "It’s still so early..."

But before he could finish, he saw Chloe’s disapproving expression and abruptly changed his tune. "I’ll walk Chloe to her dorm first."

Chloe didn’t refuse her brother’s kind offer. She nodded, and they walked to the foot of her dormitory. When it was time for him to leave, Gabriel was still reluctant to go.

Seeing the look of pure grievance in Gabriel’s eyes, Chloe said with a helpless sigh, "I’ll be back after the military training is over."

Gabriel nodded.

’He’d already calculated it. It would be a full half-month before his little sister came home. But in half a month, he was scheduled to be a guest on a variety show and wouldn’t have time to rush back.’

At this thought, Gabriel nearly burst into tears. He said pitifully, "Then I’ll wait for you to come back home."

"Okay. Goodbye, Gabriel."

Chloe couldn’t stand the dramatic atmosphere. She grabbed her suitcase and headed into the dormitory without a backward glance.

Even after she went upstairs, she could vaguely hear Gabriel’s voice calling out more reminders.

Chloe walked to a window in the hallway and looked down, just in time to see Gabriel turn away mournfully, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.

Chloe: "..."

She pulled her head back with a complicated mix of feelings and went to find her dorm room.

As soon as she entered the room, she saw a girl in a pink outfit sitting on a chair.

Chloe stood at the door for a moment, then said, "Hello."

There were four people assigned to the dorm room. Besides Chloe, everyone else had already arrived yesterday.

Her roommates all happened to be in the room when she walked in.

"Oh, hello,"

one of the roommates belatedly greeted her, but her eyes never left Chloe.

[BEEP—]

[Large amount of Malice detected.]

The system’s sudden announcement stunned Chloe.

She glanced around. Besides herself, there were only three other people in the room.

’So it’s the first day of school, and my roommates already have a problem with me?’

Chloe couldn’t figure it out. She asked the system, "Why?"

Eight: [Three points have been deducted.]

Before Chloe could even say anything, Eight had already deducted the points.

[The one in bed one is Sylvia Holloway. Like you, she was on the show *Genius*, but she was eliminated after facing off against you. She’s pretty much hated your guts ever since.]

[The one in bed two is Zoe Yates, Jolie Yates’s cousin. As for the one who just spoke to you, that’s Evelyn Thompson. She’s a music major, and she’s just plain jealous of you.]

Finally, Eight added its own commentary: [There must be something wrong with these people.]

Chloe chuckled softly, not denying Eight’s assessment.

However, the smile in her eyes held a mischievous glint as she glanced at Evelyn Thompson, the one who had appeared to be the friendliest.

Then, Chloe walked past Evelyn Thompson and began to clean up her own section of the room.

While she was cleaning, Evelyn Thompson loitered in front of her several times, clearly looking for an opportunity to speak with her.

Suddenly, Evelyn Thompson’s eyes lit up when she spotted the face masks on Chloe’s desk. Quick as a flash, she snatched one up.

Chloe looked up. "What are you doing?"

Evelyn Thompson said, "I’ve been wanting to buy these masks for ages, but they’re expensive and always out of stock. I can’t believe you have so many! You can’t possibly use them all, so just give me a couple."

Evelyn Thompson sounded so entitled that for a second, Chloe wondered if the masks were even hers to begin with.

Before Chloe could even respond, Evelyn added, "We’re roommates, come on, just give me one."

Evelyn Thompson was pretty, and she spoke in a delicate, coquettish voice with a lilting tone that could make a person’s knees weak.

Usually, when she spoke like that, she could get anything she wanted. So, as soon as the words left her mouth, she placed the mask by her own things.

"Excuse me, please give that back."

"What?"

Evelyn Thompson’s face stiffened, a look of utter shock spreading across it.

’She already gave it to me, why is she asking for it back?’

Instantly, Evelyn looked as if she were about to cry. "But... aren’t we roommates?"

’She already gave it to me, how could she take it back?’

’She’s just as awful as people say online.’

’So petty, just what you’d expect from someone from the countryside. So classless!’

Seeing this, the corner of Chloe’s mouth twitched. "To put it bluntly, taking something without permission isn’t ’being given’ it—it’s stealing."

Chloe ignored the anger flaring in Evelyn’s eyes and continued slowly, "Or would you prefer your classmates to find out you’re a thief?"