Anson had a pair of unforgettable eyes—clear yet deep.
These are two opposing qualities.
Clear eyes should allow you to see right through them; yet, while gazing into them, you unintentionally see your own reflection—your expressions, your emotions—and then you're no longer able to decipher the secrets hidden within. In that moment, you become lost in the boundless blue of those eyes.
Deep and vast, they invite you to explore, but you always end up seeing only yourself, revealing just a hint of shyness as your heartbeat stumbles.
It's a contradiction, yet within Anson, these two qualities collide and merge, leaving you feeling—
Confused.
This was exactly how Eva felt at this moment.
Anson kept his eyes fixed on her, unwavering. She couldn't help but look up to investigate, only to see her own expression reflected back at her in his gaze.
Eva started to panic.
But she didn't want to lose, didn't want to show her nervousness, didn't want to admit her unease.
So, she kept her smile, maintained her composure, meeting Anson's eyes calmly and gracefully, staring back at him.
However.
Without realizing it, she began to fall deeper into his gaze, sinking inch by inch, and before she knew it, she had already started holding her breath.
The next second, her heartbeat went wild, a chaotic resonance pulsing in her mind.
Instinctively, she broke eye contact to hide her feelings, but then she heard his deep, magnetic voice, like a cello being gently played.
"Can I kiss you?"
Thud.
Her heart stopped in an instant.
She glanced up, falling into that clear, bright blue once again, but her mind, now consumed by panic and nervousness, forced her to quickly lower her eyes again, realizing how she was avoiding the situation—
This wasn't her.
This wasn't like her at all. How pathetic.
So.
Eva lifted her eyes again, looking directly at Anson. The urge to drown in those eyes grew stronger, her heart leaping forward.
The next moment, Eva stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Anson's neck.
Gasp.
Marcia and Nicholas both held their breath.
They had never seen something like this during an audition.
Of course, this wasn't unusual in Hollywood. There was no need to pretend they were naive or innocent. However, this usually happened during on-screen auditions, where real contact—real action—was required, not in the first round of auditions.
In previous auditions, merely pretending was enough; there was no need to go all the way.
But right now!
The tension between Eva and Anson was palpable, making hearts race and faces flush.
Even the well-experienced Marcia was left speechless and dumbfounded.
Still, she couldn't look away.
Marcia stared wide-eyed at the scene before her, swallowing nervously.
And the two leading actors?
Anson gazed at Eva—so bold, so brave, so direct. Her eyes traced the contours of his face, soft and hazy, a barely noticeable smile playing at the corner of her lips as she made contact with her gaze:
Eyes. Nose. Lips.
Her eyes held a gentle, delicate touch, leaving a slight warmth on Anson's skin.
Although they appeared close, Eva didn't actually kiss him. Her gaze held a hint of ambiguity and mischief.
Her warm breath brushed against Anson's cheek, and their breaths intertwined.
Though they hadn't physically touched, it felt more intimate than any actual contact.
Silence spread between them, their gazes tangled, exchanging unspoken words, as if there was a hidden tug-of-war where neither was willing to back down.
Eva stood on tiptoe, her breath barely grazing Anson's lips before she whispered softly in his ear.
"You shouldn't have asked."
Was she provoking Anson?
He shouldn't have asked; he should have... acted.
Anson's lips curled into a subtle smile. He could feel the heat from Eva's wrist, almost burning his skin. He moved closer to whisper in her ear.
A pause.
It was clear that Eva's breath hitched, the tension between them escalating to its peak.
Then.
"Thump. Thump. Thump."
Anson finally spoke, but instead of words, he mimicked the sound of her heartbeat—
Frantic. Strong. Almost explosive.
Though Eva had seemingly taken the initiative, boldly and daringly reversing the situation, even teasing Anson, in reality, she was utterly flustered. Her palms were sweaty, her heart pounded in her chest. She had to force herself to take control, doing everything in her power to hide her true feelings.
But she never imagined that Anson would see right through her.
The imitation of her heartbeat, soft and low, reverberated in her ears, carrying a subtle hint of laughter. His words tore down her facade, creating a whirlwind that overturned her entire world before she even had a chance to react.
Damn it!
Eva was startled. She quickly looked up, stumbling into Anson's eyes, seeing a playful and carefree gleam in that ocean of blue.
Gasp.
Her heart was entirely captured.
It was as if her arm had been scalded. Eva stepped back, retreating half a step.
Her wildly beating heart made her stomach churn, almost making her want to throw up. But when Eva looked up again, fortunately, Anson hadn't followed her. He stayed where he was, maintaining the distance between them.
That gave Eva a moment to regain her composure. She quickly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, only to realize how hot her ears felt. She had no choice but to let her hair fall back down again.
Marcia caught the scene in her eyes.
From her angle, she couldn't see the details of their interaction. She assumed that the two had already kissed passionately, and now, seeing their breathless, flushed faces, her mind ran wild, her imagination leaving her parched.
Involuntarily, she stared, holding her breath.
Yet.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest, as if about to burst.
Eva lowered her hand, still feeling the lingering heat on her fingertips, both embarrassed and flustered, frustrated and anxious. All these conflicting emotions swirled inside her, but this chaos helped her break free from her chains—
After all, she had already embarrassed herself. There was no point in trying to salvage her dignity now. Better to face it head-on and avoid looking even more ridiculous.
She lifted her head again, once more locking eyes with Anson, meeting his gaze.
Then, she noticed.
"Are you always this direct?" Eva asked, her heart still racing, her voice slightly hoarse, betraying her brief moment of confusion. But now she realized something:
Anson had done it on purpose.
He had deliberately kept his gaze steady, so direct that it was hard not to feel exposed. Any small reaction would be noticed, making it impossible to hide her flustered state.
Ultimately, she lost her composure.
So, she asked.
Anson's lips curled into a smile. "I'm trying."
Eva didn't quite understand. She looked at him, puzzled.
Anson explained, "I got used to waiting. I got used to hiding. Then one day, I decided I didn't want to do that anymore."
It was true in his past life, and it was true now. It was also true for Evan.
At this moment, the line between acting and reality had completely disappeared. What was false was also true, and what was true was false. Yet no one could tell the difference.