On the set, the morning air was filled with the sounds of staff cleaning up props and checking the lighting. As soon as Layla entered, she saw the new cast list hanging on the bulletin board. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she realized that her name was still in the Female Lead position and the Male Lead position was Damien.
"Director… why is that?" Layla panicked and quickly walked to Han JinWoo's desk, her voice pleading, "I… I think I can change roles, or play with another actor. Please let me be a supporting role…"
Han JinWoo just smiled, his eyes narrowed meaningfully:
"Layla, the script has been adjusted this time because your group has a new member. And I believe this will be the highlight of the whole movie."
She was a little stunned: "You mean… Sofia?"
He nodded:
"Yes. Sofia will play the female supporting role who has a complicated relationship with the male lead Damien. And… between the three of them are Layla, Damien, Sofia and it will be a love triangle that is both tense and emotional."
Layla bit her lip, a feeling of confusion rising in her heart.
"But… why is it a love triangle? The script wasn't like this before…"
Han JinWoo just smiled:
"Because I want the audience to be unable to take their eyes off. And I believe… this will reveal things that even you guys haven't realized about each other."
From afar, Damien leaned against the props stand, his face still cold, his voice calm and calm. He approached, bent down and whispered to Han JinWoo:
"Why did you announce it publicly to the whole crew? You knew this would cause trouble…"
Han JinWoo just laughed meaningfully, his eyes swept over Layla and Sofia and then turned to Damien:
"Because sometimes, the truth… has to be acted out right in front of the camera. And this is art, Damien. And a little surprise… will make your performance more real."
Layla looked at both of them, her heart more confused than ever.
Meanwhile, Serena approached the director, her face both curious and hopeful:
"What about me, director?"
"I will be the supporting couple with Julian. You two will be the second love line in the movie."
"Really!?" Serena lit up, unable to hold back, she wrapped her arms tightly around Julian's neck.
Julian was surprised but still smiled, placing his hand lightly on her shoulder.
Just a few seconds later, Serena paused slightly, her eyes narrowed:
"Wait... then... the person who will play the female supporting role is..."
"Sofia." Han JinWoo answered directly, surprising the entire BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX crew.
Jennifer tilted her head, speaking:
"So... will the script change much?"
"Just a little." Han JinWoo looked around, his voice full of meaning. "Damien, Layla and Sofia will have a... love triangle relationship."
The space suddenly became quiet for a few seconds. Everyone almost simultaneously looked at Layla, Damien and Sofia. Only those three people did not change their expressions.
Meanwhile, in the back row, Serena whispered to Julian:
"It seems... things are going to be very interesting."
Julian replied softly, the corners of his lips curled up slightly:
"Or very troublesome."
The entire ASTRIX group retreated to a dark corner, away from the stage lights and the eyes of the crew. The noisy staff and director Han Jinwoo's voice gradually drowned out Rayden's small but heavy voice.
Rayden (arms crossed, voice low):
"Vex's plan... he clearly had a hand in this. The role-switching, the three-way relationship... doesn't it fit his way of applying pressure?"
Lucas (frowning):
"You mean Vex wants to push Layla into a confrontation with Sofia?"
Julian (glancing toward the stage, voice low):
"Not only that. If Layla and Sofia compete for Damien's affection in the script... the fans on both sides will start to split. Splitting sides will easily lead to chaos."
Elio (voice low, annoyed):
"Chaos is exactly what Vex wants. He knows that public opinion will crush BABYQUEEN's spirit."
Damien (standing still, eyes unwavering but voice extremely low):
"Have you forgotten that I am also part of that "love triangle"? If Vex wants to use me as a tool, he has misjudged."
Rayden (tilting his head to look at Damien):
"But what are you going to do? We are still being watched."
Damien (smiling coldly):
"I will act… but not for Vex to see."
Lucas (doubting):
"It's dangerous. Once he realizes you are trying to "play" back, the consequences will be…"
Damien (interrupting):
"I will bear the consequences. But Layla will not be manipulated by him."
Julian (sighing, scratching his head):
"Easy for you to say… Sofia is playing the supporting role. What do you think she will do in this movie?"
Rayden (with a cold look):
"Sofia is the new pawn. Vex will use her to control the pace of the show, to push Layla off balance."
Elio (with a faint smile):
"Unless… someone changes the script from within."
Lucas (looking at Elio):
"You're going to hack into the script?"
Elio (shrugging):
"If the director doesn't change… then the actors will. We still have ways to play it to make Vex's intentions backfire."
Damien (nodding slightly, eyes not leaving Layla in the distance):
"Exactly. We'll let him think he's winning… until everything is reversed."
A silence fell. The sound of the camera starting up, signaling the first scene was about to take place. Every member of ASTRIX felt the invisible pressure from the name Vex covering the entire atmosphere.
---
The dark room was filled with blue light from holographic screens suspended in midair. The mechanical hum echoed from the giant propellers. In the middle, Vex sat back in his shiny black metal command chair, his eyes reflecting the cold light of the data flowing before him.
On the big screen, the set showed BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX standing under the bright lights, Director Han had just announced a sudden change.
Assistant: (bowing) "Sir Vex… Astrix is starting to go off the rails. Some members are showing signs of… resisting orders."
Vex: (leaning back in his chair, smiling thinly and dangerously) "I know. Let them be. They think a few spontaneous actions will change the situation? How cute."
Assistant (hesitantly):
"But… Astrix, they don't keep the same distance from BABYQUEEN as before. If this continues..."
Vex (interrupting, voice full of sarcasm):
"So what? My plan isn't just a few silly scenes or emotions."
He laughed, a dry laugh, echoing throughout the room, making the atmosphere even heavier.
Vex (emphasizing each word):
"Leave them alone. What they do… will only make this game more interesting."
Assistant (frowning in confusion):
"But if their feelings… really develop, won't it affect"
Vex (leaning back, eyes sharp as knives):
"Do you know what the most interesting thing about a play is? Not the ending… but the way the characters push themselves into tragedy."
Assistant (silence for a moment, then tilts his head):
"You mean… let them fall into the trap you've set?"
Vex (slowly, cruelly smiling):
"Exactly. No need to force them. When their hearts begin to soften… they'll do the rest for us."
The assistant bows his head slightly, but the corners of his lips curl up into an emotionless smile. The blue light from the hologram reflects on his cold eyes.
He looks up at the giant floating 3D screen, where Layla, Damien, and Sofia are standing in a frame of three people, three different expressions, but all pulled by an invisible string.
Assistant (whispers):
"The play has begun… and they don't even know they're just pawns."
Vex (sits up straight, eyes shining):
"That's right. Sit still… and watch the script ahead. There are many interesting scenes waiting."
Assistant: "So… you're not going to take action right away?"
Vex: (fingers tapping lightly on the armrest) "If… if my plan to secretly attack BABYQUEEN is seriously affected… I will use force. Not just on them… but on the whole world."
The assistant was silent for a few seconds, then tilted his head slightly.
Assistant: "So… the plan to dominate humanity has begun, sir?"
Vex: (smirks) "That's right. Even though I'm human… I can still put all of humanity under my feet. AI and Robots are just… tools. Sharp knives that never tire, always ready for me to grasp the handle."
On a screen, images of Layla and Damien appeared. Damien's eyes were full of caution.
Assistant: (glancing) "And… Damien's family… I mean… your brother's family…"
Vex's eyes suddenly darkened, the smile on his lips disappeared.
Vex: "Unfortunately… I cannot control my brother. But…" (pause, voice lowered) "… not being able to control… does not mean not being able to dominate."
The assistant shuddered slightly, then laughed. But it was not a smile of joy,.. but a dry, emotionless laugh, like metal colliding.
Assistant: "I understand. Domination… does not necessarily require chains."
Vex: (chuckles softly, eyes as cold as knives) "That's right. As long as I know the weak points of my prey… I will lead them with a thin thread… until they strangle themselves."
He stood up, approached the control panel, and lightly touched the sensor hand. A giant hologram appeared, covering the entire room, recreating the entire scene of the movie that BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX were about to participate in.
Vex: "Watch… the play they voluntarily performed for me."
Assistant: (looks up, voice cold) "A play… that ends in blood."
Two laughs echoed in the room, one low, one dry, mixed with the mechanical sound, cold, emotionless, and ominous.