The set was surrounded by cold white light. Cameras were placed at many angles, the lights shining directly on Layla, making her shadow long on the shiny floor.
Director Han (clapping):
"Ready! Scene 5. Layla, Damien… get in position."
Layla took a deep breath, walking to the marked position. Damien was already standing there, tall and straight, wearing a simple white shirt that highlighted his broad shoulders. He didn't look directly at her, his eyes only glanced past her, cold to the point of being unpredictable.
Layla swallowed slightly.
"We're… just acting, right?"
Damien (looking up, voice low):
"If you want it to be 'just acting', then it'll be just acting."
Director Han: "Scene 5! Damien and Layla, you act first. Sofia, you'll appear in the middle. Are you ready?"
Layla nodded slightly, her heart beating faster than usual.
In the script, Damien and Sofia were childhood sweethearts, engaged since childhood. Layla was his classmate, the person he really liked but didn't dare to admit.
---
The afternoon sunlight shone through the large window of the classroom. The set was set up just like a real 12A5 class with wooden tables and chairs, a green board, and chalk dust still on the edge of the board.
Damien leaned back in his chair, looking at the open notebook on the table. Layla approached, pretending to borrow a pen, but actually looking for an opportunity to talk.
Layla (in a soft voice):
"You... will you still attend the school festival with me today?"
Damien looked up, his eyes deep black.
Damien (smiling lightly):
"I promised... this promise is different from the others."
The sentence made Layla suddenly stunned. For some reason, it sounded like Damien wanted to say more than that.
---
At this moment, Sofia entered the classroom, holding a bento box in her hand.
Sofia (smiling):
"Damien, my mom told me to send you a lunch box. We still have to choose songs for the performance tomorrow, remember?"
She placed the lunch box on Damien's desk naturally, her eyes glancing at Layla.
Damien (regaining his composure, but still looking at Layla):
"Yeah... I remember."
---
The director shouted "Cut!" but the atmosphere in the classroom remained the same.
Layla bent down to pick up the pen that fell from her hand, not seeing Damien looking at her, her lips curved into a very slight smile.
Serena put her hands on her hips, looking at Julian with both a challenging and curious expression.
In the script, the two were "enemies" in the same class, always arguing but were paired up at the school festival.
[Director Han]:
"Serena, Julian, scene 8! You two are going to act out the argument about decorating the classroom. Remember, arguing but still a little… sweet."
---
Serena (squinting):
"Did you hang the lights there to blind the whole class when you look up?"
Julian (shrugs, smiles faintly):
"At least they look better than your paper flowers."
Serena (retorts):
"My paper flowers are a hundred times more beautiful than your cheap LED lights!"
Julian steps closer, bending down to Serena's eye level.
Julian (lowers his voice, so only the two of them can hear):
"I don't think it's cheap… because it's for you."
Serena pauses for a moment, but immediately regains her composure, turning away to hide her smile.
---
Meanwhile, in the back row of the classroom, Layla is still sitting and watching, but her eyes occasionally glance at Damien. Serena noticed that, even while turning around, she didn't forget to glance at Layla.
---
The fake schoolyard was set up with artificial cherry trees. Sara was wearing her uniform, holding her music book, walking past Elio who was reading a book.
Elio (looking up, pretending to be indifferent):
"Hey… you dropped your music sheet."
Sara turned around, the wind gently blowing through her hair, her smile as bright as the April sunshine.
Sara (bent down to receive it):
"Thanks… but how did you know it was music sheet?"
Elio (eyes still glued to the book):
"Because I always hear you singing during lunch break."
Sara was stunned, her heart skipped a beat, while the camera captured the moment.
---
Gym. Lucas was playing basketball, Lilia was leaning against the door.
Lilia (pretending to be indifferent):
"I thought you were only good at gym."
Lucas (smiling mischievously):
"Want to know what else I'm good at?"
He passed the ball to Lilia. She caught it, a little surprised when the warm ball seemed to pass through Lucas's heartbeat.
---
During the break, the actors spread out, but their eyes were still searching for someone in the crowd.
Damien poured water for Layla, Serena used the excuse of "wanting to review the script" to approach Layla, and Julian pretended to sleep but was actually listening to Serena's conversation.
The atmosphere was like a professional filming session, but also like a real schoolyard, where youthful emotions were happening alongside secrets that no one dared to say.
---
The group gathered in a corner, Rayden turned on his phone, turned on live on his Instagram.
Rayden (waving):
"Hey, BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX on set! Hello everyone!"
Lilia (tilting her head to pose):
"We're filming a new movie today~"
Lucas (laughing):
"But we can't spoil too much."
Serena:
"Just a little spoiler, let the fans guess." (glancing at Julian)
Julian (pretending to be serious):
"If you spoil, you have to pay."
Sara: (covering her mouth and laughing)
"Hey, you…"
Elio:
"Hello everyone, it's been a long time since we've been on a live together like this."
Jennifer:
"We missed you guys so much."
Fan comments:
"Oh my gosh, full visual couple"
"Lucas and Lilia are so sweet!"
"Serena & Julian have such great chemistry"
"Rayden and Jen are so cute together"
---
Fan comments next:
"Where are Damien and Layla?"
"Is Sofia gone too?"
"If Damien doesn't show up, I'll be out."
Sofia, who was standing nearby, heard this and her eyes flashed. She quickly walked over and pulled Damien from afar into the frame.
Sofia (pretending to smile):
"Fans want to see Damien, right? Here~"
Damien: (slightly frowning, but still standing still) "..."
Sofia:
"Damien and I have been filming together a lot lately… Oh, you guys probably don't know, we're… dating."
---
"What???"
"It's not Layla?"
"I don't believe it!!!"
"Are you really dating or acting???"
Layla, who was sitting in the far corner, paused when she heard that, her hand unconsciously tightening on her phone.
Damien: (cold, decisive voice)
"No. We're not dating."
Sofia:
"Damien"
Damien:
"I'm in love. But not you."
---
"Oh my god, you're so blunt."
"So who do you love???"
"If not Sofia, then who?"
Sofia forced a smile, but her eyes flashed with annoyance.
Sofia: (lowering her voice, but the mic still picked it up)
"You're ruining my reputation."
Damien:
"I'm just telling the truth. And you… be careful with what you say."
The atmosphere on the live fell for a few seconds, then Sofia bit her lip and walked out.
"Oh my god, live drama!"
"Damien said he's in love… is it Layla???"
"Confess!!!"
"Where's Layla, call Layla in here!"
Serena glanced at Layla who was sitting in the corner, and waved her hand slightly.
Serena: "Layla, come here!"
Layla was bowing her head, texting her younger brother:
Layla: "I'm a bit busy. I'll tell you more next time."
She turned off her phone, took a deep breath, and walked closer to the group, smiling slightly.
Rayden:
"Here it is, our center!"
"There it is!!"
"Layla and Damien in the frame!!"
"This couple is the true love!"
Layla sat down next to Serena, her eyes glanced at Damien, but both of them remained silent… only the camera and millions of people were watching.
---
Fan comments were still pouring in, the live screen was constantly filled with words:
"Awww Serena is hugging Layla, ship SE-LA everyone!"
"What did Sofia say just now was so weird, who agrees raise your hand"
"Damien confirms that it's not Sofia everyone, understand???"
"I've been suspecting for a long time... Damien loves Layla right???"
"Confess, bro!!! The whole world is watching!"
Layla sat next to Serena, smiling slightly but clearly still a bit awkward. She glanced at Sofia who was trying to "stick" to Damien, then turned to the group:
"Where's Sofia? Let me call her, it's more fun when the whole group is together."
The atmosphere on the sofa suddenly became a bit gloomy. A few Astrix and BABYQUEEN members glanced at each other, smiling awkwardly, everyone knew that Sofia had just made the whole fandom explode in a not so positive way. Even so, Layla still stood up.
A moment later, she pulled Sofia back. Sofia immediately smiled brightly… but instead of sitting with Layla, she put her arms around Layla as if she was really close, then left Layla there, and ran straight to sit next to Damien.
Fans in the livestream saw everything.
"Huh? What the hell, Layla called for you and left you???"
"Maybe she wants to steal Damien's spotlight"
"I'm scared, this is really rude."
"Layla is so cute, always thinking about the group."
Layla turned back to her seat, paused for a moment but was immediately pulled closer by Serena, who put her arms around her shoulders and turned her slightly as if to say "Never mind, I'm here."
Lucas on Astrix's side also tried to joke:
"Hey hey, the audience is waiting for the couples to interact, don't make them leave the live."
Jennifer smiled, tilted her head towards the camera:
"Everyone, give BABYQUEEN and Astrix a heart."
"Jen is so pretty"
"Lucas saved the mood"
"Serena hugging Layla is the best, Sofia learn from her"
Damien remained silent, but his eyes never left Layla for a second. As for Sofia… she kept smiling at the camera as if she didn't read the comments.
--
The whole group BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX were still sitting close together in the live frame, the screen was filled with heart icons and comments flying continuously.
Damien quietly tilted his head, his eyes stopping at Layla's big round eyes. Even though she was trying to smile shyly, there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes, like a thin cloud covering the clear sky.
Fans' comments started to converge in one direction:
"Layla is still very cute when she smiles today, but why does she look so sad..."
"Her eyes are different from when she was a trainee, she was so carefree back then..."
"Don't be sad Layla, we're here."
"The pressure is too much, right? I love you..."
Layla could only bow her head and smile, trying to keep her voice gentle:
"It's okay... Don't worry too much about me."
Serena sat next to her, gently squeezing Layla's shoulder, then wrapped her arms around her, whispering as if to shield her from all the rumors and scrutiny.
Damien glanced at Julian, then the entire ASTRIX group fell silent. In their eyes, everyone understood why Layla gradually lost her innocent smile from the pressure of public opinion, her busy schedule, and the depression she was silently fighting.
Suddenly, Sofia, who was sitting diagonally across, chuckled and said half-jokingly, half-seriously:
"Oh, when Layla is sad, the fans love her more, it's such a great benefit."
The atmosphere in the room seemed to stop for a moment. Comments immediately exploded:
"This sentence sounds weird..."
"What does Sofia mean by that?!"
"So disrespectful to her teammates."
"Leave the group, Sofia!"
The BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX groups almost simultaneously glanced at Sofia, their eyes cold and full of annoyance. Not because she was a new member, but because of her rude and tactless behavior.
Layla still tried to keep her voice calm:
"I'm really fine. Don't worry about me too much..."
But her smile became more and more forced. Damien clenched his fists, his eyes coldly looking at Sofia, but then he moved his eyes back to Layla, where he just wanted to publicly protect her for once in front of millions of people watching.
Comments were still pouring in:
"Damien, hug Layla!!!"
"Look at Damien's eyes, he's clearly worried about Layla."
"Who did Damien say he loved the other day, it must be Layla."
"Confess!"
Layla slightly lowered her head, hiding her eyes from the phone screen, but the corners of her lips couldn't hide the slight tremble. Serena still didn't take her hands off her shoulders, and Damien was... silent, but his eyes said it all.
---
The comments on the screen still scrolled like a waterfall, both full of love and harsh words.
"Layla, you have to smile, I miss your innocent smile from the past..."
"I was a fan of Layla because she used to be positive, but now she doesn't know how to smile, I'm withdrawing my fan."
"Give me back the old Layla, Layla now looks so boring..."
Layla bowed her head slightly, her hands clasped tightly under the table. The forced smile on her lips became more and more fragile, as if just a light breeze could blow it away.
Serena sat close by, her arms gently squeezing Layla's shoulders, whispering comfort. Jennifer leaned over, placing her hand on the back of her hand. Sara and Lilia also pursed their lips, their eyes worried.
Damien from ASTRIX watched quietly. His eyes seemed to be trying to read every thought hidden deep inside Layla's big round eyes, eyes that used to be as bright as the summer sky, now covered with a misty layer. The remaining ASTRIX members were silent, everyone understood the reason: public pressure, depression... all were slowly eroding Layla's smile.
But right when the atmosphere was getting gloomy, Sofia's voice rang out, sharp as a thin blade:
"Layla is attracting too much attention. This is a group live, and you're also a new member... you should be getting a lot of attention!"
The space seemed to freeze. BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX's eyes simultaneously turned to Sofia, unable to believe what they had just heard.
The fans immediately exploded:
"What are you saying, Sofia?!"
"You're the most tactless person in the group."
"Layla doesn't deserve to be said that!"
But Sofia still didn't stop, she tilted her head, her lips curled into a sarcastic smile:
"Layla, I'm not like you... I don't know how terrible it is to be a fan turned into an anti-fan."
Angry comments continued to flood the screen, but Sofia added another stab:
"Look, doesn't Layla have more than 8 million anti-fans?"
Jennifer jumped up, her voice harsh:
"Sofia, you...!"
Lilia and Serena interrupted at the same time:
"You're too much!"
Sara stood up abruptly, her eyes cold:
"Do you think this is the time to joke?"
ASTRIX was silent, but the contemptuous look directed at Sofia was something that could not be hidden. Damien was still focused on Layla, her eyes were now red.
Layla shook her head slightly, trying to force a smile:
"I'm fine... really."
The words were as light as the wind but made the hearts of the people around her tighten.
The live ended. The atmosphere in the room became heavy. The BABYQUEEN members immediately surrounded Layla, encouraging and comforting her. ASTRIX also showed their displeasure with Sofia.
Sofia just glanced at Layla, then turned away, slightly curling her lips into a sneer, a smile that no one wanted to look at anymore.