The next morning, at the studio. The atmosphere of the studio was bustling from early morning. The assistants gave each member of BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX a "memory cap" to put on their heads. In just a few seconds, the scene script was automatically transmitted directly to their brains, replacing the need to recite by heart. Everyone just needed to focus on their emotions, actions, and let their memories guide them.
Serena took off her cap and frowned:
"This still makes me shiver... it feels like someone is searching through my head."
Jennifer chuckled lightly:
"But it's much more convenient. At least I don't have to stay up all night to study my lines anymore."
Layla smiled awkwardly, but her heart was filled with excitement. Today was scene number 15, the party scene of the tycoons. In the script, Damien and Sofia were "powerful children", arranged by their two families since they were in high school. As for Layla, she was just an ordinary girl invited thanks to her parents' connections.
She had read the script, knowing that there would be a kiss. But in Layla's heart, the thought still made her chest ache.
Scene 15 began. The stage lights were bright, the whole scene of the hall appeared: sparkling evening gowns, luxurious laughter, the sound of clinking wine glasses.
Damien in a perfectly tailored black suit. His eyes looked cold and arrogant, exactly like the image of a young master of a corporation. Sofia held his arm, smiling proudly like a young lady.
Layla appeared in a simple white dress, not as elaborate as Sofia, but still made people unable to take their eyes off. She followed her parents, then quietly walked out onto the balcony to avoid the noise in the hall.
She raised her head to look up at the artificial night sky, the moon hung high, beautiful to the point of heartbreaking.
Layla whispered softly in her heart:
"Even though it's just acting... why is my heart beating so fast?"
Outside the balcony
Damien and Sofia walked out. The two exchanged a few words about school and upcoming exams. Sofia's voice was sweet but calculating:
"Damien, you study so well, you will definitely get into the most prestigious university."
Nothing is certain, Damien replied coldly. It depends on your efforts.
Sofia laughed, her arms tightening around Damien, as if reminding someone:
"No matter what... I will still be with you. We already have an engagement."
Sofia's eyes accidentally caught Layla standing still looking at the moon. The smile on her lips curved meaningfully.
"Damien, kiss me. No matter what... we will get married sooner or later."
Layla froze. Her heart skipped a beat, her eyes widened.
"No... it's just a script. Just acting..."
Damien frowned slightly, but then leaned down, touching his lips to Sofia's.
The moment Layla saw... Layla's whole body stiffened. Her heart felt like someone was squeezing it. She knew she was standing on a film set, she knew this was just a scene. But the feeling of pain, jealousy, loss... everything was so real it was suffocating.
"We... are just high school students in this story... why does there have to be a kissing scene, I really still don't understand why the scriptwriter wrote the script like that? And why... when I see you kissing someone else, I feel like my whole world is collapsing like this?"
Layla turned her face away, trying to hold back her tears.
But at that moment, Damien suddenly opened his eyes. His kiss was just a light touch, but his eyes were cold and dark like a knife piercing straight into Layla.
Layla was stunned. In the script, this scene did not exist. Damien was not allowed to look at her like that.
She averted her eyes awkwardly, trying to avoid his gaze, but the feeling of being locked on by his eyes made her heart skip a beat.
Sofia noticed, frowned but still kept her proud smile, whispering:
"Who are you… looking at, Damien?"
Damien still did not answer. He kept that cold gaze, looking through Layla, as if to convey a message that no one could understand.
"Damien… What is he doing? This isn't in the script. Don't look at me like that… I can't take it… It's just acting, Layla… it's just acting. Wake up…"
Layla bit her lip, turned around, and quickly walked inside to escape that gaze.
But her steps were shaking, and her heart kept screaming:
"Why… just a look… can make me hurt so much?"
The camera lights went off. The director stood up, clapping his hands in satisfaction:
Director: "Good! That scene was so real, Damien, Sofia, excellent. Layla, your frozen expression was perfect too. Keep up the energy for the next scene."
Layla clutched her skirt, her heart pounding. She bowed slightly and quickly walked outside, avoiding anyone from seeing her eyes brimming with tears.
"I know... it's just acting. It's just a script. But why... does my heart hurt so much? As if I've really been betrayed... Damien, that look... is it for acting, or... for me?"
Sofia stayed on stage, raised her eyebrows and smiled, approaching Damien:
Sofia (in a low voice): "You did well. That look at Layla... makes this scene more vivid."
Damien (in a low voice, eyes still looking in the direction Layla just left): "...That's not acting."
Sofia (stunned): "...What do you mean?"
Damien (turns to look at Sofia, eyes cold): "Don't use Layla as a joke. If the director doesn't find it interesting, I will never do it."
Sofia frowned slightly, her lips pressed tightly together, but then smiled faintly:
Sofia: "Anyway, you are my fiancé. Layla is just an outsider."
Backstage, in the dark hallway, Layla leaned against the wall. Layla tried to take a deep breath, but her eyes were red and her heart was in turmoil.
Layla (whispering to herself):
"…I shouldn't feel hurt. I'm just a colleague. I have no right… no right at all."
Footsteps echoed. Damien appeared, tall in a student suit, still keeping a calm face. He stopped, looking at Layla.
Damien: "Are you crying?"
Layla (startled, quickly wiping her eyes, shaking her head): "No… I didn't… It was just dust flying in."
Damien (stepping closer, voice low, cold but full of pressure): "In the script, you kissed Sofia. But you looked at me. Did you see it?"
Layla (confused, taking a step back): "…I… saw it. But why? That wasn't in the script."
Damien (leaning down, his eyes locked on her): "I wanted to see your reaction. And you did. Really."
Layla's heart tightened. She tried to suppress her emotions, biting her lip.
Layla: "Don't… don't do that anymore. I'm just a teammate filming. You and Sofia are… the couple destined to get married, I'm the female lead but… but…"
Damien (curling his lips, voice hoarse): "Yes, on paper it is. But do you think my heart listens to the papers?"
Layla stood still, her breathing quickening. For a moment, she saw in Damien's eyes no longer coldness, but an indescribable conflict.
Layla (internal monologue):
"Why… are you saying these words? Damien… in the end, what do you want from me? I have to believe that this is just acting, have to believe that… but my heart won't listen anymore."
The atmosphere between the two was thick, as tense as a string about to snap. In the distance, Sofia stood watching, her lips curled up, her eyes flashing with annoyance and challenge.
Damien (in a low, slow voice, each word clear):
"In this movie… you and I are the main couple. Sofia is just a supporting character. But Layla… why are you trembling just because of a kissing scene in the script? Or are you confusing acting with your true feelings?"
Layla froze, her heart felt like it was being squeezed. She bit her lip, trying to keep her voice calm, but her eyes were red.
Layla (in a low, trembling voice):
"You… you don't need to look at me like that anymore. It's just the script. We're just colleagues. Nothing more."
Damien was silent for a few seconds. The entire crew held their breaths, the atmosphere was so tense that they could hear their heartbeats. Then he smiled faintly, but that smile was colder than the silence.
Damien (in a low, cold voice):
"Colleague… right. So remember that, Layla. Don't let personal feelings get in the way. A professional won't let a kiss in the script make them so flustered that they lose sight of the character. If you let your heart control you, you'll never become a real actor."
Those words were like a cold knife, piercing straight into Layla's chest. She bit her lip, trying not to cry in front of everyone.
In Layla's head, her own voice rang out:
"I know we're filming… I know we have to be professional… but why… just a kiss, makes me hurt like this?"
Layla was still standing there, her eyes red, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her dress. Damien adjusted his collar, his face cold as if nothing had just happened. He turned to look at Layla one last time, his eyes still sharp and cold.
Damien (in a low, decisive voice):
"Layla… you need to be more professional. We are not just people, we are celebrities. Personal feelings… are not allowed to interfere with work. If you can't differentiate, you will never go far."
With that, Damien turned and walked away, his back straight and strong.
Layla stood still, those words were like a knife stabbing straight into her heart. She bit her lip, her eyes filled with tears that she could no longer hold back. Tears flowed down, smudging her makeup.
Layla (choking, thinking to herself):
Why… just one look, one smile from you was enough to make me believe in true feelings. But now, you consider it something that must be thrown away to maintain "professionalism". So is love… your love for me real, Damien?
The sound of sobbing gradually grew louder, unable to drown out the noisy sound of the film crew. But Damien, after walking a few steps, stopped. He closed his eyes for a moment, clearly hearing the sobbing behind him. His hands trembled slightly, but then clenched into fists.
He turned his head to look at Layla, who was looking down, her shoulders shaking. His eyes darkened, but instead of moving forward, Damien walked straight towards the ASTRIX group who were discussing the script.
The group looked up. No one missed Layla's red eyes as she ran past, nor did they miss the cold words Damien had just uttered. The atmosphere was heavy.
Lucas (banging the table, annoyed):
"Damien! What do you think you just did? Can't you see that Layla is hurt? She's not a camera that you can tell her to turn her emotions on or off!"
Julian (sternly):
"You keep telling us you love her. But what kind of love is that that makes her cry so hard she can't breathe? That's not love… that's domination."
Elio (colder, but with a reproachful tone):
"I thought you were different from Vex's puppet. But just now… you're nothing like that. You're turning Layla into a victim of the damn 'professionalism' you worship."
Rayden (staring at Damien, speaking slowly):
"Damien… love isn't like work. You can't control it, plan it, and treat it like a mission. The more you force it, the more you control it… you're only hurting the person you love."
Damien was silent. He pulled out his phone, leisurely scrolled through a few lines, then typed a message to Vex. His hand was eerily calm.
Lucas (snarling):
"You dare text Vex at this time? Layla just cried for you, and you're sitting here planning your next move like nothing happened?!"
Julian (shouting):
"Damien, you're loving the wrong way! If love is just a strategy in your eyes, sooner or later you'll lose her. And this time… there's no going back."
Damien stopped, his eyes still glued to the screen. After a few seconds of heavy silence, he raised his head, giving a faint smile.
Damien (low, cold voice):
"I know she's crying. I also know I hurt her. But Layla… needs to be stronger than that. I can't always run to comfort her. If she wants to stand firm at the top, she has to learn to endure."
Those words made the air freeze. All the ASTRIX members looked at him, each with a different expression, but they all had one thing in common: they could not accept the way Damien was "loving" Layla.
Far away, Layla sat quietly in a corner, not knowing that this conversation was revolving around her. Tears fell on her small hands, mixed with fake laughter outside the studio.