"Bryan, don't be angry."

  This was the first time Bryan had ever lost his temper like this. Even Marcus, who had been with him for nearly two years, was genuinely rattled.

  If word of this got back to Faye, the career he'd painstakingly built from a lowly assistant position would be ruined in an instant.

  He caved immediately. "This really is my fault. I made a unilateral decision without discussing it with you or getting your input. But don't worry—when I spoke with the actress's team, I made it clear it was our team's decision. I didn't suggest it came from you."

  Bryan took a deep breath. "You're my team. Every word you say and everything you do represents me. Don't you understand that?"

  "We do, we do. How about this, Bryan—I'll go apologize to Chloe personally and explain everything."

  Bryan waved his hand impatiently. "I'll do it myself."

  With that, he turned and left.

  Marcus and the others exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions sour. Deep down, they still felt wronged. They'd been thinking of Bryan's best interests—but he just didn't appreciate it.

  Chloe, unsettled by Marcus's visit, found herself unable to focus or prepare properly.

  If Bryan's team insisted on a fake shot and the director agreed, she honestly didn't know how she'd stand her ground.

  But as the time approached, she professionally brushed her teeth, rinsed her mouth, and applied breath freshener.

  She took a deep breath, mentally cheering herself on.

  Taylor stepped forward and gently squeezed her shoulder, her voice warm with encouragement. "First-time nerves are totally normal. But you always find your emotional footing once the cameras roll. This time will be no different."

  Chloe shot her a grateful look and nodded softly.

  Just then, Bryan arrived.

  With call time approaching, he got straight to the point. "Chloe, I'm sorry about earlier. Let me apologize on Marcus's behalf. We're not faking this scene. I'm fine with filming it for real."

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  Chloe had been harboring some resentment toward Bryan over the incident, but the moment he said they wouldn't fake it, her anger dissolved.

  Because from start to finish, her concern had been about the performance—not personal feelings.

  "R-really?" Chloe asked, uncertain.

  Bryan nodded, then suddenly looked a bit sheepish. His gaze darted away slightly. "But I've never done a real kissing scene before. I don't really have experience. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, just tell me, and I'll try to adjust."

  Chloe's anxiety eased slightly. A small smile tugged at her lips as she nodded.

  Then Bryan's eyes fell on the breath freshener in her hand. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "Um... could I borrow that?"

  "Oh, sure." Chloe snapped back to reality and quickly handed it over.

  Just then, the floor manager appeared at the still-open door and poked his head in. "Oh? Bryan's here too. You two should head to the set—you're up soon."

  Bryan quickly sprayed his mouth a couple of times, and together they headed to the night shoot location.

  The previous scene—featuring the male and female leads—had just wrapped. The crew was busy resetting for the next setup. When the assistant director spotted Chloe and Bryan approaching, he hurried over.

  "Chloe, Bryan. Next scene is the kiss. Just the two of you, no dialogue."

  Both maintained calm facades, but inside, their nerves were skyrocketing.

  The assistant director turned to Bryan. "Bryan, you've got experience. Lead the way—let's aim for one take."

  "Director, I... I don't have experience either," Bryan admitted awkwardly.

  The assistant director blinked, then laughed. "Stop joking. I've seen your work."

  "They were all fake shots. I've never actually done it," Bryan confessed.

  Another blink. The assistant director's gaze bounced between them. Finally: "So... you're faking this one? That's fine. I'll go clear it with the director."

  It was common for popular actors to avoid real kissing scenes, so he wasn't fazed. Fake shots were just more logistically complicated—the director needed a heads-up.

  He was about to leave when Bryan stopped him. Voice barely audible, Bryan mumbled, "We're not faking it."

  "What?" The assistant director hadn't caught it.

  Bryan swallowed hard, then spoke louder. "We're not faking. Chloe and I want to do the unbroken long take like in the novel."

  Chloe hadn't said a word, but Bryan's bashfulness was infectious. Her cheeks flushed pink, lips pressed together, heart already racing.

  The assistant director beamed. "Excellent! That's the spirit. Actors should be professional."

  Night shoots were always slowest during lighting adjustments.

  Chloe and Bryan sat on the steps at the edge of the set, waiting for the lights to be finalized. Neither spoke. The atmosphere was thick with tension—and something else.

  Chloe's limpid eyes were unfocused, staring into space. Her small hands unconsciously picked at each other.

  Bryan swayed gently back and forth, trying to relax.

  "We're good!"

  The lighting tech's sudden shout made them both jump like startled birds.

  Everything was ready. The shooting location was a wide corridor. The assistant director positioned them and explained, "When the clapperboard goes, get into character immediately. The director won't call cut until he's satisfied—you keep kissing until he does. No stopping."

  They both nodded, not realizing neither had dared look the other in the eye since leaving the dressing room.

  But when they finally stood face to face, Bryan's hand on Chloe's waist, bodies close—their eyes inevitably met.

  And in that instant, Chloe's nerves and uncertainty vanished.

  Her eyes shimmered with liquid light, her pretty face bearing the shy flush of budding love. Her cherry-pink lips pressed together delicately, bringing to life the fluttering heartbeat of a maiden's first romance.

  Bryan, looking at the woman in his arms, was instantly infected. His expression was cool, but behind his eyes burned an intense flame. Tenderness radiated from him, as if to melt the spring water in his embrace.

  CLAP!

  The clapperboard fell. Three cameras began rolling from different angles.

  First, a lingering gaze, eyes locked in deep affection. Then Bryan tentatively leaned forward, lowering his head. When they were close enough to feel each other's breath, Chloe gently closed her eyes. The anticipation and nervousness of tasting forbidden fruit with her beloved made her lashes tremble ever so slightly.

  Then their lips met—cool, soft as clouds, carrying a crisp, breeze-like freshness.

  From a gentle brush to deepening passion, to lingering entanglement, these two first-timers believed utterly in their characters. They loved with every fiber, kissed until they forgot heaven and earth.

  Behind the monitors, the directors watched with knowing smiles.

  Beautiful. The two of them kissed beautifully.