After changing, Amanda hurried back to the set to wait for her next scene. The Trials of Love was a sprawling historical epic—a "Fantasy" drama about the most favored Ninth Princess of Heaven who falls for the Demon King. It was a story of sweet devotion and agonizing sacrifice, fueled by the struggle for celestial power. Backed by massive investments from both the Harris and Solis families and featuring a star-studded cast, it was already the most anticipated project of the year.
Today's scene featured Amanda as the lead and Elena as her "loyal" best friend. The script called for the Ninth Princess, Hera, to be provoked by a rival named Sarah, leading her to flee back to her palace in tears.
Amanda had studied the script with a intensity she never possessed in her first life. When Director Mark shouted "Action!" she slipped into character instantly.
Hera's white robes were stained, but she didn't seem to notice. She collapsed against a white jade table, tears tracing crystalline paths down her cheeks. She pursed her lips, reaching up with a trembling hand to wipe her face, but with every blink, more tears fell. She began to scrub at her eyes stubbornly, over and over, until she finally broke down, sobbing like an abandoned child.
"Apollo, you said you would find me..." she choked out. "You promised we would pick the spider lilies together..."
The heartbreak of a first love shattered by betrayal was etched into every line of her face.
"Cut! Very good! Amanda, your acting has improved significantly today."
Amanda didn't immediately drop the character; the tears were still falling when she looked up. She offered the director a bright, genuine smile. "Thank you, Director Mark."
Mark, a man in his late forties known for his icy indifference, was stunned. Usually, Amanda was arrogant and dismissive toward him. But looking into her shimmering eyes now, he didn't see the spoiled heiress; he saw the innocent, tragic Ninth Princess.
Amanda felt a surge of pure joy. In her previous life, she had squandered her talent, but being praised for her hard work today made her feel like she could fly.
Elena stood nearby, watching with eyes clouded by jealousy. Why her? We were in the scene together, so why is that idiot the only one getting praised? The director must be blind.
Fueled by the praise, Amanda worked with newfound enthusiasm, nailing almost every take on the first try. Though her work was done until the evening, she didn't leave. Instead, she pulled up a chair to observe the other actors, determined to learn.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice when another chair was placed beside her. She turned to find someone leaning back, eyes closed, with a sheet mask plastered over his face. Amanda squinted at his features and felt a jolt of recognition.
It was the male lead—the future "Movie Emperor" whose face would eventually dominate every billboard in the country.
Jasper Kent.
Being stared at so intensely made it impossible for Jasper to rest. He peeled back one corner of the mask and glanced at the girl beside him. "You want one?"
Jasper Kent was undeniably handsome, but his personality was notoriously difficult. He was obsessed with his appearance—his fans frequently sent him crates of high-end skincare products. He didn't ask "What are you looking at?" or "What do you want?" He simply offered a mask.
Amanda's lips twitched. Jasper, I'm interested in your future status, not your skincare routine.
She quickly recovered and gave him a sweet, curious smile. "What brand is that? Your skin looks incredible."
Even though she was just making conversation, Jasper snorted with a "tell-me-something-I-don't-know" expression. He reached into his pocket, pulled out an unused mask, and tossed it to her.
"A gift," he muttered.
Amanda didn't hesitate. She tore it open and applied it to her face. The cooling sensation was instant. She imitated Jasper, leaning her head back and closing her eyes to rest.
When Director Mark came by later to discuss the evening script, he found his male and female leads sitting side-by-side like two pale ghosts, peacefully oblivious to the world.
The evening shoot went flawlessly—perhaps helped by the bonding session over skincare.
When Amanda finally returned to her room, she found the edited video from Winter waiting in her inbox. She posted it directly to her Facebook page, which had nearly 400,000 followers. She captioned it: "A little practice during the day."
The video didn't show any of the movie's actual scenes—she wasn't foolish enough to leak confidential footage. Instead, it was a crisp recording of the dressing room: from the moment Elena walked in to the moment she "accidentally" spilled the coffee on herself.
Amanda waited exactly three minutes—just long enough for the notifications to skyrocket—then deleted the post, pretending it was a mistake.
But it was too late. The "deleted" video had already been shared over ten thousand times. By midnight, the internet had exploded with discussions about Elena's "performance." Amanda, meanwhile, put on another mask and drifted into a very comfortable sleep.