"Give... give it my best shot? What should I give you?"
Jessica's mind is spinning. She hasn't fully recovered from the ambiguous atmosphere when Sebastian Vanderbilt piles on more confusion.
"Charisma," Sebastian says earnestly, "Unleash the charm of being a woman in front of the camera."
Woman... charm? Jessica is a bit dazed, and before she can react, Sebastian has already started the countdown.
"Ready..."
"One."
"Two."
"Three... Action!"
In a panic, Jessica can only strike a few poses as she has practiced at her company.
"Click."
"Click."
"...." The flash goes off repeatedly.
Soon, the first set photoshoot is over.
Jessica finally has a chance to quietly exhale, then stealthily observes Sebastian as he reviews the camera.
Is this the man that Charlotte can't get out of her mind? He's somewhat handsome, she thinks. But that's about it, right?
Just as she is thinking... Sebastian suddenly furrows his brows and says, "Jessica?"
"Yes," Jessica quickly responds, sitting up straight.
"Is this how your company taught you to pose?" Sebastian is clearly dissatisfied. Although he isn't a professional, he knows very well that a pose that can't even tempt a normal man is definitely unprofessional.
Jessica's eyes are misty as she asks, "Is... is there a problem?"
Looking at her clear yet foolish expression, Sebastian can't help but sigh. Forget it. Remembering her age... what does an eighteen-year-old girl know about the minds of those old perverts!
"Look at me," Sebastian puts down the camera and says seriously.
Jessica looks over.
"No, not in a normal way." Sebastian pauses for a moment and says, "It's better to have an attitude of disdain mixed with a bit of contempt."
"What should that look like?" Jessica's beautiful eyes show a sense of confusion. She understands the meaning of each word he says, but when put together, it is hard to grasp.
"You know about visualization, right?" Sebastian asks patiently.
"Yes, I do," Jessica nods. Visualizing the scenes from the script to get into character is a must for actors, and S Entertainment has also covered this.
"That's good, now I'll give you a scene, and you give me a reaction." Sebastian gestures to start, and his voice is steady and calm.
In front of the high school dormitory building. Jessica, persuaded by her friend, comes downstairs only to be confronted with an unexpected sight. A huge heart-shaped pattern made of candles, filled with rose petals.
In the center, a suitor she has rejected countless times is kneeling on one knee with a huge bouquet of flowers, sending out a signal of love. You want to refuse, but a crowd has already gathered around.
So you decide to save both of yours dignity by quietly whispering your refusal in the guy's ear, but he takes it as a test and shouts a louder love slogan.
Jessica's brows furrow, her features crumple together, even slightly distorted.
It is disgusting. Just imagining the scene makes her shudder.
"That's not going to work. While the disgust is there, it lacks beauty," Sebastian thinks to himself, shaking his head slightly.
Five seconds later, when Jessica is about to give up, Sebastian begins to describe another scene.
"Because the guy is pushing his luck, you reject him outright this time."
Jessica composes her expression, her chin slightly raised, her gaze cold and piercing, as if a cold light has penetrated to the bone.
Here it comes.
The feeling is coming.
Sebastian's lips curl into a slight arc, and he throws out his trump card.
"At this moment, your closest friend behind you tries to morally bind you to be with the boy in front of you." Sebastian stares intently at Jessica, quietly turning on the camera.
Sure enough. Jessica's eyes move, and then... a faint contempt begins to emerge in the depths of her already cold gaze.
"You realize that your best friend has secretly been involved with the guy."
The contempt in Jessica's eyes grows thicker.
"Their ultimate goal is actually to set you up for a threesome."
"Yes, that's right."
"That's the look."
"Give me a pose now."
"You can consider me as that best friend... quickly, look at me!"
Jessica slightly turns her body, her delicate and exquisite face as cold as frost, her cold gaze as if looking at trash.
It's done! The camera flashes, and the image is captured.
Jessica takes a deep breath. Sebastian is too intense, almost to the point of making her gasp for air, and her legs feel a bit weak. At the moment of the end, she feels a bit more relaxed.
"Remember this state of emotions, take a break and digest it for twenty minutes," Sebastian glances at his watch and quickly says, "I'll come find you in twenty minutes." With that, he is out the door before Jessica can react.
"That's a bit... too pushy, isn't it?" Two seconds later, Jessica's brain seems to finally start functioning normally, and a helpless expression appears on her pretty face.
This President Vanderbilt is a bit too intense. They've only been in contact for about half an hour, and she's been tossed around to the point of mental confusion.
Jessica forces herself not to look at the clothes hanging on the rack that are so provocative and evocative. She finds a corner to rest a bit and to memorize the emotions and expressions from just now.
Everything is hard at the beginning, but once you know the answer, it's easy to solve the problem.
Jessica quickly masters this state.
Then... She finds that she simply can't ignore the presence of those clothes hanging on the rack. Plus, she can't help but be curious.
Jessica returns to the office area and soon finds Sebastian in the rest area.
"Mr. Vanderbilt, your scene was particularly realistic," Jessica sits down beside him, taking the initiative to start a conversation.
"Realistic?" Sebastian's mouth twitches slightly. It is a true story, so of course the imagery is real. Of course, he was not the protagonist. Sebastian was just an onlooker who was dragged in to boost morale, and when he found out the truth, his mind was shattered.
"The imagery is comparable to some experienced famous directors," Jessica says with a light laugh.
But there is no response. Sebastian is flipping through the drawings in front of him, visualizing the upcoming shoot in his mind.
"By the way, Mr. President, you know Charlotte, right?" Jessica asks tentatively.
Sebastian's movements stiffen slightly. Sure enough, she guesses correctly. Jessica's eyes light up, burning with the fire of gossip.
"Actually, Charlotte mentioned your name in the dorm as well..." Jessica baits the hook. Following the normal process, the other party would definitely be curious about what Charlotte said. Then... openly chat about the two of them's story...
Jessica is secretly a bit excited. The opportunity to understand Charlotte is not many, especially since last year when Charlotte became quiet and reticent. She is like a person wearing a veil, hazy and mysterious. Plus, the name of Sebastian that Charlotte often murmurs in her sleep.
There must be a story. Definitely!
Sure enough, after her words fall, Sebastian makes a move. He turns his head and shows a brilliant smile. Jessica is delighted inside, but her face remains calm. A real hunter always acts as if...
"You should talk less and focus on the emotions. Be professional or I'll ask SM Entertainment to replace you."
"What the...?" Jessica is confused for a moment, and when she comes to her senses, she finds that the other party has already left the lounge.
Chat? What a joke. Sebastian's mouth shows a sneer. I've finally extricated myself from the quagmire of love. And they still want me to fall into it again? I've said it, I'm not into relationships, I'll only focus on my career for the rest of my life.
Anyone who stands in my way dies!