As Sebastian Vanderbilt returns to KG Studio, he finds a young girl eagerly waiting for him at the door of his president office.
"Are you the girl from NYP?" Sebastian approaches, asks while opening the door with a smile.
The girl, like a startled rabbit, trembles slightly, then fumbles to greet him, "H-hello, I'm Isabella Harris. And yes, I am a trainee from NYP!"
Dressed in simple clothes, her impressive figure stands out. A pink, form-fitting t-shirt reveals a nascent and stunning silhouette, paired with a slender waist and graceful curves. Her long, dark hair flows like a waterfall, and as she lifts her head, her fair complexion and delicate features frame a pair of captivating eyes, embodying the innocence of first love.
Pure yet alluring, she merges two clashing auras into seamless harmony.
"Um, do you know the purpose of your visit?" Seb asks kindly.
"The agency told me I'm here for an audition to endorse products from KG Studio," Isabella responds quickly, her hands nervously intertwined.
"Alright, take a moment to calm your nerves, then get ready for the audition," Sebastian says with a smile, gesturing for the staff to take Isabella to the makeup room.
Though he has seen her photos, he needs to assess her presence in person.
Back at the photo studio. At the entrance. Sebastian seems to remember something and looks back.
Patrick Anchor pauses in his tracks. Their eyes meet.
"I understand," Patrick says with a twitch at the corner of his mouth before turning to leave.
Sebastian watches him go, appreciating the understanding between old friends. One day, he thinks, Patrick will understand the painstaking efforts of brotherhood.
With that resolution, Sebastian enters the studio, which has been meticulously arranged since Jessica's last shoot with improved lighting, ambiance, and decor.
A new door has been added at the back of the studio for direct access to the makeup room.
After a short time, Isabella, now dressed differently, enters the room.
The light Japanese style makeup emphasizes her innocence, and her outfit, while revealing, adds to her vulnerability. She tugs timidly at the hem of her top, oblivious to the depth that she almost reveals.
Sebastian's gaze inadvertently follows. Fortunately, he is sensible enough to cough lightly when Isabella nearly pulls her top all the way down in an attempt to cover herself.
"Cough, cough!" he laughs gently. "Isabella, you seem very nervous."
"N-no, I'm not nervous. I'm just a little... shy," Isabella finally releases her grip on her clothes, allowing the neckline to settle.
Sebastian shifts his attention away, chuckling at the situation.
"Since you're here, I assume you're prepared mentally, so let's not dwell on small talk," Sebastian indicates. "Please take a seat over there, put on the ankle bracelet next to you, and follow my instructions for the poses."
As he speaks, he moves towards the camera.
"Ankle bracelet?" Isabella seems briefly confused, her smile a bit stiff. "Do I need to show my feet for this?"
"Didn't your agency tell you the product for the audition is an ankle bracelet?" Sebastian asks, slightly taken aback.
"No, they didn't mention it."
"They just said it was a jewelry audition."
"Isn't an ankle bracelet jewelry too?" Sebastian says with some understanding. This profession is often undervalued. He has heard of instances where popular figures are bullied by junior staff, ridiculous yet genuine occurrences. And the lesser-known trainees likely face even more dismissive attitudes.
Seeing Isabella's bewildered expression, Sebastian deduces she might not even fully realize what KG Studio does before being sent here.
"Is that so?" Isabella nods, pretending to understand though she is clearly still confused.
The atmosphere seems momentarily stiff.
Two minutes later. After a brief introduction about the background and current business status of KG studio and its product line, Sebastian asks genuinely, "So, have you decided?" with a gentle smile, he is not rushing but patiently inquiring.
"Yes. I'll try it." Isabella decides after a moment of hesitation and takes off her shoes, revealing her feet.
At that moment, Sebastian understands Isabella's reluctance. Her feet, as seen in the pictures, are beautiful but bear marks of intense practice—a mix of old and new scars.
"I've been practicing dance quite hard for the past two months, so..." Isabella begins to explain, embarrassment in her voice that falters as she speaks.
"And the feet in the photos?" Sebastian inquires curiously.
"They were taken at the beginning of the year," Isabella murmurs quietly.
"Isabella," Sebastian says, setting down the camera. "You really don't need to be so tense."
"I know, I can manage my emotions," Isabella assures, visibly relaxing under Sebastian's influence.
"Let's just chat for a bit then," Sebastian suggests, grabbing two bottles of water and offering one to Isabella.
"Thank you, Mr. Vanderbilt. " She accepts the water with a grateful nod and takes a small sip. "For the water and your patience. To be honest, I was a little bit nervous and confused when I first arrived."
"Is the dance training at NYP quite intensive?"
"It's not too bad, the company's requirements are average, but..." Isabella trails off, then continues with a hint of shyness, "there are rumors the company may form a girl group soon, so I thought I'd work harder to improve my skills."
"All for an uncertain future?" Sebastian raises an eyebrow.
Isabella's words easily take him back to memories of another woman who worked tirelessly, seemingly forsaking the world for her passion.
"It's my goal," Isabella says, detecting a tinge of disdain in Sebastian's tone. She hesitates but explains, "If I can't debut after all this time as a trainee, then all the effort would seem pointless."
"Would you give up everything for a chance to debut? Health, freedom, relationships?" Sebastian asks.
His words cause Isabella to look up, her eyes reflecting a touch of bewilderment. "Does debuting conflict with these things?"
She genuinely puzzles over the question.
"Of course not!" Sebastian replies with a lifted brow and a bright smile, lightening the mood.