3

Julia James came from a well-off family. Her parents were both involved in the film and television industry, which meant she had a wide circle and many connections within the Northern Film Academy.

"Hey, Bella, where are you right now?" Julia asked after dialing a number.

A gentle voice answered on the other end, "I'm in class. What's up? Why are you calling me out of the blue?"

Julia laughed nervously, "I, uh, need a favor. Hehe…"

Bella's voice became curious. "What kind of favor?"

Julia rolled her eyes, knowing it'd be hard to explain over the phone. "Let's meet in person. It'll make more sense that way."

Bella chuckled, "Alright, alright. Why so mysterious?"

Lucas Nolan, who was listening nearby, immediately recognized the name Bella. He knew exactly who Julia was talking about.

Bella Carter was a big star in his past life, known for her immense popularity. In this world, she was a well-known figure at the academy and had even started acting in a few productions, although she hadn't yet reached the same level of fame as in his previous life.

Lucas couldn't believe it. It seemed like he was constantly running into future stars.

Julia waved at Lucas as she hurried out the door to meet Bella. Meanwhile, Lucas stayed back to help the extras familiarize themselves with their roles and the plot.

Most of his focus was on guiding little Lily Warren, who was playing the role of young Sophie.

Suddenly, the system chimed in his mind:

"Ding! The host has activated the Great Acting Tutor mode! Your teaching is so effective that even a dog could master acting under your guidance!"

Lucas facepalmed. This system was impressive, but it had a knack for being cheeky.

In this mode, Lucas patiently explained Sophie's character traits to Lily.

Lily, who was just an ordinary little girl, seemed to light up under Lucas's guidance. It was as if the character of Sophie had been infused into her.

Meanwhile, Julia met Bella after her class.

The two had been childhood friends and hadn't seen each other in a while. After catching up on life, they moved on to business.

Julia hesitated for a moment before saying, "So… I kind of accidentally entered the academy's film and television competition…"

Bella wasn't surprised. She knew Julia had always had a passion for performing and wouldn't miss an opportunity like this.

"Oh? Are you working with one of the academy's film clubs?" Bella asked.

Julia bit her lip and replied, "Well… not exactly. I'm working with Lucas Nolan, a freshman friend of mine."

Bella's eyes widened as she nearly choked on her drink. "What did you say? Julia, this competition is no joke! The selection criteria are super strict. You didn't even join an official film team, and you're trying to make a film on your own?"

Julia puffed up her cheeks in defiance. "Don't underestimate us, Bella! Our script is ready, and we've already secured the location, actors, and props. Plus, Lucas is amazing! He can do anything!"

Bella rolled her eyes and playfully poked Julia's forehead. "You've got stars in your eyes, Julia. You're both freshmen with no experience. What can you possibly film? Your submission will probably get rejected in the first round."

Julia's face turned red. "I'm not! We're just friends, okay?"

She puffed her cheeks and pulled a script out of her bag. "Here, take a look! This is the script he wrote. If you don't believe me, judge for yourself."

Bella took the script, not expecting much.

"The Forest of Fireflies? What's this? Small-town vibes? Boring…" she mumbled as she flipped through the pages.

But as she read on, her expression began to soften.

By the time she reached the heartwarming middle of the story, Bella's lips curled into a smile.

When she got to the bittersweet ending, her eyes turned red. "Wait… Alan disappears? Is there no twist? No happy ending?"

Julia smirked knowingly. "So, Bella? Am I right? This script is amazing, isn't it?"

Romantic and touching stories like this were irresistible to most girls.

Though Bella was moved, she pretended to be nonchalant. "It's… not bad."

Julia clasped Bella's hands. "You have a group of friends in the photography department, right? Can you help us out with filming?"

Bella hesitated for a moment before replying, "Alright, but let me make one thing clear: I still don't fully trust you two. You're too young and inexperienced."

Julia hugged Bella tightly. "Thank you so much, Bella! I promise we won't disappoint you!"

Bella rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, yeah. Don't make me regret this."

And with that, the team for The Forest of Fireflies was officially formed.

Little did anyone know that this project would mark the beginning of a cinematic legend.