The audition.

Berielle's POV:

Rehab had been going well. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. It had been painful, exhausting, and frustrating, but I was finally seeing progress. My body was getting stronger, little by little.

And just like that, the day of the audition arrived. I stood outside the audition room, my fingers clenched around the script. The paper was slightly crumpled from how tightly I had been holding it. My stomach was twisting with nerves. This is it. For the first time, I was auditioning for the lead role. Not a supporting character. Not a background role. The lead actress.I had dreamed about this moment for years, but now that it was here, doubt started creeping into my mind.

'What if I mess up? What if they don’t think I’m good enough? What if—' There have been a lot of thoughts going through my head but I exhaled sharply, shaking my head.No. I couldn't afford to think like that.

I had come too far to let fear stop me now.Taking a deep breath, I glanced around the hallway, trying to steady my nerves. That was when I spotted Duan Yan.

He was standing a few feet away, leaning casually against the wall. His arms were crossed, and his sharp eyes were scanning the audition list posted nearby. I hesitated for a second before approaching him.

Before I could say anything, he turned his head toward me and smirked. “You look like you’re about to throw up.”

I let out a small, nervous laugh. “I feel like it too.”He chuckled. “It’s just an audition, Berielle. You’ve done plenty of these before.”

“Not for a lead role,” I admitted. “It’s… different this time.” He studied me for a moment, then said, “You know, when I heard that you will be auditioning for this role, I had a feeling you’d be my partner.”

I blinked in surprise. “You did?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “You have something special. When you act, you make people feel something. That’s what a good lead actress does.”

"You have never really seen me act and it hasn't been a long time since I came to Shanghai." I was puzzled.

He smiled, "I have seen you act. Remember the last time you were at the set- where we met for the first time?" He asked and I nodded.

"Although you did not have any dialogue then, there was something enigmatic about your eyes." He looked like he was reminiscing that moment, "You had the power to make the lead actress feel nervous. That's why she was being so mean to you then. She felt threatened."

I looked down, feeling my face warm up. “That’s… really nice of you to say.”

He shrugged. “It’s not nice. It’s the truth.”I let out a slow breath, trying to let his words sink in.

Maybe he was right. Maybe I could do this. However, it wasn't just us in the hallway. There were many other actresses who were here for the audition. I even recognized some of them and it made me feel more nervous. But then, I felt their intense stares on myself and in that moment, I realized that they were bothered by the fact that Duan Yan was talking to me.

'I should not take this lightly. I should watch my act.' I said to myself. Because this is how all the rumors starts. Duan Yan is not someone whom I can treat like a friend.

Just then, the door to the audition room opened. A staff member stepped out. “Berielle, you’re up next.”

I felt my stomach tighten again. This was it.I turned to Duan Yan, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “What if I mess up?”

He grinned. “Then I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.”

I laughed despite the fact that I was filled with nerves. His expression softened. “You’ll be fine. Just go in there and own it.”

I nodded, trying to hold onto his confidence as I stepped into the audition room. With a nervously beating heart, I walked inside the room.

The room was large, dimly lit, and eerily silent. A long table stretched across the front, where the directors and producers sat, however, the lights were adjusted in a way where I could not really see them but I could feel them watching me closely. Cameras were set up in the corners, recording everything. I walked to the center of the room and bowed slightly.

“Welcome, Berielle Wang,” one of the directors said. “We’ve been looking forward to your audition.”

“Thank you for having me,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.The head director leaned forward. “As you know, this role requires strong acting and dancing skills. We’ll start with your prepared scene, and then we’ll move on to the dance portion.”

I nodded. I had expected this. I had trained for this.

“Whenever you’re ready,” the director said.I took a deep breath and let go of my fears. This is my only chance. I have to do this. I have to--- I kept on telling myself. I shut my eyes and then, I became the character.

My expression shifted, my body language changed, and I spoke the lines as if they weren’t just words on a page but feelings coming from deep inside me. I could feel their eyes on me, watching, analyzing. I poured every ounce of emotion into the scene—desperation, love, heartbreak.

And then, silence.

The moment I finished, I waited, my chest rising and falling. One of the producers finally spoke. “That was… incredible.”

A wave of relief crashed over me.“You have excellent emotional control,” another director added. “Now, let’s move on to the dance.”I nodded, trying to prepare myself.

The assistant pressed play, and soft piano music filled the room.I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Ballet.

It has been a part of my life for so long. Even after the accident. Even after the pain.But could I still do it?

I lifted my arms, let my body move with the rhythm. I could feel my injured leg protesting, the dull ache slowly building into something sharper. But I didn’t stop.

'Don’t stop. Don’t show weakness.' I kept on telling myself. I spun, feeling a sharp jolt of pain shoot up my calf.

I ignored it. I leaped, my breath catching as I landed, barely keeping my balance. I kept going, pushing through the pain, telling myself over and over—'I can do this.' I reminded myself again.

When the music ended, I held my final pose, my heart pounding. The pain was unbearable, but I refused to let it show. Silence filled the room.

Then—

Applause. I blinked in shock. One of the directors was smiling.

“That was beautiful.”Another director nodded. “Your movements carried real emotion. The audience will feel that.”

I struggled to catch my breath. “Thank you,” I managed to say. But it wasn’t over yet.The director turned to the staff.

“Let’s bring in Duan Yan for the chemistry test.”

I inhaled sharply to calm my nerves. 'The difficult part is over. Let's push a little more.'

A few moments later, Duan Yan walked in, looking confident as ever. He is an A-listed actor for a reason. These little auditions aren't going to faze him. When can I be like him?

He gave me a small nod, as if silently saying, 'You got this.' The director handed us a new script.

“This is an important scene between the two leads. No preparation. Just act.” I took the script, my fingers trembling slightly. No preparation?

I barely had time to read over my lines before the director gave the cue. And suddenly—We were acting.

Duan Yan’s eyes locked onto mine, his expression intense. “Why do you keep pushing me away?”I inhaled sharply, already falling into the role. “Because I’m scared.”

He took a step closer. “Of what?”

“Of this,” I whispered. “Of how much I care.”

The room disappeared around us. It was just him and me. His voice softened.

“Then don’t push me away.” Why did this feel familiar? Suddenly, someone's blue eyes popped in my head.

I hesitated, looking down, my hands trembling. And then—he reached out, gently lifting my chin. Our eyes met.It felt… real. It really felt like 'Zen Warner' was standing in front of me, looking desperate and filled with longing.

I could hear the quiet murmurs of the directors, the scribbling of notes and those little sounds pulled me back to reality.

Duan Yan's hand that was holding onto my chin, it pulled me in closer, so close that I could feel his breath on my face. Just one slightest moment and we would be kissing. Still, at that moment, I had the responsibility to deliver my line, 'If I don't, what will you do?" My voice barely above a whisper. And then—Silence.

"That's it. This is it." One of the directors said, "This is what we wanted to see." They sounded ecstatic.

"Miss. Wang, you will be notified regarding the results."

"Thank you." I was relieved. After I walked out of the room, Duan Yan smiled upon looking at me, "You have done well. I have worked with director Yoon before. I am sure, he looking at you in the positive light and there is a high chance you will get this role."

"Really?" My eyes widened.

"Don't forget that you promised to treat me to a meal." He winked and with a wide smile on my face, I could only watch him leave.