Kissing My Arch-Nemesis, the Leading Man

Wendy pinched me from behind.

I immediately forced a smile. "Teacher Bruce, I’m looking forward to working with you."

After the opening ceremony, William cheerfully squeezed in between us and threw his arms around our shoulders.

"With Julia and Bruce's faces, plus my carefully crafted script, I’m really expecting a lot from this!"

The first scene started filming that afternoon.

When I saw the "first meeting kiss scene" highlighted in red on the schedule, I finally understood what William meant by "breaking the norms."

What kind of film set starts with a kiss scene?

"This is to help the actors get into character quickly," William explained, rubbing his hands behind the monitor. "Joy Mitchell and Wesley Green are meeting for the first time and are immediately attracted to each other’s looks. I want that explosive chemistry!"

We nodded, and Director William turned back to continue adjusting the set.

Wrapped in a down jacket, I sat on a folding chair, watching as the stylist adjusted Bruce's tie.

He was wearing a white shirt for this scene, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his well-defined forearms.

I had to admit, this guy definitely deserved the title of "national boyfriend."

"Julia," Wendy suddenly handed me a bottle of mouthwash.

"Can you make sure it’s not off-center?" she asked.

I took the bottle, swished the mouthwash, then spat it out, quietly replying, "William wants a real kiss."

Wendy frowned. "Then treat it like you're kissing a steak!"

Five minutes before the scene began, Bruce suddenly walked over to me.

He was nearly 20 cm taller than me, his shadow completely engulfing me.

"Teacher Julia," he said, offering me a mint with a challenging glint in his eyes.

"Do you want this?"

I grabbed the candy and popped it into my mouth, crunching it. "Thanks, Teacher Bruce, but I heard that during your last kiss scene, your co-star complained it was like chewing on corn. Let’s hope you don’t 'chew' through William’s scene."

The sharp snap of the script supervisor Jason’s clapperboard echoed.

In an instant, I slipped into Joy’s character.

In the script, Joy, frustrated after being harassed by a business partner, messes up a major deal and gets scolded by her boss. She drowns her sorrows at a bar.

Bruce—now playing the elite investor Wesley—happens to be working at the bar for a friend.

Joy mistakes Wesley for a bartender and orders a drink.

According to the script, our gazes should collide with intense, passionate chemistry.

But when he actually looked at me, I was momentarily lost.

His eyes, usually filled with indifference, now held the "aggressive" intensity described in the script.

"Sorry," his fingertips brushed mine as he handed me the drink Joy had ordered.

"Do you want more lemon?"

That was Wesley's line.

I was supposed to reply, "The drink’s already sweet and spicy, do you really need more acidity?"

Then he’d say, "You don’t look happy. Let’s add some lemon to tone down the spice."

An outdated, cheesy pickup line.

But when Bruce said it in that deep, sultry voice, my ears inexplicably started to burn.

"Cut!" William suddenly shouted.

"Julia, why are you blushing? Joy would be rolling her eyes internally and flirting with Wesley through her gaze!"

Laughter rang out from the crew.

I caught a glimpse of Bruce’s lips twitching, clearly holding back a laugh.

Wendy was frantically signaling from the sidelines, and Kevin was watching us warily.

In the second take, I nailed the emotions William wanted.

As Bruce leaned in closer, I heard him whisper my name in a breathy voice, "Teacher Julia."

I reflexively blinked.

He seized the opportunity, pulling me into a deep kiss.