With this film role, Jenny could at least avoid juggling two jobs day and night. Waitressing was an unstable line of work anyway—missing a week meant the other servers would cover a couple extra shifts, or they could just find a temp to fill in. Given Jenny's looks and popularity, Johnny would never fire her for taking a week off.
But she insisted on working the night shift. The main reason wasn't the pay, nor even to spare Johnny the awkwardness. It was because...
During the second interrogation scene, George also had some trouble remembering his lines, pushing the wrap time past five o'clock. Jenny removed her makeup, changed clothes, and Dave rushed her to the restaurant. She was two hours late, but Johnny didn't blame her. Instead, he told her that a two-hour delay wasn't a problem—they could leave early once fewer people were needed. However, this meant her base pay would be cut in half.
Jenny didn't mind. She'd underestimated how exhausting filming could be. On set, she felt no physical fatigue—only mental weariness from sustained immersion in character. Though they'd only shot two scenes today, she hadn't anticipated no breaks during downtime. To keep her dress wrinkle-free, she'd worked even harder than serving in the restaurant.
Another six-hour shift followed, and by the end, Jenny was barely holding on by sheer willpower. As soon as the late-night rush subsided, she signaled Johnny and clocked out.
Dave had been waiting for her in the restaurant the entire time, refusing to leave no matter how much she insisted. He wouldn't let Jenny walk home; instead, he drove her to her building.
Exhausted, Jenny fell asleep in the car and jolted awake when it stopped. "We're here?"
"We're here," Dave said, looking at her gently. "Go get some rest. You have to get up early tomorrow—I'll pick you up for breakfast."
This was why Jenny needed the night shift. Without it, Dave would take her out for dinner, and things would just happen naturally. She had no way to stop him from confessing without hurting him, and she didn't want to reject him just yet.
If this was exploitation, she could own up to it. How could a girl with nothing climb the ladder in Hollywood without compromising her principles? Jenny was holding onto her boundaries. She didn't want to sleep with Dave, not only because she had no interest in selling her body, but also because it would be an insult to Dave's character. If he were the kind of lecherous producer who clearly had his eye on her looks, she wouldn't mind stringing him along, reaping all the benefits she could before kicking him to the curb without a second thought. But Dave's sincerity toward her was precisely why she kept avoiding the moment of truth. It wasn't just that she needed him as a friend; she genuinely didn't want to hurt him.
What eased her conscience slightly was that she genuinely liked Dave. After her ex-husband, Chen Zhen had lost all fascination with rich, handsome men. Back when her ex appeared at film school, he'd been a perfect man—billionaire, dashing, and tenderly considerate. Later, reality proved that a person's true nature had little to do with wealth or looks. Dave was dedicated to his work, sincere in his nature, and behind his shy exterior lay a somewhat awkward sense of humor. If her circumstances weren't so unique, she genuinely wouldn't mind pursuing things further with him.
But now she didn't have the time. Chen Zhen truly didn't have the time. For a girl aiming for the pinnacle of Hollywood, a relationship with Dave would be a tremendous waste.
Jenny was bleary-eyed, lacking the energy for guilt. She thanked Dave, then stumbled up to the fourth floor. Upon entering her room, she collapsed onto the bed without showering and fell asleep.
The next morning, Dave genuinely came to pick her up for breakfast. Sitting in the diner, the sweet aroma of glazed doughnuts filled the air. Watching customers happily sink their teeth into them, along with the greasy, salty scent of bacon and fried eggs, sent a searing pain through Jenny's stomach. The thought of facing over ten hours of filming ahead of her, plus a six-hour shift that night, made her crave intensely—even just one bite of a sugary, salty cake, no matter how mediocre the taste. She just needed to savor that blissful sweetness and the comforting aroma of starch—
"Black coffee, a chicken salad, no dressing," she finally ordered her usual combo, then hesitated before adding, "And half a serving of vinaigrette, please."
Dave ordered bacon and eggs, chocolate muffins, mocha coffee, and orange juice. Jenny stared at his breakfast and truly, truly began to understand why big stars usually have bad tempers.
But she couldn't eat more. Between filming and work, she hadn't exercised at all yesterday—already a loss for her muscles. Consuming extra calories now would be nothing short of disastrous.
"Want a bite?" Dave asked when the pancakes arrived, perhaps noticing her expression.
Refusing that pancake was far harder than turning down Dave's future advances.
Jenny closed her eyes and managed, with immense effort, "No, thanks."
...
Filming on set wasn't like many outsiders imagined—shooting strictly in chronological order. Since it was an indoor shoot with multiple sets, the CSI crew used a scene-based approach. Yesterday they'd filmed several scenes at the "party venue" and wrapped up the interrogation room. Today's scenes took place at Vanita's fashion photo shoot, featuring several scenes with time jumps and multiple actors. Most scenes involved Nick (played by George) opposite her, with the female actress rarely appearing.
This actually relieved Jenny: Honestly, after Dave's warning yesterday, she'd been quite worried about potential set bullying incidents. Yesterday in the trailer, Dave had subtly and explicitly shared many set rules with her. On a series like this, the main actors are treated like royalty. Unless they've offended the all-powerful writers and producers, even directors can be bullied at will—let alone a minor guest star like her. Unless someone's fed up, even if you're being mistreated in front of everyone, no one would intervene, fearing for their own jobs.
Fortunately, only two women were among the CSI leads, neither known for their looks but rather their professional demeanor. Plus, George, her co-star, had a girlfriend he adored, and crucially, he wasn't particularly interested in her off-screen either. Gary, the actor playing Warrick who was clearly smitten with her, didn't share a single scene with her. Plus, during their shoot, Gary was filming green-screen scenes in the adjacent studio. So whether it was harassment from female actors or advances from male actors, those weren't Jenny's concerns right now.
Additionally, George likely adjusted his approach after yesterday's shoot, making today's filming progress much smoother. Nick was utterly captivated by Vanita, yet he struggled to maintain his composure and dignity. Vanita, however, treated Nick like a cat toying with a mouse, finding his obsession and struggle utterly amusing. —Once this tension-filled dynamic was performed and the tone established, the rest was merely memorizing lines. Neither actor would have trouble with that.
By afternoon, she was called to the green screen room for some solo scenes. This was easier for Jenny, especially since she'd changed into less form-fitting costumes. During breaks, she could relax more without worrying about wrinkles in her clothes. So despite the packed shooting schedule, the overall feeling was lighter than yesterday's, and she sensed herself gradually adapting to this atmosphere. —Though the virtual studio could simulate an incredibly realistic set, simulation and reality still had their differences.
It was also on this day that the crew began showing a noticeable interest in befriending her. This included Emma Swan, who made a point of joining Jenny and Dave for lunch, even pulling Lynch over to introduce everyone and get acquainted. They exchanged phone numbers.
On the third day, George invited her to a party. Jenny told him she had to work at the restaurant that evening and couldn't make it, which disappointed George. Jenny realized this was likely a sign of being noticed—many people wanted to be Emma Swan.
In other words, they were betting on her future in Hollywood, hence investing in friendship now. In Tinseltown, connections often trump talent—an instinctive truth for most insiders.
But Jenny didn't get swept up in the social whirl. True, everyone wanted to befriend an actress with potential. Yet for an actress, the friends who could propel her further were the ones worth investing in.
After all, it was just one episode of a series. Filming proceeded smoothly, and by the fifth day, Jenny's scenes were mostly wrapped. Her schedule these past two days had been particularly demanding, as the murder scene set had been constructed. She had to shoot numerous murder sequences, plus the final exchange between Nick and Vanita in this episode—the very scene from her audition—was also scheduled for this day.
For makeup reasons, filming proceeded in reverse order, meaning the final dialogue scene was shot first. Before filming began, George closed his eyes and mentally prepared himself: "You can do this. You absolutely won't forget your lines again."
Jenny couldn't help but laugh. "Is it really that exaggerated?"
"Don't you feel it yourself?" George said earnestly. " When you're on set, you're like a different person. That aura—I don't know how to describe it. Thank goodness you're completely different off-camera."
Jenny didn't answer George's question but interjected, "Speaking of which, aren't you crazy about Marilyn Monroe?"
George was a bit confused but replied, "Yeah? I'm a huge fan. I've watched The Seven Year Itch countless times. It feels dated now, but her presence still outshines everything."
Ah, now it made sense. Why only George was so utterly smitten he'd forget his lines, while others just thought her performance was exceptional. Jenny said, "I love her too. That's why I mimicked some of her mannerisms on stage. Maybe that's why you found me so captivating in the play."
George's eyes widened. "So that's it."
He pressed, "Are you sure this is your first time on stage? No acting experience before?"
Jenny's mind flashed back to four years of drama classes, countless rehearsals at the theater...
"No," she declared firmly. "I genuinely have no idea how I performed."
"You don't know how you did? Ha ha ha," George laughed as if hearing the funniest joke. "Come on, you really don't know why Emma and the others are so enthusiastic about you?"
"Alright, maybe pretending is a bit pretentious," Jenny shrugged, half-serious, half-joking. "But I genuinely don't know why. I mean, I don't even know where my next role is coming from."
"Sometimes you just need a little patience," George said. "Remember my party invitation—it's still open. I bet in two months, after the first episode airs, your phone will be blowing up. Don't forget about me then. After that, you'll definitely have time for parties."
This aligned with Jenny's own thinking. She too believed her career breakthrough would come after CSI201 aired.
Seeing that the cameras were mostly in place and the director could call "Action" at any moment, she suddenly felt a mischievous urge. She silently invoked A Week with Marilyn, effortlessly choosing to empathize with the character.
"Hey, baby," Jenny lowered her voice, her eyes sparkling with a knowing smile as she glanced at George. "Don't think I'll forget your invitation so easily."
George's stunned, flustered expression amused her greatly. She snapped out of character, bending over in laughter. George flushed, feigning a punch at Jenny. "You're just too mean."
Hearing the stage manager call for the scene to clear, then the clapperboard strike, the pair swiftly recalibrated their emotions and expressions, returning to professional performance mode....
This final scene between Vanita and Nick was charged with intense tension, both giving it their all. For the first time, Nick shifted from defense to offense, gaining a slight upper hand in front of Vanita, making her feel a hint of unease. It was also a scene packed with dialogue. Yet, perhaps because of the joke Jenny and George had shared earlier, Nick felt surprisingly relaxed. He nailed it almost on the first take—it was the director who insisted on multiple takes for dramatic effect. After filming wrapped, everyone seemed to have shed a weight off their shoulders, breathing a collective sigh of relief.
After this scene, they moved to a set to film the CSI team's investigation. Jenny had nothing to do until lunchtime. As she happily scanned the crowd looking for Dave, she spotted him and Lynch standing in a corner of the set, seemingly arguing with a third person.
She hurried over, lifting her skirt hem. "Guys, what's going on?"
As she drew closer, she recognized the third man as the middle-aged guy she'd seen during her makeup test for the producer. Balding and slightly overweight, he had a prominent birthmark on his temple—a detail Jenny remembered vividly. That day, he'd watched her from the end of the hallway, his expression utterly captivated. Amused, she'd even smiled back at him.
Uh... Could he be so interested in her that he came specifically to watch her shoot, planning to approach her afterward, showering her with money to get close? Jenny was startled by her own thoughts, yet she knew it wasn't impossible. After all... let's be honest, she was beautiful and young—two traits that always attracted attention.
But even if he had that intention, how did Dave know? What were the three of them arguing about? Could it be that Dave wanted to kick him out? Jenny couldn't help but feel a headache coming on: Great, just what she needed—her first job and already dealing with jealousy on set.
As she approached, the third person's voice grew louder. "Lynch, this girl doesn't have an agent. She's a free agent now. I can negotiate with her myself—I don't see what standing your friend has to stop me."
He glanced at Jenny, then shot Dave a vicious look. "If it's for her own good, why stop it?"
Dave seemed struck by a blow, a look of pain flitting across his face.
"What's going on?" Jenny asked, utterly confused. She moved closer to Dave. "Hey, are you okay?"
Dave shook his head, offering a defeated smile. After a moment's hesitation, he unexpectedly introduced himself to Jenny. "Jenny, this is Jim Davidson."
"Jenny Jane Jefferson." Jenny extended her hand to shake Jim's. "I remember you. We met when I came in for the makeup test."
"Yes." Jim shot Dave another glare, then smoothed his suit as if trying to appear as presentable as possible. "Let me confirm one thing—you still don't have an agent, correct?"
"Right." Jenny was still confused. "And you are?"
"Good," Jim's eyes lit up, cutting her off abruptly. "You're coming with me right now. Cesare's heading to the East Coast this afternoon. We only have three hours."
"Cesare? I—" Jenny was a bit startled by his fervor, instinctively shifting closer to Dave. But Lynch stepped forward, placing an arm around her shoulder.
"This is your big break," he said. "No time for explanations now. Jim's trustworthy, Jenny. You have no idea what kind of opportunity you're getting. I'll say this once: grab it. Go get it. Got it? Go with him now. Just be back before lunch. I'll handle the crew."
Jenny glanced back at Dave in her haste. He was still standing there, frozen. Catching her look, he forced a smile and nodded.
Jim had already vanished at a jog. Moments later, he pulled up to the studio gate in a Porsche 911, shouting impatiently, "Get in!"
Jenny glanced back again. Lynch and Dave had joined together, both gesturing for her to hurry. Lynch even pumped his fist at her, signaling encouragement.
She took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and stepped into the sports car under California's scorching sun.
"Where are we going?" she asked, fastening her seatbelt.
Jim glanced at her, clearly thrilled. Once he confirmed Jenny was buckled in, he revved the engine and then murmured softly.
"Century City. CAA headquarters."
The sports car shot forward like an arrow, vanishing swiftly at the end of the asphalt road.