They both turned to the three directors, only for their eyes to widen slightly in surprise at how stunned the directors looked, stares locked, faces unmoving, as though the scene that had just unfolded before them had knocked the air out of the room.
Yushan couldn't help but wonder if they had gone too far.
"Now that's the kind of fire we want," the third director said, still leaning forward, an involuntary smile forming on his face. His tone carried a mix of approval and astonishment. "And we knew it was there, only that you two have been too stubborn to let it out." He looked toward the other two directors and added, "I think we're ready to go now, isn't that so?"
"Yes," Nana answered, though her voice was unreadable, as if she were still caught up in the moment. It was unclear whether she was reacting as a professional or as someone who had just witnessed something far too real to dismiss as acting.
The thought made her face flush instantly, her expression struggling to remain composed even as her cheeks betrayed her. "We can now start," she said, forcing steadiness into her tone.
But before her words could settle, the door to the auditioning room creaked open. A young woman, likely in her early twenties, stepped inside. The badge pinned to her blouse read: Social Media Manager – Jie.
Her eyes immediately narrowed when she noticed Nana's flushed face. "What did I miss?" she asked with a knowing smile that curved her lips, turning then toward Yushan and Jun, who were still standing as if awaiting judgment after a performance.
Director Feng, seated beside Nana, broke in before Jie could enjoy the moment any further. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice deep and edged with something close to dread.
"At this point," Jie began, her tone shifting quickly to a professional firmness, "we'll have to get Yushan to do a live stream. The issue with Xin leaving is spiraling out of control. The reactions online have gotten worse, fans around the world are in chaos. Many of them genuinely believed Yushan and Xin were actually together. So maybe Yushan's the only one who can calm things down."
She paused briefly before continuing, "We've tried reaching out to Xin to have him say something to the fans, but he hasn't responded. And we all know that if he just disappears quietly, the fans won't let it go. They'll assume something serious happened. Some of them already think he and Yushan broke up because they were convinced those two were together... and now, suddenly, they can't even work on the same project."
Jun looked up instantly, his eyes widening as the realization hit him.
Was that the real reason Xin had left? Because they were actually together? And the company decided to drop one of them to protect itself? He remembered the rule printed in bold across every actor's contract: relationships between cast members were strictly forbidden.
It wasn't just for professionalism, it was to prevent chaos, bias, and scandal. Couples couldn't work together. If it happened, both parties risked being dropped. But what if the company had chosen to sacrifice one of them, keeping only the more famous face they couldn't afford to lose?
"Jun?"
He snapped out of his thoughts, blinking rapidly as he looked toward the directors. It seemed they had been calling his name more than once.
"Yes?" he answered, his voice slightly distant, thoughts still scattered.
"You'll have to join Yushan in that live stream," Nana said. "It'll help the fans get used to seeing you two working together."
"We're doing this now," Jie added, her tone brisk and final. She turned toward Yushan and Jun. "No need for wardrobe or makeup changes. You're both fine as you are."
"Now?" Yushan asked, startled. "I wasn't prepared for this. What am I even supposed to say or answer? The first thing they'll ask is why Xin left. I'm not going to answer anything about that." His voice was firm, but the weight behind it was impossible to hide.
"If Xin won't say anything himself," Nana said quietly, "then our only option is to tell the fans he's taking a break."
"They're not going to believe that." Yushan's voice rose almost unconsciously. "They'll see right through it. You're giving me someone else to work with and launching another series, and you think they'll buy that he's just on a break? And besides... aren't we making him look like the bad guy? Like he abandoned everything without saying a word? It's been almost a year. You know how our fans are, they'll think he never appreciated their support and cared about them at all. I won't let that happen." His voice trembled slightly, the emotion behind it too raw to hide anymore.
"Yushan, let's not go back there," Director Feng said quietly, his tone low but enough to serve as a warning.
The way he said it told Jun everything. Something had definitely happened. Xin hadn't just left. There was more to it, something unspoken and dangerous enough that everyone seemed too careful to mention it outright.
Yushan turned abruptly and began walking toward the door. Jun stood frozen, unsure whether to follow or stay where he was. The silence that filled the room after Yushan's exit was heavy and awkward.
All three directors exchanged brief glances with Jie before standing.
"Jun, let's head to the studio for the live stream," Nana said, turning to Jun. He nodded and followed them out of the auditioning room.
The hallway outside was bright, the ceiling lights glowing even though sunlight already streamed through the glass walls. Everything in the building felt too polished, too perfect, every reflection sharp enough to remind Jun where he was: inside a company that demanded perfection.
When they reached the door labeled Studio, Jie pushed it open. Yushan was already there, seated with a calm expression that didn't reach his eyes. His body was tense, restless, his fingers tapping against the chair's armrest as if his thoughts wouldn't settle.
When his gaze met Jun's, it flicked away almost immediately. The dismissal was sharp. Jun felt it like a slap.
Just minutes ago, Yushan had kissed him like it meant something, like he belonged with him as a partner, but now he looked at him as if he didn't even recognize him, as if he wanted to be anywhere else.
The realization hit hard.
The kiss, no matter how real it had felt, had been nothing but acting, a performance that was over that very moment. Yushan's attitude toward him hadn't changed at all.
But who cared, really?
Jun told himself he didn't.
This company didn't belong to Yushan, and Yushan wasn't the one who had hired him. He had his own reasons for being here. He had fought hard for this chance. So he didn't care whether Yushan liked him or not.
All he wanted was to prove himself, make the series great, impress the directors, and maybe, if he was lucky, to win over the fans who still saw him as Xin's replacement.
"Xin, sit beside Yushan," the cameraman said. But as soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes widened, realizing his mistake. "Sorry... Jun, I meant Jun." He corrected himself quickly.
The slip made Jun's stomach twist.
Being called Xin in front of everyone wasn't just awkward, it was insulting. But he bit it back. He refused to let it linger. He reminded himself why he was here.
He had worked too hard to reach this point. No one, no comparison, was going to make him feel small or drive him away.
He crossed the room and took the seat beside Yushan.