Chapter 223


    Oran watched her ded in panic is fierce glist flickering in his fiery eyes.


    Someday he would pin her down just like he had moments ago, and


    “Bang


    At Room 3002. Xanthen burst into the room and mmed the door shut


    Her eyes were wide, legs shaking, her heated body slid down the cold door until she sat on the floor,


    her hands slowly reaching up to touch her burning cheeks. Why was she so hot? It felt like she was


    about to evaporate. Her heart was racing, and her breaths were erratic, the intense throbbing causing


    her chest to rise and fall with each breath.


    What was happening to her? She had never felt this way before. Her mind and vision were filled with


    Orion’s image, impossible to shake off. Could she be falling for Orion?


    “Ahhhh!”


    “No, no, nor


    “It’s just too deep into the role, too deep into the role, it must be!”


    “That’s Phoenix, not me, Phoenix, not me!”


    “A cold shower, yes! A cold shower will cool me down!”


    Xanthea dashed to the bathroom and turned on the cold shower.


    At the Northern suburbs, Realm of Illusions film set.


    “Phoenix and Maximus reunited, a single take, action!”


    In the dimly lit dungeon, Xanthea’s hands and feet were tied to a crucifix. She heard heavy footsteps


    approaching.


    She slowly raised her gaze, and upon seeing the actor opposite her, her mind automatically reced


    his face with Orion’s.


    In front of the camera, Kevin observed Xanthea’s reactions meticulously, his expression shifting from


    initial concern to surprise and


    appreciation. He even pped his thigh in excitement but restrained himself to not disrupt her


    performance.


    What felt stiff and fake yesterday had turned incredibly emotional and delicate today, especially the


    struggle to remain cold, the pain of being merciless, and a hint of desperately suppressed affection–it


    was exactly what he wanted!


    He had thought that Xanthea, with no emotional experience and limited acting skills, given such short


    notice, would struggle to perform. Yet, overnight, her performance had improved exponentially!


    A scene that had countless NGS yesterday was nowpleted smoothly in one take.


    “Cut!”


    Kevin stood up excitedly.


    “Phoenix, what happened to you?” her co–star asked in amazement, “Your performance today was


    incredible! I nearly couldn’t keep up!”


    “Really?”


    “Phoenix,e here!”


    Kevin waved her over, and Xanthea immediately ran to him, “Director, was there anything wrong with


    my performance today?”


    “Yes, there’s a big problem!”


    “What? What’s the problem?”


    “The problem is it was too perfect!”


    Kevin gave her a thumbs up, his highest praise.


    “Xanthea, what did you go throughst night? It’s like you suddenly mastered the romantic scenes,


    from clueless to utterly captivating! Did you experience love overnight?”


    He joked, but the word “love” made Xanthea’s heart skip a beat.


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    “Tomorrow, we have another crucial scene for Phoenix and Maximus, the peak of their emotional


    connection. It needs to be as brilliant as today, no dropping the ball!”


    “Got it.”


    “Also, I have some great news. Our show has passed the review and is set to premiere on Tomato TV


    the day after tomorrow, with simultaneous updates across all tforms. Contracts with over a dozen


    advertisers are signed. It’s prime time slot, and the viewership is expected to be huge! Are you nervous


    leaping from a third–tier singer to a trending starlet?”