Chapter 318: A Dance on the Edge of a Kiss
A Dance on the Edge of a Kiss
"Sure, let’s give it a try first."
Director Miss. Svensson nodded with a satisfied smile before clapping her hands to gather everyone’s attention.
"Everyone, positions! Lighting, cameras, music—let’s prepare for the first rehearsal."
The quiet studio immediately burst into activity.
Crew members hurried across the polished floor, adjusting cameras, checking reflectors, and fine-tuning every beam of light. Soft golden spotlights gradually illuminated the center of the temporary stage while the music technicians tested the soundtrack one final time.
The atmosphere became focused yet energetic.
Although it was only a commercial shoot, everyone present treated it with the seriousness of filming a feature movie.
Under Director Miss. Svensson’s guidance, Julian D’Aurelius and Bianca De Dominicis stepped onto the marked positions at the center of the room.
The first notes of the music slowly echoed through the studio.
A slow rhythm...
Elegant...
Romantic...
Julian naturally extended his hand.
Bianca smiled faintly before placing her delicate hand into his.
Their fingers met.
Warm.
Soft.
For just a heartbeat, both of them unconsciously tightened their grip before assuming the proper dance posture.
For Julian, his dance skills weren’t far behind Bianca’s.
Because the original author had practically designed his villain character to master every flashy talent imaginable.
Whether it was piano, fencing, horse riding, dancing, etiquette, or foreign languages...
The original Julian had learned them all.
He truly seemed like the perfect rich, handsome young master.
Except for the foolish simp setting, everything else was impeccable.
Even so, knowing how to dance and dancing professionally were two different things.
Fortunately...
Director Miss. Svensson was exceptionally patient.
With her professional guidance, Julian improved astonishingly fast.
She watched carefully before giving instructions.
"Yes, slow down the rhythm here, keep your steps in sync."
Julian nodded immediately.
"Got it."
The music restarted.
Both adjusted their breathing.
Their footsteps became steadier than before.
The elegant melody continued flowing through the room.
Director Miss. Svensson watched closely before speaking again.
"Mr. Julian, you can lower your hand a bit... not that low, don’t touch her butt."
The entire staff burst into restrained laughter.
Julian instantly withdrew his hand with an embarrassed cough.
"I... that wasn’t intentional."
Bianca bit her lip to keep herself from laughing.
Only she knew...
He really hadn’t done it on purpose.
His movements simply followed the rhythm too naturally.
Director Miss. Svensson waved her hand.
"Again."
The music restarted.
Their feet glided across the floor.
This time, their timing improved significantly.
"Make eye contact, be tender, got it?"
Julian looked into Bianca’s crimson eyes.
She looked back calmly.
Neither spoke.
Yet somehow...
The atmosphere quietly changed.
Director Miss. Svensson immediately nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
"Keep that feeling."
A few moments later...
She frowned again.
"Mr. Julian, watch your gaze, why are you looking down again?"
Julian immediately raised his eyes.
"...Sorry."
Bianca almost laughed aloud.
She knew exactly why.
His eyes had wandered for only a split second.
Director Miss. Svensson sighed helplessly.
"The heroine is right in front of you."
"Focus on her expression."
"Again."
The music played over and over.
One rehearsal became another.
Mistakes gradually disappeared.
After failing about ten times, their coordination finally became perfect.
The specially choreographed dance finally revealed its true beauty.
Every step flowed naturally into the next.
Their movements resembled drifting clouds carried by a gentle breeze.
Sometimes they circled each other.
Sometimes they separated.
Only to reunite again an instant later.
The elegant dance exuded a deeply romantic atmosphere.
Their bodies were close yet distant, constantly entwining and separating.
Every brush of fingertips...
Every turn...
Every step...
Carried a teasing implication that was impossible to ignore.
Around them, the studio had become unusually quiet.
Even crew members who had watched countless romantic performances couldn’t help staring.
The chemistry between the two wasn’t something choreography alone could create.
It simply...
Existed.
Bianca’s beautiful crimson eyes sparkled brilliantly beneath the lights.
As the dance reached its emotional climax, she subtly leaned closer.
Her shoulder lightly brushed Julian’s chest.
Her body gently pressed against his during one graceful turn before separating again.
The movement perfectly matched the choreography.
Yet it somehow felt much more natural than mere acting.
Feeling her softness...
Julian truly felt he couldn’t handle it.
This enchantress.
Inside his mind, thoughts began racing wildly.
[She’s definitely doing this on purpose.]
[No... stay calm.]
[Everyone’s watching.]
Bianca heard every single thought.
Her lips curved upward almost imperceptibly.
That’s exactly why it’s fun.
The music gradually slowed.
Their final sequence arrived.
Julian stepped forward.
Bianca spun gracefully before naturally falling into his embrace.
Everything happened exactly according to the choreography.
When the dance ended, Julian held Bianca’s soft, smooth waist.
His palm rested gently against her side.
Warm.
Delicate.
He could almost feel her heartbeat through the thin fabric.
Their faces were so close they could feel each other’s breath.
Neither spoke.
Time itself seemed to pause.
Looking at Bianca’s luscious lips...
Hundreds of thoughts flashed through Julian’s mind in a single second.
Should he?
Would it ruin the shoot?
Or...
Would it make the ending even better?
Finally...
He decided to lean in for a kiss.
Bianca’s heartbeat suddenly quickened.
Her cheeks slowly turned crimson.
Without saying a word...
She gently closed her eyes.
At that moment, she completely ignored the cameras...
The staff...
Even the entire room.
She simply surrendered herself to the moment.
Around them...
Director Miss. Svensson watched with widening eyes.
According to the normal process, the advertisement should have ended the instant the dance stopped.
But as one of the country’s top commercial directors...
She immediately realized something.
This...
This is the perfect ending.
After all the teasing and tension throughout the dance...
There had to be one final emotional release.
Such an ending was perfect.
She had originally expected to produce only an ordinary commercial today.
Instead...
Julian and Bianca had exceeded every expectation.
Their expressions...
Their chemistry...
Even the silence between them...
Everything felt genuine.
Director Miss. Svensson became so excited that she forgot to call "Cut."
She simply allowed the cameras to continue rolling.
Then...
Her smile suddenly froze.
She noticed Julian’s hand resting on Bianca’s waist.
Very slowly...
Almost unconsciously...
It began sliding downward.
The originally romantic ending suddenly took on a completely different flavor.
Director Miss. Svensson’s eyes widened.
Her face immediately darkened.
What are you doing?!
I’m filming the art of love...
Not love plus action!
Just before she could shout...
The conference room door suddenly opened.
Click.
The crisp sound echoed throughout the quiet studio.
Julian instantly snapped back to reality.
His wandering thoughts disappeared in an instant.
He quickly withdrew his hand from Bianca’s waist.
His expression turned awkward.
He had become too immersed in the performance.
For one brief moment...
He had almost forgotten this wasn’t home.
Bianca slowly opened her eyes.
A faint blush still lingered across her beautiful face.
The interrupted moment left an unmistakable trace of disappointment deep within her crimson eyes.
Which idiot barged in now?
The carefully built romantic atmosphere collapsed completely.
Her mood instantly became complicated.
No matter which company executive had interrupted them...
They definitely weren’t going to enjoy the rest of their day.
She turned around with visible annoyance.
Only then did she see who had entered.
Standing at the doorway was a middle-aged man whose facial features bore a clear resemblance to Bianca’s.
His eyes remained wide with complete disbelief.
He looked utterly dumbfounded.
Beside him stood a tall, breathtakingly beautiful young woman.
Her long black hair fell smoothly behind her shoulders.
Her bright red eyes were calm yet distant.
Her elegant figure and naturally noble bearing made her stand out the moment she entered the room.
Yet despite her stunning beauty...
Her expression remained cold as ice, giving others the feeling that she kept the entire world at arm’s length.
She was none other than the eldest daughter of the Ashbourne family, Felberta Ashbourne.
And the middle-aged man with a few similar features to Bianca De Dominicis was none other than her father, Luka De Dominicis.
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