As Yua poured her heart out to Nova, both women were acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. Yua's words weren't just a plea for fairness; they were a desperate attempt to salvage both the character of Lieri and the reputation of Shia as an actress in the eyes of the world. Nova listened intently, her expression unreadable as she absorbed every word.

"I thought Shia knew it herself...," Nova began, her tone tinged with a hint of disappointment. "That the meaning behind my words were this but then again, she is still a child huh." Despite the criticism implicit in her words, there was a warmth in Nova's voice as she approached Shia, her hand coming to rest gently on her shoulder.

"I was angry because you can do so much better than that," Nova continued, her gaze softening as she looked at Shia. "Bring your character to life. I know how much criticizing someone can motivate them because I have also done my fair share of research, and you are one of those people who need this more than anything else."

With those words of encouragement, Nova patted Shia on the shoulder before turning away, her presence commanding yet comforting. It was a moment of reconciliation, a glimmer of hope amidst the storm of uncertainty that had engulfed the set.

As Nova walked away, the tension that had gripped the room began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of relief and determination. It had taken longer than scheduled to get the actors ready for the third scene of the first episode, but finally, they stood together on the set, ready to begin.

With Nova seated behind the cameras, the cast and crew prepared to bring the scene to life. The third scene was a continuation of the fall that Helios had taken from the football on the floor, and they began at that position itself.

As the cameras rolled and the actors immersed themselves in their roles, there was a sense of renewed energy and purpose in the air.

On set

As the scene unfolded, tension crackled in the air like electricity, each character reacting in their own unique way to the events that had just transpired. Louise, overcome with emotion, rushed out of the scene, leaving Lieri and Rufford to stare at Helios in silence.

Seconds later, Rufford's laughter erupted like a burst of thunder, filling the room with its contagious energy. "Pfft haha," he chuckled, doubling over as he struggled to contain his mirth. Helios, still reeling from the fall, shot him a glare, his frustration evident in his furrowed brow.

"What's so funny, idiot?" Helios demanded, his voice laced with irritation.

Rufford, however, seemed unfazed by Helios' ire, his laughter continuing unabated. "Oh gosh," he managed to choke out between chuckles, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "You took a fall on your face flat. Of course it's funny."

Helios could only shake his head in disbelief, at a loss for words as Rufford dismissed his protests with a casual wave of his hand. Lieri, on the other hand, was quick to intervene, smacking the back of Rufford's head with her right hand.

"Sadist," she chided, her voice tinged with concern. "He must be hurt right now, you know."

With nothing more to say, Lieri glanced quietly at the floor, her expression troubled as she wrestled with her own emotions. Meanwhile, Rufford whistled to himself, pacing back and forth across the room, seemingly oblivious to the tension that hung in the air.

It was then that Louise reappeared, her presence a welcome distraction from the palpable discomfort that pervaded the scene. With a cloth in hand and a glum expression on her face, she knelt next to Helios, pressing the cloth against his forehead in a gesture of comfort.

To her surprise, Helios offered no resistance, his weariness apparent as he allowed her to tend to him without protest. Rufford, ever the instigator, couldn't help but comment on Louise's demeanor.

"Why do you look like that?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. But when Louise met his gaze with a ghostly expression, even he couldn't help but flinch back, taken aback by the raw emotion reflected in her eyes.

Off set

As the scene unfolded, Nova's voice cut through the air like a knife, commanding attention from all those present on set. With a practiced ease, she announced, "Cut, cut," bringing the action to a halt. All eyes turned to her, waiting for her next directive.

"Wubin," Nova addressed the young actor, her tone firm but not unkind. "In the script, it says that you step back and say, 'What? What is it?' So then why did you flinch like that?"

Wubin, visibly flustered, bowed apologetically. "Sorry, ma'am," he stammered, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "But Yua actually scared me with that look..."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Nova's lips, her amusement evident despite her efforts to maintain a professional demeanor. With a clear throat, she addressed the group once more. "Okay, okay," she conceded, her tone softening slightly. "Let's keep that as an improvisation. Continue from where we left off."

With Nova's approval, the tension in the room eased slightly, and the actors prepared to resume their positions. Wubin's candid admission had brought a moment of levity to the otherwise intense atmosphere, reminding everyone that even in the midst of high-stakes filming, there was room for spontaneity and humor.

As the cameras rolled once more, the actors slipped seamlessly back into character, their focus sharpened as they picked up where they had left off.

On set

The atmosphere on the set grew tense as Louise's actions sent shockwaves through the room, leaving her fellow actors scrambling to make sense of the situation. Rufford's voice pierced the silence, breaking the uneasy stillness as he demanded answers from Louise.

"What? What is it?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern as he watched Louise slowly rise to her feet and make her way to the broken window. The air grew thick with apprehension as the others looked on, their confusion mounting with each passing moment.

Before anyone could react, Louise climbed onto the windowsill, her movements slow and deliberate. Rufford's heart raced as he realized the gravity of the situation, his arms raised defensively as he gestured for her to come down.

"L-Louise. What are you doing?" he stammered, his voice laced with fear. Lieri's calm demeanor belied the gravity of the situation as she addressed Louise with a casual, carefree tone.

"Are you going to jump?" she asked, her words hanging in the air like a weighty omen. Helios, sensing the impending danger, sprang into action, leaping forward to grab Louise's right leg as she dangled precariously over the railing.

"HEY! HELP ME HERE!" he shouted, his voice ringing out with urgency as he struggled to hold onto Louise. Lieri and Rufford wasted no time in rushing to his aid, leaping forward to lend their strength to the effort.

Lieri managed to grab hold of Louise's left leg after a brief struggle, while Rufford pulled with all his might, his muscles straining against the weight. Finally, with a collective effort, they managed to haul Louise back onto solid ground, her body collapsing in a heap on the floor.

As the adrenaline of the moment began to fade, Lieri's anger boiled over, her voice echoing through the room as she unleashed her frustration on Louise.

"Louise! What is wrong with you?" she screamed, her words filled with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Did being a model student kill you or something?"

But Louise remained silent, her gaze fixed on the wall in front of her as her consciousness slipped away, leaving her limp and motionless against the window. The room fell silent once more, the weight of the moment hanging heavy in the air as the gravity of what had just transpired sank in.

Off Set

As the intense scene came to an end, Nova's authoritative voice rang out, commanding attention and signaling the conclusion of the filming session. Yua, her dress slightly disheveled from the action, stood up and began dusting off her attire, a sense of satisfaction evident in her demeanor.

Shia, her expression unreadable, turned away from the scene and made her way towards her manager, who stood waiting at the edge of the set. With a silent nod, the manager guided Shia towards the dressing room, where she would have a moment to collect herself and prepare for the next scene.

Meanwhile, Junhyeok, still caught up in the aftermath of the intense scene, let out a heavy sigh, his gaze drifting upwards. It was then that Nancy appeared by his side, a proud smile lighting up her features as she praised his performance.

"For a rookie actor, you are too great," she remarked, offering him two thumbs up as a gesture of approval. Junhyeok couldn't help but chuckle at her words, his spirits lifted by her unwavering support.

"Pfft haha. Noona, you always know how to cheer me up, huh," he replied, a hint of gratitude in his voice as he acknowledged her encouragement.

"That's my job," she responded with a grin, her eyes twinkling with pride. "Now let's go."

With a nod of determination, Junhyeok followed his manager as they made their way towards the next set.

As the filming session came to a close, Wubin found himself settling into a metallic chair positioned slightly away from Nova's director seat. Yua approached and took her place beside him, a warm smile on her lips.

"You were awesome as always, Noona," Wubin remarked, his admiration evident in his tone.

Yua chuckled softly, tossing her head back in a gesture of modesty. "You were fine too," she replied, her words laced with playful banter.

But amidst the light-hearted exchange, Yua's thoughts lingered on a more serious matter. She turned to Wubin, her expression thoughtful. "Noona, are you worried about Shia?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Yua's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Shia's name. She knew that their every move was being captured by the cameras for the behind-the-scenes footage, and she had to be careful with her words.

"Yeah," Yua replied carefully, her tone measured. "She is an amazing actress. She is learning so much, so I just don't want her to be discouraged."

Even as she spoke, Yua couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. She knew that tomorrow's news headlines would be filled with speculation and scrutiny, and she braced herself for the inevitable fallout.