From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Mia seemed reserved and shy. After switching places with a classmate, she was still uneasy, cautiously inching closer to Lily's position, clumsily trying to hide herself, lowering her head and gaze to remain unseen.

Lily, with her outgoing personality, didn't notice Mia's unusual behavior. She leaned slightly towards Mia and asked, "Are you sure you won't help me with the Save the Owls petition today?"

Mia replied with some helplessness, "I told you, I have to see my grandma after school."

Lily said, "Oh. Okay."

Their hushed whispers stopped immediately as the two girls noticed the music teacher's gaze. They quickly stood straight, and then the music teacher made a conducting gesture, loudly calling out, "Michael."

Sitting at the piano, Michael arranged the sheet music, quickly glancing at Mia before lowering his gaze and placing his hands on the black and white keys to begin playing.

"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away."

The students began to sing.

Michael raised his eyes again, and despite Mia's attempts to hide herself, he could still find her in the crowd at a glance.

Quietly, attentively, deeply, he gazed at her.

Michael noticed Mia's restraint and her absent-mindedness. While the other students were singing, Mia's mouth was moving, but she wasn't making a sound, quietly hiding herself.

Her eyes were somewhat evasive.

Michael knew how beautiful her voice was. Although she never knew or believed it, every time she stood in front of people, she couldn't help but dodge and retreat. Once it started, those gazes, those taunts, those absent-minded attitudes would evolve into attacks, further causing her to shrink into her protective shell.

However, Michael had seen her beauty.

He knew and believed that she could fully display her colors.

A hint of determination appeared in Michael's eyes. Instead of avoiding and concealing as he usually did, he actively used his gaze to attract Mia's attention—

It was different from usual.

When he had an instrument, whether it was a keyboard or a guitar, it was as if he was wearing armor. He could become confident and invincible.

Without shyness, restraint, or concealment, Michael looked at Mia like this.

Calm, yet fervent.

She didn't understand.

Of course, Anne thought, they were all newcomers with limited understanding of acting and scripts, and they were still learning everything. Perhaps they couldn't understand the director and screenwriter's intentions at all, so it was best to shut up and focus on work.

But now?

The gaze—the script did have Michael's gaze, but Anson's gaze in front of her was slightly different. It wasn't just a simple gaze, but a kind of guidance and encouragement, firmly grabbing Anne's attention.

Anne: Should she notice? Should she look at Michael's gaze? How should she respond? Should she see through Michael? What was Anson doing? Was Anson adding his own lines?

"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day."

Anne still lacked experience, somewhat absentmindedly and vaguely reciting the lyrics, her gaze shifting away, quickly glancing to the side, trying to find the reaction of director Gary or other staff members.

However, there was none.

There was no interruption of filming, no exchange of glances, and the staff remained calm, as if they were completely unaware that there was a problem with Anson's performance, and even Anne's wandering gaze didn't cause any changes.

What to do?

Those dodges, those flusters, perfectly matched Mia's state. Not because she discovered Michael's secret, but because of her own fear of public places, and also because Michael's burning gaze was too bold and direct, overturning all her imaginations and making her lose her composure.

—Of course, Anne didn't realize this, nor did she have time to think about it.

She couldn't help it.

Although she had already avoided his gaze, she could still feel the warmth of that gaze, not intense or overbearing, but like the warm sun in March, lazily sprinkling on her slightly cool skin, silently warming her body little by little.

So, she looked back, involuntarily.

In one glance.

Anne saw those eyes, a deep, deep blue, like a deep ocean. Transparent sunlight rippled a thin halo in the depths of his pupils. Although she was a little shy, her eyes couldn't bear to look away.

Then, Anne could see the encouragement in his eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, silently humming with his mouth, like a kindergarten teacher leading the children in a chorus.

This scene was really a little funny.

She wasn't a three-year-old child.

The corners of her mouth gently curved up, and then bloomed with a "poof."

Their eyes collided in the air.

Mia quickly controlled the corners of her mouth, quickly glancing at the music teacher, hoping she hadn't noticed her being distracted. Then, without even realizing it herself, she started singing—

Perhaps it was to cover up her distraction.

Perhaps it was because of Michael's lip movements.

But no matter what, she opened her mouth, no longer lip-syncing, but singing softly.

"On a night without stars, when Cupid comes to gently pat you on the shoulder, if you also want to hold her hand, luckily you have a pocket full of starlight."

The lyrics and melody collided between her lips and teeth, and her mood couldn't help but jump lightly with the notes. Her gaze drifted to Michael again, but this time there was no dodging, but a generous look, her eyes widening in a playful manner.

Heh.

The smile on Michael's face instantly bloomed.

Mia's eyes also brightened.

Then, Mia saw the ease and joy in Michael's smile, as if temporarily forgetting the others, the music class evolved into a duet between the two of them.

However, he was still singing silently with his mouth.

This made Mia want to laugh, the corners of her mouth completely upturned, tension, anxiety, and fear disappeared, and those melodies flowed out naturally.

It wasn't until this moment, when Mia completely let go of her guard and sang in a normal voice, that she truly noticed the lyrics.

"On a night without stars, when Cupid comes to gently pat you on the shoulder, if you also want to hold her hand, luckily you have a pocket full of starlight."

The ordinary lyrics, dancing between her lips and teeth, seemed to make her feel every cell uncontrollably dancing along.

But—

Looking at Michael again, Mia felt a little unbelievable. That was Lily's younger brother, that little kid who followed them every day. A slight smile appeared in his eyes, seemingly denying the thoughts in her mind, and then his eyes became calm.

Unconsciously, Mia raised her head and chest, and her gaze towards Michael didn't dodge. Thinking of the thought that had flashed through her mind just now, her smile became even brighter.

Fourth update.