Chapter 58 Something is going on

Chapter 58 Something is going on
The so-called beautiful piano notes pierced everyone’s minds like a power drill.

Several crew members visibly flinched. One assistant grimaced so hard his face twisted. Someone in the lighting crew instinctively covered one ear. The sound was sharp, uneven, and completely off-key, like someone randomly smashing keys with misplaced confidence.

The director nearly slid off his chair.

Cathy, however, was completely immersed in her own world.

She sat upright at the piano, fingers fluttering dramatically, her wrists raised at an exaggerated angle. As if that wasn’t enough, she even closed her eyes slightly, her expression serene, as though she were performing at a grand concert hall instead of destroying everyone’s eardrums.

Olivia lifted a hand and covered half her face.

This was worse than Samantha’s cotton-picking performance.

At least Samantha knew she sounded terrible.

“Cut. Cut. CUT!”

The director’s voice cracked with anxiety. He slapped his script against his knee, face red with frustration.

The awful melody screeched to a stop.

Cathy opened her eyes, irritation flashing across her face. She turned on the piano bench, clearly displeased.

“What’s wrong, Director?” she asked impatiently. “I was just getting into it.”

The director stared at her as if she had personally wronged his ancestors.

“You ask me?” he snapped. “What on earth were you playing?”

Only then did Cathy finally notice the strange expressions around her. The forced smiles. The awkward silence. The crew members avoiding eye contact like they were witnessing a slow-motion disaster.

Her confidence wavered slightly.

But only slightly.

“I just haven’t played in a while,” she said quickly, lifting her chin. “I’m a bit rusty.”

She turned back to the piano and tried again.

Plink.

Plonk.

Plink-plonk-plink.

This time was somehow worse.

The director closed his eyes.

He took a deep breath, then opened them slowly, as if trying to salvage his sanity.

“Be honest with me,” he said, voice low and tight. “You can’t actually play the piano, can you?”

The set went quiet.

Every eye turned to Cathy.

“Where did that ‘Grade Ten Piano Certification’ on your résumé come from?” the director continued, his patience officially gone.

This role had been written specifically with piano skills in mind. The piano scene was the emotional peak of the second female lead’s storyline. It was supposed to be beautiful, restrained, unforgettable.

Who could have imagined someone would fake it.

Being exposed so directly, right in front of the entire crew, Cathy’s face flushed hot with embarrassment. Her lips pressed together, annoyance flashing in her eyes.

Instead of apologizing, she crossed her arms.

“Who says an actor has to actually play the piano?” she said casually. “Just get someone else to play it and dub it over in post-production.”

The words landed like gasoline on fire.

Dashiell shot to his feet.

“Are you joking?” he snapped. “This show records live sound. And your hand movements don’t even match the notes!”

He slammed his script onto the table.

“Forget it. Crew, find me a body double who can actually play the piano and looks similar to her.”

The atmosphere on set instantly became tense.

Crew members scattered, whispering frantically as they searched for someone suitable. Cathy’s expression darkened, but she didn’t dare argue further. She simply stood up, face stiff, pretending she didn’t care.

Filming moved on.

The next scene was announced.

The confession scene.

The second female lead was supposed to approach the male lead and, overwhelmed by emotion, lean in close, stopping just short of a kiss. Since it was a school drama with a pure love theme, the production avoided real kissing scenes. Camera angles, lighting, and timing usually did the trick.

Zachary sat in a chair near the piano, posture relaxed.

Cathy walked toward him slowly.

She paused for a second, as if hesitating.

Then suddenly, she leaned down.

Too close.

Her lips brushed the corner of Zachary’s mouth.

Zachary’s eyes widened in surprise.

Their gazes locked.

From where Olivia was sitting, she could see everything clearly.

Cathy had positioned her body perfectly to block the camera’s view. Her back faced the crew, but Olivia’s angle caught the subtle movement.

Cathy didn’t just fake it.

She nibbled.

Just lightly. Just enough.

Zachary didn’t pull away.

In fact, there was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes.

Olivia’s expression cooled.

These two… were not acting.

Something was wrong.

The director called cut, satisfied with the angle, unaware of what had actually happened. Cathy straightened, her lips curved faintly, while Zachary avoided looking in Esther’s direction altogether.

Esther, sitting beside Olivia, clapped softly, eyes shining.

“That was so romantic,” she whispered, completely enchanted.

Olivia glanced at her.

Love really was blinding.

She wanted to say something. Wanted to warn her. But one look at Esther’s hopeful expression told Olivia it wouldn’t matter. Right now, Esther would dismiss anything that contradicted her feelings.

So Olivia stayed quiet.

But she decided something else.

She would watch carefully.

She couldn’t let her friend be fooled.

Time passed quickly.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the set in warm orange light. Yet the director still hadn’t found a suitable piano double. Judging by the stubborn set of his jaw, he wouldn’t stop filming until the scene was finished properly.

Olivia checked the time.

Her stomach growled softly.

She turned to Esther, who was scrolling through her phone, clearly waiting for Zachary to wrap up so they could have dinner together.

So hungry.

Olivia sighed inwardly.

Fine.

If finishing this scene sooner meant getting dinner sooner…

She would do whatever it took.

Olivia straightened slightly in her chair.

Her eyes drifted toward the piano.

Then to the director.

Then back to the chaotic set.

A thought formed quietly in her mind.

And once it did, she smiled.

Just a little.

Let’s end this quickly.