CHAPTER 963: CHAPTER 963: WATCHING HER FILM A KISS SCENE

This feeling made him quite displeased.

"President." At this moment, the personal secretary stepped forward.

Justin Xavier calmly withdrew his gaze from Simon Ford’s back, parted his thin lips, and said, "Book a presidential suite in the seven-star hotel tonight."

The personal secretary was taken aback; he hadn’t expected the President to suddenly ask for a hotel reservation while working.

"Yes, President."

...

Leah Thorne was on set filming, and the scene was a kissing scene.

"Ephemeral Life" is a Republican-era drama with a female lead growing to prominence. The male lead plays a minor role, so romantic scenes are few, but they do exist.

Anya becomes the first social butterfly of Shanghai, encountering the military officer Edwin Alden, leading to an ambiguous kiss scene between them.

Edwin Alden is played by the popular young actor Shane Young, who is both handsome and talented, with a significant fan following. It’s fitting that he landed the role of Edwin.

Director Wright was briefing Leah Thorne and Shane Young, "Shane, you will sit in the chair, and Leah, you will proactively straddle Shane’s lap, wrap your arms around his neck, and kiss him. I want the feeling of a cold and lazy socialite versus a domineering and seductive officer, got it?"

Leah Thorne nodded, "I have no problem with that."

Shane Young also nodded, "OK."

"Alright, lighting crew, camera crew, get ready."

Director Wright stepped back and watched Leah Thorne and Shane Young preparing for the scene through the lens. Shane had changed into a military officer’s uniform, looking tall and handsome like a pine tree, with a striking face. Meanwhile, Leah Thorne was dressed in a satin qipao, her hair styled elegantly, sporting retro red lips, cold and alluring like a Republican-era enchantress.

The producer nodded approvingly, "Leah and Shane have such a strong on-screen chemistry. If the acting is great, by the time the film is released, who knows how many people will be shipping this pair."

Director Wright agreed entirely, just about to nod when he felt a chill around his neck. What was happening?

Director Wright turned his head, spotting the door open and... Justin Xavier entering.

Justin Xavier had arrived!

Oh dear, Director Wright slapped his thigh excitedly; this man picked the worst time to come, right when Leah was about to shoot a kissing scene!

Director Wright reasonably suspected that President Xavier did it on purpose, timing it perfectly for the occasion.

Justin Xavier removed his outer coat, wearing a handmade gray suit underneath. Gray is always a reserved and understated color, and on Justin’s tall and noble frame, it shimmered with a subtle luster. Coupled with the gold-rimmed glasses perched on his striking face, he epitomized the successful and refined businessman.

Director Wright quickly moved to greet him, "Mr. Xavier..."

Justin raised his hand to interrupt him.

Director Wright fell silent immediately, watching as the personal secretary brought over a chair, and Justin sat down quietly, his gaze falling on Leah Thorne ahead.

It was clear he didn’t want to disturb anyone; he simply wanted to quietly observe and watch the scene.

Director Wright felt pressure mounting and could only boldly shout, "Action!"

The kissing scene began, Leah Thorne and Shane Young professionally slipping into their roles.

Shane sat in the chair as Leah approached in high heels, "Officer Zhao, you linger in my boudoir and won’t leave; you’d better watch out, or I’ll call someone."

Shane looked Leah up and down, "Call away. My men are outside; even if you scream, it won’t matter."

"Officer Zhao, what are you thinking? Alone together, you don’t intend to... get involved with me, turning me into your possession, do you?"

With that, Leah swayed her slender waist to stand before Shane, then, following the script, straddled Shane’s lap, lifted her delicate hands to embrace his neck, and raised her brows for the kiss.

According to the script, Shane was supposed to reciprocate the kiss, but his state was off, and he missed it, "Sorry..."

Director Wright swiftly called to halt, "Cut!"

Leah got off Shane’s lap, and Director Wright approached, "Shane, what’s wrong? That previous part was great."

Shane’s handsome face was flushed with some embarrassment, "I..."

Then Director Wright with sharp eyes noticed Shane’s pants had undergone a physiological change.

This...

Director Wright’s heart skipped a beat; he dared not glance at President Xavier’s expression outside the scene, unsure if he had noticed. Director Wright quickly took on the role of an assistant, immediately draping a coat over Shane in an attempt to cover it, "Um... Shane, just adjust your state; we’ll continue soon."

Then the straightforward producer stepped in, "Shane, it’s fine, no need to be shy. At your age, a male actor having a physiological reaction during a kiss or bed scene is perfectly normal. I’ve seen it before. Moreover, your scene partner is Leah Thorne; not many men can remain unaffected filming kiss scenes with her hahaha."

This producer laughed heartily to himself, but as the laughter subsided, he suddenly felt the air grow silent, and a flock of crows flew overhead...

The producer looked at Director Wright in confusion; Director Wright was on the verge of tears!

Director Wright had intended to smooth over the incident but hadn’t expected the producer to interfere; now, he wanted to cry right here on set!

The atmosphere became inexplicably awkward when Leah Thorne approached, "Director Wright, I’ll go have a rest now."

Director Wright swiftly changed from looking defeated to smiling brightly, "Alright, Leah, go have a rest, be careful of the steps. Oh, President Xavier is here. You should go have a chat with him, haha."

Leah Thorne hadn’t realized Justin Xavier was present; she looked up and indeed spotted him sitting in the dim light.

"I see." Leah headed down.

...

Leah Thorne got to Justin Xavier’s side, "President Xavier, it’s daytime. Don’t you need to be at the company working?"

Justin Xavier’s striking face remained indifferent, even curling his thin lips slightly, "I heard you were filming a kissing scene today, so I came here to watch."

Leah Thorne lifted a hand to flip the hair beside her cheek, lazily seductive, "Didn’t expect President Xavier to have this kind of quirk, liking to watch his woman kiss other men."

Justin Xavier let out a faint hum, "If I said I didn’t like it, would you stop filming kissing scenes?"

"No." Leah promptly rejected without considering, "President Xavier, I’m an actress; kissing scenes are part of my job. I ask you to respect that!"

"Heh." Justin Xavier let out a casual laugh from his throat and softly lifted his eyelids to look ahead, where the popular young actor Shane Young was staring at Leah Thorne, his expression evidently... akin to a young man developing a crush.

Justin Xavier reached out his large hand and grabbed Leah Thorne’s slender wrist, pulling her onto his sturdy lap amid Shane’s shocked gaze.

Leah Thorne frowned immediately, "Justin Xavier, are you crazy? This is a film set, surrounded by people..."

"Kissing scenes are part of your job, but what about turning the male actor on?"