"If you're cold, go back to your room or put on a sweater."
Cassius's tone was calm, flat as a board.
"As for the casting directors, thanks, but I already have an agent."
He told a little white lie just to save time.
Jessica clearly didn't expect Cassius to be this direct. She bit her lip, looking a little unwilling to give up.
"You don't like me? I know you Asian guys are all shy..."
As she spoke, she leaned in again. One hand even tried to touch Cassius's chest.
Cassius parried her hand away again. His movement was swift but polite, incorporating a little of the control technique he'd just learned.
"Listen, Jessica."
His tone turned cold.
"I'm tired, and I need to rest."
"I'm not interested, especially not in a transaction like this."
"Don't knock on my door again, or I'm calling the producer."
That was pretty blunt.
The smile on Jessica's face froze, then turned ugly.
She glared at Cassius, her voice changing completely.
"Hmph! Acting all high and mighty! You're just a supporting Asian actor. I give you a chance and you don't take it? Fck you!"
She cursed, turned around in a huff, stomped her heels loudly on the hallway carpet, went back to her room, and slammed the door.
Cassius closed his own door expressionlessly.
Deadbolt.
Chain lock.
He leaned back against the door panel and rubbed his temples.
This was part of the Hollywood bottom-feeder ecosystem—naked and direct.
He understood their struggles and choices, but he had his own lines he wouldn't cross.
He lay back down on the bed, but sleep wouldn't come.
Not because of the almost-sex scene just now, but because of a vague irritability.
In this circle, trying to climb up clean was really hard.
Too many temptations, too many shortcuts.
He pulled out his phone and saw another message from Lee So-yeon:
Oppa, are you asleep? I decided! Next time you come back, I must learn how to use the wok to make Stir-fried Pork with Peppers!
Reading this silly but life-affirming message, the irritability in Cassius's heart strangely settled down a bit.
At least he had a roommate he could talk to normally and complain about life with.
He replied: Okay. When you learn, I'll do the eating! Going to sleep~
Putting down the phone, he closed his eyes.
Tomorrow's scenes were heavier. He needed focus and energy.
---
Arriving on set the next day.
Cassius could clearly feel some gazes landing on him—ambiguous, suggestive looks.
While getting his makeup done, Mike leaned over, nudged him with an elbow, winked, and lowered his voice.
"Hey, bro. How did you rest last night?"
He put a heavy emphasis on the word "rest."
Cassius cursed internally. He knew Jessica had a big mouth.
He didn't bother explaining; it would only make it look worse.
He just replied expressionlessly, "Alright. Little noisy in the middle of the night."
Mike chuckled, giving him an "I got you" look, and patted his shoulder.
"I understand. You're young. Watch your health, though—lot of action scenes today!"
Cassius ignored him, focusing on the makeup artist applying a fake cut to his face.
He pushed down the annoyance and decided to use today's shoot to shut down the gossip.
Today they were filming a mini-climax of the movie:
Cassius's character and Tyson's villain chase and fight across the steel structures of the abandoned factory.
Finally, they had to jump from a platform nearly ten feet high onto a pile of cardboard boxes.
Mike had designed the action, and they rehearsed it a few times. But during the actual take, accidents happen.
While Tyson was running his route, he stepped on a loose pipe. His body lurched violently.
He didn't fall, but his rhythm was completely shot.
Cassius, following closely behind, almost crashed into him.
This guy is so weak today. Did Jessica pay him a visit last night too?
Looking at Tyson's wobbly legs, Cassius thought it was highly probable.
Worthy of the title "Set Lubricant."
Never misses a customer.
"Cut!"
The director shouted. "Tyson, you okay?"
"I'm good. Slipped."
Tyson waved his hand, his face looking bad.
A rookie mistake like that really messes with your head.
Reset!
This time Tyson was cautious—too cautious. He couldn't let go, and his movements lost their previous grit and flow.
The tension of the chase was gone.
"Cut! Doesn't feel right! Too slow!"
The director wasn't happy.
Several takes later, it still wasn't working.
The atmosphere on set grew heavy.
Tyson was getting increasingly frustrated. Mike was frowning, wondering if he needed to change the choreography.
Another take rolling.
Tyson ran in front, Cassius close behind.
Just as Tyson was about to reach the jump point, he slipped again. This time it was worse—he lost his balance completely and pitched forward!
According to the plan, he was supposed to do a roll to dissipate force and then jump. But now, he couldn't do it at all!
Someone on set gasped.
If he fell straight down like that, even with mats below, it was gonna hurt.
In that split second, Cassius, right on his heels, moved!
The super-reaction speed from his upgraded [Physicality] attributes and the techniques from the orbs he'd absorbed kicked in instantly.
Instead of dodging around him as planned, he accelerated hard, rushing forward. Before Tyson completely lost his balance, Cassius slammed his shoulder into Tyson's back.
Simultaneously, he shouted: "Jump!"
The force of the shove was perfect. It gave Tyson forward momentum, helping him stabilize his center of gravity without interfering with his own motion.
Almost on instinct, borrowing that force, Tyson stepped out and completed the jump, landing on the pile of boxes opposite.
The landing was ugly, but safe.
After the shove, Cassius used his own forward momentum, combined with the breakfall techniques he'd been drilling, to execute a side roll. He dissipated most of the force and landed on the edge of the platform—a bit rushed, but safe.
The whole thing happened in two seconds. Completely off-script!
But fluid, thrilling, and incredibly real!
The set was silent for a second. Then the AD's voice rang out in disbelief.
"Cut! Holy sht! Cass! Tyson! You guys okay?"
Tyson crawled out of the boxes, still shaken. He looked up at Cassius on the platform, his eyes complicated—fear mixed with gratitude.
He walked over and gripped the hand Cassius extended to pull him up.
"Bro, thanks! If not for you just now..."
"Just an accident," Cassius said calmly as he pulled him up.
Mike rushed over too. After checking both of them, he slapped his thigh.
"Fck! That take! It was wrong, but the effect was so damn good! More real than what we designed! The panic and reaction to the accident! Director, what do you think?"
Behind the monitor, the director replayed the footage, excitement on his face.
"Yes! Keep it! We can use this! Cass, that reaction was killer! How did you think of that?"
Cassius wiped his sweat. "Instinct, I guess. Couldn't just watch him fall."
He noticed that in that moment of extreme focus and instinctual reaction, a blue orb had dropped from his own body.
[Physicality Attribute: Crisis Management +3]
Absorb!
This gave him a deeper understanding of how to maintain effective and safe movement during unexpected situations.
After this little incident, the way everyone on set looked at Cassius changed.
Those ambiguous guesses about Jessica earlier seemed trivial in the face of that clean, professional improvisation.
Competence is always the best rumor-killer.
Mike hooked his arm around Cassius's neck. This time, his tone was pure admiration.
"You kid, hiding your skills! That move just now—you can't pull that off without ten years of training!"
"Now I believe you. You must have been practicing alone in your room last night!"
Cassius smiled and didn't comment.
Tyson walked over too and said solemnly, "Cass, I owe you one."
Filming continued.
Maybe because of the accident, both Tyson and Cassius were more dialed in for the next few takes. Their chemistry improved.
At wrap, the director specifically praised Cassius's performance again, especially that improvisation.