Finished

“Mr. Taylor, it’s such an honor to have you here. The homeroom teacher greeted him warmly, walking up with a bright

smile

Taylor returned a polite nod and smile

Inade the ssroom, everyone had their eyes glued to the famous TV director. Excitement buzzed in the air

Lacey, however, blowered /bher gaze.

bA /bcreeping bsense /bof unease bspread /bthrough her chest.

bWasn’t /bMr. Tayloring to Sterford specifically bbecause /bof her?

But when he looked at her just now… he didn’t seem interested. At all.

“Lacey” one of her ssmates leaned toward her and whispered, grin wide and eyes sparkling. “You ready? Your golden nicket’s about to arrive.

“We’re nervous just thinking about it for you!”

But Lacey didn’t feel a hint of joy.

Her lips pressed into a btight /bline bas /bher eyes flicked over to Taylor. Every part of her screamed this bisn’t /bright.

“Mr. Taylor, we heard you’re here to see a bcertain /bgirl in our ss?” The teacher chuckled, easing into bsmall /btalk. “She’s ba /breally talented student—”.

As she bspoke/b, she nced in Lacey’s direction and bwaved /bher over,

“Lacey,e up here.”

Lacey stood up automatically.

Her mind was nk

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she stiffly walked up to Mr. Taylor.

“Mr. Taylor, bello” She gave a small smile and greeted him politely.

This time, Taylor looked at her.

Really looked at her.

And after a moment, he frowned.

The teacher noticed his expression shift and leaned in with a concerned whisper. b“/bbIs /bsomething bwrong/bb? /bIs there a problemb?/bb” /b

Taylor didn’t sugarcoat things.

“You called her up here to rmend her!” His tone was perfectly neutral. “But I balready /btold you–bI’ve /bmade my choice.”

The entire ss fell silent.

Everyone blinked

426 PM bc /bc

Chapter od Mir Taylors Pick

bThat /bedy twist just turned into a full–on farce.

Lacey how was she going to save face now?

bBack /bat the front of the ss, Lacey bstood /bfrozen in ce. The air felt like ice against her skin.

Taylor’s words rang in her ears like a death sentence.

It wasn’t her.

She wasn’t the one

Finished

“But didn’t you say you were interested in the girl bwho /byed the lead in the Hope Cup performance?” the teacher asked again, now clearly confused. “That was her..”

“It bwasn’t /bher,” Taylor replied crisply.

He paused. Then added with ba /bsmall bsmile/b, “As far as I’m concerned, the real star of bthat /by was the tree. She was the soul of

the scene.”

Another beat of stunned silence.

Everyone’s mind raced bto /bcatch up.

Wait–he meant…

The tree?!

So that meant Jean?

Lacey’s eyes turned ssy red.

She said nothing.

Just turnedb, /bwalked stiffly back to her desk, and sat down in silence.

She felt humiliated.

She wanted to disappear.

The teacher bwas /bfrozen in ce, unable to speak.

It took her a long moment to catch up.

Then she turned to Jean, slowly lifting her hand to point in her direction. “You mean.. that student over there?”

Every head swiveled toward Jean.

All eyes blocked /bon her.

Jean blinked.

Taylor followed the teacher’s hand band /blooked straight at her. His face lit up

with joy.

“That’s right. It’s byou/b.”

He walked over with a warm bsmile /band stopped beside bJean’s /bdesk. “I loved your performance as the Tree. Would you be interested in joining my new show?”

Lacey bit down hard on her lip.

Chapter 63 Mr Taylor’s Pick

Across the roomb, /bbher /bssmates sat in shocked silence. A few couldn’t hide their jealousy.

Il hat kind of tested luck did Jean have tond this??

Finished

bTaylor /btook Jean out to the terrace for a private bchat/b.

“I’m not really interested.” Before he could say a word, Jean cut him off bluntly.

Taylor looked stunned. “Wait–I haven’t even exined anything yet,”

bJean /bpuffed bout /bher cheeks slightly.

She really wasn’t interested.

Filming a variety show sounded like way too much work. Not worth it

bReading /bwas fine bbecause /bit didn’t cost her much effort–bshe /balready knew all the material anyway.

If schoolwork ever got exhausting, she’d probably find a way to take a break from that, too.

She hadn’t forgotten her life’s mission to be a peaceful little cker.

“I think it’s worth checking out before you make a decision,” Taylor said carefully. “Just to be clear, I’m not offering you a guaranteed role. I’m inviting you to audition. If the team thinks you’re a good fit, and you’re interested, then we can talk

contracts.

“Even more reason for me not to go,” Jean muttered “Too much effort.”

Taylor was speechless.

He rubbed his forehead.

This was the first time anyone bhad /bturned him down so decisively..

“Look, all I’m saying is, it doesn’t hurt to explore the possibility. If it feels like the right fit, great. If not, no pressure.”

“I don’t even want to explore,” bJean /bdeadpanned.

We’re offering ba /bb100,000 /bappearance fee.” Taylor added finally, dead serious.

Jean looked up band /bmet his eyes. “Deal”

Never say no to easy bmoney/b.

Taylor was speechless.