A Night of Desire-Chapter 174: Very Good, Clara

’If I want to see this project through to the end and have a passionate, dramatic on-screen romance with Miles Quinn, I can’t afford to mess up right at the start.’

’What if the director sees my acting is really terrible and decides to replace me?’

And so, she nodded at Miles Quinn and Holly Summers.

Faye Jennings, who was sitting nearby, saw Miles Quinn and Holly Summers encouraging Clara Grant. After a moment’s thought, she too stood up and walked toward them.

Though she was extremely reluctant to offer any encouragement, she knew she had to at least put on a show.

She gracefully walked to Clara Grant’s other side, put an arm around her shoulder, and said with a smile,

"Clara, I know this is your first time filming, so there’s no need to be nervous. Director Keane is strict and his standards are high, but I’m sure that even if you don’t perform well, he won’t be too harsh on a newcomer. So, you just have to perform at your usual level."

On the surface, Faye Jennings’s words sounded like comfort and encouragement. But upon closer listening, it was clear she didn’t believe in Clara Grant’s acting ability and was questioning her talent.

Miles Quinn remained noncommittal, but a mocking smile touched his lips, while Holly Summers pouted, silently protesting her words.

Clara Grant wasn’t a fool; she heard the subtext, of course. But she also understood. Faye Jennings was an A-list star, so her acting was naturally phenomenal.

’Besides, she doesn’t know me. It’s not surprising she’d have her doubts, and it’s not my place to argue.’

’In a way, she’s just showing her concern.’

Clara Grant smiled and said to Faye Jennings, "I understand. Thank you, Faye."

Faye Jennings smiled back, gave her shoulder another pat, and then let go.

Just then, the assistant director shouted through a megaphone for the actors to get ready, and Clara walked over to take her mark.

At the director’s call of "Action!", all the actors instantly fell into character.

Clara Grant, now as Tina, stood at the entrance of the Lunara Building. She was dressed in tattered burlap clothes and looked up at the sign above the door.

Although she couldn’t recognize many of the characters, she knew the one in the middle meant "moon." She knew this was the Lunara Building.

She lowered her gaze from the sign and peered through the main entrance. A flicker of hesitation crossed her small, dust-smudged face, but it was gone in an instant. The next moment, her expression was set, and her large, bright eyes shone with grim resolve.

Then, she stepped across the threshold of the Lunara Building.

The more Clara Grant acted, the more immersed and natural she became. Her pre-filming jitters had vanished completely. It was as if she had fused with the character of Tina—as if she *was* Tina.

Her expressions were perfect, vividly capturing the complex emotions of a simple, innocent young girl on the verge of entering a pleasure quarter.

Sitting before the monitors, both Director Keane and the screenwriter couldn’t help but nod in approval, a clear sign of their recognition and affirmation of Clara Grant’s performance.

The entire scene—from Clara Grant’s arrival at the Lunara Building to the moment she was chosen by the madam and taken away to be dressed—wasn’t plagued by multiple bad takes.

On the contrary, it was approved on the very first one.

After calling "Cut," Director Keane even offered some rare, hearty praise for Clara Grant. "Excellent, Clara." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

This left everyone on set who’d been waiting for her to fail looking terribly awkward.

These people were actors themselves; they could all see that Clara Grant’s fundamentals were solid.

What’s more, they knew that getting a simple "Not bad" out of Director Keane was next to impossible, let alone being told "Excellent."

It seemed there was a good reason, after all, why this Clara Grant had managed to snatch the role from Sandra.

And so, a low murmur of discussion began to ripple through the crowd.