Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 553: Shame

In the past, he might have waited patiently for her answer for a year or even longer.

But not this time.

’Waiting passively again would only lead to regret.’

Alex’s gaze grew firmer.

This time, he decided that he would pursue Adeline more seriously.

.......................

Meanwhile, on a completely different side of the city, another situation was unfolding.

During the preparation for the film, there had been discussions between several key members of the production team. Among them was Jacqueline, a well-known figure in the film critic circle.

Aurora had personally made the decision.

To ensure the film’s quality and prevent criticism regarding the actors’ performances, she had instructed the director to bring in someone from the professional film critic field.

Nowadays, Theodore had become extremely popular.

He was widely known as a national heartthrob, and the number of people watching his work was increasing rapidly. With that level of attention, even the smallest flaw in acting could attract heavy criticism.

Although Aurora knew that Theodore’s acting was good, she still felt slightly uncertain.

’Is his current acting level enough to satisfy those diehard fans...?’

Because of this concern, Aurora asked the director to find a good film critic or acting teacher.

The director ended up contacting Jacqueline.

At first, he assumed that she would decline the offer.

To his surprise, Jacqueline agreed.

Not only that, but she also made a very specific request. "I will only assist Theodore."

The director was thrilled when he heard this.

On the first day of shooting, the atmosphere on set was bustling with activity. Cameras were being adjusted, lights were glowing brightly, and crew members moved around quickly with scripts and equipment.

Theodore soon arrived.

The moment he spotted Jacqueline standing near the set, his face immediately lit up with a wide grin.

He walked toward her enthusiastically, almost like a boy meeting his first love.

"It’s nice to see you here," he greeted warmly. "What brings you to the set?"

Jacqueline returned a small smile. "I came here to monitor your acting skills."

Theodore’s grin widened even further. "If that’s the case, then I’ll be under your care here."

Jacqueline observed him quietly.

Theodore always carried a very positive outlook. If someone else had been placed under strict supervision like this, they might have felt offended or uncomfortable.

But Theodore simply continued smiling as if the situation did not bother him at all.

Soon, the filming began.

Jacqueline stood quietly near the monitor, watching every movement carefully.

Before long, her brows furrowed slightly. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

She had already noticed a mistake in Theodore’s performance. However, she didn’t interrupt the filming immediately.

Only after the entire scene ended did everyone on the set instinctively turn their eyes toward her.

Jacqueline looked at Theodore calmly. "Come with me," she said.

Understanding immediately, Theodore followed her into a private room nearby.

Once the door closed behind them, Jacqueline spoke without hesitation.

"In the line, ’Love is nothing but a mistake people make out of fascination,’ the emotion is wrong."

She crossed her arms slightly as she continued explaining.

"It should carry bitterness. But at the same time, it must reflect the agony of someone who has already suffered because of love."

Her sharp gaze focused directly on him. "You only looked regretful. That is not the right emotion."

Theodore nodded seriously. "I understand."

Jacqueline went through several other lines, carefully pointing out subtle emotional mistakes. Theodore listened attentively and accepted every correction.

Afterward, Jacqueline looked at him again. "Now perform it."

At first, his performance was still far from perfect.

Even though Jacqueline had explained everything clearly, there were still moments where the emotion didn’t fully connect.

Jacqueline’s patience began to wear thin.

The temperature in her expression slowly dropped, her eyes growing colder with every repeated mistake.

Theodore could feel the pressure building around him.

Still, he clenched his teeth and continued trying. Minutes passed.

Gradually, there was a noticeable improvement.

From Jacqueline’s perspective, his acting had finally begun to reach the proper emotional depth. Still, she did not stop him yet.

She waited. Another twenty minutes passed before she finally nodded.

"Good. Let’s continue."

When they returned to the set, the director immediately prepared for another take.

The next scene was reshot. This time, Theodore’s performance completely transformed.

His emotions were so gripping that everyone present on the set felt drawn into the scene. Several crew members even forgot to blink as they watched.

By the time the scene ended, the atmosphere was completely silent.

Meanwhile, Jacqueline who had also been observing quietly, was satisfied with the result.

However, this perfection created a new problem.

Because so much time had been spent perfecting each performance, only twenty-six shots were completed that entire day.

This number was far below the director’s original expectations.

Concern slowly crept into his mind. Later, he contacted Aurora.

"If things continue like this," he admitted with a worried tone, "there is a high chance that the filming schedule will stretch far longer than we planned."

Aurora, on the other hand, appeared completely satisfied when she heard the director’s concern.

"Don’t worry about it," she said calmly, her tone steady and reassuring.

"If the schedule extends, I will invest additional funds. There is no need for anyone to feel pressured."

The director felt as though a heavy stone had suddenly been lifted from his chest.

Aurora was the main investor behind the entire project. If she had shown even the slightest dissatisfaction or suggested wrapping things up early, the pressure on him would have been unbearable.

At times, he had genuinely felt as if he were suffocating under the responsibility.

But hearing her calm response relaxed him instantly.

After all, the situation was not entirely bad.

Each time Theodore performed another scene, his acting continued to improve. From a viewer’s perspective, the director particularly liked the modified emotional expressions that Jacqueline had taught him.

Those subtle changes made Theodore’s performance feel far more vivid and convincing.

However, while the viewer inside him felt delighted, the director inside him was on the verge of tearing his hair out.

’At this pace... we will never finish on schedule.’

There simply was not enough time in the day to polish every single scene to perfection.

Seeing his troubled expression, Aurora offered a new suggestion.

"Why don’t we pause the shooting for four or five days?" she proposed thoughtfully. "Take a short break from filming."

The director blinked in surprise.

Aurora continued calmly.

"I will give the entire crew a week-long break. During that time, Theodore can stay with the critic we hired. She can guide him through the entire script."

Her tone remained casual, as if she were discussing something completely ordinary.

"There is no need to worry about expenses," she added. "I am willing to pay her fifty thousand dollars per day."

The director nearly inhaled sharply. Fifty thousand dollars per day.

However, he did not hesitate for even a second.

"That sounds perfect," he replied quickly.

When Jacqueline later received the request, she agreed to it. However, a faint worry lingered quietly in her heart.

During the past few days, she had seen very clearly just how exhausted Theodore had become.

Dark shadows had begun forming under his eyes, and even his shoulders looked heavier with fatigue.

Not to mention...

Even though she had tried her best to soften her criticism, her naturally sharp and sarcastic tone made it difficult for Theodore to accept her words as goodwill.

’He must already think I am looking down on him,’ she thought silently.

She even suspected that Theodore’s enthusiasm might have already been crushed by her relentless corrections.

To her surprise, Theodore reacted very differently.

When he heard about the separate training sessions, his eyes actually brightened.

"I would be honored to practice under you," he said sincerely.

Jacqueline looked at him for a long moment before nodding quietly.

’If that is the case... then I will guide him properly.’

For the next five days, Jacqueline and Theodore immersed themselves in practice.

Both of them stayed awake far longer than normal, repeating scene after scene until their voices grew hoarse.

During those five days, Theodore began noticing something strange about Jacqueline.

Of course, she continued pointing out his mistakes with merciless precision.

But hidden beneath that strict attitude was a very careful concern.

She constantly monitored his diet.

She reminded him to eat properly and ensured that he rested whenever possible.

Even during practice sessions, a small thermos of honey water was always placed within reach. After every emotionally heavy scene, she would silently pour a cup and hand it to him.

The sweet scent of honey often lingered faintly in the air.

Theodore gradually became aware of his own heartbeat.

’Why... does she care this much?’

Jacqueline had already been his idol for many years.

Seeing her now personally guiding him, helping him, and even taking care of such small details made his mind feel dizzy with disbelief.

At the same time, a sense of shame grew in his heart.