Chapter 58: Audition

It’s said that this restaurant is run personally by the chef, and at this moment, the chef is busy cooking various delicacies in the open kitchen, while there’s only one server attending to other guests in the restaurant besides them. The environment is elegant and quiet, as if one could hear the sizzling sound of food. Looking at such a tranquil and cozy dining atmosphere, combined with the light and joyful feeling brought by the slowly rising bubbles in the glass of sparkling wine, Clara Bennett felt very comfortable, almost enamored with this rare beautiful moment. However, a small problem arose after they started eating. When the server approached the table with the exquisite dishes, William Foster reached for his cup and nearly tipped it over. Then, when trying to use a knife and fork to cut the food, he appeared awkward, and ultimately he had to put all the utensils down, smiling apologetically, "Actually, I don’t have much of an appetite right now, you go ahead and eat." Clara Bennett blinked and suddenly stood up to pull her chair next to William Foster, sitting down gently, "Just speak up when encountering difficulties or needing help, no need to force yourself." After a moment of silence, William Foster finally reached out, feeling around until he touched her arm, then explained softly, "There’s really no need to trouble you with this." Responding with a teasing tone, Clara Bennett laughed, "Usually, you call me your little wife every chance you get, but now when it matters, wouldn’t you let your wife take care of you?" She intentionally raised her voice a bit, trying to ease the slightly awkward atmosphere on site. William Foster pursed his lips without saying anything, but he knew very well what Clara Bennett was doing. In fact, he’d already had a plan in mind prior. He pretended to be a blind person who had just arrived at this unfamiliar place, struggling to independently complete dining due to poor vision, to hide some of his secrets. Unexpectedly, this little performance had inadvertently increased the intimacy between the two and allowed him to experience a moment of being attentively cared for. His heart rippled gently, like a small stone thrown into a calm lake, causing waves to slowly spread. Regarding Clara Bennett’s attitude, William Foster was both surprised and deeply moved. As someone long used to being in a high position, he had become accustomed to living alone, with few people sincerely caring for him. Others were always careful around him, afraid of touching his authority. Meanwhile, he was used to being on top, looking for his strengths in a progressively aggressive manner. But this time, a peculiar emotion slowly began to rise within William Foster. Clara Bennett’s actions not only didn’t embarrass him but rather stirred a tiny bit of mischief within him, making him want to be even more proactive, to test her limits. This curiosity and sense of novelty made him feel both stimulating and interesting. "Come, open your mouth." Clara Bennett was unaware of these complex thoughts; her mind was filled with thoughts of how to care for the handsome yet vulnerable man in front of her. Though she felt a little nervous inside, she tried hard to remain calm and handed the skewer of lamb to William Foster. Listening obediently, William Foster opened his mouth to eat the lamb skewer Clara Bennett handed over, his movements still somewhat reserved, but the smile in his eyes was unmistakable. Clara Bennett watched with anticipation as William Foster ate the food she passed to him, eagerly asking, "Is it good?" William Foster swallowed and slowly nodded, "Hmm, what you feed me is especially delicious." Clara Bennett’s cheeks instantly reddened slightly; she coughed lightly to mask her shyness, "Don’t flatter me like that." However, William Foster looked seriously into her eyes, saying word by word, "I’m not exaggerating." Clara Bennett laughed, trying to appear more relaxed, "Okay, you’re so good with words. I’ll announce the dishes for you when they’re served; let me know what you want to eat." William Foster nodded to show his understanding. Then he noticed a strange phenomenon: every time the server served a dish, Clara Bennett would put down her utensils and use her chopsticks to pick up food. It was as if none of the affectionate gestures had ever happened before. Why would it be like this? Was it to save face for him, to avoid attracting attention? With these questions, William Foster intentionally said, "I noticed every time the food is served, you stop feeding me." Hearing this, Clara Bennett’s face showed a slight panic, but she quickly reacted, speaking somewhat uneasily, "Didn’t you say you didn’t want anyone to know about your eyes?" William Foster’s heart warmed a bit, reaching out to hold her hand gently, asking tenderly, "Have you kept everything I’ve said at heart?" The warmth emanating from his palm caught Clara Bennett off guard; she felt very uncomfortable. After all, this kind of intimate touch was a first-time experience for her, not daring to pull away directly, but letting him hold her hand also made her feel very uneasy. Clara Bennett answered a bit awkwardly, "I’ll naturally remember important things." At this moment, she hoped to quickly change this awkward situation. Hearing such affirmative responses from her, William Foster became even more delighted: "Likewise, everything you say is also embedded in my heart." However, these seemingly ordinary words triggered an unusual wave in Clara Bennett’s heart, catching her off guard. In fact, Clara Bennett rarely interacted with male friends in the past; strict family upbringing meant even in college, her interactions with boys were ordinary classmates without deep exchanges or emotional bonds. Now even if she were to live anew, having decided to abandon any romantic entanglements and devote herself entirely to work, she still felt her heartbeat quicken facing the man before her. To cover up this sudden fluster, Clara Bennett quickly withdrew her hand and immediately changed the topic, trying to break the heart-pounding atmosphere. Could it be true that a special feeling exists between them? Thinking of this, she immediately denied it, refusing to acknowledge the possibility of anything existing with William Foster. Clara Bennett eagerly said, "By the way, do you remember the audition opportunity I mentioned before? I have successfully achieved this precious chance." Mentioning her dream, she naturally showed a proud smile. "Oh? Which audition are you talking about?" William Foster wasn’t particularly clear about this matter, so he asked. "It’s an audition for the lead female role in a film," Clara Bennett replied, with a hint of excitement in her eyes. This was her longing wish finally coming true. William Foster paused for a moment before speaking, "So, you’re planning to enter the entertainment industry?" His tone was calm, but one could detect a hint of curiosity in it. Clara Bennett calmly nodded, "Yes, my goal is to become an excellent actress." When she said this, her eyes were full of longing and anticipation for the future.