When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 273

It was already late autumn, nearing the onset of winter. The temperature hovered at just a few degrees above freezing; Juno City's winters arrived early and were bitterly cold. Henrietta had even worn a down jacket for the evening outing. Yosef was dressed in a high-collared sweater under a thick wool coat, a scarf wrapped around his neck. Yet for this scene, Artina had to wear a thin slip dress, while Matteo had it even worse, clad only in a towel, his upper body exposed. And this wasn't even a bedroom scene. It was a night shoot by an outdoor swimming pool. The plot was simple: the male lead, wrapped in a towel, is about to go for a swim when the female lead confronts him about something involving another man. They argue, the male lead gets jealous and forces a kiss on her. She angrily pushes him away, and he accidentally falls into the pool. In a panic, she jumps in after him, where he kisses her again, this time with more intensity. She struggles at first, but eventually gives in. It was a great scene on paper, one that would be incredibly effective if shot well. The only problem was the immense physical toll it took on the actors, who had to suffer through the freezing cold. But that was the job. If you wanted the paycheck, you had to endure the hardship. And it wasn't like their salaries for this film were low. Everyone works hard. In the dead of winter, anyone with a job has their own struggles. But their income was something ordinary people couldn't dream of in several lifetimes. So, was it hard? Yes, but also no. The real awkwardness, however, stemmed from Yosef and Henrietta sitting right there in the director's chairs, watching. Towering heat lamps hummed beside them, providing a small radius of warmth. For Matteo and Artina, the situation was pure agony, a profound humiliation. But when Charlotte yelled 'Action!', they had to perform. Their inner turmoil made their acting terrible. Take after take was a failure, and they were both freezing. Though assistants rushed in with blankets, hot tea, and heaters every time they got out of the pool, the misery was inescapable. During one take, as Matteo was forcibly kissing Artina, his eyes drifted towards Henrietta. The camera caught the detail with perfect clarity. 'Matteo, what the hell are you doing?' Charlotte roared. 'Can you focus on the scene or not?' 'Sorry, sorry,' Matteo apologized profusely. 'Let's do one more.' Artina, wrapped in a towel, shivered uncontrollably, her teeth clenched as she prepared to shed it and go again. pale and ghostly. Henrietta, meanwhile, watched with rapt interest. Yosef sat beside her, silent. Finally, after more than half an hour of torture, they got the shot. Having seen the playback, Henrietta had to admit that Charlotte was a genius. The way she captured the emotional tension, the framing, the angles—it was enough to make one's heart race. Of course, she herself felt nothing, knowing how disgusting the two actors were. But this was perfect. When the show became a hit, when these scenes became iconic and the on-screen couple was adored by fans, she would expose them. The viewers who had loved them would feel nothing but nausea. As the two climbed out of the pool, their lips were turning blue from the cold, their teeth chattering.. At that moment, Yosef unwound his own scarf and, in full view of them, wrapped it around Henrietta's neck. His cool voice was laced with warmth as he said, 'Don't get cold.' Henrietta looked at him. 'I'm not cold. You'll be the one to freeze.' The wind by the pool was quite strong. She tried to give the scarf back to him, but he firmly secured it around her neck, pulling it up until it covered half her face. 'Don't move,' he said. 'It looks good like this.' Hearing that, Henrietta raised an eyebrow. 'Really?' Yosef nodded, his eyes filled with genuine admiration. 'Yes. Very beautiful.' 'Alright then,' Henrietta relented with a soft smile. If it made her look good, she could let her husband be a little cold... right? The tender interaction was a blinding, painful blow to Artina and Matteo. They gritted their teeth, unable to say a word, the frustration suffocating them. Though assistants were fussing over them, their gazes were involuntarily fixed on Henrietta and Yosef. Just then, Yosef's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and said to Henrietta, 'Work call.' 'Go ahead,' she nodded. He answered, his voice shifting into a commanding, flawless English that resonated with authority. It was a call from overseas. Sensing her gaze, Yosef continued his conversation while casually wrapping an arm around her, pulling her close to his shoulder. The hands of Matteo and Artina, holding their cups of hot tea, began to tremble violently. Yosef's English was flawless, like that of a native speaker. A stream of complex, technical jargon flowed from his lips, his tempo shifting from measured to rapid, controlled yet with an assertive, almost intimidating edge. His professional demeanor radiated a kind of king-like, overwhelming confidence. Yet even in this mode, he had the presence of mind to pull Henrietta into his embrace, as if demonstrating that his affection for her didn't interfere with his work in the slightest. Success was so deeply ingrained in him it was practically genetic. Henrietta rested quietly against his strong shoulder, the scarf hiding all but her beautiful eyes, making her look like a flawless porcelain doll. Meanwhile, Yosef's powerful aura and unintentional, magnetic charisma filled the space. The set, normally a chaotic jumble of crew and equipment, was suddenly transformed. A simple work call from this man had turned this completely unrelated environment into his personal domain. Everyone's gaze was drawn to him, their own tasks forgotten. Was this the charm and presence of a top-tier tycoon at work? It wasn't until Yosef hung up that the crew members snapped back to reality. By then, hot tea in Artina and Matteo's hands had gone cold.