Chapter 158: The Art Exhibition Arrives as Scheduled

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: The Art Exhibition Arrives as Scheduled

"Not only that, but you can also get a lot of gossip if you join!" Vivian added with a smile, pulling her into a coffee shop and ordering two lattes.

"There are so many handsome guys in the art department. Last time I went to their studio to deliver documents, I saw several who looked like Hollywood stars! Oh, and I heard the department belle, Lily, is participating in the exhibition.

Her oil painting won an award last year, and I wonder if she’ll have new work this time—by the way, did you know? Lily broke up with the football team captain. I heard it’s because she was too focused on painting and had no time for him!"

Irene smiled helplessly. Vivian’s gossip came faster than the main topic.

She took a sip of her latte. "Fine, I’ll sign up as a volunteer. I hope it won’t take up too much of my time. Right now is a crucial moment for selecting actors."

"No problem! I’ll accompany you so you won’t be bored. I’ll also help you ask if the preliminary training can be scheduled for evenings and weekends as much as possible. It definitely won’t interfere with your work." Vivian immediately took out her phone and messaged a friend in the art department.

Irene nodded with a smile. She picked up her phone and sent a message to Shelly:

"The screen test in costume is set for Wednesday afternoon next week. I have some things to handle at school in the morning, so I’ll arrive at the set later."

Then she put away her phone, pointed at a clothing store on the street, and said,

"That dress is quite nice. It suits you well."

On the morning of June 20th, the art exhibition opened as scheduled.

Irene changed into the uniform white shirt for volunteers, with a small California poppy badge pinned to her collar, and stood at the entrance of the art gallery with Vivian as a greeter.

Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, illuminating the paintings in the exhibition hall with vibrant colors. The air carried a faint scent of turpentine mixed with the fragrance of fresh flowers.

"Welcome to the ’Light, Shadow, and Brushstrokes’ campus art exhibition. Please register over here."

Irene smiled as she took the invitation from a visitor and gently checked off the name on the sign-in sheet, her movements efficient yet gentle.

Compared to her persona on set, giving orders to dozens of people, she was full of patience now. Occasionally, she would give directions to visitors asking for the way. As her fingertips traced the exhibition layout on the wall, her gaze was focused and serious.

Vivian stood beside her, handing out brochures to the audience while not forgetting to look around.

"Look at that boy in the gray T-shirt over there. Is that Tom from the art department? I’m telling you, his sketching is amazing. His last campus landscape was hung in the department office hallway!"

She lowered her voice, covering her mouth with a brochure. "And that girl in the red dress is Lily! She’s even more beautiful in person than in photos. No wonder she’s the department belle..."

Irene glanced in the direction she was pointing, but just as she was about to respond, her gaze suddenly froze on a figure at the entrance of the exhibition hall.

Loren was wearing a navy blue casual suit with a white T-shirt underneath. His figure was tall and straight, and he was leaning over to say something to the woman beside him.

Sunlight fell on the tips of his hair, plating them with a soft golden edge, but Irene’s gaze involuntarily lingered on the person beside him.

It was a girl with waist-length hair, wearing a cream-colored dress. Her eyes were curved in a smile, and there was a tiny mole at the corner of her eye when she laughed, making her look somewhat similar to Irene herself.

Irene frowned slightly. She didn’t have the habit of reporting her schedule to her boyfriend, so he likely had no idea she was here working as a greeter.

Recently, she had been busy with actor auditions, so the last time they met was at the auction. Although there were some minor flaws in that experience, she hadn’t dwelled on it. The two hadn’t met simply because they were too busy, but she hadn’t expected to run into him at the art exhibition today.

"Isn’t that Loren?" Vivian also recognized him, her voice dropping instantly. "Who is that girl next to him? She looks so much like you!"

Just as she finished speaking, Loren turned his head, and his gaze met Irene’s.

He clearly hadn’t expected to see her here either. His pupils contracted slightly, and a look of obvious surprise appeared on his face, but he quickly regained his composure. He immediately walked toward her and, standing before her, gave her a gentle smile, carrying his familiar tenderness.

Irene took a deep breath, suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, and took the initiative to greet him. "Loren, what are you doing here?"

"USC holds an art exhibition every June. I originally wanted to invite you, but you’ve never been very interested in this area. Plus, I heard from my father that you’re busy with actor auditions for Pirates of the Caribbean, so I didn’t want to disturb you." Loren’s voice was still deep and pleasant. He stepped aside to introduce the girl next to him.

"This is Ellie, the friend I told you about who I met while studying in Europe. She’s visiting Los Angeles, and since she’s also an art major and quite interested in this exhibition, I brought her to take a look."

Ellie stepped forward with a polite smile and extended her hand. "You must be Irene? Loren often mentions you, saying you’re a very talented director. What a coincidence—our names sound so similar, and we even look a bit alike." Her voice was sweet, with a faint New Zealand accent, and her handshake was just firm enough, appearing generous and friendly.

Irene shook her hand, feeling a slight coolness from her fingertips. A memory of something Loren had once said flashed through her mind. He indeed mentioned having a very good friend in New Zealand whose family ran a large farm and took in many stray animals.

He had even invited her to go on vacation there, but at the time, she was busy with film awards and hadn’t paid much attention, not even remembering if the friend was male or female. She hadn’t expected it to be the person in front of her.

"Hello, Ellie." Irene returned the smile, her tone calm. "Welcome to Los Angeles, and welcome to our school’s art exhibition."

"The works here are wonderful, especially those oil paintings with the theme of light and shadow. They remind me of the sunrises and sunsets on the farm."

Ellie’s gaze swept over the paintings in the hall, full of appreciation. She turned to look at Loren, then back at Irene, and issued a sincere invitation,

"Irene, Loren, when you’re free, you must come to New Zealand. My family’s farm is right by the lake, the scenery is beautiful, and you can go horseback riding and pick fruit. I’ll be your guide!"

"Thank you for the invitation. We’ll definitely go when we have time." Irene responded politely, her gaze lingering briefly between the two. Loren was looking at Ellie with a gentle expression and a smile on his face. Standing together, they had a strangely harmonious feel. ℯℯ𝑙.

She withdrew her gaze and pointed to the volunteer badge on her chest. "Sorry, I’m still working, so I have to get back to my post. Enjoy your tour."

"Alright, I won’t disturb you then." Loren nodded, a trace of apology in his eyes as he looked at her. "Call me when you’re finished."

Irene nodded and turned to walk back to Vivian.