From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

"So, you're preparing to fight back, right? You're going to fight for the role, right?"

"Honestly, I've always thought Sony Columbia's decision was weird. Why would they want to replace you? It doesn't make any sense."

"It's not your Spider-Man, it just doesn't feel the same."

Her tense nerves relaxing slightly, Kristen became a little talkative, pouring out the thoughts in her head all at once. You could tell she was sincere.

After speaking, she realized this and looked at Anson with a slightly embarrassed expression.

Anson responded with a smile, "I still remember that you only agreed to audition because of me. It seems you really do like me; will Jake be jealous?"

"Ha. Ha. You're still just as funny. Jake says you're no match for him at all," Kristen said frankly.

Anson shrugged lightly, "I can't stop other people from daydreaming."

This time, Kristen truly relaxed and burst out laughing.

Then, Anson looked at Kristen, "Really, you don't need to worry about me. I already know the news, and I will do everything I can to get the role; but you still seem worried, so is there anything else?"

Kristen's expression was slightly unnatural, and you could clearly see struggle and hesitation between her brows.

Anson, "It's Jake, right?"

Kristen gasped; staring at Anson in astonishment.

Although she didn't say anything, the answer was already obvious.

The Jake mentioned here is not Jake Gyllenhaal-Forest, but Jake Gyllenhaal.

Anson gently raised his chin, "So, it really is Jake."

"Let me guess, Sony Columbia is preparing to find a successor because of my injury, preparing for the worst; and Jake is one of them."

"The main point is that Jake is very interested, he wants to agree to it."

"You don't agree with this idea, but you don't know how to choose."

"One is your boyfriend, the other is your partner and friend, and this friend is also friends with your boyfriend. You're not even sure if you should tell your friend, because you don't know if you should choose friendship or love, so you seem to be torn apart."

Kristen covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief.

Because Anson had guessed everything, completely, one hundred percent.

Taking two steps back, Kristen looked Anson up and down in disbelief.

For a second, Kristen wanted to turn around and run away, fleeing in panic. She knew she should tell Anson, but that would be like betraying Jake; but if she didn't say anything and waited for Jake to stab Anson in the back, that would be like betraying Anson. She couldn't make a choice.

No matter which answer, it meant she was letting down another person.

Her heart said, choose justice. Putting aside love and friendship, she should choose the right thing; but if things were really that simple, that would be great.

In fact, Kristen had a fierce argument with Jake about this, more than once. She tried to persuade Jake to give up this ridiculous idea, but Jake refused, which led to their argument continuing to escalate.

Kristen stared blankly at Anson—

Calm, open, composed.

No anger, no sadness, no bitterness, not even any fluctuation.

Kristen was shocked, "Aren't you sad? Don't you feel betrayed?"

Anson, "Should I?"

His words were so matter-of-fact that Kristen didn't know how to refute him for a moment.

Anson, "Look, although friendship exists in Hollywood, opportunity is opportunity, and everyone is equal in the face of opportunity. There's no such thing as friendship. If necessary, family and love should also be put aside, that's what it means to be professional."

"For Jake, this is an opportunity, an opportunity to break through in his career. He's not stealing or robbing, he's seizing the opportunity fairly with his own strength. He doesn't need to feel guilty, let alone avoid suspicion."

"If it weren't for our relationship, I believe you would also encourage him to fight for it, wouldn't you?"

Kristen shook her head repeatedly, "But the point is that we are friends, things should have a bottom line."

Anson, "Kristen, you should know how important this opportunity is to Jake's career, he should do everything he can to seize it."

Kristen refused, using all her strength, "No, things shouldn't be like this."

"I know, I know that in Hollywood, in the face of real interests, everything is cold and cruel, friendship and love don't count for anything; but we are not beasts, we should have reason, we should have conscience, shouldn't we?"

Indeed, it should be so.

So people often say that there is an ideal society and a real society. The ideal is full, but the reality is bony.

From Hayden Christensen to Brad Renfro, including the "Friends" crew, Anson is gradually integrating into this real world of fame and fortune.

In fact, Anson is adapting better than expected. After all, he had already seen all the warmth and coldness of human relationships in his previous life.

Some things, I am lucky to get them; if I don't get them, it's my fate.

As a child star, Kristen has been in Hollywood for more than ten years, and has experienced everything she should and shouldn't have experienced; Jake was born into a Hollywood family, and has been influenced by his parents since he was a child, so he is very familiar with the operating rules of the world of fame and fortune.

But the thing is, some people, after experiencing those darknesses, begin to go with the flow and constantly tell themselves that everyone is like this, so it is normal for them to be like this, and there is nothing to be surprised about; while some people are more eager for light and hope, trying to believe that there are still beautiful parts in human nature, and that just because everyone does it doesn't mean that the behavior itself is right.

Looking at Kristen, who was struggling in front of him, Anson showed a wry smile, "So, what do you want Jake to do?"

"Righteously refuse, showing his loyalty and integrity?"

"Hey, Kristen, you've been in this industry longer than I have, you should know that opportunities seem countless, but in reality there aren't that many. Countless actors compete for that little bit of opportunity, and it's already very rare for one out of a hundred actors to stand out."

"I'm not talking about the top actors in the pyramid, just the common blue-collar actors in Hollywood, they are not that simple either."

"You can't ask Jake to give up such an opportunity casually."

Kristen understood, of course she understood.

It was precisely because she understood that she struggled, and even standing in front of Anson, she still couldn't say it out loud with integrity.

But, "Aren't you angry?" Kristen asked, "I thought you guys were friends."

Anson said softly, "I thought we were too."

Behind the understated words, there was a hint of bitterness,

Then, changing the subject, Anson showed a smile again, and continued to say indifferently, restoring his usual demeanor, "But friends are friends, and work is work, right?"