From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Unintentionally, a smile crept onto the corner of her lips; being with Anson was always like this.

Anne scrutinized Anson, only to be caught in the act when Anson looked over. This time, Anne didn't dodge, but looked back generously.

"It seems you've recovered quite a bit."

Anson immediately made a funny face, as if his back muscles were spasming.

Anne immediately became nervous, "Are you okay? Do you need a massage or something? Or should I call your physical therapist back?"

Then, Anne noticed that Anson's expression had returned to normal, and he was watching her with a smile.

Anne was stunned, finally snapping back to reality, "Jesus Christ, Anson Wood!"

Anson, "Hahaha, haha."

Unexpectedly, Anne revealed a hint of grievance, her eyes slightly red.

This reaction was completely beyond Anson's expectations, startling him, "Anne, I'm sorry." After thinking for a moment, he repeated again, "I'm sorry."

Anne wasn't acting.

Anne was also very surprised by her own reaction, and quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, "No, no, no, I'm fine, don't worry, really."

"Oh, God, I must look so stupid right now. But, you've seen me even more stupid, so I have nothing to worry about."

After a small self-deprecating remark, Anne regained her smile.

Anson carefully looked Anne up and down, noticing a faint melancholy between her brows, so he made another small joke.

"So, you've been worried about me, not eating well and not sleeping well?"

This time, Anne immediately heard it, "Stop trying to flatter yourself." She couldn't help but laugh because it was too absurd.

"I'm just…"

Some things happened at home.

In her fifteenth year, her brother Michael Hathaway officially came out of the "closet." For Anne, who was once a devout Catholic and determined to become a nun, it was undoubtedly a life-changing upheaval, plunging the whole family into shock and impact.

After struggling and thinking, the Hathaway family chose to stand behind their loved one. They left the church they attended every Sunday and joined another church that was more open and diverse, hoping to find a balance between faith and life.

However, over the past six months, the discomfort and struggle brought by this church have gradually become more and more obvious, and the Hathaway family is once again facing a severe test.

In the end, they still stood on the side of their family and chose to leave this church.

During this time, the tug-of-war between faith and reality became a brand-new topic.

Unfortunately, life refused to give Anne any breathing space, and a series of setbacks and twists and turns followed one after another, leaving the young Anne exhausted—

Anson's injury was also one of them.

Although Anne didn't want to think this way, she couldn't help but feel, during brief moments of absent-mindedness, that the entire universe seemed to be against her.

Inevitably frustrated.

But how should she explain this to Anson?

Anson is also experiencing a series of troubles. The Sony Columbia matter seems to have been resolved, but they both know it's not that simple.

"Just, a little worried."

Among thousands of worries, Anne pulled out a small thread.

"Anson, do you think I've passed my peak in life? I mean, 'The Princess Diaries.'"

Anson didn't expect this, "No, of course not, I don't think that at all."

Anne showed a bitter smile, "I just really…" Taking a deep breath, "Really don't like the script for 'The Princess Diaries 2'. I look like a brainless teddy bear."

Behind the soft words was a deep bitterness.

Anne's expression was slightly helpless.

Anson, "A Barbie doll?"

Anne thought seriously, "On the one hand, running around in tights is indeed a bit embarrassing; but on the other hand, all acting jobs are like that, we stand in front of the camera and act crazy while pretending to be normal."

"Oh, actually we're all crazy."

"I don't dare to leave either, worried that my departure might be a mistake, so I stay in the 'Princess Diaries 2' crew and continue to act crazy."

"Looking at it from another angle, someone is willing to pay us to watch us go crazy, this job doesn't seem so bad."

"Are you comparing 'Spider-Man' salary with my salary?"

"No, I'm comparing our salaries with Walmart employees' salaries."

"Thinking about it that way, it seems fair, after all, we can lie on a pile of money and go crazy."

Back and forth, the two people were talking nonsense there in a serious manner.

Unintentionally exchanging a glance, and then both chuckled.

In the silence, Anson quietly looked at Anne. He could sense that Anne's story wasn't just this. There should be more behind it, but he wasn't prepared to ask, because Anne had her reasons for not wanting to say, and also because he, with two lifetimes of experience, might not have all the answers.

Gently exhaling, "Sorry, growing up is hard."

Anne raised her head to look at Anson, showing a smile, "It really is too hard." She only realized suddenly that her voice was choked up, and the arc of her lips had become so difficult and heavy, "I don't know how much longer I can bear it."

"The bad thing is, no one knows how long it will last. Maybe this is just the beginning, and maybe there are even worse and heavier things waiting later."

Anson's words made Anne make a big face without hesitation, which made Anson laugh directly.

"But fortunately, everything will pass, and we will all persevere. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Anne raised her head to look at Anson, staring quietly into Anson's eyes.

Then, Anne said, "Really? Will we all persevere?"

"Yeah." Anson nodded, "Life has always been like this. We will experience one difficult moment after another, and each time we will think that we can't continue to persevere, and each time we will think that we may never find an exit."

"But, taking a deep breath, we will eventually persevere."

The difference is that sometimes, we grow up to become the kind of people we hate; sometimes, we grow up to become mediocre and unsuccessful people.

Only very, very rarely do we grow up to become the kind of people we aspire to be.

This requires strength and faith.

In his previous life, Anson became the first kind, the kind he despised, rejected, hated, and loathed; so coming back again, he wanted to try to see different possibilities.

In Anson's voice, Anne slowly fell into her own thoughts, sadness and powerlessness tied to her ankles, floating up and down in the darkness, and then slowly falling and sinking, slowly, but unable to stop.