From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Lucas's gaze was deep and lingering, sending a shiver down Anson's spine —

He really was his brother; had he given himself away?

Lucas quietly looked at Anson, "If you didn't say anything, I'd think you'd been replaced by someone else, possessed by an alien, completely changed."

Anson: …

Could he log off now? Was there still time?

But it was just a fleeting thought.

Anson quickly regained his composure, "So, is that a bad thing?"

A rhetorical question, regaining his footing.

The corners of Lucas's lips curled slightly upward, revealing a faint smile, "It's not a bad thing, but it's not exactly a good thing either.

Growing up often comes at a price.

When we were young, we were always eager to grow up; but once we truly grow up, we can never go back to those earlier times."

"Anson, I won't ask you what happened in Hollywood, but promise me, don't mistreat yourself, and be sure to tell me if anything happens."

A warm current flowed slowly through his heart.

Anson also offered a smile.

The two people, who originally didn't resemble each other, with completely different appearances and temperaments, revealed a similar expression and aura at the moment their lips curved upward, instantly confirming their identity as brothers.

"Lucas, do you think I seem like the type to swallow my pride and bear insults?" Even Anson himself was a little surprised; he seemed to have rediscovered the vitality and unrestrainedness he had before everything happened in his previous life.

Lucas nodded with satisfaction, the smile disappearing from his lips as his expression returned to seriousness, a unique aura of sternness appearing, "That's for the best then."

Clearly, he was serious.

Then, he changed the subject, "You should know that I'm not an investment manager, right?"

Anson blinked, "Then what is your job?"

Lucas, "Director of Venture Capital."

Anson frowned slightly, "Isn't that the same thing?"

Lucas felt a tightness in his chest, "Of course not.

Venture capital targets startups and emerging businesses; we provide them with funding and participate in strategic decision-making to help startups succeed; that's completely different from personal financial management… Forget it, just leave things to me."

Anson thought for a moment, having no immediate ideas —

Originally, he only had this idea because of Lucas's sudden visit, and he didn't have a clear plan, especially since there wasn't much money in his bank account right now.

With Lucas's question, Anson's brain started turning, "What's the situation with Apple stock right now, in 2000?"

Clichéd.

Indeed, but clichéd also means simple.

Lucas gave a strange expression, "Are you sure?"

Although Lucas didn't say it, Anson immediately understood the implication, "What, are they in a bad situation right now?"

Lucas didn't immediately give an answer, but pondered for a moment, organizing his thoughts, a professional and dedicated light shining in his serious expression, not being dismissive just because the person he was talking to was his younger brother, giving the same level of treatment in the professional field, his temperament was clearly different.

"Of course, there have been news about them in the industry throughout the year."

"After Steve Jobs returned to Apple, iMac G1 achieved success, helping them temporarily escape the mire."

"But since this year, the tech stock bubble simply can't stop its decline; the entire market is in turmoil; in April alone, the NASDAQ index fell by more than 25%; and, in the blink of an eye, three months have passed, and it's still falling, all the way down; people have lost confidence in tech stocks."

"Apple, naturally, is no exception."

"From the industry news I currently have, Jobs is now betting everything on the iMac's OS - X operating system; and hoping that the portable music player iPod can replace Sony's Walkman and occupy the market, putting all resources into the digital music market."

Flowing on and on.

But unlike the previous rambling, the Lucas before him seemed calm and professional, his incessant words calm and clear, immediately grasping the key points —

Currently, the tech stock bubble is unstoppable, the entire market is in panic, and it's going all the way down, with no bottom in sight for the time being; no company can be an exception.

After a pause, Lucas looked at Anson, "So, do you believe that the new operating system and the iPod can succeed?"

Anson didn't know how serious this tech stock bubble was; after all, at this time in his previous life, he was still a carefree high school student; so, he didn't know that over 52% of tech companies ended up bankrupt, nor did he know that most tech companies lost over 75% of their market value.

But Anson knew that this was a financial bubble even more serious than the 2008 real estate subprime mortgage crisis, taking a full fifteen years for the NASDAQ index to return to the level of 2000; at the same time, he also knew that this crisis was also an opportunity, and Apple successfully emerged from it.

Not only did the OS - X operating system become the trump card system for all of Apple's future computers, but the iPod also did replace the Walkman, dominating the portable music player market worldwide, and based on this, officially launched a new era of digital music, with physical music in full decline.

Opportunities often belong to the madmen who dare to go all in.

Anson didn't avoid or dodge, but openly met Lucas's gaze —

Because he knew that in Lucas's eyes, Anson was always his younger brother, only just eighteen years old, a teenager whose adolescence wasn't over yet.

Anson needed to make Lucas realize that he was no longer a child, that he had his own thoughts and his own opinions.

So, Anson looked at Lucas, his eyes bright, his expression firm, "Yes, I believe that both the operating system and the iPod can succeed."

"Not only that, but I also believe in Jobs's creativity, his boldness and courage; it can be said to be madness, but it can also be said to be talent, which can inject vitality into Apple, firmly seize the opportunity in this tech stock bubble, and become the tech leader of the next twenty years."

Firm, rational.

Sober, clear.

And, having his own thoughts.

Lucas looked at him with renewed respect; until now, he finally believed that the time Anson had spent living in Hollywood had truly allowed him to grow up.

No wonder Darren Star said that he believed Anson could achieve something in Hollywood.

And until now, Lucas began to take Anson's words seriously.

Apple?

Indeed, those in the industry wouldn't miss their news.

Lucas and Apple were both in Silicon Valley; the gossip within the industry had always been very noisy; he had also met Steve Jobs twice in private.

Honestly, Lucas was also optimistic about Apple's future; and, Anson mentioned the key, "Jobs", which was the source of Apple's vitality.

It was just that Lucas wasn't as certain as Anson; after all, as a practitioner in the venture capital industry, he needed to remain rational and objective at all times; only in this way could they accurately grasp the industry's trends and market movements, and make the right decisions in the midst of chaos.

So, what about now?

Should he trust Anson's unprofessional judgment?

Second update. An extra update tonight.