From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Lucas paused slightly, a hint of confusion and hesitation flashing in his eyes, but the words still came out, "Anson, we're the only film crew currently shooting in Las Vegas."

What did that mean?

Anson was stunned, looking directly at Lucas, unable to grasp the underlying meaning of his words, "Are you saying Jack lied and skipped school secretly?"

Anson shook his head, "That's impossible. Jack is so eager to return to school; all he's ever wanted is to attend school normally like other kids."

"If Jack says he's on a film set, then he should be on a film set. Maybe we're the only large film crew, but Lucas, there are many small film crews in Hollywood, just three or five people can form a crew. We couldn't possibly know about all those independent film crews shooting in Las Vegas."

Lucas quietly looked at Anson, "I know. The 'Elephant' crew is like that."

Anson snapped his fingers, "Right, exactly. After all, Jack is just starting out in Hollywood, even if he's just an assistant on a film set, he might not get into a big production."

Lucas, "Right. That's what I mean too. Jack should be underage, right? He came to Hollywood alone, even if he's just a small assistant on set, it'll be hard for him to find work. Legitimate productions wouldn't risk hiring a minor."

Anson grinned, waving his hand, "You don't know about that, do you? On the surface, it's certainly not allowed, but in the gray areas…"

He stopped mid-sentence.

In his past life, after being targeted by cyberbullying, Anson was practically a rat everyone wanted to beat; finding a job was extremely difficult, an impossible task.

It was then that Anson found a vast world outside of legitimate channels, his only way to eke out a living at the bottom.

Similarly, Anson believed the same was true for Hollywood.

"Anyway, don't worry, I trust Jack," Anson pulled the topic back, thinking seriously, "Jack… Jack is a good kid."

Originally, Lucas was just reasonably suspicious, but now, looking at Anson's trusting face, alarm bells immediately went off—

Something was wrong.

Since the kidnapping incident, regardless of whether Anson remembered those events, his wariness and distance towards strangers had quietly formed. Coupled with the Wood family's tight protection, Anson didn't easily trust strangers.

And after entering Hollywood, a world of fame and fortune, a place filled with suspicion, doubt, jealousy, and betrayal, which Anson had personally experienced, it became even harder to easily give trust to strangers.

Yet, now?

That unease tugged gently at the bottom of Lucas's heart, growing stronger and more turbulent, as if a black hole had opened, engulfing all emotions in its wake.

His fingertips felt as if they had been burned by the air. Lucas subconsciously curled his hand, realizing a beat later how absurd the thought was—how could air burn his fingertips? But he still clenched his fist, controlling his slightly trembling fingers, trying to conceal the rapidly spreading anxiety within.

He'd had doubts more than once or twice, but Lucas always told himself he was just being paranoid and didn't need to make things so complicated.

Until today, Lucas still tried to deny it, digging a hole to bury those anxieties again.

However, this time, Lucas failed.

After a slight pause, Lucas finally raised his eyes to look at Anson, but he faltered upon seeing Anson's clear and bright eyes.

How should he start? How should he phrase it? How should he uncover the wound without causing further harm? How should he tread carefully to avoid destroying Anson?

What… should he do?

Simple words, yet heavy as a thousand pounds.

Subconsciously, Lucas wanted to turn and run, to continue being an ostrich; but… he couldn't.

He wouldn't allow himself to run away again.

Then, the words finally came out. Lucas heard his own unfamiliar voice calmly saying, his heart trembling uncontrollably.

"Anson, besides you, has anyone else seen Jack?"

Anson was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Lucas's voice caught in his throat.

Anson laughed directly, "Lucas, what nonsense are you talking about? Didn't you just see him? He was right here, and others saw him too."

"Haha, Lucas, you must be the one who was hungover last night. I almost fell for it."

Lucas only felt a dryness in his throat, almost unable to make a sound, "No, I didn't see Jack."

Anson turned to look at the staff busy on the stage behind him, "Did you guys just see a tall boy in front? A middle school student… no, no, not quite. Although he's a middle school student, he looks underdeveloped, younger than his peers, around thirteen or fourteen years old, right in front of me."

The staff coming and going stopped and exchanged glances, looking blank and confused, "Sorry, Anson, we didn't notice just now."

Anson couldn't believe it, confirming with his eyes one by one, but the staff all shook their heads, no one able to give Anson a confirming answer.

Anson: ???

What the hell!

Anson laughed out loud, "Lucas, if this is an April Fool's Day prank, then I have to give you full marks. The effect, I was almost scared."

Anson looked away, then looked at the audience in front of the stage, "Sorry to disturb your rest, but did you guys just see a tall boy in front of me? I chatted with him here for a few words, for a short while."

However…

"No, nothing, I didn't see anything."

"No, it's always been just you alone."

"Sorry, can't help. I was just discussing your performance with a friend. God, Anson, you were really great today."

Anson frowned slightly, tilted his head, thanking the extras with a smile, but the question marks in his mind grew more and more, turning to look at Lucas.

"Guess everyone is immersed in their own world, plus the theater is crowded and people keep passing by, so no one noticed."

"Looks like I'm not as radiant as I imagined."

Seizing the opportunity, Anson even joked, showing that he was in a good mood.

"But, Lucas, Jack was just here. Really, I'm serious. I'm not kidding."

Lucas looked at Anson's earnest face, his heart slowly sinking. A crack appeared in his usually unreadable mask, his eyes flickering slightly.

"I know, you're serious," Lucas nodded gently, "But…"

The words were still difficult, a hundred times more difficult than imagined.

"But, Anson, I'm serious too," Lucas forced himself to look directly into Anson's eyes, squeezing the words out of his dry throat bit by bit.

Anson tilted his head, stunned slightly, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly but then quickly flattened, looking at Lucas with a confused expression, "What does that mean?"

Lucas repeated, "Anson, no one except you has seen Jack."