From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Hesitation, bewilderment, lingering, bound hand and foot.

Charles didn't know what to do, not even sure if there was a solution. Perhaps they should seek the advice of a professional psychologist.

Looking at Anson, he always wanted to say something more, but didn't know how to organize his thoughts.

Opening his mouth, he swallowed everything back after seeing the smile in Anson's eyes. Charles also revealed a smile, returning the gesture.

"What about the crew's work today?" Anson took the initiative to ask.

Charles was caught off guard, "Huh?"

"The crew," Anson repeated, "What about the crew's filming?"

Charles: … …

Standing at the door, Lucas took a deep breath, dragging his sanity back to the ground.

Anson needed him. He had to be calm, he had to be rational, stay composed, and not panic. He couldn't let the nightmares of his youth replay.

Turning around, Lucas pushed open the hospital room door, his expression already calm.

"I just heard someone talking about work? Please tell me it's not you, you idiot."

As he spoke, Lucas's gaze turned to Anson.

Anson silently looked at the sky, pretending not to know who Lucas was talking about.

Lucas, "You, it's you. Clearly, your physical condition is poor, and you're lying in a hospital room, yet you're still wholeheartedly concerned about the crew. What is that if not idiotic?"

Lucas, "Dad!"

Charles raised his hands in surrender, but his mouth continued to mutter to itself, "That humble and low-key act doesn't work in Hollywood. I prefer this version of Anson now. Let all the jealous people get lost."

Anson, "Haha!"

Then, Anson and Charles even high-fived in celebration.

Lucas: … …

Anson noticed the murderous look in Lucas's eyes, quickly withdrew his right hand, put on an innocent expression, and blinked his eyes, filled with innocence.

"You can tell the director that I can return to work with the crew tomorrow."

Lucas frowned, "Why be in such a hurry?"

"If you're worried about the situation from 'Spider-Man 2' happening again, there's no need. The situation is completely different now. No one dares to attack you."

Last time, Anson was injured on the set of "Spider-Man 2", which caused a huge uproar, involving half of Hollywood, with a chain reaction far beyond imagination.

In just half a year, a similar situation has actually happened again. According to past practice, one can imagine the media's uproar, they will definitely not let Anson go easily, and may even create an even more shocking and terrifying situation.

However, there's no need to worry, things are different now.

Anson's status is completely different now, and the voices surrounding Anson have also undergone earth-shattering changes. There is absolutely no need to worry about media attacks and encirclement.

What's more, don't forget that the production company for "Walk the Line" is Forest Pictures, and the company's current head is in Anson's hospital room.

To take a step back, even if the sensationalist media uses the same old trick to stir up trouble, hinting at Anson throwing his weight around by leveraging the popularity of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", the entire public opinion environment has already undergone tremendous changes, and Anson won't necessarily be passively beaten without any ability to resist. Things are ultimately different.

Looking at Lucas, who revealed a hint of tough domineering in his understatement, the smile on Anson's lips rose.

"No, I'm not worried." The more he thought about it, the funnier it got, and Anson laughed directly, "Haha, Lucas, I'm not worried at all. Have you forgotten?"

"Last time, I wasn't worried either."

"If those reporters think I will obediently surrender like a little lamb and let them do as they please, they are wrong."

"I'm not worried about the media, never worried."

Subconsciously, Lucas wanted to retort, but after seeing Anson's clear and bright eyes, his words ultimately stopped, because he knew Anson was serious.

Lucas, "Then what are you worried about? The director?"

Anson, "No, Johnny Cash."

Lucas: … …

Anson laughed directly, "Haha, you should see your expressions. I'm not crazy, I know Johnny Cash is the character I'm playing."

"But that's what I mean."

"I'm worried about my character, my performance. Lucas, you know what? This is the first time I've wholeheartedly invested in a character. At times, I even feel like I've merged with the character, completely entering Johnny Cash's world. The real boundary between reality and image is disappearing."

"I know, I know, don't you two look at me like that. If you add Mom to the mix, you'd think I was a three-year-old."

"I mean, I think I've finally explored a whole new possibility in the world of acting. I like this process, and I like this state. This is why I like acting, projecting the shadows in my heart onto the character, releasing and venting through the character's life."

"Finally, maybe—just maybe—I can leave some of my wounds in the character and the film world. When the film ends and the performance ends, I will also be healed."

"After all, apart from acting, there are very, very few opportunities for us to bravely face our wounds. This is also why psychologists in modern society make so much money. The couch in their office is probably the only space where countless people can honestly face their true selves."

These were indeed things that Lucas and Charles didn't understand.

There was still some hesitation in Charles's eyes. He tried to stop Anson, or at least persuade him again.

But this time, Lucas took the lead, "Tomorrow, are you sure?"

Anson raised his hands and feet, "Please, Lucas, do I look injured? If I wasn't worried about you guys having a heart attack, I was originally thinking of going back to the crew in the afternoon…"

Before he could finish speaking, Anson felt the temperature of Charles and Lucas's gazes. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Tomorrow."

"So, I said tomorrow."

"God, can you guys not be so jumpy, okay? Calm down, understand? Calmness is the most valuable trait of an adult."

Lucas squinted at Anson.

Anson obediently swallowed the words that followed, whistling and looking out the window, "Ah, the weather is nice today."

Outside, Jack was gone from that overpass.

The corridor was empty, and the clean, bright glass reflected their figures.

Charles followed Anson's gaze, looking at the empty overpass, but he couldn't be sure if the scene he saw was the same as Anson's. This thought gripped his heart tightly, making it hard to breathe.

But Charles still controlled himself. It wasn't until he left the room, created some distance, and made sure Anson couldn't hear him, that he grabbed Lucas.

"Are you sure?"