From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

A small joke tightened the air slightly, and even the sunlight spilling into the hall seemed a little colder.

This made Anson feel slightly helpless.

Anson raised his hands, "Sorry, some jokes shouldn't be made casually. Although, for me, I'm already used to the existence of illusions, it's still shocking for you. You're still worried that I might become a madman like the Hollywood actors in the rumors."

The air, stiffened.

Anson sighed softly, his face full of helplessness, "A joke, this is also a joke."

Lucas looked at Anson quietly, "But it's not funny."

Anson spread his hands, "Unfortunately, I think you might have to put up with me for the rest of your lives."

Pfft.

This time, Charles couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Although Nora and Lucas were expressionlessly judging Charles, a smile appeared on Anson's face, "Thank you for your support, dear Mr. Charles Wood."

Charles also cooperated very well, raising his right hand and bowing slightly, like a singer thanking fans at a concert, expressing his gratitude to a non-existent audience.

Anson nodded in satisfaction, and feeling Nora and Lucas's gazes, he showed a helpless expression, "This isn't something that can be accomplished overnight, you should know that, right?"

"The accumulation of problems wasn't caused in a day or two; the solution to problems is the same, it can't be solved in a day or two, so what should we do, should everyone's life be put on pause?"

Nora spoke, "If necessary, I don't mind."

Anson shook his head, "But I do mind."

Anson looked into Nora's eyes, "Mom, the future is long, and I hope to see a distant and bright future, not just the next ten days or half a month."

These words struck Nora's heart.

"I want to continue creating music, I want to continue challenging different roles, I want to get back on track like Johnny Cash."

"Similarly, I also want you to have your own lives, instead of putting your lives on hold because of an uncertain unknown factor."

Nora, "But you…"

Anson, "If I need help, you'll be there immediately, won't you?"

"Lucas has completely moved his life and work focus to Los Angeles. Even now, I still can't tell if Forest Pictures was a path he chose after sacrificing his career for me."

Lucas met Anson's gaze directly, "At least I'm my own boss now."

It wasn't a direct answer, but this roundabout answer didn't seem so bad.

Anson wrinkled his nose and complained with a look of disgust, "He's still feeling guilty."

"But before he finishes blaming himself, I'm going to make good use of Forest Pictures."

That open and honest appearance made Nora unable to hold back her laughter.

"So, let's all get busy. It's precisely because of these things that have happened that we shouldn't casually pause our lives."

"Mom, Dad, and Lucas too, when you have your own lives and careers, that's the best response to those dark shadows."

Nora, "What about you?"

Anson took a deep breath, "In the past, I was running away, afraid to call for help, refusing to face it, letting fear and pain devour me little by little."

"Mom, Lucas isn't my agent, are you threatening the wrong person?"

Nora didn't care, and pulled Anson into her arms, hugging him tightly.

Anson… wasn't used to it.

In his previous life, in China, they weren't used to hugging or expressing love, especially in families, expressing love directly was an incredibly difficult thing.

Being hugged tightly by Nora at this moment, Anson still felt awkward.

"Mom, Mom… I can't breathe…"

Nora saw Anson still being mischievous, raised her hand and slapped Anson on the back, causing Anson to grimace, like the painting "The Scream", silently crying out in pain, which made Nora finally unable to control herself and burst out laughing.

Rather than saying that Charles and Nora were really convinced by Anson, it was better to say that they truly realized Anson's change—

Anson, was indeed different.

Not only was he able to calmly and clearly face the problem with them last night, and not only was he able to jokingly tease the problem in a relaxed manner today, but the truly important part was the sense of ease revealed on Anson's body.

A lightness and relaxation from having a heavy burden lifted.

At first, Nora thought it was just a temporary illusion brought about by the end of the "Walk the Line" filming, getting rid of the role and work, but gradually she could feel Anson's relief and frankness emanating from the inside out, which was completely different from the confusion, bewilderment, and loss of the past.

At this moment, Nora was willing to believe that Anson had really begun to get rid of the shadows.

Perhaps, they should give Anson some time and space; perhaps, they should, as Lucas said, they also needed to face that nightmare.

The shadow that had been looming over the Wood family was still there, but now it reappeared from the hidden corner, and could be seen clearly.

This, was a beginning.

Outside the window, the golden sunlight filled the sky and penetrated the floor-to-ceiling windows into the house, making the entire space bright and transparent, and breathing became smoother.

Charles and Nora were discussing whether they should prepare a family gathering tonight.

Work, of course, needed to be restarted, but there was no need to rush. They didn't have many opportunities for the whole family to gather. Preparing a big meal at home tonight seemed like a good idea.

However, everything was temporary and sudden, so things were more complicated and tricky—

It needed to be sorted out.

Anson lay back on the sofa, looking at Lucas sitting upright on the opposite sofa flipping through documents, and hearing Charles and Nora's voices coming from the direction of the kitchen, he couldn't help but gently raise the corners of his mouth, "Does it feel like Christmas?"

Lucas looked up at Anson, "Christmas in summer?"

Anson shrugged lightly, "Why not? The Southern Hemisphere is always celebrating Christmas in summer."

Lucas nodded slightly, without refuting.

Anson only noticed the documents in Lucas's hand at this time. They weren't contracts, but more like scripts. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are you reading?"

Lucas didn't move, not even lifting his eyelids, "Didn't you hear what Mom just said? You need to rest, you need to rest for a while recently."