From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Brad was pessimistic, even cynical, covered in thorns.

Because he had experienced being abandoned and hurt by this bizarre, fickle, and hypocritical world of fame and fortune, bleeding and battered, and even now, he was still standing in the mud, unable to completely escape.

However.

Hearing Anson's self-deprecation and calmly and objectively analyzing the situation, Brad couldn't help but take another look at Anson, but he didn't know how to respond.

"What, are you also worried about the movie failing?" Brad asked somewhat awkwardly.

Anson lightly shrugged, "Is there anyone who isn't worried? Hollywood has summarized a series of successful template formulas, but still no one can ensure the success of a movie. If Hayden's agent is worried that our movie will fail and become a burden to his advancement to superstardom, I don't blame him; he has reason to believe that."

Chris was speechless for a moment, "Anson!"

Seeing Chris so anxious, Anson, the person involved, seemed particularly relaxed, "Chris, don't worry. The movie won't succeed because I piously pray to God, nor will it really fail just because I casually say so. There's no need to be so serious."

That nonchalant appearance made Chris stare at Anson with a hopeless expression.

"Haha." Anson laughed directly, then changed the subject and pulled it back, "But I still don't believe Hayden left for that reason."

Brad was stunned and directly laughed in anger, "Why?"

Anson lightly shrugged, "Maybe his agent might have demanded it, but Hayden really didn't need to leave so stealthily."

"He could leave, just find an excuse. For example, find a better apartment, move in with his girlfriend, or need to retreat for a new role for a period of time. He has a hundred legitimate reasons to leave."

"We are friends, but there are no restrictions."

"Even if he simply said he wanted to change his environment, we have no reason to stop him. Why leave without saying goodbye like this, instead leaving a handle behind?"

"Honestly, if Hayden didn't want to be used by James and me, he shouldn't have left so stealthily, acting like he had a guilty conscience."

"At that time, James and I can complain, reveal some information, hint a little, and there will be gossip. The attention of negative news is far higher than boring news like 'we are roommates'."

Of course, Anson admitted that believing in Hayden's character was a very important reason; but more importantly, Hayden had no need to do this—

Even if it was cutting ties.

This is unreasonable.

Chris was immediately persuaded, nodding repeatedly, looking at Anson and then at Brad, "Yes, yes, yes, that's right, he didn't need to do this. Something must have happened."

Brad: ...

With a speechless expression, he glanced at Chris, then looked at Anson again, and gently exhaled, "Maybe, probably, possibly that's the case."

"Believe me, I also hope that's the case, but reality is often disappointing."

Brad also wanted to believe in friendship, to believe that there was still something pure in Hollywood, but reality is often cruel—

Chris's belief was blind and unconditional. It was obvious that he had never truly experienced hurt, so Brad didn't want to talk more.

And Anson's belief was a kind of faith, calmly unfolding analysis, starting from the facts, and still holding some hope for human nature.

Brad wanted to believe Anson; he hoped Anson was right.

But...

"Even if you are correct, then why did Hayden change his phone number and not notify any of us of the new phone number?"

Brad looked at Anson, waiting for an answer.

Anson was stunned for a moment—

Living in Hollywood, changing phone numbers every now and then is common, because paparazzi are pervasive and can often dig out their numbers; also because flesh-peddling spirits are powerful and often call their private numbers to harass them.

For agents like Edgar, preparing three or five phone numbers is common, even preparing different versions of business cards, targeting different occasions and different goals.

Obviously, Anson had not anticipated this, and couldn't help but look at Chris.

Chris's expression was slightly awkward, but he still nodded to confirm, "The original number has been cancelled."

Brad folded his arms across his chest, looking at Anson with great interest, waiting for a reply.

Anson spread his hands, "Okay, then I may be wrong."

That's it?

Admitting his mistake so simply and neatly?

Brad was caught off guard. He thought Anson would continue to be stubborn. For a moment, he couldn't tell whether he was happy or regretful.

On the one hand, he was happy that he was right.

But on the other hand, he hoped Anson could give him a different answer.

Chris was much simpler; he exclaimed directly, "Anson!"

Anson spread his hands.

Chris was suffocated for a while.

Anson then said, "What I mean is, things are obviously not normal. Not only are there doubts, but it also seems inexplicable. There is no reasonable explanation."

"Of course, Brad may be right. Sometimes, the answer is often the simplest, even though we all don't want that answer to be correct."

"But, the question mark is still there."

"I think, instead of us speculating here, positively, negatively, positively, negatively, trying to persuade each other but not finding the correct answer; it's better to temporarily maintain some patience and ask Hayden in person next time we meet."

"Listen to his answer, and then judge."

Anson understood that people are subjective. When thinking about problems, they always tend to start from their own perspective and depict a fact according to their own wishes, but facts do not represent the truth, and sometimes they are even completely different and go in opposite directions.

In his previous life, he had experienced it himself.

After his father's accident, he and his mother fled in a panic like stray dogs, not contacting any friends, not only because they didn't have the energy, but also because of shame and embarrassment, not knowing how to open their mouths.

Missing the initial opportunity, and then never finding the opportunity to open their mouths again.

Until later, when he reunited with his friends, they were angry, complained, complained, and ridiculed, thinking that he didn't treat them as friends, but he couldn't refute it. Thousands of words finally settled down and turned into an apology.

In those years, he really kept apologizing, to the victims, to his friends, to his colleagues at work, but no one was ever willing to listen to his story.

Of course, Anson wasn't saying that Hayden might have encountered an accident. Things shouldn't be that serious, otherwise the news would have already reported it.

He just thought that maybe he couldn't continue to defend Hayden, but at least they should give Hayden a chance to see what exactly happened, and then judge whether this friendship was worth continuing.

Even so, it's still not too late.

Brad quietly looked at Anson, and involuntarily, he calmed down like this. Those irritability, those sharpness, those edges all quietly subsided.