From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Night deepened.

Located inside the mall, the cinema saw not only moviegoers but also casual shoppers.

Now, nearing midnight, with the mall about to close, only the cinema, readying for its midnight screening, glowed red, quietly attracting viewers.

Other customers were leaving in twos and threes, either heading out or towards the underground parking lot, a gentle stream of people flowing outwards.

A melodious and graceful tune began, sending off the customers—

It was likely the eighth piece from Claude Debussy's "Préludes, Book 1," better known as "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair," its piano melody filled with a mysterious and romantic air amidst the tranquility.

Quietly, gently, seated amidst blooming lingonberry bushes, jasmine blossoms scattered in her hair emitted a delicate and refreshing fragrance, her gaze directed towards the distance.

The world around him was surging and clamorous, but within the fish tank's blue glow, Anson's mixed and chaotic emotions gradually settled.

It seemed he was the only one listening intently.

Involuntarily, his gaze followed the tropical fish swimming in the tank, their movements seeming to trace invisible currents, silently flowing at his fingertips, the sound of flowing water reaching his ears, his heart sinking into an endless blue, slowly immersing.

Floating, falling, swimming.

And then.

In the midst of the serene blue, piercing through coral and seaweed, a school of colorful fish suddenly scattered, and Anson saw an eye.

Across the fish tank, their gazes inadvertently met—

A blink.

Both were startled, their heartbeats skipping a beat amidst the graceful piano keys.

He straightened up.

The other person straightened up as well.

His heart pounded, a lingering fear, but in the next moment, he saw the other person through the fish tank.

It was Annie.

Anson was stunned; he could see the tropical fish lingering on Annie's flawless face, swimming freely, outlining her features, her eyes difficult to discern in the dim light, the fish tank's blue glow falling into her deep pupils like stars.

Shining brightly.

Annie was surprised, immediately noticing Anson's damp hair and wet face, her clear and captivating eyes filled with a sea, a vibrant tropical fish completely obscuring Anson's cheek, causing her to hold her breath, anxiously searching.

In a flash, the fish moved away, and his face reappeared.

Even with the baseball cap, it couldn't hide the handsome and refined features, easily stealing her breath, the world freezing in that moment.

Only then did Annie realize her eagerness, shyly and nervously lowering her eyes, but ultimately unable to resist, she secretly looked up again, scanning his face little by little with the corner of her eye, the hazy glow dreamlike, momentarily blurring the line between film and reality.

In a daze, she was transported back into the movie, seeing Frank Abagnale Jr. unleashing his youth once more.

Anson moved forward.

Annie couldn't help but follow suit.

In the fish tank's reflection, Anson and Annie walked side by side; yet Annie fell ahead of Anson, the refracted light slightly offsetting their positions, one chasing the other, inadvertently, their faces overlapping, as if they could feel the warmth on each other's skin through the fish tank.

Before she knew it, a smile bloomed on her lips.

In a brief moment, thoughts melted into the melody of "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair," an indescribable emotion fluttering like a butterfly, light and tingling.

Their gazes quickly averted, yet they couldn't help but search and chase, eventually evolving into action, their footsteps quickening, stirring up a gentle breeze.

Snap.

The air was pierced.

Her footsteps reached the end of the fish tank, the blue light disappeared, Anson and Annie stood before each other, the illusions, the haziness, the daze all gone, eyes meeting eyes, body feeling body, the tangible warmth causing their hearts to lose rhythm, pounding fiercely against their eardrums.

"…Ah, so disappointing."

"Yeah, yeah, I really wanted to see Anson."

"Didn't Anson say the flash mob event was over? You guys still don't believe it."

A burst of noise crashed in, disturbing the tranquil water.

"Pfft."

Anson's laughter reached her ears, and Annie instinctively hid the book, looking up to see Anson's clear eyes, which slightly eased her tension.

"So, are we Romeo and Juliet?"

Annie was taken aback, "My parents probably don't know your parents."

Ha.

The smile on Anson's lips widened, "No, I'm Leonardo DiCaprio, you're Claire Danes."

Annie blinked, thought for a moment, and then realized—

In the movie "Romeo + Juliet" starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, there was such a classic scene, the two meeting for the first time through a fish tank, falling in love.

A smile crept onto her lips, Annie's expression fully blooming, "Are you comparing yourself to Leonardo?"

Anson shrugged lightly, "I think you're prettier than Claire."

Suddenly, Annie looked up at Anson, able to see the smile in his eyes, she hurriedly lowered her head again, wondering if her slightly flushed cheeks had betrayed her.

But after realizing this, Annie mustered her courage and looked up again, no longer hiding her shyness, trying to look at Anson naturally—

Although her eyes still didn't dare to look directly at Anson, only darting around.

At least, she no longer awkwardly tried to hide it, "Judging from your proficiency, I can be sure that you're not praising a girl like this for the first time."

Anson nodded lightly, actually admitting it, "Indeed, in fact, you're the three hundred and seventeenth girl I've praised today."

Speaking nonsense with a straight face.

Annie tried her best to control herself, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up slightly.

Anson didn't pause, continuing to ask, "So, what brings you here?"

Annie looked up at Anson, finally meeting his eyes, with a confused expression as if looking at an idiot, "To watch a movie."

Wasn't that obvious?

Anson raised his hands in surrender, agreeing that he had asked a stupid question, "Another question, so, do you like it? I mean the movie."

Annie slightly raised her chin, revealing a serious expression, "Let me think. I like Steven's direction, I like Tom's performance, I like the soundtrack, oh, right, I like the styling, the clothing combinations in it are really great."

Then, Annie looked at Anson, her face full of sincerity, a perfect curve appearing on her lips.