From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Their eyes met.

Anson didn't look away, and neither did Annie. They simply gazed at each other, allowing their eyes to continue communicating, their thoughts churning silently.

And then.

Anson broke the silence first, gently raising his chin, "So, this is how you see me through your eyes. Are you confessing to me right now?"

Just a little joke.

This time, Annie didn't smile. "But now I know it was just an illusion. You have your own troubles in your world, just like me."

"I don't want others to judge me simply and crudely based on my appearance or prejudices, so the first step should be that I can't judge others based on their appearance and prejudices."

"The law of conservation of the universe, everything is fair, right?"

Her words were like pebbles dropped into a clear spring.

Plop.

Ripples spread through his heart.

Anson smiled again. "Wow, that's a new one. Thank you for vindicating pretty faces. We have souls too."

Ha, hahaha.

Annie couldn't help it, and a smile crept back onto her lips, fully blooming.

However.

The smile faltered slightly, and Annie's expression became embarrassed.

This time it was Anson's turn to be stunned. "What's wrong, Annie?"

Annie's eyes darted around. "I, uh, I need to touch up my makeup."

Touch up her makeup?

Anson blinked, realizing what was happening a beat later:

Touching up makeup was just a euphemism women used to signal a trip to the restroom.

Anson: … … "Of course."

Annie noticed Anson's expression and wanted to crawl into a hole—

Why? Why did such embarrassing things always happen to her? And more than once. The drooling incident on the plane last time was a memory she wanted to erase completely, but she didn't expect a second wave today.

Damn it!

But at this moment, Annie couldn't care anymore. She turned and left, her face full of shame and annoyance.

After taking only two steps, Annie stopped again. "You, you don't have to wait for me. You can leave first. See you another day. We'll contact each other another day. No, never mind."

Annie babbled incoherently, not knowing what she was doing at all—

Wow, this, this…

In the end.

Anson stood there alone, stunned and disheveled in the wind, his thoughts completely unable to keep up with Annie's brain speed. What was that? And what was that about? What was going on? He was left behind alone, full of question marks.

However, looking at Annie's fleeing figure, he couldn't help but smile, which quietly crept onto his lips. But he immediately realized that he needed to keep a low profile to avoid attracting attention, so he quickly lowered his head to hide it.

Describing it seems particularly long, but the brief back-and-forth conversation lasted less than five minutes. The words "flaxen-haired girl" still echoed in the air, and the audience leaving the mall one after another was still surging.

Suddenly, Anson thought of something and looked around again.

Where's Jack?

He didn't know if Jack and his little friends had thought of a way to sneak into the midnight show; but he didn't see any middle school students in the surrounding crowd for the time being. It seemed that they should be hiding in a secret corner waiting for the opportunity to act.

These little guys were quite smart, knowing that such things couldn't be rushed and required patience to find the best opportunity.

Standing alone by the fish tank suddenly made him conspicuous. He could vaguely feel some gazes inadvertently drifting over. If he continued, he might expose himself. Anson looked around, preparing to take the initiative to find Lucas, but he saw Lucas walking over.

"The situation is better now. We don't have to wait for the entire place to be cleared. Leaving mixed in with the crowd is safer and avoids causing a commotion as much as possible."

Lucas was determined.

Tomorrow, the Woods were coming to San Francisco to accompany Anson on vacation, and the last thing they needed was for paparazzi to discover Anson's whereabouts.

Lucas was a little worried about Anson—

He had noticed Anson's tension and vigilance since arriving in San Francisco.

But he didn't expect that looking at Anson again at this moment, Anson had gradually relaxed, and even with people coming and going around him, he seemed particularly relaxed.

It seemed that going to the cinema tonight was the right choice.

Anson nodded, ready to go to the underground parking lot with Lucas; but he remembered something as soon as he took a step—

How would Annie get back?

Judging from Annie's actions when she entered, she had run out alone; and Annie's expression wasn't good when she went to the restroom.

So, was Annie driving herself? Or was she going to call a taxi?

This was San Francisco, and Annie, like him, was a visitor, certainly not as familiar as she would be in New York or Los Angeles.

Thinking of this, Anson signaled Lucas, "I'm going to the restroom."

Lucas glanced at Anson.

Anson had to explain, "I just met a friend here. She wasn't feeling well and went to the restroom. I'm going to ask if she drove herself here, otherwise we can give her a ride."

Lucas nodded knowingly. "I'll wait for you here. Hurry back."

Anson made an "OK" gesture and walked quickly towards the restroom.

Wait—

Looking at the women's restroom in front of him, Anson couldn't help but pause. In the end, he didn't go in, but stood at the door and politely asked loudly inside.

"Hey, ladies' restroom, is anyone in there? I'm looking for a friend, sorry to bother you, can you please help me? I'm looking for a Ms. A…"

"Oh, Ms. A. H."

Anson's polite voice echoed in the restroom, and a response came immediately.

"Anson, Anson!"

Anson responded loudly, but still stood at the door, not daring to go in rashly. "Annie?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you… Touching up my makeup, I'm just asking, do you have a car to go home? If not, I can wait for you."

Annie covered her cheeks with some frustration. "Anson, you don't have to worry… Uh, I know how to get back… I, I can find a way to get back. You can leave first, yes, God, you should leave."

Anson stood there thinking carefully, faintly feeling that something was wrong. "Annie, are you okay?"

Annie didn't respond.

At this time, Anson also realized that Annie had been in the restroom for a while; and Annie's expression and actions just now were not right.

"Annie, is everything alright?"

Annie's muffled voice came from between her fingers, "I, I'm trapped in here."

"What?" Anson paused and confirmed it again loudly. "Is there anyone else inside? If so, can you please help my friend?"

Annie was a little frustrated. "No, Anson, there's only me in here. I've been calling for help for a while."

God!

Only then did Anson step inside. "Annie, what do you mean? Do you need toilet paper?"

Annie was incoherent, frustrated and annoyed, her voice trembling slightly. "I, just there's blood on my skirt. It's not what you think, I'm fine, I don't have any wounds."

"Oh."

Anson closed his mouth tightly and immediately understood.

Annie closed her eyes tightly and fell into despair. "You, uh, can you give me some toilet paper? Thank you."

Buzz.

His mind roared, and after a brief blank, the experience of two lifetimes still allowed Anson to calm down. "Of course, no problem."