From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Bathed in Anson's gaze, shame and remorse, depression and anxiety, anger and helplessness intertwined, striking Annie's nose.

Slightly sore.

"Sorry." Annie lowered her eyes in a fluster, blaming the night; people are always more vulnerable at midnight, easily exposing their weaknesses.

"I, uh, sorry, tonight was entirely my fault."

"Recently, everything has been piling up – school, work, and… and some things at home, my brother… leading to an irregular life. I don't even know what's wrong with my body."

Hesitant and vague.

But Anson understood—

He wasn't a true twenty-year-old; his aged soul had experienced enough to understand the consequences of a physical imbalance.

He could feel Annie's self-blame, and he didn't let her continue.

"This could happen to anyone."

Annie still kept her eyes downcast, avoiding eye contact. She really didn't want to face Anson at this moment, wishing she could disappear into a hole in the ground; but she truly didn't have the strength.

"I'm serious, this could happen to anyone."

Annie finally raised her eyes, words swirling on her tongue, but she didn't know what to say, only whispering, "I want to take a shower."

Anson nodded gently, "Go take a shower, then I'll head back. Lucas is still waiting outside. I think he wants to take off that T-shirt even more than you do."

Pfft.

The corners of Annie's lips twitched slightly, but quickly returned to normal due to blood loss.

Anson protected Annie as she stood up, although he didn't directly offer a hand, he opened his arms to surround her, guarding Annie towards the bathroom.

Annie's steps were heavy and slow, each step seeming to consume all of her body's energy. Her thin shoulders seemed as if they could be crushed by the night at any moment; but she still clenched her teeth, stubbornly relying on her own strength, moving forward step by step, slowly but never stopping.

All the way to the bathroom.

Annie finally stopped, turning around to see Anson's chest.

"Hey, it's okay to leave me here." Annie forced a smile.

Anson stepped back, creating some distance, "Annie."

Annie looked up.

Anson, "Are you okay?"

For a moment, Annie was slightly stunned, and then the smile on her lips blossomed, like an epiphyllum blooming proudly in the night.

"Yes."

Annie wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn't find the words.

"Thank you, Anson."

Taking a deep breath, she repeated it again.

"Thank you."

Thousands of words were condensed into this sentence. She thought about it, but in the end, couldn't find better words.

So, she showed Anson a smile, "Please close the door when you leave, or…"

"Thank you." Anson interjected, "You've said it more than once or twice. Saying thank you too much becomes an apology, but you don't need to apologize."

Then, Anson turned around.

Annie was stunned, hurriedly entered the bathroom, quickly opened and closed the door, tightly blocking all sight, concealing her embarrassment.

Anson, who had already reached the door, paused slightly. He heard the sound from the bathroom—

The sound of the shower. And suppressed sobs.

Even though she covered her mouth, even though the sound of water interfered, he could still hear the restrained crying.

Subconsciously, Anson turned back to the room, but in the end, he stopped.

Since Annie didn't want to be discovered, perhaps he should pretend he didn't notice, leaving her some personal space.

Sometimes, more than companionship, she needed some alone time and space.

After staying in place for a moment, Anson finally didn't stay any longer, turned and left the room, closing the door for Annie, and once again started towards the elevator.

The veins on Lucas's forehead bulged, "How's Annie? Is she okay?"

Anson, "Lucas, that's a souvenir, you didn't just throw it away, did you?"

Lucas, "Are you sure Annie's okay?"

The two brothers talked at cross-purposes, each saying their own thing, neither willing to pay attention to the other.

In the end, Lucas couldn't hold out under Anson's gaze, opened the glove box in front of the passenger seat, and the T-shirt was right there.

Anson exclaimed, "Oh, you even folded it neatly, like a square block of tofu."

Lucas: …

Turning his head, Anson saw Lucas's middle finger raised.

"Haha." This made Anson laugh happily, and then he brought the topic back, "Annie's fine, she just needs a hot shower and a good night's sleep."

Lucas nodded almost imperceptibly, not saying anything more, starting the engine, leaving the parking lot, and embarking on the journey home.

The night deepened.

San Francisco, not Los Angeles, nor New York, and certainly not the sleepless Las Vegas. Even the bars had a 3 AM curfew. After a brief period of noise, the city fell into a gentle quiet.

Annie thought she might not sleep well, or even have insomnia, but surprisingly—

She didn't.

Because of fatigue, both mentally and physically, her head hit the pillow and she fell into a daze, only waking up in the morning.

Until she was awakened by room service.

"…I didn't call room service."

Annie looked at the hotel server with a questioning look.

The room service attendant pushed the trolley into the room, explaining to Annie, "Last night, a Mr. Michael Moscovitz pre-ordered room service for you and paid the entire bill in advance."

Annie: "Who?"

The room service attendant handed over the card from the flowers.

Annie opened it and read.

"Dear Mia,

Hope you had a good night's sleep.

Michael."

It was actually quite serious.

Annie finally realized that it was Michael's name from "The Princess Diaries," so awkward and strange, she didn't even know Michael had a last name. Wait, Lily and Michael are siblings, so what's Lily's last name?

Thoughts surged in her mind.

Annie looked at the trolley in front of her—

Pan-fried salmon steak, salad, onion soup, and a glass of warm milk.

Just as Annie was confused, the room service attendant explained again, "This glass of warm milk was specially requested. Mr. Moscovitz said that everything else didn't matter, but the warm milk must be drunk."

Annie picked up the milk, slightly hot, the temperature penetrating the cup and warming her palm, the muscles that had been drowsy all night quietly stretched out.

She took a sip.

Her entire internal organs also relaxed, and a smile quietly crept onto the corners of her lips.

Annie tipped the room service attendant, holding the milk and escorting the other person out, closing the room door, tiptoeing back to the trolley, picking up the card and rereading it carefully, again and again.

It was just a short sentence, but it seemed to have magic, and the tired and dull mood quietly climbed to the clouds, and even the gloomy sky outside the window seemed to brighten.

Involuntarily, she looked at the card over and over again, looking at the food and flowers on the trolley, while drinking all the milk in the cup.

Suddenly remembering something, Annie put down the card and milk and returned to the bathroom.

Looking left and right, trying to awaken her memory, she finally found the crumpled graffiti T-shirt next to the trash can in the corner.

Sure enough, the quality wasn't good. It had only been one night, and it already looked like it was going to pill. She didn't know if throwing it in the washing machine would turn it into a pile of rags.

Looking at it now, it was a good thing she didn't throw it in the trash last night.

Standing in front of the mirror, Annie put the T-shirt in front of her again, gesturing with it, looking around, it didn't seem as bad as she remembered.