From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

"What?"

Michael Hathaway abruptly stood up, causing the chair to fall over. He instinctively turned to grab the chair, but his attention was elsewhere. He missed completely, holding his phone with a shocked expression, standing frozen in place.

"Wait, are you sure? This isn't a joke?"

Nearby, Annie Hathaway and Thomas Hathaway, who were enjoying dinner, were startled by their older brother's actions. The two exchanged bewildered glances, silently asking each other "What happened?", but ultimately, neither of them had any clue.

For a moment, they didn't know if it was good news or bad news.

Michael was completely immersed in his own thoughts, not noticing the commotion beside him. "Is he still there? Did he leave any information?"

"But, I'm the creator, why can't I know?"

"Oh, God, wait, are you sure the number is correct? I remember the price tag..."

This time, Michael came back to his senses, looking at his younger siblings. Their eyes were filled with concern. He quickly waved his hand and smiled, "It's good news. Good news."

After speaking, Michael froze again.

A moment later, Michael snapped out of it, "My painting, it sold."

Thomas thought for a moment, "That city night scene?"

Michael nodded blankly, "Yes."

Then he looked at Annie and Thomas, dazed, "It sold for fifty thousand dollars."

Even saying it out loud, it still didn't feel real. It was hard to believe that this was really happening, like being in a fog, unable to process it all.

Thomas looked at Annie, lowering his voice, "You didn't secretly buy it, did you?"

Annie rolled her eyes, "Thomas, do you think I have fifty thousand dollars to buy a painting?"

Thomas made a face.

A beat later, Michael also realized, "Annie, it wasn't you, was it?"

Annie raised her hands, looking helpless, "Michael, it really wasn't me. You should believe in yourself, your work has finally been seen."

Michael was skeptical.

Annie clenched her fist and cheered for Michael, "Your work sold, ahhh, Michael!"

The next second, the feeling of reality finally hit. Michael and Thomas also became excited, clenching their fists and jumping up, cheering loudly, entering party mode.

Despite being the older brother, Michael was only two years older than Annie. He had just graduated from college and was in the early stages of exploring his career and life, full of confusion and uncertainty. He had been trying different possibilities, trying to determine the direction of his career.

Their mother, Kate McCauley, was an actress, although not a famous one, she had performed off-off-Broadway.

When Annie was eight years old, she fell in love with acting after watching her mother play the role of Fantine in "Les Misérables", establishing her dream of acting early on. However, the Hathaway parents understood the hardships and difficulties of the acting profession, and they did not want Annie to go down this path.

For this reason, Kate completely left her acting career, returning home to focus on raising her three children, hoping to extinguish Annie's infatuation with acting in this way.

However, Annie still became an actress.

But Michael had never found his direction. He had no interest in acting, but he could never leave the field of art, so he stumbled around, exploring and trying different fields such as painting, writing, photography, and so on.

Of course, this was not easy.

Those struggling artists in movies seem to have grand ideals and a carefree life; but in real life, struggling is struggling.

Not only do you have to worry about rent, but three meals a day are always uncertain. You wander around all day, like a wandering soul, ready to be swallowed by the steel forest of New York at any time.

Michael kept telling himself not to rush, to be patient and positive, and to focus on creating. There was still time to allow himself to explore slowly.

But obviously, it was more difficult than imagined.

Until tonight.

Happiness? Joy? Excitement?

None of these were enough to describe his mood. Michael felt that the whole world was setting off fireworks, completely unable to contain it, and then he had an idea.

"I'm going to the gallery," Michael said.

Thomas, "What?"

Michael repeated, "The painting should still be in the gallery, it hasn't been delivered yet. I need to confirm if this is real."

Thomas chimed in, "Indeed, you should check it out, in case someone secretly helped behind the scenes."

Annie rolled her eyes, "Ha. Ha."

Michael didn't have time to continue chatting. He grabbed his coat and rushed out.

Annie and Thomas looked at each other.

Thomas also smiled, "There's a show to watch, no reason to be absent."

While speaking, he backed out of the room.

Annie followed, "It wasn't me, I told you already, it wasn't me!"

When the Hathaway siblings arrived at the gallery, they were all stunned—

The place was bustling with activity.

It wasn't exactly crowded, but you could definitely see a lively scene of people coming and going. Some people were leaving, and others were entering, the crowd was particularly noisy.

Thomas opened his mouth, "Michael, is this such a popular art exhibition? If it's so popular, the fact that your painting only sold today doesn't seem like something to be surprised and happy about. Maybe they thought it was a warehouse sale, and some sucker snatched it up, thinking they got a treasure... Ouch!"

"Thomas!" Annie elbowed him directly, forcibly interrupting Thomas's teasing.

Michael didn't have time to pay attention to this, "No, the situation of the exhibition has been bad. I just came yesterday, and stayed here for a full two hours, there were only three people in total. Three people! I stared at the door until my eyes were about to fall out, and there were only three people."

"This..."

Michael didn't understand what was happening.

Annie was a woman of action. She opened the car door and got out first, "We'll know when we go in and see."

At this time, Michael reacted a beat late, and quickly called out, "Annie!"

As soon as he spoke, Michael lowered his voice guiltily, and continued to call, "Annie, be careful, put on a hat, you don't want to be seen."

For fear that his call would attract more attention.

Thomas had already chased after her in a few steps, holding a baseball cap in his hand, silently putting it on Annie's head.

Annie, "My hair!"

But she only muttered a few complaints, and ultimately did not resist. She adjusted her hat and walked straight towards the gallery.

Just then, someone came out.

"...I have to say, it's better than I expected."

"I think it's quite interesting, it's a perspective."

"It's a little surprising that he would like this kind of exhibition."

"Haha, what's so surprising, maybe it's just a PR stunt? His PR people made him come out to show off and create a wave of hype. He'll go home and put the painting in the warehouse to collect dust, and we won't know. As a result, we're all fooled, thinking he has great taste."

While discussing and chatting, they left directly.

Annie couldn't help but take a few more glances at them, but still pushed open the door and entered the gallery. Facing her, directly in front, she could see that slightly unfamiliar but familiar painting.

Annie turned her head, "Michael, this is..."