1579-1581

Chapter 1579: Cleaning Up the Mess 

The meeting room was oppressive, stifling, and restless. 

It wasn't dead silent; the rustling sounds of people whispering to each other constantly stirred, and you could clearly sense everyone's unease. 

Actually, they hadn't been without a premonition. When the opening box office came out, worries and suspicions were already flying everywhere. But they still barely managed to stay calm and convinced themselves that "Spider-Man 2" couldn't possibly be crazier than the previous one. 

Then, they were slapped hard in the face— 

A 38% drop in the second-weekend box office. All arguments and hopes were extinguished, completely crushing the morale of Michael's faction with overwhelming force. 

Furthermore, the strength of the Billboard Hot 100 and album charts, and the wave of enthusiasm from news media and online forums all uniformly leaning towards Anson, painted a picture of immense momentum. Even Sony Columbia had to back down a bit. 

It was over. Everything was over. 

The key point was how they should face the mess and scattered feathers before them. 

Tension. Fear. Panic. 

An urge to vomit churned in their stomachs. The meeting room simply couldn't stay quiet. 

Until— 

Bang! 

The meeting room door was pushed open, and Michael Linton appeared. 

All the noise vanished. The bustling gazes landed on Michael. 

Dressed in a suit and tie, looking refreshed and composed in his stride, at least on the surface, Michael didn't seem much different from usual. Even his face still wore its characteristic smile, as if it were just another ordinary morning. 

Michael was still Michael. 

However, not everyone in the meeting room could face failure and defeat like Michael. Someone impatiently broke the silence. 

They didn't even wait for Michael to sit down. 

"...Michael!" 

A call. He seemed hesitant to speak, and even Michael looked over at the sound. 

The voice hesitated further, but at this point, there was no turning back. Under everyone's gaze, he forced himself to continue. 

"What do we do now? I mean, how should we deal with Anson?" 

In an instant, all sound in the entire meeting room was cut off. Even breathing seemed to stop. Everyone went completely stiff, not daring to move an inch; but their peripheral vision all sneakily drifted towards Michael. 

Unexpectedly, but reasonably, Michael's expression didn't change at all. 

Without pausing or hesitating, "Bow our heads and admit fault, actively show sincerity." 

Michael said. Clearly, Michael had recovered from the shock and impact of the morning. He'd shaken off his disarray, regrouped, and was ready to fight again— 

If Amy Pascal thought he would simply admit defeat like this, she had underestimated him. 

A true man can bend and stretch. As long as he could turn the situation around, even kneeling to admit fault was no problem, because what he was aiming for were the bigger things to come. 

Admit fault? 

No big deal. 

The meeting room was filled with stunned silence. Everyone froze stiffly in place. 

Seeing this scene, Michael was instead composed, and the corner of his mouth gently curved upward. 

"We need Anson. He is Peter Parker, and Peter Parker is him. It's as simple as that. So, this is a head-on confrontation now. The next step is to see who can win Anson over; whoever does, wins." 

People in the meeting room exchanged glances. "But we..." 

Michael chuckled. "We had conflicts before? In Hollywood, everyone has friction and conflicts. If you refuse to cooperate over just a little conflict, then don't bother sticking around Hollywood. Go back to your ivory towers and keep daydreaming." 

"This is the land of fame and fortune. Interests come first. There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests." 

"Now, what we need to do is give Anson a proposal he can't refuse. At the same time, we need to make the board understand that we are more reliable and more economical than Amy, and that our plan for the company's future is more feasible." 

A voice from the crowd said, "But that means we'll have to pay a huge price." 

Michael nodded. "Then we cut flesh (accept losses). The real decisive battle comes next: negotiating interests, controlling losses, long-term planning. I am confident." 

The reason was that Sony Columbia wasn't satisfied with Amy Pascal's overall plan and long-term goals. The board didn't believe Amy could lead Sony Columbia to reach new heights and compete with other film companies. 

That's why he appeared. 

Now was the best chance to prove his ability in front of the board. 

A crisis, Michael knew, this was a difficult life-or-death crisis. But looked at from another angle, a crisis could also transform into an opportunity, evolving into a chance for him to burn his bridges and make a desperate comeback, a chance to prove himself— 

If Michael could overcome the crisis and win Anson over, the CEO position would be one hundred percent his. 

He would convince Anson, he would defeat Amy. It was as simple as that. 

Standing in this desperate situation, Michael once again displayed the decisiveness and boldness of a cunning leader. 

Amidst the confusion and wavering, Michael firmly seized the meeting room's attention. With his actions, he reminded everyone present why they had betrayed Amy and chosen Michael in the first place – because they believed Michael was the future of Sony Columbia. Now, that idea was reignited once again. 

... 

Buzz, buzz, buzz. 

The sound of his phone vibrating broke the quiet. Anson woke from his sleep with a start, groggily opening his eyes to see the blurry outline of Edgar's face. 

Edgar was fumbling to hang up the phone, refusing to answer. 

Anson rubbed his face hard with both hands. "Oh, God, where am I right now?" 

Edgar said, "On a private jet. We're landing in New York in about forty-five minutes." 

Anson paused slightly. "...Huh?" 

Edgar immediately understood. "Where's the last thing you remember?" 

Anson chuckled. "In the desert in Las Vegas. Sorry, I don't even remember how I got on the plane. The last image in my mind is talking to Noah, but what we actually talked about? I have absolutely no recollection, haha." 

Busy. Non-stop, relentlessly busy. 

Promoting "Catch Me If You Can" back then was already busy enough, with flash mob events crisscrossing North America. Anson practically lived in train cars for two weeks. But that was just flash mob events. This time with "Spider-Man 2," it was completely different. 

Magazines. Radio. TV. Movie theaters. Newspapers. 

Every city, every platform was eager for Anson. Although Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, and Sam Raimi all joined the promotion, Anson was still the main character, the one everyone wanted. As a result, Anson was so busy his feet barely touched the ground; he didn't even have time to drink water. 

Anson hadn't been home for a full two weeks. Forget about returning to his own apartment; even sleeping meant snatching moments wherever he could lie down. Now Anson had mastered the trick of closing his eyes while sitting and instantly falling asleep. On average, getting two hours of sleep a day was something to be thankful for. 

In just a short time, Anson had already shot covers for twenty-seven top magazines and internal features for fifty-one magazines. As for other scattered magazines and newspapers, they were simply countless. It felt like overnight, Anson was back to the pace of the Cannes Film Festival period – too busy to handle it all. 

Before his words had even finished, Edgar's phone started buzzing again. 

Anson couldn't help but laugh. "Looks like it's really important. Are you sure you don't need to answer?" 

Chapter 1580: Raising the Price 

Who am I? Where am I? What am I even doing? 

Honestly, Anson had absolutely no idea at that moment. 

The last thing he remembered was being out in the massive desert outside Las Vegas, doing a photoshoot for "Vogue" magazine. 

While pretty much every model, actor, and director in the world dreams of getting a spot in "Vogue," "The Devil Wears Prada" herself, Anna Wintour, has always seen something special in Anson. And not just once or twice – this time, she did something totally unprecedented and gave him the cover of the September issue of "Vogue" again. 

This means Anson isn't just the first man in history to be on the cover of "Vogue," he's also going to be the first man to pull off that feat twice. 

Seriously, it's rare even for women to get on the cover twice, so it just shows Anson's influence in the fashion world once again. 

Being in the desert, with huge temperature swings between day and night and constantly exposed to the elements, was a real test for Anson, pretty much like shooting a movie. By the end of all that busy work, Anson was almost completely out of it. He honestly didn't remember how he got on the plane or even where he was headed. 

Right now, he was looking at Edgar, but Anson was trying to jolt his brain into remembering things: 

Edgar? When did he show up? Was he in the desert too, or did they meet up on the private jet? 

Wait a minute, a private jet? Why is he on a private jet, and whose is it? 

Up until this point, Anson hadn't even had a chance to properly look at the private jet he was on. It took him many, many moments to realize he was lying flat on a seat that had been made into a bed, covered with a blanket. His throat felt incredibly dry, his brain was a dizzy, jumbled mess, and he couldn't think straight at all. 

"Water." 

A voice reached his ears. Anson looked up and saw Lucas's usual expressionless face. His very first thought was: 

When did Luca show up? Did Luca and Edgar appear together or something? 

But Anson obediently shut his mouth and took the bottle of mineral water from Lucas. The cap was already open. He tilted his head back and just gulped it down. By the time he realized what he was doing, the whole bottle was gone. It felt like rain after a long, dry spell, and his sore, tight body seemed to finally loosen up a bit. 

"You need some light food. Replenish your sugars, carbs, and protein, but not too much. Your stomach's internal clock is all over the place right now, it can't handle too much food." 

Lucas, like he was doing a magic trick, produced a tray and placed it in front of Anson. 

Anson protested, "Lucas, I'm not a child," 

But Lucas didn't answer. Instead, he put a banana and half an orange on the tray. 

Anson couldn't help but chuckle, "You're seriously feeding a kitten here." 

Lucas silently turned away. "Glad you know." 

Next to them, Edgar was trying his hardest to stifle his laughter, struggling to keep a straight face. Noticing Anson looking at him, Edgar quickly coughed and cleared his throat. "Mind your nutrition, mind your nutrition. Your health is the most important thing. If you get sick, Nora won't forgive me." 

"Relax, my mother knows that's not a manager's job. You're not my nanny," Anson teased. 

Edgar replied, "Even though I'm not your nanny, taking every aspect of your situation into account is still part of my job." 

Anson had already started eating obediently. 

He had been groggy and not fully awake, with absolutely no appetite. But once the food got into his stomach, his hand just naturally started bringing it to his mouth. "So, you guys are here... what's the deal? You're not just along for a ride on a private jet, right?" 

Edgar just laughed. "Exactly. There's something up. To be precise, Lucas was the one who came to me, asking about your upcoming schedule." 

Anson responded, "Uh-huh." 

Edgar continued, "I told him you haven't committed to any projects yet because the album is still the priority. We'll decide on the next step only after the album is released. The current priority project is 'Children of Men.' Alfonso Cuarón has already submitted the revised proposal, and we're waiting for feedback." 

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "Hold on, Lucas isn't asking you to push back my schedule so I can rest and adjust for a while, is he? Just ignore him. I know myself. I've had enough rest. Once the promotions are done and the album is finished, I'll be ready to get back on set." 

Anson noticed the hesitation in Edgar's expression, and a smile flickered in his eyes. "Lucas is probably staring at you with daggers in his eyes from behind, isn't he?" 

Edgar's expression was a bit awkward. 

Anson pressed on, "Hmm? Something's not right. Or are you worried that 'Spider-Man 2''s box office was too successful, so we should be more cautious about the next step, that 'Children of Men' isn't the best choice? Should we pick a project with more box office pull?" 

Edgar let out a long sigh. "Yes and no." 

"I know that after 'Spider-Man 2,' pretty much everyone is watching your next move, especially after that triple jump you made with 'The Butterfly Effect,' 'Elephant,' and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.' But I genuinely believe that's not the main issue anymore." 

"Because now, you don't need to prove yourself. From now on, you should focus on showing what kind of actor you are, how you want people to remember you – that's the only important thing." 

"But at the same time, yes, we do need to be clear about the role and the style of this next project ourselves. Even if we don't need to prove anything to anyone, the acting world that belongs to you is just starting – that's also true." 

The "pretty face" label has finally been ripped off. What comes next is the world of being an actor, a much more complex and wider world. 

Sometimes, being just a "pretty face" is simpler. You just fit into people's stereotypes, like Matthew McConaughey or Adam Sandler – box office success is all that matters. If you want to leave that safe zone and explore different possibilities, things get complicated and difficult. Suddenly, there are a lot more factors that define a project's success besides just the box office. 

Anson nodded slightly. "Uh-huh, so?" 

Edgar was just about to speak when his phone started vibrating for the third time. 

Lucas finally couldn't hold back. "You should just turn it off." 

Anson let out a light laugh. "A manager's phone being off? That would be pretty much the end of the world, wouldn't it?" 

Edgar glanced at his phone screen. 

Anson prompted, "Who is it? Looks really important, you should take it." Otherwise, they wouldn't be calling for the third time in five minutes, just non-stop and relentless. 

Edgar, looking completely unfazed, showed the screen to Anson. "Michael Lynton." 

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is it really okay for a manager to just ignore the CEO of Sony Columbia's call like that?" 

Edgar calmly put his phone down, his face relaxed. "I'm doing it on purpose, and you know what? He knows I'm doing it on purpose too. I plan to let him stew for a little while longer." 

Anson chuckled out loud. Clearly, Edgar had deliberately not turned off his phone, precisely so Michael could get through, but he was just refusing to answer again and again. 

It was like playing a trick on someone. 

Edgar was openly messing with Michael Lynton. 

Anson continued eating his salad and veal, his eyes full of laughter. "This isn't like you at all! Are you actually letting your feelings get in the way? What happened to putting profits first? You're playing games here like you're in middle school." 

Edgar gently shook his head. "No, this isn't about emotions." 

"This is strategy." 

"I'm intentionally making Michael think I'm throwing a tantrum. Only then, when he believes I'm letting out my anger and frustration, will he feel a bit better about the situation. Only then will he be willing to believe that when I finally sit down to negotiate, I won't be playing games, and everything I say will be genuine." 

Chapter 1581: Working in Concert 

"Look, here's the thing." 

"Michael knows we're angry, or rather, he thinks I'm angry. If I don't give him a little show of force, he'll definitely think I'm still holding a grudge and won't be able to talk calmly and objectively. Any terms I propose after that, he'll just dismiss as me throwing a tantrum and talking nonsense." 

"So, I'm just playing along with what he expects – throwing a tantrum." 

"Once he thinks all the anger has been vented, then he'll be willing to believe my sincerity." 

Edgar explained with a sincere look on his face— 

Playing along? In other words, Edgar was reluctantly going along with the performance? 

A smile spilled from Anson's eyes. "So, you're still considering him?" 

Edgar replied, "Of course. Otherwise, I'm just a tiny agent. How would I dare easily offend a behemoth like Sony Columbia?" 

Anson looked up at Edgar. "You mean you're not enjoying this even a little bit?" 

Edgar held up his right hand, pinching his index finger and thumb together. "Just a little bit." 

Anson burst into hearty laughter. "Just a little bit?" 

Edgar spread his hands. "No need to expose it, is there? For God's sake, the look on their faces last summer was truly nauseating." 

Before Anson could say anything, Lucas's voice came from behind, "We need to get back both the face and the substance. We don't just want to make them lose face, we want to make them pay dearly. So what if it's Sony Columbia? In the face of profit, they have even less backbone than us little shrimps." 

Edgar turned slightly and looked at Lucas. "I promise, we'll make Sony Columbia feel the pain, gritting their teeth and enduring it while it hurts." 

Only then did Lucas nod gently, feeling satisfied. 

Noticing Anson's slight head shake, Lucas couldn't help but remind him, "Anson, don't go soft because of Amy Pascal." 

Anson burst out laughing directly. "No, I'm not that kind. I fully agree." 

"I'm just feeling a little bit of pity for them, that's all. They always thought they were sitting high up and controlling everything, and now they've completely lost face. It's a reminder to us, Lucas, not to take things lightly." 

"If this Michael Linton loses his mind and goes crazy now, then he's not worth fearing. But if he finds his reason now and is willing to humble himself and be flexible, then he's a real threat. He'll seize the initiative at any cost. We should get rid of him for Amy's sake." 

Lucas said, "Anson, you're learning some bad habits." 

Edgar added, "Our good news, Michael Linton's nightmare." 

Edgar put his phone down, continuing to ignore the buzzing. 

"Where were we?" Edgar looked at Anson. 

Anson replied with an innocent look, "Are you asking me? My brain isn't working right now. It's basically on goldfish mode." 

Lucas's voice came from behind, "I was asking Edgar about your schedule because I'm thinking about whether we should invite you to star in 'The Hangover'." 

Edgar confirmed, "Right, 'The Hangover'." 

"Honestly, I think it's a good suggestion." 

"Firstly, it's a project you personally selected, so the quality is guaranteed." 

"Secondly, it's a commercial genre film. After shooting 'Walk the Line' and following the debut of 'Spider-Man 2,' this movie is more suitable as your next project, at least from a press and publicity angle." 

"It doesn't matter which one, 'The Hangover' or 'Children of Men,' gets released first. The main thing is, in the current spotlight, 'The Hangover' is more suitable than 'Children of Men' for building buzz and promotion. Eve agrees too." 

"Thirdly, it's a comedy. After 'The Princess Diaries,' you'll be challenging a comedy role again, and a mainstream comedy at that. This is a statement to all of Hollywood: even though you've shed the 'pretty face' label, you're not trying to become Jack Nicholson or Robert De Niro in one go. You're willing to take on comedies without caring about your image. You don't have an idol's burden, and you're highly receptive to different kinds of roles." 

"This is a signal." 

"On one hand, it's a signal to producers and film companies that you have an open attitude towards roles and genres." 

"On the other hand, it's a signal to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that you are an actor, but you're not desperately chasing their approval like Leonardo DiCaprio. Regarding your acting career, you have your own ideas and vision. You are an independent, self-directed actor with a distinct personality." 

"So, it's a statement." 

Of course, it wasn't that simple. If Anson chose to star in "The Hangover," countless voices would likely emerge in Hollywood, but the follow-up would be Edgar and Eve's job. They were preparing to guide public opinion in this direction, step by step opening up a completely new landscape for Anson as an actor. 

Anson was quite surprised and turned to look at Lucas. "How did you come up with this idea?" 

Lucas replied, "Because you're suitable." 

"We've completed negotiations with the two screenwriters and bought the script outright for two million dollars. Not only can we revise it freely, but the rights to make sequels are also in our hands." 

"I've invited the two screenwriters and Todd Phillips, whom you mentioned, to continue revising the script. Currently, two revised versions of the script are done, and Todd Phillips thinks everything is ready to go. We can start casting and pre-production, and with Warner Bros.' assistance, everything is moving forward." 

"Jeff Robinov believes you are the most suitable actor. Warner Bros. only considered this project in the first place entirely because they believed in your appeal." 

"I've read the script carefully, and I agree." 

"Honestly, I can't think of anyone more suitable than you. A charm that's somewhere between a boy and a man, a charisma between a scholar and a player. You're willing to believe he's the most responsible person among everyone, and you're also willing to believe he'll party with you until dawn." 

"This contradictory yet fatal charm isn't something just any actor can pull off." 

"I'm the boss of Forest Pictures, and I want the movie to succeed. So, Anson Wood is my first choice." 

That serious and earnest posture made a smile climb up Anson's lips. "Thanks for the appreciation, big boss." 

A hint of a smile flickered in Lucas's eyes. "So, what do you think?" 

Anson stuffed a piece of lettuce into his mouth. "I promise you, I'll give it careful consideration. You know, my brain is just a blur right now, not fit for thinking. Please give me some time. How about I get back to you after I've thought it through?" 

Looking at Anson's earnest expression, Lucas nodded gently. "Alright." 

Unexpectedly, Anson immediately turned back. "Lucas, just now a big boss was willing to pay a heavy price to invite me to star in a comedy. How much do you think I should ask for in salary?" 

Edgar was taken aback. He looked at Anson, then at Lucas, and couldn't hold back, bursting into laughter. 

Lucas, however, was exceptionally calm. "Big company or small company?" 

Anson replied, "Small company. A small company that has only shot one movie so far." 

Lucas said, "In that case, instead of asking for a salary figure, it's better to ask for a percentage of the box office profits. That way, it can reduce their burden, and at the same time, it can maximize your earnings. As for the specific percentage of box office profits, you can talk to them and see how sincere they are. Why don't you ask Edgar about it?" 

A second ago, Edgar was still suppressing laughter, his shoulders shaking. 

The next second, Edgar found both Wood brothers looking at him, and his laughter suddenly got stuck in his throat.