711-715

*Chapter 711: A Perfect Conclusion*

Nodding, shaking her head, a brief pause, thoughts tangled, and then nodding again.

Blair was confused. So, should she nod or shake her head?

This brought a faint smile to Anson's lips. "I hope you've fallen into a brief state of madness due to the overwhelming success of tonight's surprise event. That way, it would at least feed my arrogance as an actor."

For the first half of that statement, Blair wanted to nod.

But the second half?

Blair froze again.

"No response? Well, I guess that confirms my arrogance."

Anson added another line, and it would have been foolish not to recognize it as a joke by now.

Blair looked at Anson, on the verge of tears, but the smile in her eyes burst through. She finally stared at Anson with a strange expression. "This might be the most non-aggressive arrogance I've ever seen."

"Still, no matter what you are like, I like you just the same."

Finally!

Blair finally caught hold of her sanity, struggling to piece together a coherent sentence.

Anson shrugged lightly. "I won’t refuse that."

Pfft.

A wave of soft laughter rippled through the surroundings.

However.

This time, Anson didn’t let the mood swell. He raised his right index finger to his lips.

"Shhh."

"The movie’s starting."

With that, Anson turned his attention forward, falling silent, just like an ordinary college student. Tonight, he was simply attending with friends to watch the Superman series, enjoying a Friday movie night.

Dressed in youthful attire, Anson indeed blended seamlessly into the crowd—ordinary, yet extraordinary.

Watching Anson's profile quietly, Blair's frantic heart finally found its rhythm, calming down. The noise of the world faded into the background, as if time had paused in this moment.

Turning her head, Blair looked at Karen.

The two friends exchanged a glance, and in each other’s eyes, they saw the same excitement, the same thrill, the same disbelief, and the same overwhelming joy. Even without speaking, they understood each other completely.

Ah.

Silent screaming.

Ahhh.

No sound came from their throats, but the scream in their hearts broke free, utterly unleashed. Happiness spread across their faces, and they could feel countless butterflies fluttering in their stomachs, while fireworks burst across the sky.

Climbing from the depths of their moods to the pinnacle of the universe—it felt just like that.

Then, a deep breath, another deep breath, forcing themselves to calm down. Blair’s gaze stole back to Anson, but she kept her attention mostly on the big screen—

Superman II had begun.

It was indeed an odd scene.

At least, it seemed that way to Nicholas.

If the audience had come for Anson, then the flash mob surprise was over. Anson had now blended into the crowd, completely swallowed by the sea of people. Looking around, he was nowhere to be seen.

If the audience had come for the free screening of Catch Me If You Can, they were now watching a movie from twenty years ago, with no CGI, and easily predictable. Unless someone had a deep love for it, it would bore most people.

To be precise, those standing at the far back, or in the obscure corners at the sides, couldn’t even see the screen clearly, let alone those sitting cross-legged in the front rows.

So why were people still flocking to Washington Square in droves?

Layer upon layer upon layer.

Nicholas stood in the middle of the crowd, like the middle slice of a sandwich, feeling the unrelenting surge of people from behind.

Rising on his tiptoes, he looked toward the arch, but the line of people extended so far he couldn't see the end. The sheer number of heads was astonishing.

For a moment, it felt like experiencing New Year's Eve again.

Grand, majestic, lively.

Far beyond imagination.

Nicholas was also surprised. Without a doubt, this flash mob promotional event had become a marketing case study. Major film companies should take note—this was how promotion should be done—

And at a low cost.

Throughout the event, there were no PR expenses, no marketing costs, no additional event organization fees. Even tonight, the climax of the entire event, the collaboration with NYU likely required no special expenditure.

For companies like DreamWorks, struggling with cash flow, and Universal Studios, notorious for being stingy with promotional budgets, it was a near-perfect case.

Admiration. Nothing but admiration.

Nicholas thought—

Maybe this deserved a feature, focusing on the movie, on Anson, and on the entire promotional campaign.

And, of course, Nicholas did just that.

Three days later, The New York Times ran a special feature, diving deep into the discussion.

"How ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Impacted the Holiday Season Box Office."

In the feature, Nicholas described the conclusion of that night at Washington Square like this:

"Anson, Anson, Anson."

The whole square chanted the same name, like a rock festival. While common at music events, it’s rare in the film industry. At least in my memory, this was the first time.

Anson quietly and attentively watched Superman II, blending in with the audience without any distinction. After the grand promotional event, he didn’t rush to leave or quickly retreat to his hotel to rest but stayed to watch a two-hour-old film.

And after the movie ended, there were no grand farewells, no formal goodbyes. He left quietly, without bodyguards or assistants.

Washington Square responded in kind.

They chanted, but didn’t crowd him.

They were fervent, but not out of control.

They lined up to clear the way, cheering and applauding in an orderly yet wildly enthusiastic manner as they bid Anson farewell.

Undoubtedly, this should go down in North American film promotional history as a milestone event.

As Anson left amidst the deafening, heart-wrenching cheers, the party's energy continued to surge, not fading for a long time.

Those who stayed behind to continue watching Superman III were in for a treat. After the film ended, instead of Superman IV, at precisely 12:05 AM, they began screening Catch Me If You Can—

A gift from Anson.

Thus, the 2,000 audience members who remained experienced the most unforgettable, magical night of their lives. After hearing the lead actor’s creative insights, after seeing him break the fourth wall into reality, they watched as he returned to the movie screen, breaking the fourth wall once more to enjoy the film again.

The same, yet different.

It was the most joyful, relaxing, pleasant, and enjoyable screening I’ve had in the past three years, because Anson made me fall back in love with cinema itself—not for work, not for duty, but purely for relaxation.

Catch Me If You Can was that kind of Christmas gift—unconventional, unexpected, but full of surprise when you opened the box."

In great detail.

Nicholas recorded the end of that night in a unique way, providing readers with a slightly different perspective. But without a doubt, it sparked heated discussions from various angles.

The New York Times special report was just the tip of the iceberg.

Because the aftershocks of this storm were only beginning.

*Chapter 712: Leading by a Landslide*

A feature report from The New York Times sparked a wave of excitement—

Again and again.

Without a doubt, over the past two weeks, Catch Me If You Can has been the top sensation across North America, maintaining high levels of buzz and going viral beyond expectations.

This makes people curious: how will such a popular event conclude? And will it be able to break its own limits and deliver more surprises?

The result?

Catch Me If You Can not only delivered another surprise but did so in a grand yet pure way, reigniting the artistic soul of New York City.

"Grand" because over 10,000 spectators gathered at Washington Square, easily redefining people’s understanding of flash mobs.

"Pure" because the event returned to its cinematic roots, momentarily putting aside commercial marketing and focusing entirely on the film itself—

Choosing the Superman series was a stroke of genius. On one hand, it resonated with the retro era of Catch Me If You Can, and on the other, it mirrored the Flash within the film and Spider-Man outside of it. From any angle, it was a brilliant choice, especially enhanced by the discussions that evening.

Step by step.

Catch Me If You Can firmly held the public's attention, undeniably becoming the hottest title of this Christmas and New Year holiday season, a fact reflected in its box office numbers.

The first weekend box office results for 2003 are in.

This weekend spanned January 3rd, 4th, and 5th, so it had a unique feature:

First, the previous weekend coincided with the Christmas holidays, leading to across-the-board box office surges, with nearly every film seeing a reverse in their typical downward trends.

Second, the December 31st and January 1st holidays sparked a movie-going frenzy, with midweek box office numbers reaching their peak.

Naturally, this weekend’s box office typically experiences sharp drops, with declines over 50% being common. Anything below a 40% drop would be considered a victory, as the midweek numbers were the real highlight.

However, when the North American weekend box office results were released, they brought another surprise and a collective gasp—

1. Catch Me If You Can

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

3. Two Weeks Notice

4. About Schmidt

5. Maid in Manhattan

6. Gangs of New York

Judging purely by rankings, nothing is out of the ordinary. The only surprise was About Schmidt, which had just entered wide release. Riding the buzz from its Golden Globe nominations and the star power of Jack Nicholson, it easily grossed $8.8 million, breaking into the top five.

As for the rest, there were no changes. It was essentially a copy-paste of the previous week's rankings. The fact that Catch Me If You Can held off The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers to retain the top spot was a moderate surprise, but that was about it.

The real shock came from the percentage declines.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers dropped by 48.8%.

Two Weeks Notice dropped by 28.3%.

Maid in Manhattan dropped by 31.2%.

Gangs of New York dropped by 33.9%.

It's clear at a glance.

The larger the previous week's box office, the more severe the decline this week. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers took a big hit and couldn't stop its downward trend, while rom-coms like Two Weeks Notice and Maid in Manhattan performed unexpectedly well, attracting holiday crowds.

After the cold reception of Murder by Numbers, Sandra Bullock made a timely comeback. While Two Weeks Notice still underperformed at the box office, grossing $68 million after three weeks, it at least proved Bullock’s continued appeal in the rom-com market.

Clearly, the big surprise wasn't from the above films. That leaves just one—

Catch Me If You Can, with a decline of only 24.5%.

Amazing, astonishing, breathtaking.

It left everyone in awe.

Following its impressive opening weekend, Catch Me If You Can once again delivered, displaying an overwhelming, unstoppable enthusiasm across North America and completely dominating this holiday season.

Numbers speak the loudest.

In the first week of January, Catch Me If You Can comfortably topped the North American weekend box office with $61.9 million, far ahead of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which earned $25 million. With this powerful showing, it rewrote history once again.

$61.9 million is an overwhelming number. It crushed the competition, unaffected by rivals like The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Even if you compare it to the debut weekend of The Two Towers, it still holds its ground—a feat no one expected before the holiday season began.

And this wasn’t even its opening weekend; it was its second week.

The shockwaves are palpable.

With box office records shattered everywhere, it’s clear that this isn’t the January market as people knew it. Old patterns and experiences are no longer reliable—welcome to a new era.

No one anticipated that Warner Bros.’ attempt to innovate during the holiday season would fall short, only for Hollywood to witness a winter storm in January.

In just one move, Hollywood found itself facing a whirlwind of questions, lost and more shaken than when summer box office records were broken.

*Chapter 713: The Surging Torrent*

"Cat and Mouse Game" second weekend box office: $61.9 million.

Hollywood: ???

In an instant, all of Hollywood started to question reality, deeply puzzled, unable to make sense of things.

Was Warner Bros.' strategy of targeting the holiday season to tap into market potential a mistake?

Should film studios have aimed for the winter and fall release windows from the very beginning?

Is "Cat and Mouse Game" just a fluke, or do other films also have this potential? After all, "Cat and Mouse Game" is not a typical blockbuster—it was even criticized for being too modest. So, what does it mean that a film like this broke through?

Questions, questions, and more questions.

If "Spider-Man" burst onto the summer scene with cheers, finally breaking through after people waited eagerly for a smash hit, then "Cat and Mouse Game," crossing both the holiday and winter seasons, sparked reflection—it was a completely unexpected outcome.

But a welcome one.

If surprises and upsets like this could become the norm, Hollywood would welcome them with open arms.

And that’s still not the whole story.

Let’s not forget that the first weekend of January already showed signs of fatigue since the real box office boom of the week occurred during the weekdays.

"Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" is the best proof of this. Although its third weekend's $25 million box office came with nearly a 50% drop, it was still impressive during the weekdays, pulling in $43 million over four days—showing the movie's enduring draw.

After three weeks, "The Two Towers" had already crossed $260 million at the box office.

That’s just the domestic number; international figures hadn’t yet been tallied.

So, any disappointment in "The Two Towers" is relative, simply due to inflated expectations. It didn’t just fail to redefine the holiday box office, it also slightly underperformed compared to the first film in the series.

In fact, the movie still turned a profit early on and remained a crucial part of Warner Bros.' overall strategy.

Similarly, "Cat and Mouse Game" was no exception.

With strong weekend numbers and even stronger weekday performances, it raked in $89 million from Monday to Thursday, devouring the box office like a whale.

Here’s the key: the weekday box office figures were already a heavy hitter, but no one expected the weekend’s box office to be just as robust.

After two weeks in theaters, "Cat and Mouse Game" had already skyrocketed to $250 million.

Its speed of accumulation was entirely on par with "Spider-Man."

Shock!

Hollywood was in awe.

Could it be that Anson was about to release two films in the same year, each grossing over $600 million in North America?

Now, that would be nothing short of astonishing.

Even if it hasn’t happened yet and the industry still needs to watch how the box office performs, especially considering January and summer are two different beasts in the Northern Hemisphere, the mere possibility was enough to drive Hollywood wild.

Based on current trends, "Cat and Mouse Game" is likely to cross the $400 million mark in North America. Given the film's budget of only $52 million, DreamWorks would have hit the jackpot with this movie alone. It might even become the highest-grossing film in the careers of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.

Insane, totally insane.

The truly remarkable part was that ever since Anson kicked off his flash mob tour, the entire North American market had followed him, swept up in his momentum. As witnesses and participants, they became part of the surging torrent, which undoubtedly added some sincerity to the madness at hand.

...

"...The AS597 flight from San Francisco to Chicago is now boarding..."

In the air, the sound of a boarding announcement rippled through the atmosphere as the bustling airport carried on its usual pace.

A tall figure dressed in a white t-shirt, jeans, and a light blue denim jacket, carrying only a single backpack slung over one shoulder, moved quietly, blending in naturally without drawing attention.

His tall, lean frame stood out in the crowd, and passing glances would occasionally sweep over him. People couldn’t help but notice the Kansas City Chiefs baseball cap on his head, perhaps assuming the young man had just flown in from Kansas City, but their gaze quickly moved on without much thought.

He didn’t stand out too much in the busy San Francisco International Airport.

"Hey."

A girl with shoulder-length hair hurried past but then stopped and turned back, her face lighting up with a bright smile as she sized up the young man, ready to speak, but then paused.

She changed her approach.

"Sorry, this might be rude, but has anyone ever told you that you look like Anson Wood?"

The young man: ...

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Haha, actually, this isn’t the first time. I guess I should take that as a compliment."

The girl’s smile widened. "Oh my God, you really do look like him! Sorry, I don’t mean to offend you, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen someone in real life who... Sorry, I must seem like a crazy person right now."

The young man waved it off with a smile, "No need to worry. Once, someone actually screamed out loud, and then a whole group surrounded me. I tried explaining I wasn’t him, but they didn’t believe me and insisted on getting my autograph."

The girl burst into laughter, "So how did you respond?"

The young man spread his hands helplessly, "I signed. But I was honest about it—I made sure not to fake it. I signed 'Andy Woods.'"

"Haha." The girl laughed even harder, "I hope they didn’t notice."

The young man, "I’m torn. I’m thinking maybe I should study his signature, but I’m not sure if I should make it more convincing or less convincing. Whew, I’m starting to understand what he deals with."

The girl chuckled again, "I bet he’s not as nice as you are."

The young man smiled, "It’s the least I can do."

"Haha." The girl’s laughter was infectious. "I shouldn’t keep you. Sorry again for bothering you, I’ve got a flight to catch. By the way, you’re really charming."

"Thank you. Should I say the same to you?" the young man said, glancing politely at her.

The girl laughed heartily, waving it off as she hurried away, "No need, but you’ve definitely brightened up my awful day."

As he watched her leave, the young man turned back and continued toward the exit, tugging the brim of his hat lower and quietly slipping away with the crowd.

Upon reaching the arrivals hall, he was just about to take another step when he spotted a tall figure holding up a sign high above the crowd, staring at him with eyes that could kill.

Though the man made no additional movements, his death stare ensured the young man wouldn't miss him.

The young man glanced around, muttering to himself under his breath.

"Did they plant a tracker on me?"

The sign being held up boldly displayed in large, bold letters:

*LUCAS WOOD.*

*Chapter 714: The Perfect Disguise*

The young man walked straight ahead, stopping in front of the tall figure. He looked him up and down. Dressed entirely in black—no distractions—black shirt, black suit, exuding an unapproachable aura. Just standing there, the space around him automatically cleared.

“If you dress like this, you’re practically begging for attention. You’re anything but low-key, almost as if you’re afraid no one will notice you.”

Lucas Wood remained expressionless, placing down the sign that bore his name, "Lucas Wood," as he glanced at the young man.

“No luggage?”

As he spoke, Lucas naturally took the young man’s backpack.

The young man nodded. “Edgar sent it back. I’m traveling light, easier to escape if I need to.”

Lucas sarcastically remarked, “Still haven’t ditched that movie habit? Always ready to run, huh?”

The young man was about to snap back when he noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere. More and more people began glancing their way, quietly eyeing them up and down.

Feeling slightly anxious, the young man lowered his head, using the brim of his baseball cap to cast a shadow over his face.

“See? It’s all because of you. Standing here like Lucifer, you're a magnet for attention.”

Lucas, unfazed, met the stares head-on. One sweeping glance from him, and all eyes turned away, as if Medusa herself stood before them.

“I stand here to draw attention away. Now everyone’s focused on me.”

“And if I stay stern and intimidating, no one dares make eye contact. They won’t have the chance to examine your face closely and recognize you.”

Ah, now it made sense.

No wonder he chose an all-black outfit today.

The young man relaxed slightly, casually scanning the area. Sure enough, the onlookers shifted their gaze elsewhere. Despite standing right there, no one dared to look directly at them—

It was a clever trick, but one that only Lucas could pull off.

“Honestly, you didn’t need to come pick me up. If you hadn’t shown up, I could’ve quietly landed, slipped over to your apartment, and no one would’ve noticed.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, “You sure?”

The young man frowned, “What do you mean?”

Lucas replied, “Are you sure you wouldn’t have drawn any attention?”

The young man: …

Feeling a bit guilty, he recalled how he’d almost been recognized by a short-haired girl earlier.

Lucas didn’t push the issue, calmly continuing, “If you come to San Francisco and I don’t pick you up, if Mom finds out, we won’t have peace for the next three months.”

“Just don’t tell her.”

“…”

The young man looked up at the stone-faced Lucas and gave up, sighing, “Let’s just leave quickly before we cause a scene.”

Lucas didn’t object.

The two quietly left the arrival hall. It wasn’t until they got into Lucas’s car that the young man finally took off his baseball cap, revealing his handsome face—

It was none other than Anson.

The huge success of the flash mob event was a good thing, but it also brought a serious problem: Anson’s face had become widely known. His recognition level had skyrocketed, comparable to Leonardo DiCaprio at his peak five years ago.

There was also another issue—"The Boy Who Cried Wolf."

Even though Anson and DreamWorks announced that the flash mob events were over and there would be no more surprise appearances, no one believed them. Everyone treated Anson like the boy who cried wolf, expecting another surprise.

As a result, the attention on Anson remained intense.

Anson stayed in New York for two days, but his downtown apartment had already become a gathering spot for paparazzi and fans. Crowds followed him wherever he went, making even simple walks in Central Park or breakfast at a corner café impossible. Even shopping at the grocery store became a hassle.

It wasn’t just Anson who was affected; others around him were feeling the strain as well.

Anson didn’t dare return to his main home, worried he’d expose his parents’ lives to the chaos, disrupting their peace.

Initially, after the promotional tour, Anson had planned to stay in New York for a while. With Christmas and New Year’s having been so hectic, he wanted to use the break to spend time with his family.

But with all the commotion, peace was impossible.

So, with Edgar’s help, Anson made his escape from his apartment and flew to San Francisco to lie low for a while.

The Wood family would also be heading to San Francisco the next day, where the four of them could enjoy a short vacation together.

Everything had gone smoothly, except for the fact that Anson had almost been recognized at the airport. Thankfully, his quick thinking and calm demeanor helped him avoid causing a scene at San Francisco airport.

Rubbing his head, finally loosening the tension in his stiff neck, Anson slumped into the passenger seat, practically collapsing.

Lucas glanced over, “Did you grow that scruff on purpose as part of your disguise?”

His tone was flat, but Anson could sense the teasing smile beneath the words.

Anson rubbed his chin, feeling the stubble. “Don’t underestimate this bit of scruff. It was my main disguise on the plane.”

Lucas didn’t respond.

Anson sighed softly, “Go ahead, laugh. Holding it in isn’t good for you.”

Lucas’s mouth curled slightly, but before he could retort, he noticed Anson had already drifted off to sleep.

Anson was clearly exhausted.

He’d been on the go nonstop for days, barely having time to eat or sleep, constantly traveling or attending movie screenings. Even Steven Spielberg had suggested scaling back the later stages of the flash mob event—either by simplifying it or by having himself and Tom Hanks help with the promotion.

But Anson had declined.

“I’d love for you guys to join anytime. But this was my idea, and I’m responsible for seeing it through.”

“Not just for the crew, but for the fans. I need to be there.”

Finally, the promotional whirlwind had ended, but Anson had still been unable to find peace amidst the constant attention. Even sleep had been elusive.

Lucas examined Anson more closely now, noticing the dark circles under his eyes—clear signs that he hadn’t rested properly for a while. No wonder he’d fallen asleep in less than 30 seconds after getting into the car.

Turning on the heater, switching off the radio, and slowing the car’s pace, Lucas ensured a smooth, quiet ride as they drove through the foggy streets of San Francisco. The world outside seemed to calm down with them.

Eventually, Anson woke up—because he was hungry.

Groggy and half-awake, he followed the soft yellow glow of the desk lamp and saw Lucas’s profile, busy at the desk. Then he glanced at the clock on the wall:

9:23 p.m.

Sitting up and stretching, his joints cracked, alerting Lucas.

Lucas waited patiently for Anson to finish his stretch. “I thought you’d sleep until morning.”

Anson waved it off. “My body clock’s still messed up. Can’t sleep too long. Plus, I’m starving. Got anything in the fridge?”

Lucas’s eyes softened with a touch of concern. The glitz and glamour of being a star were far from as glamorous as they seemed. “It’s all frozen food. Let’s eat out. There’s a seafood place nearby that’s great.”

“Seafood?”

Anson’s eyes lit up instantly.

Lucas chuckled. “Freshen up, and we’ll head out.”

*Chapter 715: Return to the Everyday*

A softly glowing blue fish tank stood in the center of the mall’s atrium. Colorful tropical fish swam leisurely, and small, cute jellyfish drifted in clusters. The entire space reflected a deep blue hue, and the passersby instinctively slowed their steps and lowered their voices, as if they too had entered an underwater world, quietly gliding and wandering.

A serene atmosphere.

After dinner, on their way to pick up groceries and fresh ingredients for breakfast, Lucas noticed Anson’s distraction. Following his gaze, Lucas scanned the area.

At first, Lucas thought Anson was focused on the fish tank. When the large tank was first installed, it became a hot topic in the nearby neighborhood — a bold design for the early 21st century.

However, it wasn’t the tank that caught Anson’s eye.

Anson’s gaze was fixed on something behind the tank — the Edwards Cinema.

This theater belonged to Regal Entertainment Group (REG), the second-largest chain in North America after AMC, featuring various theater brands under its umbrella.

A wide array of movie posters was displayed at the entrance, showcasing the latest popular films. Edwards Cinema prided itself on giving equal attention to independent and art films, dedicating a special area to promote award-season contenders.

Among them, this week’s premiere, Just Married, held the most prominent spot. This romantic comedy, starring Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy, was the third such release in a month. 20th Century Fox hoped the film would replicate the success of My Boss’s Daughter and Maid in Manhattan, and the marketing was in full swing.

However, Catch Me If You Can still held a prime position.

Lucas was a bit surprised. He thought the last place Anson would want to be right now was a movie theater, but he noticed Anson’s lingering look.

In an instant, Lucas understood.

“Want to go in and watch a movie?” Lucas asked.

Anson quickly snapped his gaze back to Lucas. “Are you out of your mind? I came here to escape the spotlight, and now you want me to walk right into it?”

Lucas remained calm, expressionless, and unfazed. “But you can’t, and shouldn’t, let the attention change how you live your everyday life.”

Anson froze.

“Listen, it’s a tricky problem, and no one has solved it yet. Being under the spotlight, losing control over your regular, everyday life.”

“But that’s part of your job. You have to accept both the good and the bad. You can’t bask in the applause of the spotlight and then shy away from the chaos it brings. That’s not how it works.”

“So, the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and keep living. Don’t let the attention disrupt your plan to return to normal.”

“If you want to watch a movie, we’ll watch a movie.”

Those simple words hit Anson hard.

He thought he had prepared himself mentally. After all, if he hadn’t experienced fame firsthand, he’d certainly witnessed it through the craziness of social media in his previous life — fan frenzy, over-the-top headlines. The media painted a wild picture of the world.

But going through it himself was a different story. He suddenly found himself in the same predicament as Frank Abagnale Jr.: nowhere to run.

In the chaos and the crowds, there seemed to be no room to breathe.

Lucas’s words opened a window, showing Anson a different possibility:

He didn’t need to let the madness and noise control his life. Everyday life didn’t always have to be in the spotlight. Now, he needed to learn how to coexist with the noise.

So, did Anson want to watch a movie?

Yes, he did.

To be precise, Anson wanted to sit among a regular audience and watch Catch Me If You Can for himself.

Despite having participated in flash mob events across North America, appearing at various cinemas and showings, Anson had never actually sat down with an audience to watch the movie, maintaining the element of surprise and mystery.

To Anson, one of the charms of movies was:

The shared experience.

Being in a theater, a group of strangers connected through the big screen, sharing two hours of adventure together — laughing, crying, feeling sadness, and happiness — pulling two hours out of their own lives to join a journey with people they’ve never met.

It’s romantic.

This is why film festivals are so captivating. They gather true cinema lovers together. It’s all about the films. When the lights go down, everyone steps together into the world of cinema, exploring the depths of time, the vastness of the universe, and the mysteries of life.

In reality, Anson had just finished an unbelievable journey, which made him more eager than ever to enter a theater and experience Frank Abagnale Jr.’s adventure with an audience.

It wasn’t about him or Catch Me If You Can, but about the memory of being in a cinema.

For Anson, this would be a new feeling.

He wanted to try it.

But still, there was hesitation in his eyes.

“If I get recognized, things could get out of hand,” Anson hesitated, torn.

If he accidentally revealed his identity, it would cause a commotion — a small issue, but people might mistakenly think Anson’s appearance was part of another flash mob event, and that misunderstanding would be a hassle to clear up.

No one believes the boy who cried wolf.

Anson was especially frustrated. After all, he hadn’t lied; he’d only hidden his whereabouts. He never shouted, “Wolf!” — it was all a misunderstanding.

Lucas noticed the frustration in Anson’s expression and a smile appeared in his eyes. “Don’t worry, if you get recognized, I’ll cover for you. I’ll make sure you get out safely.”

Then, with a serious tone, Lucas softly hummed, “And I…”

Anson couldn’t help but smile.

That tune was unmistakably Whitney Houston’s iconic song I Will Always Love You, from the movie The Bodyguard.

In the film, Whitney plays a superstar, and Kevin Costner is her bodyguard.

Anson glanced at Lucas, exasperated. “So you’re Whitney Houston, and I’m Kevin Costner?”

Lucas didn’t respond to the sarcasm. Calmly, he brought the conversation back. “Besides, it’s already 11 p.m. If we go in now, it’ll be the midnight showing. There won’t be many people, so you should be safe from being recognized.”

Anson had to admit, he was tempted.

Without waiting for Anson’s response, Lucas headed to the box office to buy tickets.

Anson thought about stopping him but held back in the end.

Maybe this was just right — carefully returning to everyday life, gradually pulling things back on track after being swept up in a whirlwind.