601-605

### Chapter 601: The Casting Dilemma

Despite still being young and inexperienced, Amanda's audition brought something different, which made Anson have higher expectations for her.

Unfortunately, Marcia didn't think it was a good idea because she felt Amanda's beauty was too aggressive and lacked depth—at least, that’s how it appeared.

"She needs to encounter an excellent director who will give her the time and space to explore, slowly uncovering and shaping her talent. Otherwise, she's just a Barbie doll."

Anson carefully considered Marcia's words and ultimately agreed that Marcia was right. "The Butterfly Effect" was not the right project for Amanda.

With the hustle and bustle of auditions, with countless actors coming and going, it became clear to Anson that this process was both a mental and physical challenge—for casting directors, producers, and actors alike. Just as Anson was about to leave the set early, another significant face appeared:

Jessica Alba.

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful faces of the 21st century, Jessica Alba topped numerous lists, becoming the dream girl of millions. The year 2005 marked the peak of her career with "Sin City" and "Fantastic Four" both enjoying box office and critical success, placing her at the top of the Hollywood pyramid.

However, Hollywood is ruthless. With each new generation, it’s hard enough to reach the top, but even harder to stay there.

After 2005, Jessica never managed to break through again. She remained labeled as merely a sex symbol, despite trying her hand at different types of roles. Unfortunately, none of her projects made a significant impact, and she gradually faded into the crowd.

Regretful as it was, no one could deny that Jessica was an iconic face of Hollywood in the first decade of the new millennium.

When she arrived, not only did Anson’s eyes light up, but Marcia and Nicholas were also visibly impressed—Jessica was no longer an unknown.

Though she was only 21, Jessica had already spent six years in Hollywood, rising to fame with the series "Dark Angel," produced by James Cameron, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination and put her in the public eye.

Over the past two years, Jessica had starred in three or four films. While none were breakout hits, she was still a rising star and, strictly speaking, more experienced than Anson.

Anson and the others hadn’t expected Jessica to audition, and without a doubt, she was the biggest name to appear at the casting call so far.

And she was truly a beauty.

With her golden-tanned skin, perfectly proportioned features, and a toned figure, she exuded a healthy and sexy youthful energy, even with just a simple shirt and denim shorts, her dark brown, slightly curled hair casually draped over her shoulders, like a ray of sunshine.

She easily captured everyone’s attention.

Marcia’s immediate reaction was to turn to Anson and say, "A pure visual delight. Now I finally understand why I stick with this job."

After a scrutinizing and unabashedly bold look at Anson, Marcia added, "…Thank you?"

The hesitant upward inflection in Anson’s voice instantly lightened the mood.

Marcia even continued the joke, "Oh, sorry, this guy is a producer now."

Completely clueless, Jessica glanced back and forth between Marcia and Anson. "So, have you given up acting?"

Her question successfully got everyone laughing.

Jessica's audition didn’t last long. Even though Anson personally did a reading with her, there was no spark between them.

"She’s too kind, her eyes are too pure; you can’t see anything else. She’s just striking a pose and playing up her appearance," was Marcia’s assessment.

Despite that, Anson still sent Jessica Alba’s details, along with those of other actors, to McG and Eric, inviting the directors to join the discussion.

However, neither McG nor Eric had much input.

To be precise, this wasn’t surprising. Just as they hadn’t envisioned Evan’s appearance initially, now they couldn’t picture the female lead either; no concept came to mind.

But they still picked some names based on their own imaginations.

After seeing their choices, Anson quickly figured out their thoughts and couldn’t help but laugh. "Dear directors, this isn’t about choosing your ideal type; you’re not picking a harem. Don’t select based on personal preference."

Eric, on the other end of the phone, started coughing violently, seemingly choking on his own words.

McG confidently retorted, "Keller represents our ideal vision of happiness, so naturally, we should listen to our hearts and choose an actress who moves us."

Anson didn’t argue, "Your vision, not Evan’s?"

This one question instantly left McG speechless.

Finally, Eric regained his composure. "Go ahead and choose according to your judgment; we have no objections. What matters is that you and the actress can create sparks on screen since you’re the ones performing in front of the camera."

"We know our script inside and out, every detail and scene; but when it comes to acting, we know nothing. So, we leave the performance to you."

Sure enough, Marcia’s concerns were valid—the two directors, who came from a screenwriting background, had no concept of directing, framing, or capturing performances. Their approach to filmmaking was strictly bound to the script.

This wasn’t good news.

Considering their future trajectory, it was evident that McG and Eric hadn’t managed to carve out a unique place for themselves like other directors skilled in original screenplays, such as the Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, or Woody Allen. After "The Butterfly Effect," the pair wrote several more scripts, but none gained significant attention. Later, they shifted to television writing, but even there, they didn’t make much of a splash.

In other words, the success of "The Butterfly Effect" stemmed from their screenwriting talent; the limitations came from their directing skills, and that’s all there was to it.

So, what now?

Should they change directors at this point?

Anson even briefly considered calling Steven Spielberg to ask about David Fincher’s availability but quickly realized that the entire project might need to be overhauled.

Not only would this mean betraying Eric and McG, but it would also require convincing New Line Cinema all over again, as the investment and production direction could change. Most importantly and most challenging of all, it would require persuading David Fincher.

After some thought, Anson dismissed the idea.

Everything in life has two sides, pros, and cons, which are often inseparable.

Perhaps McG and Eric lacked a certain flair as directors, but they were also willing to give actors more space to perform.

For Anson, this was a good thing.

After all the twists and turns, the problem came back to Anson:

Who should play the role of Keller?

Chapter 602: Location Scouting

A soft drizzle hung in the air, but it didn’t obscure the sun’s face. Golden light filtered freely through the fine rain, with the lush greenery in the distance spreading out like a misty veil. Bright red and yellow maple leaves peeked through, adding splashes of vibrant color.

Clean, crisp, rich, and refreshing.

It was a delicate moment. October was nearing its end, yet the weather captured the last remnants of summer, the briskness of autumn, and even hints of winter, with three seasons intricately intertwined. Staring at the forest of trees surrounding the city, one could easily drift into a trance.

The scenery resembled a watercolor painting.

Though standing in Vancouver, his thoughts lingered not far behind in Seattle, where an indescribable poetic charm seemed to slow the pace of life.

Wait, was that... Chinese?

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Chinese characters. As he refocused, another familiar character flashed by. It was only then that he realized this was entirely normal in this city.

For a brief moment, time flowed backward, drawing his thoughts into a dream of a past life.

Time and space seemed to merge and shift like a flowing river as the car moved forward.

After careful consideration and selection, the filming location for "The Butterfly Effect" was chosen to be Vancouver.

Georgia’s film production industry was still in its early stages and somewhat underdeveloped. In simple terms:

Some welcomed film crews with open arms, while others didn’t, and some didn’t even know what was happening.

It was a chaotic scene.

As a result, policies implemented by some departments were not consistently enforced by others. Some verbal agreements never saw the light of day, and even those willing to help often didn’t know how to proceed.

Difficult. Troublesome.

It was the pioneer stage.

For a small production like "The Butterfly Effect" and a small company like New Line Cinema, they lacked the clout and resources to push policy changes. Being in Atlanta felt like being stranded in the wilderness without any survival tools.

Unsuitable.

The situation wasn’t as expected.

Later, Anson inquired with Darren Star and learned some background.

Everything stemmed from AMC.

AMC is a cable television network known for broadcasting classic films, with rights mainly from Paramount, Universal, and 20th Century Fox. In 1996, AMC began venturing into original movies and series, showing potential and earning multiple Emmy nominations.

After the turn of the millennium, AMC sought to break free from the control of movie companies and fully develop its original content. But they soon realized—

In Hollywood, obstacles were everywhere.

They had to rent studios from other companies, use other companies’ production teams, and constantly navigate between major players.

This led AMC to consider new options.

Perhaps they could leave Los Angeles and carve out a new territory?

The idea wasn’t too bold, as other film companies had also realized Los Angeles had limited space and had started exploring other cities like New Orleans, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Boston.

However, so far, these cities and their states hadn’t offered many incentives, with the exception of Pennsylvania, where films like "Rocky" and "Philadelphia" were shot on location.

AMC needed new ground.

After negotiating with various states and officials, Georgia came into view.

AMC teamed up with Lionsgate, a Canadian company, to establish a new filming base in Atlanta. Georgia showed keen interest, but turning this concept into reality required overcoming numerous hurdles.

Currently, it was still in the preliminary stages. AMC and Lionsgate alone weren’t strong enough to push policies through; they needed a giant like Disney on board.

Darren leaked some information to Anson: Warner Bros. had shown some interest.

The success of "Spider-Man" had finally prompted Warner Bros. to dig out its DC Comics rights, locked away in storage, and reboot the superhero series.

But these films were expected to be costly, and Warner Bros. didn’t plan to gamble everything like Sony-Columbia did. They needed to control costs.

If they could build a studio in Atlanta and secure tax breaks from the state, Warner Bros. could develop Atlanta into a second film production hub, exploring more possibilities for superhero adaptations at a relatively controlled cost.

However, this was just interest and rumors for now.

AMC and Lionsgate weren’t yet strong enough to push policies forward, so Atlanta’s production environment remained chaotic.

This was the situation McKee and Eric encountered.

They’d never seen anything like it before. After seven years of seclusion, the two reclusive men were suddenly faced with chaos. Overwhelmed, they quickly retreated and eventually made their way north to Vancouver.

Vancouver, although part of Canada, is known as "Hollywood North."

Since the early 1990s, Vancouver had welcomed Hollywood’s film industry with open arms. Starting with "The X-Files," which was filmed in Vancouver, the city gradually became a favored destination for numerous productions.

In addition to tax advantages and low costs, Vancouver’s diverse landscapes, modern urban settings, and surrounding natural environments provided rich filming locations for various film genres, making it an attractive option.

Thus, many film crews chose to shoot on location in Vancouver, similar to Philadelphia. However, what AMC and Lionsgate intended to do in Atlanta was set up a studio.

There was a slight difference.

Not only "The Butterfly Effect" but Chris Evans also came to Vancouver last month to film "The Perfect Score," half-jokingly saying he came to visit—

So Anson decided to drop by for a visit.

"The Butterfly Effect" hadn’t started filming yet, and Anson arrived in Vancouver early, taking the opportunity to visit the set and cheer on his friend.

The car slowed to a stop, and he could immediately see the designated filming area, marked by signs and cordoned off with tape, clearly informing passersby that filming was in progress.

But that wasn’t all.

Outside the tape, a security guard in uniform was patrolling, ensuring no curious kids or oblivious pedestrians wandered in.

However, from outside the tape, nothing could be seen of the school’s interior—it just looked like an ordinary high school. So there were no crowds gathered, and the area was relatively quiet.

Clearly, for Vancouver residents, this was no big deal. Like in Los Angeles or New York, countless productions were filmed here yearly, so there was no need to make a fuss.

Anson stepped forward, only to be stopped by the serious-looking security guard.

“Sorry, this area is closed for filming. No unauthorized personnel are allowed.”

Chapter 603: A Surprise Visit

Quiet, ordinary, routine.

The cars and pedestrians passing by didn’t stop or even glance at the filming area. There was no sign of the film crew, and if you weren't paying attention, you might miss it entirely.

But Anson could still tell that the figures moving through the school corridors and playground—carrying walkie-talkies, holding schedules or supply lists, and communicating as they hurried along—were clearly part of the crew.

Moreover, something seemed off. Maybe there was an NG (No Good take), or a prop malfunction, or perhaps the director had lost his temper. The crew seemed tense.

“Excuse me.”

Standing by the roadside, Anson was observing the filming situation ahead. The wind carried a voice toward him. Instinctively, he thought someone was asking for an autograph or a photo, as he’d developed a conditioned response to such requests during his recent time in Los Angeles. But when he turned, he saw a woman pushing a stroller, smiling politely as she indicated the road ahead.

Anson understood and immediately stepped aside.

“Oh, sorry.”

The woman looked at Anson, gave a polite smile, and nodded slightly before continuing on her way with the stroller. She clearly didn’t recognize Anson—after all, it wasn’t obligatory for everyone to recognize him just because he was Peter Parker.

This experience made Anson realize why Hollywood actors often consider themselves the center of the universe, assuming that everyone must know them. It's all an illusion created by the bubble of Los Angeles.

Only when they step outside that small world can they regain a sense of humility and simplicity.

Portland was like that, and so was Vancouver.

Apparently, one Spider-Man movie isn’t everything.

Anson finally walked forward and, unsurprisingly, was stopped by a security guard with a serious expression.

“Sorry, we’re filming here. No unauthorized personnel allowed.”

This time, Anson wasn’t surprised.

He had already noticed that the security guard had been watching him from a distance. With no one else lingering around, Anson’s presence stood out. The guard had probably spent the whole day without much to do, so now, when the opportunity arose, he was eager to act.

Anson considered whether he should call Chris, but before his thoughts could develop, he calmly spoke.

“Why don’t you radio the production assistant or assistant director?”

His demeanor was unhurried, confident.

Anson naturally exuded a unique aura, even though he had just stepped out of a taxi instead of a private car. The security guard hesitated, taken aback by Anson’s presence, and his initial assertiveness faltered. He looked Anson up and down, unsure of what to say.

Anson didn’t get angry; the guard was just doing his job. And it wasn’t his fault he didn’t recognize Peter Parker—not everyone had to watch Spider-Man, even if they were working security for a film set.

In fact, Anson respected the guard for diligently doing his job. A smile appeared on his face. “It doesn’t hurt to ask, right?”

The guard hesitated but was swayed by Anson’s calm confidence. He pulled out his walkie-talkie, giving Anson another once-over.

“Anson Wood. I’m here to visit Chris Evans.”

Anson said.

The guard paused for a moment, then spoke into the walkie-talkie.

“Mr. Ford, there’s someone here named Anson Wood who says he’s here to visit Chris Evans.”

“What? Who did you say?”

“Anson Wood.”

“…Are you sure?”

“That’s what he said.”

Then, there was nothing.

The guard’s words received no response. He called out a couple more times, “Mr. Ford? Mr. Ford?” but the other side remained silent.

Confused, the guard inspected the walkie-talkie as if it might be malfunctioning, but before he could figure it out, he heard the sound of an engine approaching.

Huh?

The guard turned to see a golf cart speeding toward him, coming to a halt with a high-speed drift at the entrance. Out stepped Mr. Ford, the man on the other end of the walkie-talkie.

The guard was stunned. How did this happen so fast?

However, Ford didn’t pay any attention to the golf cart. He dashed over, looking like a whirlwind.

“Mr. Ford…” The guard’s call was lost in the wind.

Benjamin Ford naturally assumed it was a prank. He’d been taking his time, thinking about how to scold the joker. But as soon as he caught sight of the tall, striking figure in the distance, standing there commanding attention with just his presence, he floored the gas pedal, making the golf cart look like a Ferrari.

“Anson, huff, huff, Anson…”

“Sorry…”

Benjamin was out of breath, trying hard to smile, but his heart was pounding so hard he thought it might explode. He felt like he was suffocating.

Anson, on the other hand, remained calm, using his right hand as a metronome to gently signal Benjamin to relax. “Calm down, calm down. We’ve got time. No need to rush.”

Huff, huff.

Benjamin followed Anson’s lead, trying to regulate his breathing. Finally, his racing heart began to slow, and he swallowed nervously, regaining his composure.

Before Benjamin could speak, the security guard, sensing something was off, cautiously approached and anxiously asked, “Mr. Ford, what’s going on?”

“I, uh, I just…”

But Benjamin didn’t have time to explain. “Anson, what brings you to the set? Sorry for keeping you out here, that was our mistake.”

The guard’s attitude shifted from icy to warm in an instant, like going from winter to summer.

Anson chuckled, waving it off. “No need. I think this security guard did a great job. That’s something to be proud of.”

The guard looked at Anson and exhaled a sigh of relief. “That’s how it is, right?”

His nervous expression was undeniable, and Anson reassured him, “Exactly. So, no worries, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Then Anson turned to Benjamin. “Looks like I need to work harder.”

A small joke lightened the mood, bringing smiles back.

Benjamin relaxed as well. “If Spider-Man isn’t enough, I don’t know what else will do the trick.”

What started as a joke took an unexpected turn when Anson looked at the security guard. “What kind of movies do you like?”

The guard was caught off guard. “I, uh, I don’t really watch movies. I just like to watch TV sometimes.”

Anson spread his hands. “Seems like I should start doing more TV then.”

The light-hearted exchange lifted the mood even further.

Finally, Anson looked at Benjamin, who got the message and made an inviting gesture. “Please.”

As Anson and Benjamin rode off in the golf cart, the security guard stood there, watching them go. He mulled over the name “Anson,” then thought of “Spider-Man,” and found himself a bit intrigued.

Chapter 604: Taking Advantage of the Situation

"Shh, Benjamin."

"Please, keep this a secret. It's a surprise visit."

Benjamin looked at Anson, whose eyes were bright with excitement. He instinctively nodded but couldn't help feeling a bit worried. He opened his mouth to speak, but under Anson's gaze, he lowered his voice, "Are you sure about this?"

Anson didn't reply, just smiled confidently, which made Benjamin's heart lift, as if he'd found a lost sense of youthful energy.

Then.

Benjamin watched Anson turn and walk away, not realizing that a smile had already crept up on his face. He quickly turned around and started hurrying to prepare—he needed to coordinate with Anson to pull off this surprise.

Just imagining it made his adrenaline spike, excitement bubbling over, almost making him jump.

Meanwhile.

Anson walked toward the film set, sensing the low pressure in the air long before he got there. It was as if even the birds flying overhead suddenly felt their wings grow heavy, plummeting for a moment before frantically flapping to escape. In a blink, they were gone.

He didn't even need to see their faces to know—just by observing their cautious movements, it was clear. Every person was moving carefully, muscles tense, as if afraid the slightest noise might wake a sleeping dragon.

This scene matched perfectly with what he’d seen just a moment ago on the street.

Without thinking, Anson also lightened his steps.

"… This isn't a difficult scene."

"Relax, relax."

As Anson got closer, the voices on set became clearer. The one speaking was probably the director, Brian Robins.

This director was known for his work in comedy, active in television and low-budget films. His most famous movie came later in 2005, "Coach Carter." Other than that, he didn’t have many notable works.

But the important thing was that, unlike Eric and Mackie, this director had always had projects and had been active in Hollywood for a long time.

This usually meant he was a skilled networker; his real strengths were his perfect charm and social skills rather than his directing ability.

Right now, Brian wasn’t yelling—his voice remained calm. However, the tension beneath his calm exterior was building, slowly but surely.

"All you need to do is walk down the stairs, step by step, and get to the first floor."

"Don't hesitate, don't overthink it, just walk down plainly. That’s all. You need to be 100% certain that you want to get to the first floor. This is a determined action. You want to go downstairs. You are going downstairs. You’re 100% sure your destination is the first floor."

"See? Not hard, right?"

"Stay calm, let’s stay calm. There’s no need to get too nervous or anxious."

"For God's sake, you’re just extras. This is just a transitional scene. There’s no need to make it so complicated."

Then, without warning, the calm broke.

Instantly, Brian’s voice escalated, two notches higher, exploding like thunder.

"Damn it."

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"What are you doing? You’re just supposed to walk down from the top. Can’t you even manage the basics of walking?"

"One step. Another step. Then another step."

"Walk!"

"Walk, damn it!"

From calm to stormy in a heartbeat, the sudden change left the entire crew dead silent. Just moments ago, birds were flying by. Now, not even a mosquito dared to enter the space.

Of course, Anson was no exception.

When a director is working on set, even a producer shouldn’t challenge his authority—you can discuss issues privately later. On set, the producer should support the director’s authority; otherwise, the set could descend into chaos, which is never a good thing.

Besides, Anson didn’t even know Brian.

So.

Anson obediently shut his mouth, standing quietly to the side, just like the frozen crew members, patiently waiting for his moment.

Maybe today wasn’t the best day for a set visit—Benjamin had warned him just moments ago. But Anson was already here, and leaving now to come back another day didn’t seem necessary.

Since he was here, he might as well stay.

The only consolation was that it wasn’t Chris Evans or Scarlett Johansson getting yelled at, just some random extras.

Otherwise, being scolded in front of friends would be pretty embarrassing.

But.

Where were Chris and Scarlett? They weren’t anywhere in sight. Anson had come to visit them, yet the people he was here to see weren’t even around.

But Benjamin had just said the entire cast was on set today because they had a special scene to shoot.

Were they all resting in their trailers?

The shouting finally quieted down.

It seemed Brian had finished venting his frustration. Anson thought now might be the time for the assistant director or someone else to step in and ease the tension, giving Brian an out while allowing the extras to catch their breath and get back into the rhythm.

During the filming of The Princess Diaries, Spider-Man, and Catch Me If You Can, there was always someone to act as a buffer between the director and the crew, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

However—

No one stepped up.

The set remained eerily calm, with no sign of anyone ready to intervene.

Anson felt a pang of unease.

So, what now?

Just then, something unexpected happened.

“…An, Anson?”

A voice called out, cutting through the almost suffocating silence. The slight tremor in it, like someone spotting a ghost in a horror movie, only added to the eerie atmosphere on set.

Suddenly.

All eyes turned toward Anson, filled with surprise, shock, joy, or confusion, and their gazes felt like they were burning his skin.

Even Brian looked over.

The opportunity wasn’t perfect, but it seemed like there was no other choice.

Anson smiled, “Surprise?”

The silence was deafening, as if someone had hit the pause button on the entire set. No one reacted.

But.

Anson didn’t mind. He turned to Brian, “Sorry for interrupting your shoot.”

They say you shouldn’t hit a smiling face. Brian looked at Anson’s smile and paused, taken aback. In the next moment, the smooth-talking director snapped back into action, “No wonder everyone seemed distracted and out of sorts—now I see why.”

“If it’s Anson Wood, everything makes sense.”

Taking advantage of the situation.

Brian displayed his ability to change face like a Sichuan opera master. It was as if the man who had just exploded in anger wasn’t him at all, as his face lit up with a warm smile.

At the same time, he spread his arms wide and gave Anson a big hug, “Oh, my God, what a day! We’re lucky to have you visit our set!”

“Just passing by. I heard Director Brian Robins was shooting here, so I thought I’d drop by to say hello and bring some good wishes.” Anson raised the coffee and donuts in his hand. “Afternoon snack?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a jingling sound from behind—a sound that instantly brought back memories for anyone who grew up in America in the '80s—

An ice cream truck!

Just hearing that sound, every kid knew the ice cream truck had arrived.

In an instant, the set came to life, buzzing with excitement. The oppressive atmosphere that had blanketed the set lifted, and the air became light and joyful.

Perfect timing.

### Chapter 605: The Smooth Operator

The jingling sound of bells rang out as an ice cream truck appeared, with a clown inside calling out for customers. Childhood memories surged up instantly for everyone around.

Benjamin walked confidently beside the truck, full of spirit, his eyes brimming with laughter. He exchanged a glance with Anson.

Anson gave him a smile, confirming with his eyes:

The timing was perfect.

A hint of a smile flickered in Benjamin's eyes, and he joyfully skipped along, his steps becoming even more lighthearted.

Throughout the entire scene, Benjamin's attention was fixed on Anson, completely oblivious to the expression on Brian’s face.

Behind them, a coffee truck also slowly entered the set, parking gently in the schoolyard. The air was filled with the aroma of coffee and powdered sugar. Even without getting too close, everyone could already feel their mouths watering, as if the mood had instantly lifted, becoming as fluffy as cotton candy.

In a flash, Brian understood what was happening. He looked at Anson with a smile in his eyes—

Just moments ago, the atmosphere on set had been tense, with no one willing to step in and diffuse the situation for Brian. His position was a bit awkward, stuck in limbo, unable to move forward or back. With the film needing to continue shooting, the director’s authority was at risk. Anson’s timely arrival cleverly resolved Brian’s crisis.

And now, there was afternoon tea to boot.

Perfect!

Brian looked at Anson and said, “Your visit was already a surprise, but I didn’t expect there’d be an extra surprise too.”

Though Brian didn’t say it outright, his words were layered with meaning. Essentially, he was claiming credit for Anson’s visit, implying that Anson had come specifically to visit him on set.

With this one sentence, Brian not only took credit for the afternoon tea but also subtly suggested that he and Anson were close friends—two birds with one stone.

No wonder he was such a social expert.

Anson wasn’t surprised at all. It was now clear why Brian, despite not having any noteworthy films, with all his work receiving mediocre box office, critical reception, and awards, could still remain active in Hollywood, with one project after another. Someone like this was leagues ahead of McGee and Eric.

So, would Anson expose Brian’s ruse?

Of course not.

Anson had come to visit the set as a favor to Chris and Scarlett; there was no need, nor would it be wise, to offend the director.

Moreover, in a place like Hollywood, real power plays didn’t need to be spoken aloud. The words that could be openly said had no real value. A smart person would observe the things that were left unsaid, the things hidden beneath the surface.

Who Anson was really doing a favor for by visiting the set wasn’t something that could be twisted by mere words.

Under Brian’s gaze, Anson placed his right hand on his left shoulder and gave a slight bow in response. He said nothing.

This small gesture was enough. Brian was pleased, and so were the surrounding crew members. Just then, a thin ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, casting light over the set and completely lifting the atmosphere.

Anson exchanged a few more pleasantries with Brian. Despite it being their first meeting, they hit it off quite well.

Brian, being a smart man, knew when to stop. He found an excuse, gave the crew a 30-minute break to enjoy the afternoon tea, and then turned to head back to his trailer.

As soon as the “tyrant” left, the heavy stone that had been pressing on everyone’s chests was lifted, and the crew finally felt a genuine sense of relief. Their faces relaxed.

Anson didn’t hurry to leave. Instead, he walked over to the staircase where the extras, still visibly nervous and shaken, were gathered. Though no one said a word, their tension and fear were palpable—

In Hollywood, actors had little voice, and extras were even less than ants. A single word from the director could decide their fate, potentially costing them a job.

In his previous life, Anson had worked on various odd jobs in film crews, frequently interacting with extras.

“Tough day?”

The extras hadn’t expected Anson to approach, and they stirred in surprise. When they looked up, they saw a relaxed smile on Anson’s face.

When Chris Evans finally arrived at the set, panting heavily, this was the scene he saw—

Laughter.

Anson was standing with the extras, holding donuts or ice cream, with coffee at their feet, as if they were having a tea party, all laughing together.

The atmosphere was so light and happy that even some of the crew members had quietly snuck over, blending in without a sound.

The sight made Chris feel a pang of longing.

Taking a quick glance around, Chris noticed that all the crew members scattered around the set were visibly more relaxed. The shooting atmosphere was completely different from before.

But Chris wasn’t surprised at all. That was just the effect Anson had—wherever he went, the mood lightened.

“Hey, buddy, you actually came!”

From a distance, Chris called out, sprinting over with open arms and giving Anson a big, hearty hug.

Anson made a pretend choking motion, signaling to the others nearby for help with exaggerated eye movements, “Help. Help.”

Everyone around burst into laughter.

But Chris didn’t care. He let go and saw Anson dramatically gasping for breath, then gave him two heavy pats on the shoulder, “Why did you really come? What about work? Are you sure it’s okay? Last time we talked, you said you were heading into production this week.”

“Ah, we’re filming in Vancouver too, so I thought I’d drop by since it’s on the way,” Anson replied simply.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the crew members around them subtly straining to listen—

Not long ago, after Anson had filmed “The Elephant,” the entertainment media had been abuzz, debating heatedly about Anson’s choices, with some seemingly critical of his decisions.

Now, just like that, Anson was about to start a new project?

Yet Hollywood hadn’t caught wind of it!

So, what was this new project? A blockbuster or an indie film?

Chris, being straightforward, might have blurted it out without thinking, but Anson didn’t mind. He also didn’t plan to elaborate.

He shifted the conversation, “How’s the shoot going? I thought you guys were close to wrapping up.”

In fact, Anson could tell that the filming of “The Perfect Score” wasn’t going smoothly. Otherwise, Brian wouldn’t have blown up at the extras over a simple transition scene. The outburst was just a pretext; the real target of his anger was probably someone else.

Also, with no lead actors in sight, it was reasonable to suspect that Brian’s frustration was directed at the main cast.

But Chris’s expression was even more troubled, “We’re trying our best.”

His face clouded over.

Anson had known Chris long enough to understand immediately. He gave a slight nod and didn’t press further. He simply patted Chris on the shoulder, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your co-stars?”

It was clear to anyone paying attention that unlike the earlier interaction with Brian, Anson and Chris were truly friends. Anson had come to visit the set, bringing gifts specifically to do Chris a favor, so it was Anson who took the initiative to ask to meet the other actors.

The difference in their relationships was obvious.

But Chris didn’t overthink it. With his usual enthusiasm, he grabbed Anson and led him away, talking animatedly, “You know, when I first heard that Anson was visiting the set, my first thought was that it was a prank. I was ready to bust in and call them out, and I ended up leaving everyone else behind…”

All the while, Anson listened attentively, his face serious.

Meanwhile, the onlookers in the crew, seeing this, quietly shifted their perception of Chris.