476-480

*Chapter 476: A Twist in the Tale*

Clap, clap, clap—

Applause, like thunder.

James was the first to cheer, giving a shout-out for the sharp wit of "The New Yorker."

Finally, even though it was just a moderate review, "The New Yorker" still retained its edge and color, ruthlessly criticizing the film for being conservative and formulaic.

Clearly, this is also one of the major controversies faced by "Spider-Man."

Sam Raimi indeed respected the original source material, offering a fresh take on Peter Parker as a superhero. However, considering the era of the original comics, it inevitably seems outdated compared to current tastes. The loyalty of hardcore fans to the source material might actually become a barrier, stifling the film’s ambition and affecting audience engagement.

James, looking serious, said, "What did I say? We should have made Green Goblin Jr. the main character. Harry is the most interesting character in the entire story, right?"

Tch.

This time, boos were thrown at James, along with some potato chips.

But Anson didn't join in the jeers, because he knew James was right—

In the future, when the stories of superheroes have been exhausted, Hollywood studios will turn their attention to the villains, and "Spider-Man" is no exception. The famous villain Venom even has his own series of films.

Just as Anson was about to tease James, a series of rapid knocks on the door broke the atmosphere, and everyone looked toward the door.

Could it be someone arriving late?

Anson was equally puzzled, “Wait, Chris, are you planning another surprise?”

Chris spread his hands, looking innocent.

James chuckled and joked, "If it's Hayden, I'll give him a perfect score."

The atmosphere paused slightly—

Jack, Ryan, and the others had no idea that Hayden had once lived here; meanwhile, Seth and the gang had heard the whole story from James, and even though they said nothing, their expressions showed they didn't welcome Hayden.

So, things got awkward.

James raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, it was just a joke, just a joke."

But the joke wasn’t funny.

If it really was Hayden, what would that mean?

There were many possibilities, but one of them was the worst and most terrible among their speculations:

Hayden's sudden departure might have been due to fear that Anson and James would become as successful as him, or even more so. Before their roles could be reversed, he left early to preserve his dignity. He was willing to be friends with people he saw as below him but couldn’t handle them becoming equally or more successful.

And now, hearing that "Spider-Man" might sink like the Titanic, with his fears likely not coming true, he could comfortably continue their friendship.

So, he came back.

Anson really didn't want to delve into these dark and ugly thoughts. The Hayden he remembered wasn't like this at all; but... this is Hollywood, and none of them could guarantee they wouldn't change. No one could promise they’d remain the same in the face of fame and fortune.

Otherwise, why did Hayden choose today to show up?

Was it just a coincidence?

Even though Anson wanted to see Hayden again, this was definitely not the time.

Anson exchanged a look with James and Chris.

James still had his usual laid-back attitude, mentally prepared for whatever might happen. He could face anything calmly.

Chris, on the other hand, stood up nervously, trying to leave the couch and approach Anson.

Anson stopped Chris with a glance and then headed straight for the door.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, without hesitation, Anson opened the door—

"Surprise!"

Pop, pop, pop.

Confetti popped in the air, and the person’s mouth mimicked the sound of crackling fireworks.

Then, Brad Renfro’s sweaty, panting, smiling face appeared in front of him.

Relieved, Anson let out a disbelieving smile. Glancing back, he saw James and Chris also visibly relax.

"Brad?"

"You actually... but what about the producer? Are you sure it's okay?"

Anson looked behind Brad but didn’t see anyone else, which might mean Brad's talk with the producer didn’t go well.

Anson carefully hid his concern.

Brad shook his head, smiled, and patted Anson on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I've handled it all. Cheers!"

Brad stepped in first and greeted everyone with a wave. "Hey, everyone, happy review party!"

Chris and Anson shared the same thought; even though it wasn’t Hayden, which was a relief, Brad showing up here raised another question—what about his meeting with the producer?

Chris quickly approached Brad. "Are you sure?" He looked at Anson, full of confusion, but this time, Anson also had no answer to give.

Brad waved him off, signaling Chris not to worry, and spoke openly, "Actually, a producer just invited me for a meeting, but I thought, hey, this is Hollywood. There are opportunities every day and meetings all the time. Even if we're planning to collaborate, there's no rush, right?"

"I told him we could meet tomorrow, and right now, I'm heading home to join my friends' review party. How could I miss Anson and James' review party?"

In the living room, everyone exchanged glances—

They were not that familiar with Brad yet.

Ryan had also stood up, blinking rapidly, feeling a bit flustered, and finally looked to Anson, sending a silent plea for help:

Is this really okay?

Anson was also taken aback. Watching Brad go straight for the whiskey, pouring it generously into a glass of orange juice, he couldn't quite figure it out.

Was the meeting unsuccessful, but Brad didn’t want them to worry?

Either way, since Brad didn’t want to discuss it, Anson didn’t push the topic, especially since there were guests present, and some conversations weren’t appropriate.

"Brad, if you're thinking of making an appearance today so that James will return the favor by getting you a role in his next starring film, then I can only say—

Deal!"

A pause, a twist.

Everyone burst out laughing, and the atmosphere instantly became lively again.

Chris stepped up again, giving Brad a hug to show comfort.

Then Anson changed the subject.

"Of course, that’s assuming there is a next one."

James clutched his chest, "Ouch."

Laughter erupted again, more joyful this time.

Seeing Chris and Brad find their seats again, Anson picked up his laptop.

"Ladies and gentlemen, so far, none of the big reviews have come out yet. Let's see if they have something fresh to offer."

“Oh.”

“Roger Ebert is in.”

No need to mention the "Chicago Sun-Times" name; just his name was enough to get everyone banging on the table, howling and cheering.

Anson carefully read for a moment, his eyes widening.

"Wait, this is... actually a positive review!"

Anson looked around, and Chris couldn’t hold back, jumping up immediately. Brad, who had just sat down, was almost knocked over by Chris.

"The original story is faithfully presented, and the character portrayal won't disappoint fans of the source material—even Gwen's fans will find it satisfactory. The action sequences are surprisingly well-coordinated, and combined with Sam Raimi's unique horror-style humor, the film is unexpectedly fun."

“And the real surprise comes from—”

Anson looked up from the laptop, staring in disbelief at everyone.

“Anson Wood.”

*Chapter 477: A Fresh Perspective*

Robert Ebert is undoubtedly an indispensable part of the current film critic community. His reviews and opinions are not only referenced by the general audience but are also highly valued by his peers, who often engage in discussions with him.

Last summer, Robert harshly criticized "The Princess Diaries," showing no consideration for Julie Andrews and being ruthless toward actors perceived as mere eye candy. Despite the film's box office success, Robert's "calm and objective" criticism was like a sharp sword, making every movie of the summer worry about his judgment.

However!

At the opening of this summer's season, Robert was greatly impressed by Anson's performance in "Spider-Man." Is this really happening?

The answer is yes.

"Without a doubt, Anson Wood's nuanced, rich, and layered performance brings Peter Parker to life, making the character not only believable but also truly captivating."

"Every frame he appears in makes this young hero unique. Audiences are willing to follow in his footsteps to explore the character's destiny."

"Anson's personal charisma is the biggest revelation on the big screen this summer."

High praise, high praise, 100% high praise—

Even Anson himself was surprised, not expecting such high acclaim from Robert.

The entire hall fell silent, with all eyes focused on Anson. Then Anson raised his head and met everyone's gaze.

"Eighty-five points."

Wow!

Jack was the first to raise his hands high in celebration, "Hooray!"

Immediately, everyone else stood up, cheering, screaming, and hugging, immersed in a joyful disbelief.

An eighty-five—not ninety or a hundred—but from Robert Ebert, and for a popcorn commercial movie, that was enough. Who could have imagined that after a series of mediocre reviews, there would be such a dramatic turn of events?

James shouted, "Is there more? Is there more?"

Anson shrugged, "That's it."

James, "What!"

James could hardly believe it. He shook his head repeatedly, looking at Anson with a face full of frustration, "Wait, this review isn't something you made up, is it?"

James agilely jumped over the sofa, rushed to Anson, grabbed the laptop, and quickly scanned the screen, eyes wide with shock.

"This!"

The crowd paused their celebration, all eyes on James.

"It's actually real!"

"Robert, I am very disappointed in you, very disappointed. Such a perfect Apollo is right here, and you chose to ignore it. From today, your authority is greatly diminished in my eyes. I have reason to question your taste. I will never trust you again."

Tsk. Whatever.

Boos filled the room.

Chris covered his mouth with his hand, shouting loudly on purpose, "James, you suck! Get out of here!"

Laughter filled the room.

Anson, however, looked directly at Kristen, without any apologies. Instead, he spread his arms and gave a look that said, "I'm naturally charming and can't help it."

Kristen couldn't help but burst into laughter.

As mentioned before, Kristen chose to appear in "Spider-Man" because of Anson. She hoped he would bring a different flavor to the film.

In the script, Mary Jane is just eye candy, her role being to scream and wait to be rescued—typical of female leads in current Hollywood commercial movies.

However, during filming, Kristen, with Anson's help, explored and tried to find Mary Jane's own emotional arc within the script's framework.

It was an interesting shoot, meeting Kristen's expectations. Even in a commercial film, actors can still find depth in their characters.

Nevertheless, Kristen admitted that not hearing her own review, whether positive or negative, was a bit disappointing. Mary Jane seemed to be just an unimportant accessory, not even worth mentioning. But seeing Anson's expression, the disappointment and bitterness in her heart slowly faded away—

At least the collaboration was enjoyable, right?

Kristen didn't regret it.

Then.

Anson took the laptop back from James, read for a while longer, and a smile slowly appeared on his lips. He made a gesture towards Kristen.

"Wait. Wait!"

"Wood and Dunst's performances bring a unique charm to the film. Their gazes, interactions, and every encounter are convincing—not just a high school puppy love, but also a kind of growth and a dream, making this movie most enchanting. It is real and moving."

Jack was ready to jump, but Anson stopped him with a look and continued reading.

"'Rolling Stone,' wow, ninety points."

Wow!

Cheers erupted, uncontrollable now.

Immediately, Jack stood up, howling weirdly like a wolf, making everyone else burst into laughter.

Chris jumped three feet high, clenching his fists like a gorilla, pounding his chest, "I knew it! Hey, I knew it!"

Only James, holding his head in his hands, fell to his knees, crying out, "No! This is some movie reality. Jesus Christ."

This made everyone laugh and tease even more, turning James into a complete side character both in the movie and outside.

Clearly, James was heartbroken.

Seth rolled over, starting to perform CPR on James, causing everyone to laugh uproariously, toppling over one by one, in a raucous scene.

Kristen was drowned in the noise, covering her ears with both hands, smiling as she looked at Anson—

Not much is needed, just a little progress is enough. At least she was seen too.

From Robert Ebert to "Rolling Stone," one praise after another, a silver lining after the dark clouds, acclaim once again took the spotlight.

And this time, the praise accelerated to the fullest, overwhelmingly positive reviews flooding in, completely igniting a morning in Los Angeles.

Unbelievable, but everything was indeed happening.

"New York Times," one hundred points, "It's hard to remember the last time a summer blockbuster could be so satisfying while easily exceeding expectations."

"Los Angeles Times," one hundred points, "The terrible computer effects were a disaster, but unbelievably, this film possesses a heart—a sincerity nearly vanished from commercial genre films. Anson Wood undoubtedly shines on the big screen."

"Variety," ninety-five points, "A reminder of how enchanting the movie experience can be, we are fully immersed in this tender yet heartbreaking story, soaring to the clouds and plunging to the depths. When the film ends, we are exhilarated, wanting to run wildly in the night breeze."

"Hollywood Reporter," ninety-five points, "A perfect balance of cinematography, direction, story, and characters—all in excellent harmony; and Anson Wood's performance gives Peter Parker real flesh and blood. He is a real person, not just a narrative device."

Four major authoritative media outlets, all in agreement.

### Chapter 478: Breaking Free from Constraints

Praise, praise, and more praise. All of it was unanimous.

After beginning with positive reviews, the film faced a wave of average critiques, but unexpectedly, a turning point led to a surge of glowing reviews.

Led by two major general media outlets, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, and two leading professional trade publications, the Hollywood Reporter and Variety, the four giants of media gave unanimous acclaim.

And it wasn’t just praise.

Two perfect scores and two 95s.

Without a doubt, this was shocking, enough to leave other industry insiders speechless with their jaws dropped in disbelief. Yet, it was all unfolding right before their eyes.

Even more incredibly, this was just the beginning.

Other professional media outlets were equally generous in their accolades and admiration, with scores and words all highlighting their appreciation for the film. It was as if a frenzy had erupted, sparking a whirlwind of positive buzz for "Spider-Man."

- *The Wall Street Journal*: 93, "Incredible. Sam Raimi has done it, pleasing both die-hard comic book fans and those unfamiliar with the superhero genre. Or perhaps, Anson Wood has done it?"

- *The Washington Post*: 91, "So seamless and just right. I dare ask, who still dares say we don’t need superhero movies?"

- *USA Today*: 90, "Anson Wood brings Peter Parker to life, making him vulnerable, strong, gentle, and decisive. Most importantly, he becomes irresistible. In an unexpected way, he touches the soft spot in every viewer’s heart."

One after another, five, six, seven—all glowing reviews.

Jaw-dropping. Stunned.

Everything was so overwhelming and insane that the audience began doubting their own eyes.

Check once, check twice—no matter how many times they checked, the answer remained the same:

No mistakes, no illusions.

This was indeed a storm of positive reviews, instantly washing away those average ones, filling the review pages with a sea of green.

Refreshing!

But is this real?

Could a film adapted from a nerdy comic, a seemingly unremarkable superhero movie, a typical summer popcorn flick, truly drive the industry's leading media into a frenzy? Is that even possible?

Wait, maybe—

Could this be a concerted effort by the media to boost the summer box office market? A desperate measure to lure audiences into theaters, even if it means deceiving them?

But a closer look would reveal that this was impossible.

For one or two media outlets, maybe there was a slim chance. However, with such a broad spectrum of media outlets all offering praise, there was only one explanation:

The movie was genuinely good.

These accolades were professional and objective critiques.

In the midst of immense pressure and countless doubts, "Spider-Man" had indeed turned the tide, carving out its own path against the odds.

This was truly a rare sight to behold.

After all, summer popcorn flicks typically appeal to mass audiences, and critics tend to be more discerning—

As a reference, since 1990, among the top-grossing films in North America, only 1994's The Lion King had a critic score above 80, with a remarkable 88. The others failed to earn "praise" from professional critics.

- Titanic: 75.

- Terminator 2: 75.

- Men in Black: 71.

These were the only three films with a critic score above 70.

Box office performance and critic scores often don't correlate.

Thus, summer blockbusters rarely gain recognition from both audiences and critics—virtually an impossible feat.

Now, after The Lion King, another film had managed to achieve such a feat. Eight years later, a dark horse had emerged.

Although the movie hadn't yet been widely released in theaters, audiences needed to wait patiently for two more days. Still, critics were already celebrating in advance.

In fact, the number of critic reviews alone hinted at the bigger picture—

Fifty.

A whopping fifty media outlets published reviews of "Spider-Man" right after its premiere!

This was the first time in history a movie received feedback from fifty media outlets immediately after its premiere, capturing the entire film industry's attention.

Here, we can see the collective effort of Hollywood to promote "Spider-Man" and attempt to ignite the summer box office. Regardless of the outcome, at least the buzz needed to be generated; whether people cared or not, industry insiders were giving it attention.

Attention is power.

And the next step, whether good or bad, would come down to the media maintaining their authority and professional image, writing down their thoughts first.

Time will reveal the value of these reviews.

Fifty media outlets, ten average reviews, forty positive ones—

No negative reviews.

Rarely seen, "Spider-Man" enjoyed a zero-negative-review status.

Critics generally agreed that Sam Raimi's approach of focusing on Peter Parker's growth as a high school student was clever, as it created an innate resonance between the audience and the character. It was no longer just a spectacle but a connection with the character.

More precisely, "Spider-Man" should not be compared with other superhero films like "Batman Returns," "X-Men," or "Blade," but rather with coming-of-age films like Stand by Me or The Breakfast Club. Yet, it still catered to the summer popcorn crowd.

For this reason, even the harshest critics only gave a fifty. While "Spider-Man" may not have a high ceiling, its floor was quite high, laying the foundation for its breakout success.

Additionally, one media outlet's critique succinctly captured the audience's psyche.

"When we see the Twin Towers again in the movie, it stirs our sad memories; but at the same time, when we see Peter Parker taking on the hero's mantle with his frail shoulders, we all find courage again."

This was key.

Various factors collided, resulting in the spectacular scene unfolding before us.

Critics' score: 81.

Boom! Boom! Boom! It exploded!

This was the first summer wide-release film in the new millennium to break the 80-point barrier with its critic score; and with fifty media scores, its credibility and authority only skyrocketed.

This time, there were no more smoke screens. Century City could confidently and joyfully cheer—

They might be competitors. They might clash the moment they turned around. But at least for now, all of Hollywood was united.

If a movie like "Spider-Man" couldn't revive the sluggish box office, then Hollywood would truly be at a loss.

Everything was ready, just waiting for the east wind.

As a film company, they had done everything they could to prepare, doing their utmost, and now it was time to wait for the market's response.

Everything was left to fate, or rather—

Left to Peter Parker.

The times make heroes, so could Peter Parker become a hero this time? More precisely, could Anson play the hero?

Clearly, more than one media outlet believed so.

- *The Village Voice*: 88,

 "Anson Wood! Anson Wood! Anson Wood!"

*Chapter 479: Shadow of the Moon*

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

"Wow, unbelievable, unbelievable!"

"Don't worry, this time it will definitely work. I'll bring friends to the theater on Friday to support."

"After hearing these reviews, I can't help but get curious. It's all James's fault for not inviting me to the premiere. I'm blaming him for it."

"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep for the next two days."

Chatting away, friends were saying their goodbyes, one after another, giving hugs.

Ryan stayed back, slightly reserved, but when he saw Anson, he managed a smile. In just two days, it seemed like they had gotten a lot closer.

Up ahead, Seth Rogen joked bluntly, "I thought the movie would get bad reviews, so we came over specifically to cheer you up and then hide in the bathroom and gloat. But it turned into a party, how disappointing."

"I'm insanely jealous right now; I need to calm down."

Unexpectedly, Anson responded seriously, "When the opening weekend box office numbers come out, you'll be even more jealous. Make sure to prepare yourself mentally."

Seth was momentarily stunned, blinking his eyes, "Uh, Anson, maybe you should stop doing comedy. You're handsome and funny, give us a break. Leave the comedy to us chubby guys."

"Haha."

Not just Anson, but Ryan, standing behind, was also laughing heartily.

After Seth left, Ryan stepped forward, "Congratulations. Now I'm looking forward to it too."

Looking at Anson, Ryan put on a serious face, "‘Look into his eyes, that is the most breathtaking shade of blue this year.’ I will definitely pay close attention."

That line was also from a review, also giving praise to Anson.

Rarely, Ryan noticed Anson looking a bit awkward—

Suddenly, standing under the spotlight, countless praises poured down like a torrential rain, soaring up high, making it a little dizzying and bewildering.

Anson chuckled wryly, joking, "Be careful not to fall in love."

"Haha," Ryan laughed out loud, "I'll be extra careful."

After speaking, he paused, instinctively glancing back, wanting to say something but then stopping. After some thought, he swallowed the words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

Anson followed Ryan's gaze—

Brad.

Throughout today’s review party, Brad was never really present, a bit low and restless. Although he tried to put on a smile, he kept spacing out in the end.

Before Anson could speak, Ryan quickly said, "Well, I'll head out now. This weekend, I'll go to the theater. Hopefully, I can get a ticket."

The implication being that the theater would surely be packed.

Anson picked up on it, "I’d love to rent out all the theaters in Los Angeles, but sadly, I don't have the money, so I'll just have to imagine it."

"Haha." Ryan was directly amused, clapping his hands and laughing. Despite being worried about Brad, today’s party was mainly for Anson and James, and after hesitating for a moment, Ryan decided not to say anything more. He’d just call Brad later.

Gradually, all the guests left, and the once noisy hall quickly quieted down, leaving behind a mess of bottles and trash.

James must have gotten drunk, probably lying somewhere in a corner fast asleep; Chris was rummaging through the kitchen for garbage bags to clean up.

Anson felt a headache coming on: as expected, parties are fun at the moment but a disaster afterward.

No wonder there are professional party cleaning teams in Los Angeles, and they’re doing well in business.

Anson and his friends had underestimated the craziness of today's party. They thought it would just be a small gathering, so they weren't prepared. Now, seeing the mess in front of them, it was probably too late to call a professional team.

So, they could only clean up themselves.

With a long sigh, Anson prepared to help Chris with some of the cleanup; otherwise, who knows how long Chris would be busy.

Suddenly, Brad, who was sitting on the floor leaning against the cabinet with his eyes closed, stood up like a zombie, breaking the silence and startling everyone.

Brad seemed to be in a slightly tipsy state, holding onto the cabinet to stand up, his body swaying slightly. He saw Anson, paused for a moment, and said, "Uh, sorry, I might need to go out for a bit. Sorry for leaving this mess for you guys."

Anson looked at Brad, "Are you sure? You don’t seem fit to go out right now."

Brad waved his hand and walked straight to the door, "I know, but I have to. Actually, I just lied. I didn't reschedule with the producer; I just told him I needed to come back and freshen up, change clothes. Now, I need to get to the Hilton Hotel to meet him."

Anson quietly looked at Brad, took a deep breath, and finally couldn’t hold back, "Of course, no one should miss such an opportunity."

His words carried a hint of sarcasm.

Brad caught it, stopped, and looked at Anson with a puzzled expression, "What do you mean by that? I made up an excuse to delay the meeting so I could come back and support you guys. Instead of being thankful, you could at least show some respect."

Anson gently shook his head, "Really?"

Brad got a bit angry, his shoulders tensed, "What!"

Anson, "Did you really come back to support me and James?"

Brad, "Of course..."

This time, Anson didn't let Brad finish, "No, you didn’t. You didn’t come to support me and James. If you truly wanted to support us, you wouldn’t choose to be absent when you thought the movie was successful, and then suddenly show up when you realized it might fail."

Brad's expression faltered slightly, his shoulders and arms noticeably stiffened, "What... what? No, that's not how it was."

"I told you, I was at the Hilton Hotel. A producer wanted to meet with me, and I thought I shouldn't refuse him."

Anson nodded slightly, "Right, but you still left. What happened? Suddenly, it didn’t matter? Suddenly, the producer could wait?"

Brad opened his mouth, looking bewildered, "You... you, and James, I put our friendship first, and I thought I needed to support you. Anson, this is absurd, I refuse to accept your insult."

Anson wasn’t angry, not sad, not hurt; there was just a sense of sighing and bitterness, "Brad, I think you heard the good news from Century City. Everyone is saying the movie was a success. Obviously, 'Spider-Man' might actually blow up the market. You got jealous, you panicked, you couldn’t handle it."

"Why? Why did 'Digital Murder' fail, but 'Spider-Man' could succeed? You couldn’t accept that reality."

"However."

"When the rumors of bad reviews kept increasing, you suddenly realized, hey, we're still brothers in adversity."

"Except, you didn’t expect those bad reviews weren't actually bad, just average."

"Worse still, behind the average reviews came a string of good ones. The movie somehow came back to life, and it seemed like the work James and I did was still going to succeed."

"You couldn’t handle it; you started drinking; you refused to make eye contact with me or James. When we were celebrating, you were like a ghost at the party, completely absent-minded. You tried to cover it up, but you couldn’t."

"Brad, you shouldn’t drink because alcohol makes you a terrible actor."

Ryan was worried about Brad, and so was Anson. Throughout the entire party, they couldn't ignore Brad, but they never imagined the expressions and looks in his eyes would be so different from what they expected. Until just now, Brad’s forced lie finally confirmed the worst suspicion.

Anson’s eyes were full of sadness.

*Chapter 480: The Whirlpool of Fame and Fortune*

Brad's eyes were a bit panicked. He tried to avoid looking, but then worried that it would make him look guilty, so he turned back to Anson and forced a smile.

“Ha.”

“Haha. Has anyone ever told you that you could be a great screenwriter, Anson?”

“Do you think I have that much inner turmoil when I’m alone outside? Did I just perform a one-man show? This isn’t some Shakespearean drama, okay?”

“No, actually, the fact that my friend thinks I’m that kind of person is really sad.”

“God, what has Hollywood turned you into, Anson? You should take a good look in the mirror.”

The best defense is a good offense.

Brad turned the tables, his face full of sadness. His cheeks, flushed from alcohol, became more animated as he looked Anson up and down in disbelief.

Anson thought he was mature enough and calm enough to face all this. Even when confronting Brad directly, he hadn’t lost his composure. But now, looking at Brad’s performance, a rush of anger broke through and started burning in his chest.

“It’s precisely because I realized that my friend, after all his inner struggles, still chose to hurt others that it really makes me sad.”

“If it were last year—no, to be precise, even just a few months ago, before Hayden suddenly disappeared, I wouldn’t have thought like this.”

“But now, yes, I’ve become darker.”

“Hey, welcome to Hollywood, right?”

“So, tell me I’m wrong. Tell me that the one with too much inner drama is actually me. Tell me I’m the one who’s lost his mind in the pursuit of fame. Please, I beg you, tell me I’m an asshole for doubting my friend, that even thinking like this is wrong.”

“Come on, tell me.”

Anson truly hoped things could be simpler. The dirt and ugliness he’d seen in his past life, he didn’t want to witness again.

He looked at Brad, so candid and straightforward, quietly waiting.

Brad’s words caught in his throat, his eyes flickering with struggle. He could clearly see the hope in Anson’s eyes gradually dimming.

“No, it’s not like that,” Brad blurted out hastily. “Everything I said is true. I really don’t know anything about the rumors in Century City.”

Anson gave a bitter smile. “Who’s the producer?”

Brad was stunned. “What?”

Anson continued, “The producer who wanted to talk to you about a project, the one you were just about to meet at the Hilton Hotel before you left—who is he? He must have a name, right?”

Brad froze completely. “Uh, what?”

Anson didn’t say another word. He just stood there with a smile, looking at Brad.

A single look, a single gesture, and he had cornered Brad.

Brad tried to explain, “No... I... wait...”

But the words wouldn’t come out.

Finally, his frustration turned into anger, and Brad raised his voice. “No, I’m not going to tell you his name. I’m not going to let you call him and ruin my audition opportunity.”

“Haha.” Anson gave a cold laugh, shrugging lightly. “Why would I ruin your audition opportunity? Why do you think I want to ruin your audition opportunity? Have you forgotten? I was the one who encouraged you to go for the role in ‘Digital Murder.’”

Brad: ...

Brad was stunned, standing there rigidly. It was clear to see the sweat slowly dripping from his forehead, his eyes not even blinking.

The answer was becoming increasingly obvious.

“Damn it.” Anson couldn’t help but curse. Even though he had uncovered the secret hidden in the shadows of the spotlight himself, he still couldn’t control his anger now that it was confirmed.

“Damn it!”

In a rare moment, Anson cursed again.

“Brad, why couldn’t you just be happy for us? You know how long James and I have been waiting for this opportunity. But you couldn’t do it. You...”

“You didn’t want to come to the Critics’ Party because you were worried that James and I might actually succeed.”

Brad finally regained his composure. “No, no, no, that’s a lie. You’re lying. I want you to succeed. I genuinely want James to succeed. When you were auditioning for these big commercial movies, I was rooting for you. I even helped you practice your lines. I’ve always supported you...”

Brad’s face was filled with grievance, and Anson couldn’t bear to look anymore. “That’s because you didn’t think the movie would succeed. Only when we’re in the mud, like you, are you willing to support us. But when we might succeed like you, or even more than you, things change.”

“Goddamn it.”

“Brad, ‘Digital Murder’ failing isn’t the end of the world. You don’t have to curse all of us to rot in the gutter with you.”

Brad was at a loss for words. The alcohol clouded his mind. “So, you, I, do you think I’m a monster? All of Hollywood is like this. Get real, Mr. Naive. You should wake up and realize this is the truth. Just like you said earlier.”

“Welcome to Hollywood.”

“What, are you going to morally judge me? I didn’t do anything wrong. Everyone thinks this way. Why can’t I? I should be allowed to have my own thoughts too.”

That was as good as an admission.

Finally, the truth was cruelly laid bare before them, bloody and raw.

Anson shook his head slightly, feeling a mix of exhaustion and weariness.

“No, Brad, you’re right. You didn’t commit a crime, and I have no right to morally judge you. This is Hollywood, brutal and cold.”

“I, uh...”

Anson let out a long breath, feeling a deep fatigue, as if his soul was slowly sinking, like drowning.

“I just thought we were friends. At the very least, we could genuinely cheer each other on.”

“But you’re right. I’m too naive. I should reflect on myself.”

At this point, there seemed to be no need to continue.

Anson took a deep breath and smiled again.

“Brad, the pursuit of fame isn’t easy. We know that, and so do you. I just hope that at least in our lives, there are some true friends.”

“No hidden agendas, no underhanded tactics. We’re willing to sincerely celebrate each other’s successes and also be there to support each other through setbacks, just like the Rat Pack. Even though no one believes in friendship in Hollywood, for God’s sake, we’re real people, not tools or stepping stones. We should be allowed to have unrealistic dreams.”

“In fact, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Maybe it’s just me who needs to come to terms with this reality.”

Anson looked at Brad. Despite having a thousand things to say, it seemed like none of it mattered anymore. All those eloquent words had lost their power, becoming pale and feeble.

Anger, sadness, bitterness—all of it vanished like smoke, leaving only a sense of helplessness.

“I’m sorry.”

Anson said.

It wasn’t Brad who apologized, but Anson. Maybe he shouldn’t have lifted the glamorous veil, shouldn’t have tried to uncover the truth, shouldn’t have held onto hope.

That was his mistake.

As he turned around, Anson saw Chris standing in the kitchen doorway, looking lost and dazed.

The air quietly flowed, and the whole world fell silent.