Their eyes met.
Scarlett thought she was mentally prepared, but her heart still skipped a beat. This time, she didn't panic or avoid his gaze, but instead lost herself in the mesmerizing blue depths of his eyes.
Thump.
The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears like thunder.
Then...
Scarlett saw herself reflected in those eyes, and memories of their previous encounters flooded her mind, making her feel a little embarrassed.
"Ah."
With a light sigh, a hint of annoyance and dejection, Scarlett couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth, chuckling self-deprecatingly.
"I must look really stupid right now."
Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "Stupid? Why?"
Scarlett: "Like a little girl, standing in front of a boy, at a loss for words."
Anson: "Why would a girl be at a loss for words in front of a boy?"
Scarlett: "Because..." of a flutter in her heart.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but this time, Scarlett reacted in time, slamming on the brakes and regaining control. When she looked at Anson again, her rationality returned, and a hint of slyness appeared in her eyes.
"Because the girl can't stand the boy's childishness and stupidity."
Anson raised his chin slightly. "Isn't that a bit of a sharp turn?"
He saw right through Scarlett, but this time she didn't back down. She cleared her throat and straightened her back. "Haven't you ever seen a girl throw a tantrum?"
Anson's face was serious. "I've heard of it."
His earnest look made Scarlett's cheeks flush slightly, but she didn't show it. "You can't be like this. What happened to the 'heartthrob' image? If you don't understand girls, how can you be a charmer?"
Anson blinked. "Don't they like me for my face? Who cares about personality or thoughtfulness?"
He was so... straightforward.
Scarlett couldn't refute him for a moment. She carefully examined Anson's face and nodded seriously. "You're right. But for a one-night stand, who knows if it even works, why bother caring about so much?"
Anson: ???
Wait, I think you're driving!
Scarlett bathed in Anson's gaze, feeling a little shy. She cleared her throat and looked away, gazing at the clouds in the sky, as if she didn't understand the meaning in Anson's eyes at all.
Fortunately, Anson didn't press further. He just gave Scarlett a meaningful look and then changed the subject. "So is this your worry?"
Scarlett turned to Anson, her eyes asking a question.
Anson explained, "Are you worried that people will overlook your acting because of your looks, or even have misunderstandings and prejudices?"
Scarlett understood and asked back, "Aren't you worried?"
"No." Anson answered without a second's hesitation, which surprised Scarlett.
Anson noticed and smiled. "I can't say I haven't considered it at all, but I don't think it's something I need to worry about right now."
Scarlett: "Are you sure? 'Spider-Man' is still in theaters."
"Haha." Anson spread his hands. "That's a good thing, and it's just the first footprint of success. It will be a while before I reach the bottleneck where people overlook my skills because of my looks."
Scarlett didn't understand -
The "vase" image was already a label Anson had to face. The most direct evidence was "Elephant." It was just an independent film, but the media made a big fuss about Anson trying to change his image. If they didn't already see him as a "vase," their reaction wouldn't have been so strong.
Moreover, Scarlett didn't believe that Anson, with his intelligence, was completely unaware of this.
At this moment, Anson realized that the root of the conflict between Scarlett and Brian probably lay here.
Either Brian had another actress in mind, and Scarlett snatched the role, or Brian had higher expectations for Scarlett's performance. Or maybe there were other reasons that led to their unpleasant collaboration and made Scarlett doubt her identity as an actor.
Anson didn't rush to speak but thought carefully.
"Under the spotlight, everyone has their own labels and challenges."
"Because the image of a public figure presented to the public is inevitably one-sided, they can't fully show themselves. Over time, these images become stereotypes that strangle them, shackles that even with their best efforts, they may not be able to break free from."
"No one is an exception."
Scarlett asked softly, "No one?"
Anson nodded. "No one."
How should he explain it?
Anson looked at Scarlett. "Have you seen 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?'"
Scarlett: "Of course."
This thriller about two sisters entangled in mutual hatred was undoubtedly a classic in film history. When it was released in 1962, it caused a sensation. Its true success wasn't just in receiving five Oscar nominations, but in becoming a hot topic of discussion everywhere.
"Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" starred two legendary actresses, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
They were natural enemies in real life, making no secret of their animosity, even openly confronting each other at award ceremonies. Not just Hollywood, but the general public also knew about their deep-seated feud.
However, as their careers both hit a low point, they made the unconventional decision to collaborate on this film. The main reason was that the script's portrayal of two sisters' love-hate relationship perfectly mirrored their real-life dynamic. The director also broke the fourth wall, letting their off-screen conflict seep into the film, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
The film was a sensation upon release.
Later, in 2017, a TV series called "Feud" focused on the behind-the-scenes drama of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", showcasing the animosity between these two legendary actresses.
It remained a legend to this day.
Scarlett didn't expect Anson to bring up this film at this time. "What, are you also gossiping about the drama between the two actresses?"
"Hehe." Anson spread his hands. "Is that how you see me?"
Scarlett's eyes held a hint of amusement. "Who knows? In Hollywood, everyone wears a mask. No one knows the truth."
Anson looked at her. "Including you?"
He thought Scarlett would deny or refute, but she just quietly looked at him.
This time, Anson was the one defeated.
"No, not the rumors and gossip." Anson brought the topic back. "I'm talking about the two actresses."
"They are undoubtedly legends, holding an important place in film history. They have countless iconic images and classic works."
"But when they filmed 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?', they were both in the later stages of their careers, facing their own labels and challenges."
That's why Anson had just answered Scarlett's question -
No one was an exception.
This was showbiz, this was Hollywood. Whether before or after the internet era, every actor, every public figure, had to face this dilemma.
Scarlett suddenly understood.
Anson looked at Scarlett. "Just like you."
Scarlett nodded slightly. "Just like me."