"So, you're preparing to fight back, right? You're going to go for the role, aren't you?"
"Honestly, I've always thought Sony Columbia's decisions were a bit odd. Why would they want to replace you? It doesn't make any sense."
"Your Spider-Man... it just doesn't feel the same."
With her nerves relaxing a bit, Kristen, a bit of a chatterbox, started to spill out her thoughts. You could tell she was being genuine.
After speaking, she realized what she had said and looked at Anson with a slightly awkward expression.
Anson responded with a smile. "I still remember how you only agreed to audition back then because of me. Looks like you really do like me. Will Jake be jealous?"
"Haha. You're still as funny as ever. Jake says you're no match for him," Kristen said with ease.
Anson shrugged lightly. "I can't stop people from daydreaming."
This time, Kristen truly relaxed and burst into laughter.
Then, Anson looked at Kristen. "Seriously, don't worry about me. I've already heard the news, and I'm going to fight for the role with everything I've got. But you still seem worried. So, is there something else?"
Kristen's expression became a bit unnatural, and a struggle was clearly visible in her eyes.
Anson said, "It's about Jake, isn't it?"
Kristen gasped sharply, staring at Anson in shock.
Even though she didn't speak, the answer was clear enough.
The Jake mentioned wasn't Jake Forrest, but Jake Gyllenhaal.
Anson raised his chin slightly. "So, it is Jake."
"Let me guess: Sony Columbia is preparing for my possible exit due to my injury, and they want to have a backup plan. Jake is one of their candidates."
"The key is that Jake is really interested, and he's considering accepting the role."
"You don't agree with this, but you're not sure how to handle it."
"On one hand, there's your boyfriend; on the other, there's your partner and friend. And this friend is also friends with your boyfriend. You're not even sure if you should tell your friend because you don't know whether to choose friendship or love, and now you feel torn."
Kristen covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief.
Because Anson had guessed everything, one hundred percent accurately.
She stepped back in shock, looking Anson up and down, as if unsure how to process this.
For a moment, Kristen wanted to turn around and run away. She knew she should tell Anson, but that would mean betraying Jake. If she stayed silent and Jake stabbed Anson in the back, she'd be betraying Anson. She couldn't make a decision.
Either way, she would be letting someone down.
Her conscience told her to choose what was right. Setting aside love and friendship, she should make the right choice. But if only it were that simple.
In fact, Kristen had argued fiercely with Jake about this, more than once. She had tried to convince him to give up this ridiculous idea, but Jake refused, and their arguments escalated.
Kristen wanted to tell Anson.
But when it came down to it, the words wouldn't come out. Even though she was deeply disappointed in Jake, and even though she stood firm in front of him, she couldn't speak in front of Anson.
Doing the right thing is easy to say, but hard to do.
Even now, with Anson having figured everything out, Kristen was still torn, unable to make a choice.
Kristen stared at Anson, dazed—
Calm, collected, and serene.
No anger, no sadness, no bitterness—not even the slightest emotional ripple.
Kristen was shocked. "You're not upset? You don't feel betrayed?"
Anson replied, "Should I?"
The naturalness of his words left Kristen momentarily speechless.
Anson continued, "Look, while there are friendships in Hollywood, opportunities are opportunities. When it comes to opportunities, everyone is equal—there's no place for friendship. If necessary, family and love should be set aside as well. That's professionalism."
"For Jake, this is an opportunity, a chance for his career to break through. He's not stealing or cheating—he's seizing this opportunity with his own skills. He shouldn't feel guilty, and he doesn't need to avoid it."
"If it weren't for our relationship, I'm sure you'd be encouraging him to go for it, wouldn't you?"
Kristen shook her head vigorously. "But the point is, we're friends. There should be boundaries."
Anson replied, "Kristen, you should know how important this chance is for Jake's career. He should give it his all."
Kristen shook her head, using all her strength. "No, it shouldn't be like this."
"I know that in Hollywood, when it comes to real interests, everything is cold and cruel. Friendship, love—none of it counts. But we're not animals. We should have reason, we should have a conscience, right?"
Indeed, we should.
That's why people often say there's an ideal world and a real world. The ideal is rich and full, but the reality is thin and harsh.
From Hayden Christensen to Brad Renfro, including the cast of Friends, Anson was slowly becoming part of this world of fame and fortune.
In fact, Anson was adapting better than expected—after all, he had already witnessed all the warmth and coldness of humanity in his past life.
Some things, you win by chance; others, you lose by fate.
As a former child star, Kristen had spent over ten years navigating Hollywood, going through everything imaginable. Jake, born into a Hollywood family, had been surrounded by the industry from a young age and was well-versed in the rules of the fame game.
But here's the thing: some people, after experiencing that darkness, join in and convince themselves that since everyone's doing it, it's normal, and nothing to fuss about. Others, however, yearn even more for light and hope, believing that just because everyone does it doesn't make it right.
Watching Kristen, struggling with her inner conflict, Anson smiled bitterly. "So, what do you expect Jake to do?"
"To nobly refuse and show his loyalty and integrity?"
"Come on, Kristen. You've been in this industry longer than I have. You know that opportunities may seem abundant, but in reality, they're not. Countless actors fight for just a few roles, and for one out of a hundred to make it is already rare."
"I'm not talking about the top-tier actors, just the common working actors in Hollywood. It's not that easy for them either."
"You can't expect Jake to casually give up a chance like this."
Kristen understood. Of course, she did.
It was precisely because she understood that she struggled so much. Even standing in front of Anson, she still couldn't speak honestly.
But, "You're not angry?" Kristen asked. "I thought you two were friends."
Anson replied softly, "I thought so too."
His words were light, but there was a hint of bitterness behind them.
Then, shifting his tone, Anson smiled again, regaining his usual brightness, and said nonchalantly, "But friends are friends, and work is work, right?"