"But friends are friends, and work is work, right?"
Anson said.
Always calm, always composed, always collected.
Kristen shook her head repeatedly, her knees weak and her whole body powerless. "No, I still can't do it. It makes me feel like we're lifeless robots."
"But we're not, right?"
"Anson, why aren't you angry? Are you some kind of Saint Mary?"
Anson chuckled softly. "Haha, for the record, I'm not. But..." He let out a long sigh. "Maybe it's because I don't hold onto hope."
"Expectations lead to disappointment, disappointment leads to despair, but without expectations, there's no pain."
A hint of bitterness, a trace of sighing.
Anson thought that after experiencing his past life and going through so much, he would be tough as steel, immune to hurt. But clearly, he still couldn't control it.
Kristen felt a similar bitterness on the tip of her tongue. "If it were you, what would you do?"
Anson had already composed himself and looked back at Kristen. "An opportunity to take a role from a friend—oh, an opportunity to become the villain. How could I pass it up?"
Kristen looked helpless. "Anson, I'm being serious."
Anson nodded. "I am serious too. I would fight for it, do my best."
Kristen could hardly believe her ears.
Anson continued, "But I would tell my friend. I've got this opportunity, and I don't want to miss it. I know how important it is for them, but it's equally important to me. I'm also yearning to build an acting career, so if the producer gives me the chance, I won't give it up for a friend. I'm not that noble, nor that kind."
"Next, we'll compete fairly. May the better performer get the role and take off, launching an acting career."
Kristen was stunned. Clearly, she hadn't expected such an answer.
Anson shrugged lightly. "And then you'll be condemned as a 'white lotus,' self-righteous, openly saying such shameless things."
"Some things don't become grand just because you say them out loud. Placing personal interest above friendship is the truth, and dressing it up with pretty words still means you've taken everything for yourself."
"It's downright despicable."
Kristen couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
Back then, when Anson and James were competing for the role of "Spider-Man," they also talked openly and competed fairly, even ending up joining the same crew as partners. But that was an exception, an ideal situation.
Hollywood is ultimately a place of bones piled high—behind every glamorous success lies countless bodies and blood. In the face of interests, whether it's a fair competition or a stab in the back, personal emotions inevitably get hurt.
The contradiction remains unresolved.
But Kristen now had a slight epiphany. She could righteously refuse such opportunities, but she couldn't condemn Jack for trying to seize one.
Still, there was an uncomfortable feeling in her heart. Kristen looked at Anson. "Aha, you're definitely not Saint Mary."
Anson shrugged lightly. "I told you. Not only would I join the competition, but I'd also give it my all, fighting my way through this cutthroat fame game."
Kristen looked a little sorrowful. "Is it necessary to do it like this?"
Anson replied, "No."
The answer was so straightforward that Kristen was very surprised.
Anson continued, "You could also be like Keanu Reeves. Despite having opportunities to become a superstar, he insists on being himself, even staying away from Hollywood's spotlight, living life on his own terms, indifferent to money, fame, and glory. He's lost so much and endured many farewells, so he's learned to stay true to himself."
"The key is, we all need to take responsibility for our choices and bear the consequences."
"We can climb to the top of the pyramid by any means necessary, but we should muster the courage to face the outcome of being shunned by everyone. Or, we can choose to stay true to ourselves, learn to accept what we have, and enjoy it."
"Hey, dear Kristen, everything in this world comes at a price. When we gain something, we must lose something. Reality's confusion often lies in our greed—we want everything. We want our career and our friendship, success and a good reputation, and then we get stuck in our desires, unable to free ourselves."
Bit by bit, Kristen's lips curled into a smile—
Her mood brightened.
Even Kristen herself couldn't believe it; she was genuinely happy.
It was only now that Kristen realized those "what-ifs" earlier were just Anson's joke. "So, you wouldn't go after that opportunity, right?"
Anson responded, "I already said I would. The role of Peter Parker—I got it after competing with James."
Kristen shook her head. "That's different. That was an open competition, everyone had a fair shot. But this would mean taking a friend's role, especially when the friend is still recovering."
Kristen was indeed a smart girl. Though often seen as just a pretty face, she constantly thought about her career.
Anson didn't deny it anymore. "There are countless roles out there, but friends—real friends—are hard to come by in Hollywood."
Kristen added, "Real friends."
Hollywood is full of so-called friends. A fleeting encounter can turn into a friendship, and you can even claim to "know so-and-so" without sharing a drink.
There's a distinction between friends and real friends.
Anson laughed out loud. "Alright, real friends."
Kristen finally sorted out her thoughts, her mood lifting. "I know lots of people praise your looks, calling you handsome and charming. But has anyone ever said you're smarter than you seem?"
Anson thought about it seriously. "So, are you trying to confess? Sorry, Kristen, although I'm honored, you're not my type."
Kristen didn't respond but simply made a gesture: raising her right middle finger.
Kristen thought for a moment, then "Oh!" and raised her left middle finger too.
And flashed a brilliant smile.
"Haha, hahaha." Anson could no longer hold back, bursting into laughter.
Lucas, waiting outside, wasn't eavesdropping, but he could vaguely guess it had something to do with Jake Gyllenhaal.
Perhaps tomorrow or the day after at the latest, the news that Sony-Columbia was looking for Anson's replacement would be out—
There was no need for a leak because Sony-Columbia was racing against time. Every move they made was under the watch of the media and paparazzi. Plus, with their negotiations with different agencies and actors, it was hard to keep things under wraps, and the news was already out.
The only reason it hadn't been publicized yet was that the media was still gathering information, trying to see who was on Sony-Columbia's list of candidates.
Eve heard Jake Gyllenhaal's name and was a little surprised; she thought Kristen had recommended him to the crew, so she informed Lucas to remind Anson to be wary of being betrayed by friends.
Lucas had also been thinking about how to tell Anson, but he never knew how to bring it up.
But now, it seemed Lucas didn't need to worry anymore.