Nicholas's interview ended up delaying things by thirty minutes, forcing the production crew to push back their schedule. However, this was the first press interview since "scent of a woman" began filming, so a little delay wasn't a problem. Not only did the two main Actors, Al and Hugo, participate, but the creative team, including Martin and Bo, also gave short interviews. This could be considered the first wave of publicity for the film.Due to the delay from the interviews, the scene being filmed at the Pierre Hotel lasted until ten o'clock at night, at which point Martin finally called it a wrap with satisfaction.Hugo followed most of the staff back to the Waldorf Astoria. Al, watching Hugo laughing and chatting with everyone, stood to the side and looked at him curiously. Hugo, thinking something was wrong with himself, couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?""Are you twenty-three this year?" Al didn't answer Hugo's question, instead asking an uncertain and unrelated question."Twenty-five," Hugo replied. This was the easiest thing for him to accept after transmigrating; he was this age before he transmigrated, and he was still this age now, so he had no issues with psychological adjustment."Young man." Al's remark made Hugo laugh, though in front of Al, he was indeed just a child. "At your age, shouldn't you be out having fun? New York is a city that never sleeps. Gotham at night is colorful and vibrant. Staying in the hotel, you won't be able to experience its hidden charms."Hugo finally understood. It turned out Al thought it was strange that he obediently returned to the hotel after filming, not at all like a fun-loving young person. "Actually, my heart is already in Greenwich Village, but, you know, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy life throughout the year, but work opportunities don't come around every day."If Hugo really wanted to play, he would have plenty of time after filming "scent of a woman"; there was no rush. Now was work time, and since it was work, he had to be fully committed. Work hard, play hard—that was the right approach."Besides, didn't Martin keep reminding us to gather at seven tomorrow? I don't want to arrive on set sleep-deprived and then doze off during filming." Hugo said with a chuckle, and his relaxed tone made Al laugh as well."If you dare to fall asleep on set, I'll be the first to go after you," Al said, feigning fierceness, but it had no effect, causing Hugo to laugh continuously.The elevator stopped on the twenty-third floor. Hugo, Joseph, and others lived here and filed out. Al, Martin, and the others stayed in the luxury suites on the floor above, which were being used as filming locations, so they had to continue taking the elevator. Hugo said goodnight to the staff one by one and then walked with Joseph toward the end of the corridor.Just then, a door opened directly in front of them, and a man and a woman walked out. The two didn't seem particularly close, just like ordinary friends, but the fact that they were coming out of a hotel room together was suspicious in itself.Hugo hadn't intended to look at them—after all, it was their private life—but he noticed Joseph's gaze drift over. Assuming it was someone Joseph knew, he subconsciously looked over as well.The man in front of him was a complete stranger with neat, short hair. He looked to be around forty, and his crisp, iron-grey suit exuded the air of a successful person.The woman standing next to him was wearing a black work suit: a white shirt paired with suit trousers and a black long trench coat. The simple and neat outfit outlined her capable and mature temperament. Although she was wearing a suit, her proud curves could not be hidden, and one could clearly see the tightness of the buttons on the front of her shirt. By comparison, her face was not exceptionally beautiful; her features were ordinary, but the hint of charm between her brows made her look unique.This woman vividly interpreted what it meant for "presence to overshadow appearance." Perhaps her features weren't anything special on their own, but her entire presence was easily eye-catching. Moreover, men would easily praise her as a beauty—not just out of courtesy, but as a fact.The point was, Hugo knew this woman, and his predecessor must have been even more familiar with her: Tracy Jacobs.Hugo really hadn't expected such a scene. Although he knew exactly who Tracy was, while there were many reasons for the failed audition for "a river runs through it," the fact that Hugo's fate of failure was sealed before the audition was entirely due to Tracy.Hugo had seen Tracy once before: before the "a river runs through it" audition, he saw her and Brad on the fifth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. But at that time, Hugo didn't know the relationship between his predecessor and Tracy, so today was the first time Hugo and Tracy had met in the true sense.Unexpectedly, Hugo saw Tracy appearing in the hotel again, leaving a room with a man. Regardless of what they had done in the room, such a coincidence was truly too awkward and made people's imaginations run wild. But this time was different; Hugo took a good look at Tracy.Tracy was seven years older than Hugo, and the physiology of Western women tended to amplify this age difference, but the special temperament Tracy possessed cleverly masked this, making her appear to have no signs of "aging" at all.Hugo couldn't help but wonder if his predecessor's relationship with Tracy was a simple exchange of interests or if there were genuine feelings involved. Hugo recalled the meaningful glance Tracy had given him when they met on the fifth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel...Tracy also saw Hugo and Joseph, who were fifteen yards away. She wasn't familiar with Joseph; she was actually more familiar with Ron Meyer.Tracy examined the Hugo in front of her in detail. She had to admit that Hugo had recovered very well—she naturally knew about Hugo's drug use, but the current Hugo looked completely free of any decadence. Not only that, but he actually appeared full of vigor. Hugo had originally been a handsome young man, and now he was as upright as a pine and as gentle as jade, making it impossible to look away.However, Tracy's gaze only lingered on Hugo for a moment before she withdrew it, as if nothing had happened. The man standing next to her asked a question in a low voice. Tracy chuckled, nodded, and replied, "But that's all history now." The woman's voice was higher in pitch, so it was clearer, but the man's voice was deeper, making it muffled and impossible to hear clearly.Joseph looked at Hugo with some concern; he seemed worried that Hugo might have an overreaction. However, Hugo's response exceeded his expectations. Hugo just curled his lips, a hint of disdain leaking from the corner of his mouth, and then looked back at him, continuing their previous topic, "I think Nicholas didn't seem to have much malice today..."Joseph was stunned for a moment, then reacted and followed Hugo's pace to continue moving forward.At the same time, Tracy and the man also walked over with steady steps, looking as if they were going to take the elevator. The two were laughing and talking; although they were not loud or intimate, the atmosphere of their conversation was quite good.The two sides drew closer and closer, until they were side-by-side as they passed each other. Tracy glanced at Hugo out of the corner of her eye, but found that Hugo remained indifferent, showing no reaction at all. However, Tracy immediately withdrew her attention and continued walking without any pause in her steps. Then the two groups passed each other just like that—no conversation, no pause, not even an exchange of glances, just like complete strangers.Hugo recalled the complex look in Tracy's eyes when she looked at him last time. Today was different; Tracy looked at him as if he were a complete stranger, perhaps even with some disdain. Hugo couldn't help but sigh. He didn't know what had happened between his predecessor and Tracy, so he couldn't make a judgment. However, based on the information he currently had, it felt like Tracy had abandoned his predecessor. The reason was likely that his predecessor had flopped in three consecutive works; either the predecessor had given up on himself, or Tracy felt that his predecessor had no future, and they ultimately parted on bad terms.With a sense of curiosity, Hugo looked back and found that Tracy indeed hadn't turned around, disappearing steadily into the end of the corridor.This action of Hugo's made Joseph shake his head slightly, and Hugo's next question only deepened Joseph's inner thoughts."So, who was that man just now?" Hugo's question made Joseph look at him deeply, which Hugo found baffling. "What, can't I ask this question?""It's not that." Joseph opened the door, and after making sure to close it, he said, "That man is a middle-level executive currently in charge of production at Universal Pictures.""Universal Pictures?" Hugo thought for a moment. "Isn't this the production company for our film?" Thinking of this, Hugo immediately became sharp. The failed audition for "a river runs through it" was still fresh in his mind. "Could it be..."Joseph immediately shook his head. "Do you think Tracy is so powerful that she can cover the sky with one hand in Hollywood?" Although Tracy was a very outstanding producer with an unimaginably wide network of contacts, she wasn't at the very top level and didn't have the power to summon wind and rain. "I guess Tracy has some good project in her hands and wants to talk to Universal Pictures about it."Hugo thought about it carefully and realized he was overthinking. Let alone a producer, even the CEO of a top film company didn't have the ability to completely ban an Actor. On the contrary, if an Actor had enough strength, both film companies and producers would cast aside previous grudges and ask to collaborate."I just wonder what they're using to negotiate." Hugo tossed out the sentence indifferently, leaving Joseph dumbfounded in his spot, while he strolled off to the bathroom to wash up.
