Actor in Hollywood

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

The old subway rattled through the underground tunnel. The air was filled with a pungent smell that made it hard to breathe, causing one to instinctively frown in discomfort.

Jake Gyllenhaal hadn't anticipated this scene at all and couldn't help but cover his nose.

But just as he raised his hand, Jake realized that such a gesture might be impolite, especially since it was Anson who had suggested taking the subway, and he had agreed.

Unexpectedly, when Jake looked up, he saw Anson's eyes filled with a cheerful smile, which made Jake feel a bit awkward. He was about to say something to cover his embarrassment.

But Anson spoke first, "This is the essence of New York. Maybe, one day in the future, someone could develop a New York perfume, capturing the city's unique scent. The top note would be the smell of urine, the middle note would be garbage, and the base note would be a rotten smell you never want to know the specifics of. It would instantly evoke memories."

Pfft.

Jake couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Then, a voice came from nearby, "If it ever gets made, remember to let me know. I'll send two bottles to Rudy Giuliani."

Rudy Giuliani, the current mayor of New York.

Jake couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed heartily.

Anson shrugged lightly and spread his hands, "Welcome to New York."

Jake relaxed, "So, taking the subway is part of the New York experience?"

In Los Angeles, although there is a subway, people are more accustomed to driving. Jake was born and raised in Los Angeles and had never taken the subway before.

Coming to New York and riding the subway, Jake couldn't help but feel curious and began to look around. Every corner was filled with the marks of history. This subway, the second oldest in North America after Boston's, was about to mark its centennial, like a tunnel through time.

Anson looked serious, "Thank you for considering the subway as part of the experience."

Jake: …

Anson's eyes showed a smile, "Actually, in New York, the subway is much more convenient than a car, especially now. The subway hasn't yet reached rush hour, but Manhattan's streets are already getting crowded. Our destination is just three subway stops away, but a taxi might take an hour to get there."

"Plus, did you forget about the paparazzi at the apartment door?"

How could Jake forget?

Even now, his mind was filled with countless questions. He wasn't sure what had happened, so he didn't know if he should bring it up.

Since Anson mentioned it first, Jake could no longer contain his curiosity, "What exactly happened just now? Why did the paparazzi escort you home?"

Anson, "It was just a ride."

Jake: That's it?

He had been expecting a long story with all the details, but that's it?

It was so brief that Jake didn't even know when to respond, so he was a beat late, "A ride?"

Anson looked as if it was the most natural thing in the world, making Jake feel like he had seen a ghost, "It was just on the way. He probably thought he could sneak some photos, but I didn't think it was a good idea. There's no need to announce a gathering with friends to the world, especially since Leonardo DiCaprio isn't here."

Jake blinked, "...So, he's waiting at your apartment door right now?"

Anson didn't mind, "I didn't tell him when the party would end tonight. If he's patient enough, maybe when we get back, we could bring him some midnight snacks. He should be professional and mature enough to handle dinner himself."

Jake still couldn't wrap his head around it—

In his mind, the paparazzi were like a force of nature, a menace that all of Hollywood stood against. But why did it all seem so casual and easygoing when Anson talked about them?

Anson patted Jake on the shoulder, "We're here."

In the blink of an eye, they had already arrived at their destination.

Jake hurried to keep up with Anson's pace, "Are you sure it's okay for you to be out tonight? Don't you have filming tomorrow?"

Anson flashed a smile, "All the shoots in large productions are planned well in advance, very similar to a nine-to-five job. Right now, it's off-hours, so we should still have our personal lives. If you don't believe me, you can visit the set tomorrow and see for yourself."

Jake: "Visit the set?"

Anson: "Yeah, come by, and I'll introduce you to the crew—Sam Raimi, Willem Dafoe, J.K. Simmons, and so on."

Only after truly joining the "Spider-Man" crew did Anson notice that the film was full of familiar faces, though many of them were not yet well-known.

Joe Manganiello, although unsuccessful in his audition for Peter Parker, landed another role, much like James Franco. He played Flash Thompson, the school bully who tormented Peter.

Elizabeth Banks, Octavia Spencer, Sara Ramirez—though they played unnamed minor roles in "Spider-Man," they all eventually made their mark in Hollywood.

To Anson, this kind of crew was full of fun.

But it was different for Jake. He gave a shy smile and waved his hand lightly, "I think I'd better pass. Just showing up on set like that seems too impolite; it might even disrupt your work. Don't worry about me. I've already made plans to meet up with other friends tomorrow."

Anson didn't insist, "Just see how you feel. If you're interested, you're welcome to come by anytime."

Ding.

As they spoke, Anson pushed open the door of the coffee shop, causing the bell to chime.

Talking about visiting the set reminded Jake of the situation at hand. He lowered his voice slightly, "Anson, are you sure it's okay? You'll be discussing work, and I'll just be sitting there, possibly disrupting things. It doesn't seem appropriate."

Jake's sudden arrival had disrupted Anson's plans—

Anson had already made plans with Kristen, but he couldn't just leave Jake hanging. So, Anson invited Jake to come along.

Originally, Jake had declined, knowing he'd arrived two days early and didn't want to mess up Anson's plans. He claimed he already had dinner plans.

But Anson had quickly seen through the lie.

Clearly, Jake had no such plans.

Anson reassured him multiple times that it wasn't a problem. If it were a formal work meeting, they wouldn't have arranged to meet at a coffee shop. Kristen preferred discussing things in a relaxed setting to keep things light; adding Jake to the mix wouldn't make much difference since the coffee shop had other patrons anyway.

Seeing Jake's nervousness, Anson couldn't help but laugh softly, "If it were really inconvenient, trust me, I'd tell you. You should believe in my honesty."

Before Jake could argue, Anson had already looked ahead and called out, "Kristen, you're already here. Please forgive us for being late. Honestly, I got lost after coming out of the subway, circled the area twice before finding the place. Next time, I should leave fifteen minutes earlier."

A small joke made Kristen laugh. She raised the menu in her hand, covering her mouth as she gestured to it, "Actually, I just sat down thirty seconds ago and was looking at the menu. You don't need to worry."

As she spoke, Kristen noticed another figure standing behind Anson and seemed a little surprised.

Anson stepped aside, turning to look at Jake, and immediately noticed his shy gaze fixed on Kristen.

...Hmm?