"Shh."
At the entrance of the conference room, someone signaled for silence, but the quiet only lasted for three seconds. Soon after, the rustling and murmuring resumed, completely out of control.
"Shh!"
"Careful, they might hear us inside!"
No matter what, Jeff Robinov was a top executive at Warner Bros. Even though he was usually approachable, one still had to be cautious.
However—
Curiosity eventually overcame caution. One by one, people pressed their ears against the office door. Some even held disposable paper cups to the wall, acting like spies, whispering gossip to one another.
"Do you think Anson is here to talk about Troy?"
"It must be Troy. What else could it be?"
"Brad Pitt and Anson Wood—what a colossal clash."
"I still don't see what's so special about Anson. He's just a young guy. Real men only gain mature charm after thirty. He's not on the same level as Brad."
"Heh, if you don't like him, why are you here? Anson has a unique charisma—charisma!"
The whispers continued, impossible to stop.
Lena watched the scene unfold before her and couldn't help but marvel. This kind of allure was definitely star-level. Don't forget, this was Warner Bros.!
The pinnacle of the Hollywood pyramid! A major company that had seen countless top-tier stars!
Yet, at this moment, six people were milling around outside Jeff's office, openly displaying their curiosity and excitement.
Lena felt a bit nervous, but she was also curious—
What exactly were Anson and Jeff discussing? Chris Bender had just walked out with a gloomy expression, and it didn't look good.
"Anson Wood"—it wasn't so much admiration or reverence as it was curiosity. From the moment he appeared, he had piqued Hollywood's interest and, step by step, had swept through the industry in a short time. Even those who didn't like him couldn't help but be curious.
That was what made him truly remarkable.
And then—
"He's coming out, he's coming out"...
A commotion broke out, and the six people quickly scattered, pretending to be busy with their own work outside Jeff's office, as if they had just coincidentally passed by.
But the truth was, one person was examining a potted plant, practically using a magnifying glass to study the leaf patterns. Lena found it completely unconvincing.
Creak.
The office door opened, and Anson and Jeff appeared, one after the other.
The air suddenly became tense.
Lena hadn't realized that her previously averted gaze had quietly drifted back. She was sneakily observing every move of that tall figure—
Anson wasn't blind; he immediately noticed the bustling scene outside the office. The people trying to hide were practically advertising their presence.
Just as Lena was curious about Anson's expression, she accidentally made eye contact with him.
"Huh!"
Lena instantly held her breath, lowered her head, and clumsily started organizing her already neat files.
Then.
Anson's voice, warm and pleasant, reached her ears. "Jeff, it seems the rumors about Warner Bros. are wrong. The work atmosphere here is surprisingly relaxed."
Jeff replied, "So, what kind of rumors are out there?"
"Ha, I shouldn't be the one telling you." Anson chuckled cheerfully. "Good morning, I'm Wood, Anson Wood."
Lena: ???
What was happening?
Typically, when actors are met with onlookers at a film company or set, they usually don't linger. After all, this is the industry, not an audience unfamiliar with movies. Actors don't have time to indulge the curiosity of industry insiders.
Leaving directly is considered a positive response; sometimes, actors might even respond with sarcasm or anger.
But Anson?
Lena sneakily looked up and saw Anson confidently stop to greet and shake hands with every person who had been sneaking peeks at the office.
He wasn't just greeting them; there was light conversation as well.
Laughter, camaraderie—it was all so natural.
Before anyone realized it, the six people had gathered around Anson, with Jeff temporarily playing a supporting role.
This scene… was entirely unexpected.
Gradually, more employees passing by also stopped, and the hushed whispers continued to grow—
This was true star treatment.
It was hard to imagine that this scene was centered around Anson, but Lena didn't find it odd at all.
Under the spotlight, Anson remained humble yet composed. His demeanor, both bright and gentle, carefree and easygoing, captivated Lena's gaze, making it impossible for her to look away. Her ability to think completely shut down, and the world around her fell silent.
Until Anson walked directly toward her.
Only then did Lena realize she had boldly made eye contact again. Realizing she had been caught, her heart pounded like a drum. She quickly lowered her head and busied herself aimlessly like a headless chicken.
Then.
A shadow appeared in front of her, looming over her.
Alright, since she had been caught, she might as well be bold.
Lena decisively lifted her head and was met with Anson's smiling face. "Hey, Anson."
Anson's lips curled into a gentle smile. "Sorry for causing some chaos this morning. And thank you—I hope we can work together in the future."
Lena: …
What did he say? How should she respond?
Her brain was working too slowly to process it. She could only watch as Anson stepped into the elevator, escorted by a crowd of smiling faces, until the elevator doors closed.
"Ahem."
A cough came from nearby, snapping everyone back to reality. They turned to see Jeff with a serious expression.
Jeff lightly shook his head.
"There's no need to be so reluctant. There will be more opportunities in the future."
Jeff meant that Anson was no ordinary person. His future was boundless, and he believed Warner Bros. would have more opportunities to work with Anson.
But to the employees, it sounded like something else:
Wait, does this mean Anson is going to star in Troy? Does that mean Anson and Brad will be in the same movie?
Just the thought of it was enough to make everyone excited, their blood rushing to their heads. As they returned to their workstations, their steps were unsteady as if they were walking on clouds.
Not just them—Lena felt the same way.
Now, Lena finally understood all the stories circulating from the Friends set. Even before Spider-Man, even before The Princess Diaries, the crew's positive stories about Anson had spread by word of mouth. Almost everyone agreed that Anson was indeed someone special.
Unlike with audiences, earning a good reputation among Hollywood insiders is something else entirely. That's how fame and image spread.
Finally!
The next time people discussed these things, Lena would have her own story to share. Thinking of this, Lena picked up her phone again to share with her friends.
"Ahhh, oh my God, Anson might be starring with Brad! Troy—this movie is going to blow up the summer box office!"
In just a few days, the news that Anson might star in Troy spread like wildfire throughout Hollywood.
Even Jeff was left scratching his head: ??? Huh? How did things escalate to this point?