Renly cleared his throat, feeling a bit parched. He had consumed a bit too much alcohol last night, but luckily the sangria he drank had a low alcohol content, so he didn't suffer from any hangover symptoms.
Lifting the teacup on the table, he removed the tea bag and placed it on the tray. Tilting his head back, he downed the strong tea in one gulp. Twenty years had passed, but he still wasn't accustomed to the tea bags of the Western world. He missed the sight of tea leaves unfurling in boiling water, but during these special times, it was better than nothing.
Setting down the cup, Renly quickly left the hotel room. Today was an important task ahead; he was about to undergo an enclosed experience, eight hours of hands-on practice. It wasn't only a test of physical endurance but also a torment of the mind. He needed to concentrate all his attention. With his resolution in place, Renly wouldn't hesitate.
The hotel lobby on the first floor wasn't bustling. A group of guests were checking in at the front desk. In the waiting area nearby, a backpacker was using a computer, and another person sat on a sofa facing away from the entrance, reading a newspaper. Bright sunlight streamed in unhindered, making the entire lobby spacious and bright, a place of tranquility with a burst of vitality. Starting a brand-new day in this manner was truly wonderful.
The Catalonia Guell Park Hotel was located in the somewhat remote Gracia district, just 600 meters away from the famous Guell Park. However, getting to the city center would require some form of transportation, around fifteen minutes away. The budget of the "Buried" film crew was limited, and reserving this three-star hotel had exceeded Renly's expectations. He had already mentally prepared himself to stay in a youth hostel. Furthermore, compared to the noise of the old city area, the tranquility here was beneficial for Renly's role preparation.
Renly nodded to the lobby manager, gesturing his intention to leave the room quickly. "Mr. Hall, Mr. Hall." The lobby manager stopped Renly in his tracks. "You have a visitor."
A frown appeared on Renly's brow. A visitor? Who could be visiting him? He was currently an unknown figure, and his arrival in Barcelona had hardly attracted any attention. How could he possibly have a visitor? Could it be a crew member? Rodrigo hadn't mentioned that he would be coming over this morning.
Looking up, Renly subconsciously scanned the lobby and his gaze suddenly stopped, locking onto the figure of a person reading a newspaper.
Strong shoulders appeared slightly slender, the navy-blue suit meticulously outlining a sharp profile. The rugged and resolute curve of the jawline could be vaguely glimpsed, and the slightly tense, bronze skin hinted at the strict and restrained posture. Neat and slightly subdued black short hair conveyed a crisp and icy feeling, as if even the falling sunlight paused three feet away.
This figure, Renly was beyond familiar with, how could he not recognize it?
Renly lowered his head, his eyelashes concealing the emotions in his heart. Only a fleeting smile appeared in the interplay of light and shadow, like spring light suddenly breaking through. The corners of his lips gently curved upward and then settled down, like a gentle ripple. "You'd better be reading that newspaper. If you don't plan on catching up, I'll call a taxi right now."
That deep voice, under the bright sunlight, pulled the strings of a cello. After speaking, Renly didn't hesitate at all, turning around and striding forward.
The lobby manager stood still, confused. "What's going on?"
Then, the figure who had been reading the newspaper on the sofa stood up leisurely, neatly folding the newspaper and turning around to face Renly's gradually retreating back. He raised his voice and said, "Even if you don't intend to give an old man a warm hug, at least give me a little time to tidy up."
"You know I dislike affectation," Renly's voice drifted from afar, his footsteps still not slowing down. Then he turned around, a smile blooming at the corner of his mouth for a fleeting moment. "Especially when someone is better at it than me."
Standing by the roadside, Renly glanced left and right before raising his hand. A taxi was approaching from the far end of the road in the opposite direction and came to a halt, waiting for the car next to it to pass before preparing to turn around.
"I thought you would stay at a youth hostel. I never expected you to choose a hotel. This kind of neither-here-nor-there accommodation doesn't seem like your style at all." The man caught up with Renly, jogging slightly, yet his left hand remained in his pocket. He appeared unruffled, carrying an air of familiarity and warmth in his demeanor.
Renly's eyebrow arched slightly, and he retorted without showing any weakness, "I thought you refused to appear in these neither-here-nor-there hotels. If Charlotte found out, she'd mock you for at least a year."
The man's gaze flickered briefly, a hint of amusement flashed by. He retorted, "She certainly wouldn't miss you either, especially after learning about your current job."
"I don't mind performing a Hamlet in front of her. You shouldn't forget, every time she watches 'Hamlet,' she ends up convulsing and fleeing in terror. Especially that line, "to be or not to be". I'm definitely going to give her a Shakespearean performance." After Renly's candid words, both of them couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was evident they were recalling shared memories.
The taxi driver parked the car on the side of the road, hesitating. Looking at the two men before him, who were almost of equal height, their long legs and gentlemanly demeanor were somewhat similar yet distinct. One was in a suit, handsome and sharp, exuding a cold and formidable aura; the other wore a T-shirt and jeans, casual yet elegant, a hint of laziness in the sunlight. The scene of them standing side by side was both desirable and intimidating.
They didn't look like the type who would casually hail a taxi.
Matthew Dunlop walked up to the car door, opening it and gesturing invitingly. Renly didn't refuse, bending over and getting into the car. He provided the driver with an address he had already written down, appearing entirely accustomed to the routine.
Matthew stood by the car door, pausing for a moment. Everything was so familiar, as if nothing had ever changed and never would. Shaking his head with a light chuckle, he followed suit and got into the car. The taxi hardly paused, and then sped away.
"Aren't you curious why I'm here?" Matthew looked at Renly's calm face, seemingly unfazed by his sudden appearance.
They hadn't been in contact for over a year. The so-called no contact meant absolutely no communication. He knew Renly was in New York, but he never knew which area Renly lived in. After Renly went to New York, it was as if he had vanished without a trace.
Matthew earnestly searched Renly's face, but still found no signs of surprise. "Aren't you curious how I knew you were here?"
Renly turned his head, carefully studying his old friend before him.
The finely arched eyebrows were like the steep coastline of the Arctic Ocean, and the prominent nose carved the profound features into two halves. The faint lip color hinted at a winter sunrise's indifference. The smooth hair, buttoned shirt, delicate cuffs, and impeccable trouser creases exuded an air of remote and proper restraint, causing people to involuntarily halt five steps away.
Everything was as remembered. A year's time had scarcely left much trace on him, especially compared to the fifteen years before.
The Dunlop family and the Hall family were somewhat similar—both were fallen aristocrats, yet they always held onto aristocratic pride and dignity. His father was a lawyer, his mother a judge. He was the third child, with two elder sisters, one of them being Charlotte Dunlop.
Renly couldn't quite recall how the story began. He only remembered they had met during elementary school. For the Renly, who had experienced rebirth, elementary school kids were a bunch of brats, and he naturally had no intention of making friends. However, for reasons he couldn't pinpoint, they became friends. It could be said that Matthew was the first friend he made after his rebirth, a genuine friend. After that, they had remained classmates—Eton College, Cambridge University, and now.
"Edith." A hint of cunning reminiscent of a fox flashed through Renly's deep brown eyes as he spoke.
Edith was the only explanation. Her job was intricately connected to Hollywood. The recent news about "Cleopatra" entering the Billboard was notable though not monumental. With a little attention, anyone could have noticed it. Edith only needed to inquire at the guild, and the information about "Buried" was publicly accessible. Matthew was a lawyer with near-obsessive attention to detail. If you gave him a hint, piecing together facts wasn't difficult.
Matthew's expression turned disappointed. Clearly, Renly had guessed the answer right on the first try. It was a bit anticlimactic. In order to find out where Renly was currently located, he had put in considerable effort, even resorting to calling Rodrigo, taking a big circle. He had originally intended to give Renly a pleasant surprise, but he hadn't expected it to be so easily unraveled.
It was the same in childhood, and it remained the same now. Time seemed not to have changed much.
"Where are we heading? If we go to a bar or a brothel now, it seems a bit early." Matthew quickly reverted to his usual demeanor, surveying the scenery swiftly retreating on both sides of the street. Obviously, they weren't heading towards the city center.
Without even lifting his eyes, Renly casually retorted, "That's Arthur's hobby, not mine. It's clear your brain has been ruined by legal provisions."
"Hmph, it seems Hollywood hasn't poisoned your blood yet." A somewhat relieved expression, Matthew gave Renly a jab. London's aristocrats always looked down on Hollywood. Matthew's words made Renly chuckle, "Are you planning to return to London this time?"
"Not really." Renly shook his head. "When you go back, pass my regards to Charlotte." Charlotte was an outlier in the Dunlop family, always believing that the aristocratic system was decadent and should be abolished altogether. Such groundbreaking opinions had no market among the aristocrats, but they made Charlotte and the two rebels from the Hall family—Charlotte and Edith—good friends.
Matthew wasn't surprised by this answer. He nodded in understanding, then shifted the topic. "So, where exactly are we heading now?"