Renly knew Nathan was skeptical. In fact, until he experienced it firsthand, Renly had no idea how costly an actor's lifestyle could be. The more glamorous and radiant the life, the more expenses and expenditures it required to maintain. Nathan seemed relatively new to the industry, so it was natural for him to be unaware of the actual situation.
However, Renly had no intention of explaining. He certainly didn't have the habit of displaying his bank accounts to strangers.
"Well then, I won't disturb you. After a long flight, one is inevitably exhausted, and you also need to adjust to the time difference," Nathan quickly said, obviously unaware that Renly had slept all the way through the flight and that jet lag was not an issue at all.
Just before leaving, Nathan remembered something and opened his carry-on bag, taking out a bunch of things and placing them on the coffee table. "By the way, this is the script for "Fast 5", and you'll be playing the role of Hobbs. You can take a look after we wrap up "Like Crazy"."
Nathan didn't fully understand Renly's personal habits. What if Renly only wanted to sleep right now? What if Renly didn't want to read the script before shooting? What if Renly didn't want any distractions before "Like Crazy" concluded? Thus, his words were somewhat hesitant. He paused for a moment, making sure Renly didn't seem irritated before continuing.
"This is my phone number. If you need anything, you can contact me anytime. The car outside was arranged by Andy on short notice, specifically for your use. It's at your service around the clock, 24 hours a day, even on weekends," Nathan said thoughtfully, then continued with his instructions.
"The hot water and gas are already turned on, and the internet is available as well. I've left the username and password on the desk in the bedroom. I'm going to the city shortly to buy some basic necessities. Don't worry, I'll be discreet and won't disturb your rest. Do you have any specific needs? Food? Drinks? Or anything else? Perhaps any allergies?"
Nathan had thought of every detail. However, Renly was generally a bit slow in such matters. Back in London, there were people responsible for procurement; later in New York, his roommates handled such tasks. So, Renly smiled and shook his head.
Nathan's nervousness eased slightly. After confirming he hadn't missed anything, he nervously rubbed his hands together, walked toward the door, but then stopped. He seemed like he wanted to say something but was hesitant. After two cycles of walking back and forth, he looked up at Renly. He saw a faint smile in Renly's eyes, which made him somewhat embarrassed, and he scratched his head.
With determination, Nathan opened his bag once again and pulled out a beautifully wrapped rectangular box. The outer packaging was made of coarse, deep blue paper with subtle dark stripes, exuding a simple yet elegant vibe. "Um, this is a little gift I prepared. I hope you'll like it."
Renly had already extended his hand to take it, but unexpectedly, Nathan carefully placed it on the coffee table, seemingly concerned that Renly might refuse. This cautious approach amused Renly.
After setting down the gift, Nathan briskly headed toward the front door. However, Renly's voice reached him from behind. "Hey." Nathan halted his steps but didn't dare turn around, standing stiffly in place. "Your lunch is still on the counter. I think the fries might have gone soft. Do you need to use the microwave here to heat them up?"
Nathan let out a long exhale of relief. Luckily, it wasn't a mistake, and fortunately, the words weren't reproachful. He almost turned around but instead rushed to the counter, grabbing his takeout burger. He offered Renly an apologetic smile, then hurriedly dashed out. Standing by the door, just before closing it, he remembered something crucial.
"By the way, Andy mentioned that I'll be your dedicated assistant for the upcoming period. So..." Nathan awkwardly shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what to say. In the end, he said somewhat dryly, "I'll do my best." Then he closed the door and left quickly.
An assistant. Andy had mentioned it twice before, so Renly wasn't surprised, but he was somewhat amazed that Nathan was chosen as the assistant. Was this fate?
Bending down to pick up the gift, upon unwrapping it, he found a book inside – Haruki Murakami's "1Q84", which gained popularity last year.
They had only met once, and they hadn't engaged in any deep conversations, which made selecting a gift even more challenging. Nathan didn't just choose any book as a gift; the author, style, and themes all required careful selection. "1Q84" was fundamentally different from "Harry Potter", so it was evident that Nathan had put considerable thought into this well-chosen gift.
It was a small unexpected surprise. Coincidentally, he had finished the Mo Yan book in his backpack. The next time he headed to the airport for a layover, this book would come in handy.
Renly tugged at the corner of his mouth and made his way to the master bedroom, placing the book on the desk. He then glanced at the suitcase placed nearby but lacked the desire to unpack. After a moment's thought, he decided to take a shower first. Even though he wasn't dealing with jet lag, he could wash away the fatigue from the journey and then test out the mattress. The mattress was crucial.
Nathan rushed outside with determination, quickly settling into the driver's seat of the car. His heart, which had been pounding wildly, finally calmed down slightly.
In the past year, he had switched jobs four times consecutively, with the longest lasting half a year and the shortest only two weeks. His nervousness always affected his work performance – the more nervous he became, the worse his performance, and the worse his performance, the more nervous he grew. It was like sinking deeper into a vicious cycle of anxiety, from which he couldn't seem to escape.
However, in that moment, the second meeting with Renly and his first task as an assistant had progressed somewhat stumblingly but yielded positive results. This allowed him to breathe a little easier. When Renly said "Hey" just now, it was an intimate note in British English, a "mate", not the American English "buddy". This unexpected familiarity brought a smile to Nathan's lips.
This was a good start, wasn't it? Perhaps this job would be different.
Returning from London to Los Angeles, the filming of "Like Crazy" was coming to an end. Ironically, the final stages of filming proved to be the most challenging. Not because the two actors' performances were inconsistent, but because they had both lived out Jacob and Anna's long lives, leaving them physically and mentally drained.
Everything felt so real, as if their own experiences, step by step leading to an utterly exhausted finish. Though they appeared outwardly normal, a profound emptiness seemed to pervade within, as if even the strength to be angry or argue had dissipated.
This mood influenced the entire crew, casting a somber and stifling atmosphere that made even breathing feel heavy. So when Drake announced the "wrap," there was no celebratory spirit among them. While Bryan playfully yelled a couple of lines, receiving no response, the emotion remained stagnant like still water, lingering within each person's chest.
Later, it was heard that as the post-production of the project was coming to an end, Drake fell severely ill. A bad cold hit him full force, fever clouding his mind. He ended up in the emergency room of a hospital, hooked to an IV for two days, which slightly alleviated his condition. However, the illness didn't immediately subside; it lingered on for over a month, and his state was undeniably dire.
When Renly and Drake met again, Drake had lost a significant amount of weight, looking considerably worn-out.
Not just Drake, Renly himself was in a similar state.
After wrapping up, he felt an emptiness engulfing him. There was no clear train of thought in his mind. A feeling of floating in space without a focal point, that vacuous sensation, and a restless anxiety, all remained persistent. He felt immensely tired, as if he could fall sick at any moment.
However, this sensation was indescribable, and there was no way to confide in others. His heart was like ash, devoid even of the strength to cry for help.
If possible, Renly wanted to escape the city's clamor, to feel the vastness and surging of the ocean, the steepness and towering of mountains, the boundless expanse of the sky, as if he could bury himself alive after the film was wrapped. But now, he had no time to catch his breath. He had to immediately plunge into the filming of "Fast 5".
So, Renly chose to run.
He ran through the streets and alleys of Los Angeles, casting aside the jumbled thoughts, wholeheartedly focusing on the rhythm of his running footsteps. In this unfamiliar city, he used his feet to gradually explore the brilliance and desolation concealed beneath the bustling neon lights.
He ran until he was utterly exhausted, then returned home for a scalding hot bath, a bath that almost burned his skin. It released all the exhaustion from his body and mind, then he drifted into sleep, his entire brain emptied.
This immersive exercise regime prevented Renly from succumbing to the sadness of a severe illness. As for "Fast 5", Renly temporarily put it aside. He needed to quickly adjust his state. Fortunately, the challenges of this project were more physical than mental. That was good news.
Meanwhile, Hollywood was in a whirlwind of activity.
Gavin Hunter of Us Weekly was the first to obtain inside information from Universal Pictures. "Fast 5" was about to resume production, and the previous turmoil had come to an end, leading to the final outcome:
Dwayne Johnson was out! Renly Hall took his place, joining the project on short notice, becoming a pivotal figure in the latest installment of "Fast & Furious" series!
This news made Gavin couldn't help but get excited. Although he had seen a bright future for Renly during his time in Toronto, and the rumors had been rampant recently, the weight of the matter was different once officially confirmed. It was undoubtedly a heavyweight announcement that would capture the attention of the entire Hollywood!
In less than two months, Renly became the focal point for the fourth time, and this time, it wasn't directly tied to an art film. It was a blockbuster with an investment exceeding $100M! In an instant, all eyes were on him!