While they were waiting for the servants to bring in the dishes at the restaurant, Wen Jun finally found an opportunity to speak before Laila did. "I'm truly grateful for last night. Without your help, Shu Qi and the others might have been delayed outside for a long time."
Laila smiled faintly. "Perhaps it's what you Eastern people call fate. I blame my lack of perception for not recognizing her until they mentioned it. You know, both Eastern and Western people tend to have a bit of prosopagnosia when it comes to each other. I'm probably no exception."
"Indeed. The communication between our East and West still needs improvement. If we interact more, I believe we'll gain a better understanding," Wen Jun responded while contemplating how to steer the conversation toward his purpose.
Eastern people tend to express their thoughts more indirectly than Westerners. If it were a Westerner with the same goal, they might have already gotten to the point. However, Wen Jun wasn't entirely familiar with Laila's personality, and he was also cautious of her influence. This led to a situation where, despite successfully bringing up gratitude as a topic, he still hadn't touched on the main purpose after finishing a meal.
Finally, Laila couldn't take it any longer. While she didn't mind chatting with an Eastern guest for a few hours, she did have work to do during this time. She couldn't just keep making small talk.
"Mr. Wen, I believe your visit this time isn't merely about expressing gratitude, is it?"
Upon hearing her question, Wen Jun's feelings became complex. He felt both a sense of relief and a nervous anticipation that the main event was about to begin.
"Yes, actually, I'm good friends with Jackie Chan. I heard some news from him."
"Oh?" Laila took the tea served by the servant and took a sip. "News about me?"
Not seeing any signs of displeasure on her face, Wen Jun nodded. "Yes, it's about your new movie. I heard you need an Eastern actor with a certain appearance?"
Laila chuckled lightly. "That's correct. I do have such intentions. I asked Mr. Jackie Chan for help in recommending someone. Speaking of which, I've been so busy lately that I almost forgot about it. I wonder if Mr. Chan has found a suitable candidate for me."
Wen Jun did indeed know Jackie Chan and heard the information from him. He also knew that Jackie Chan favored Michelle Yeoh, probably because they had worked together and had a good relationship. However, for some reason, Michelle Yeoh seemed to have declined the invitation. Jackie Chan felt somewhat guilty about this situation and thus hadn't replied to Laila's message.
It wasn't that there was only one Asian actress available, but in terms of influence and acting skills, Michelle Yeoh undeniably held a high position. Since Laila entrusted Jackie Chan with such an important task, he believed that he should provide the best result possible.
Wen Jun had merely speculated about the possibility of the Eastern character being a villain before coming. In the Western entertainment industry at this time, Asian images were mostly stereotyped—either villains or weak and timid characters. Unless someone had exceptional talent like Jackie Chan, there was little hope for an Asian person to secure a good role.
However, from Laila's description, he realized that his timing for this visit was perfect. While he didn't expect to land a leading role, he hoped for a supporting role that could grant him some exposure in Hollywood. Based on what Laila was saying, the role she was offering wasn't just an extra; instead, it might provide an excellent stage for an actor to shine.
Whether the role was a villain or not didn't matter. Everyone knew that successfully portraying a villain was one of the most challenging tasks for an actor's skills. Many individuals who became prominent actors had initially stood out by playing memorable antagonists, which ultimately launched their careers.
Moreover, the character was Japanese, which meant it wouldn't be a role that portrayed Asians negatively. So, what was there for him to hesitate about?
"If that's the case," Laila said, glancing at the time, "tomorrow at 2:30 PM, have her come to the studio for an audition."
"Sure!" Wen Jun's fist clenched excitedly.
Before coming, he had already guessed that the Eastern character might likely be a villain. In the Western context of this time, Asian characters were usually pigeonholed into such roles. However, based on Laila's description, he felt that his visit couldn't have been more spot-on. While he hadn't dared to hope for a leading role, even a prominent supporting role could provide him with an opportunity to make a mark in Hollywood. According to what Laila was saying, this role wasn't just a background character; it could potentially give the actor a substantial platform to showcase their talent.
Whether the role was a villain or not didn't matter to him. He knew that successfully portraying a memorable antagonist was one of the best ways to stand out and propel one's career to new heights.
Furthermore, the character was Japanese, which meant it wouldn't perpetuate negative stereotypes about Asians. With all these factors in mind, why would he hesitate?
"Alright then," Laila said, looking at the time. "Tomorrow at 2:30 PM, have her come to the studio for an audition."
"Absolutely!" Wen Jun responded solemnly, suppressing his inner excitement.