But it was precisely such a person that Roy couldn't leave aside. He had also experienced helplessness before and knew the kind of pain that came when nothing could be relied upon. And he was luckier than many; at least he still had a younger brother, while this man had lost everything.
"Robert, do you want to continue like this forever? With your current situation, will you never see Indio again? Do you want that to happen?" Roy asked.
"I certainly don't want that! But do I have a choice? What else can I do?" Robert Downey Jr.'s voice choked up. He had reached this point, and besides his father, he had lost everything, becoming almost a wreck. What else could he do?
Roy silently patted his shoulder and said after a long pause, "Actually, you still have movies. I've seen your previous work; you're a true genius. Why not keep going?"
"Movies?" Robert Downey Jr. chuckled bitterly. "Do you think anyone would want me to act in a movie now? An addict, a possible scandal that could drag the entire movie into the gutter?"
Roy was at a loss for words. What he said was the truth. Even though illegal drugs were rampant in the United States, once exposed, it could still tarnish a star's reputation. No film crew wanted to be associated with such an actor, and nobody wanted to face the prospect of reshooting a film because the lead actor ended up in jail before it was completed.
At this point, Roy couldn't help but wonder what Laila would do if she were in this situation.
If she showed her rational side, she might just walk away without wasting time on a guy who had been turned into a wreck by illegal drugs. But if it were the Laila who was passionate about films, the one who believed he could be an actor and brought a street thug to Hollywood because she thought he was suitable for the role, maybe she would give him a chance.
Was Robert Downey Jr. a genius?
Anyone who had seen the roles he played would answer without hesitation—he was a true genius! Despite his character flaws, there was no denying his talent as an actor. He had been nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor at the age of 28 for his role in the movie "Chaplin."
Considering the Oscars' usual habits, getting a nomination at such a young age was already worth celebrating. Expecting them to hand over the Best Actor title to him, even in the distant future of twenty or thirty years, would be incredible.
After seeing Robert Downey Jr. safely home, Roy lay on his bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He lit a cigarette and leaned on the balcony outside his room, gazing at the Hollywood night.
Unbeknownst to him, it had been two or three years since he was brought here. Occasionally, when he thought of his past, it felt like he was in a dream. Back then, he often struggled to find enough to eat and a place to sleep. He could never have imagined living in a mansion, enjoying the adulation of millions of fans, singing on a global stage, and being watched by over a billion viewers.
The wisps of smoke blurred his face, casting him in an ethereal light beneath the bright moon, making him appear otherworldly.
At least to Laila, if he were to put on a white Eastern warrior outfit, it might feel like he was breaking through the void.
"Roy, you're still awake?"
Her voice awakened him from his thoughts, and he saw her on the balcony of the adjacent room, looking at him.
Since moving in under the pretense of recuperation, even though he was almost fully healed, he hadn't mentioned leaving. He had hoped that it would bring them closer, but she... perhaps she didn't mind?
"Laila, do you think a person who everyone considers a failure, and whose talent has been destroyed by something, still has hope of standing up?" Roy asked.
Laila raised an eyebrow at the question. It was clear that this was the setup for a trashy novel. In the near future, with the popularity of online novels, various genres such as trashy novels, divorce, face-slapping, adventures, and carrying an old man with you will sprout like mushrooms.
If this were in a novel, what he said was basically the protagonist's halo!
"Wouldn't his wife have left him, and his family fallen apart?" she couldn't help asking.
Roy was taken aback. "How did you guess? His wife is indeed separated from him, and she won't let him see their son." What was she talking about with a family falling apart?
Laila burst into laughter. It turned out there were people in real life who naturally had a protagonist's halo.
"Don't worry, someone like that will always encounter good fortune."
"How do you know?" Roy was confused. How did she sound like she encountered this kind of thing frequently? Could people who had fallen to rock bottom climb back up so easily? What about the beggars on the streets and the failed investors who jumped off buildings?
Laila couldn't help but laugh. "Who are you talking about? Different people make different decisions, and their lives turn out differently. If others call him a failure, and he thinks the same, then there's nothing more to say. If he still has some ambition left, there's still hope. I've always said that opportunity always comes to those who are prepared. Has he prepared to embrace the opportunity?"
Roy didn't know if he was prepared.
"He's my friend, and I don't want to see him deteriorate. He's a real genius, and I believe that as long as he can pull himself together, he can be like he used to be!"
"A genius?" Laila raised an eyebrow but didn't pursue the matter further. Since he didn't want to reveal the name, she wouldn't press him. "If you need any help, you know my number." She smiled, waved, and walked back into her room.
Roy watched her leave, and his emotions became even more complicated. Opportunity always comes to those who are prepared. Was he prepared?
He liked her, but he could always feel the insurmountable gap between them. He still didn't have the qualifications to stand by her side, perhaps because he hadn't become her most successful "work" yet.
All along, he understood his position in her heart, and she had never hidden her ambition to elevate him to the top of Hollywood. He could be a tool, a friend, or even allow his recklessness in front of her, but none of those were expressions of love.
Wouldn't a person love their tool no matter how much they liked it? Perhaps what he needed to do was to break free from her tool options and find a more qualified way to stand by her side.
Perhaps it was time for him to make a change!
Laila lay in bed, still unable to fall asleep. At first, all she could think about were the details of her trip to the East. However, after returning from the balcony, she found herself thinking about Roy looking up at the stars, cigarette in hand.