"Of course," Robert replied, taking the conversation seriously after Laila's grave tone.
Laila nodded and asked, "Are you still addicted to those things?"
Robert's body twitched slightly, indicating that he understood what she was referring to.
"No, I haven't touched those things in a long time," he assured her. He knew that these substances were the root cause of losing everything he held dear. After meeting Roy, he distanced himself from the vices that led him astray.
Laila was aware of how addiction could torment people, leaving them with nothing but a shadow of their former selves, or even costing them their lives. She could believe that he was off the substances for now, but she wondered when he might be tempted to return.
If this conversation had occurred a few years later, she would have been more confident in giving him a chance. However, without Roy's assurances, she was hesitant to take the risk at this moment.
Robert felt a blush creeping onto his cheeks. Being asked such a direct question by a woman much younger than him made him somewhat embarrassed.
"I won't touch those things ever again. I swear! It cost me too much, and I won't touch them for the sake of my father," he declared firmly. His words carried a sense of conviction that Laila could feel.
Satisfied with his response, she nodded and said, "You have a great father. Robert, can you give me a playboy's carefree smile?"
Strange requests weren't new for Robert, having worked in the entertainment industry. He knew Laila was testing his acting abilities. After thinking for a moment, he attempted to portray the expression she was asking for.
Laila looked at that face that had mesmerized countless people in the future and couldn't help but sigh internally. It seemed that he was the one best suited for the role of Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. His smile effortlessly brought the character from the comics to life. She questioned if anyone else could make her as satisfied.
Perhaps it was because the original Iron Man was so iconic, or maybe it was some other reason, but like how many in the East associated "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" with the 1983 adaptation, classics remained etched in people's hearts, making it difficult to surpass the nostalgia.
Robert Downey Jr. played Iron Man in such an iconic way that Laila, knowing he was potentially an unpredictable time bomb, still couldn't resist taking the risk.
After a brief silence, she finally made her decision. "I brought you here because there's a role I'd like to discuss with you."
That word "role" filled Robert with excitement, but he didn't let it show on his face. He calmly asked, "May I know what role it is?"
When the boss called him in for a serious conversation, it wasn't likely to be a simple supporting role. This was bound to be a significant character. He didn't shy away from challenging roles, as they allowed him to showcase his abilities to the fullest. He had the confidence!
Laila handed him a script. "Take a look."
Robert took it and looked at the name on the cover. "Tony Stark? The character from Iron Man?" The script had the name of the film, but he was unsure about the character Tony Stark. However, from the thickness of the script, he could tell it was a substantial role.
"Tony Stark?" Roy exclaimed in surprise. He had read some comic books after finding out that Laila was going to direct Iron Man. He knew that Tony Stark was none other than Iron Man, the main character of the movie she was planning to make.
"Haha, Robert, you're going to play the lead!" Roy exclaimed excitedly, giving him a hearty pat on the back. "The lead? Me?" Robert was surprised; wasn't the main character of Iron Man, well, Iron Man? It was rumored that the movie's budget would be around one to two hundred million dollars.
"That's right," Laila said with a serious look. "Are you interested?"
"Wow! Thank you!" Robert couldn't believe his ears. Not only was he going to be in a movie, but it was going to be a big-budget superhero film. "This is unbelievable! Thank you, my man! I think I'm falling in love with you!" He kissed Roy on the face.
"Get off, my face belongs to Laila. Don't touch me with your dirty hands, divorced man!" Roy pushed him away, visibly disgusted, and wiped his face.
Robert laughed heartily, knowing that he owed Roy a huge favor. Besides gratitude, he didn't know how to express his feelings at this moment.
A big-budget film, one that was already attracting attention without any footage being shot, one that was destined to compete for the summer box office with its special effects. He had a feeling that this would be the movie that would revive his career.
Laila watched the two "uncle-level" grown-up boys play-fighting in her office and couldn't quite understand the way men expressed their joy.
"Robert, you haven't given me an answer yet," she reminded him.
"Oh?" Robert abruptly stopped chasing Roy and said, "Yes, of course. Boss, I'm very interested in taking on this role, and I swear I won't let you down!" He knew what Laila was concerned about, and he wanted to assure her, but he wasn't going to say the words lightly. He made a solemn promise, reaffirming that he would never touch those substances again.
"Don't worry, Laila, I'll keep an eye on him," Roy chimed in, backing up Robert.
"Great, I trust you both." Laila looked at the future Iron Man with meaning in her eyes. "I hope you can live up to the expectations of me and your father."
In response to mentioning his father, Robert nodded earnestly. "I'll let my actions speak for themselves."
"Have your agent negotiate the contract with Louise," Lala instructed him. She had finally given her approval.
Robert left her office with excitement, and Roy joined her with a pitiful expression. "Laila, take a look and see if my face has rotted off; it was touched by a dirty man."
Laila compassionately held his face, examining it closely. She looked from the left to the right and then regretfully nodded. "Yes, it's already rotted off. Looks like you've lost your value, so I might as well throw you in the trash outside."
"You've hurt my heart," Roy dramatized, clutching his heart as if he were in a stage performance. "Oh, Juliet, why are you, Juliet?"
Laila watched his antics with a smile. "It seems you've put in some effort during this time. This performance isn't half bad."
Roy laughed, saying, "Only a five out of ten? I thought I deserved a perfect score." Chicago was a Broadway stage adaptation, and Roy had put in quite a bit of effort to learn the role.
Laila patted his shoulder seriously. "You've misunderstood, dear. The perfect score is 100."
Roy felt deeply wounded by her words.