Eve doesn't like surprises—
To be precise, she enjoys surprises because handling them is part of her job and her strength, but she dislikes when her carefully laid plans are disrupted by unexpected events, as this often leads to more trouble.
After Anson stepped onto the red carpet, Eve and Edgar didn't just sit back and relax with coffee. Instead, they entered the parking lot and made their way through the staff entrance to the Temple Hall, where they would also attend the award ceremony that evening. Anson, being a nominee, was allowed to bring two guests along.
It's quite common for nominees to bring their agents or publicists to award ceremonies. On one hand, these agents and publicists are also industry professionals, sometimes even wielding significant influence. On the other hand, they continue their work, advising their clients on proper behavior in public settings.
Awards? They weren't interested. For them, the ceremony was just another part of the job.
Eve kept a constant eye on the live broadcast of the red carpet inside the venue and immediately noticed when Anson deviated from the plan, causing her to roll her eyes.
"Great. The cool, aloof image is shattered, and he turns into a fanboy in a second."
"If the subject were Jack Lemmon, I'd have no problem, but Jane Kaczmarek?"
Jack Lemmon, the first actor in film history to achieve a grand slam of acting awards across the three major European film festivals, the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors Guild, was also nominated tonight for Best Actor in a Television Movie.
According to the plan, Anson was supposed to leave directly, maintaining a mysterious aura and using a scarcity tactic to generate ongoing interest. Eve could push this through the media, and it would quickly spread.
But Anson stopped.
For every extra minute he stayed on the red carpet, the mystery diminished.
If Anson admired Jack Lemmon, Eve could still craft a narrative of a "passion for acting" to fill the void left by the diminishing mystery. But now?
No.
Wait!
A flash of inspiration hit Eve, and she seized on a key point.
Jack Lemmon would have been good—very good, giving her room to maneuver. But Jane Kaczmarek? Even better. Perfect.
At award ceremonies, all eyes are on the superstars, with everyone's attention focused on those dazzling figures, leaving worthy, talented actors overshadowed and unnoticed.
Like Jane Kaczmarek.
Talented, capable, passionate, and full of dreams, she received her first Emmy nomination in her career, thinking it marked a breakthrough, yet was overlooked on the red carpet. Even the Emmys couldn't help her achieve that breakthrough, so what more could she do?
The implication? A subtle jab at Brad and Jennifer.
But it doesn't need to be said explicitly—the real focus is on those talented, yet-to-be-discovered actors. It even hints at criticism of this golden couple for disrupting the red carpet dynamics. Even without Anson protesting directly, the media and audience would interpret it themselves.
So, Anson's interaction with Jane was an encounter happening outside the spotlight—a moment of mutual respect between talented actors. More importantly, it brought the Emmys back to focus on television—
Rather than the hype and buzz, what they should be focusing on is the hard work and effort put in by those in the television industry.
A story was born, just like that.
This is the exclusive!
Of course, Eve knew that such a story couldn't overshadow Brad and Jennifer's glamour, but it was a good story. Not only would the general public buy it, but also the countless professionals in the television industry and the seasoned Academy voters. The other media outlets would buy it, too.
With Anson's dazzling appearance under the spotlight, followed by a heartfelt backstage story of mutual respect with a fellow actor, everything was in place.
Eve couldn't help but clap her hands in delight.
Immediately, she pulled out her phone, simultaneously searching for the reporters on the live broadcast screen and going through her contacts to find the right person.
And then she spotted a familiar face—she hadn't expected Anson to find him too.
Nicholas Flynn!
"Hey, how would you like an exclusive in-depth story?" Eve's voice came through the receiver. Nicholas looked up at Anson and Jane, noticing the genuine sparkle in Anson's eyes.
It was clear to see—Anson was sincere, his warmth and kindness completely unguarded.
In fact, that was the truth.
Even though Anson had already filmed two projects and collaborated with legendary stars like Julie Andrews, this was still his first awards ceremony.
Seeing those figures he once only saw on screen, now breaking the fourth wall and appearing before him, blurred the line between reality and fantasy. It was like stepping into Disneyland—everything suddenly felt so vivid and alive.
Anson genuinely admired Jane Kaczmarek—this was real.
In Hollywood, Jane had never been a star, but she was the kind of solid, reliable actor whose understated comedic performances were always impressive. Besides her acclaimed role in "Malcolm in the Middle," which earned her countless praises and nominations, she also appeared in series like "The Big Bang Theory," "The Simpsons," "Frasier," and "Law & Order."
She wasn't an unknown, nor should she be.
Although Brad and Jennifer were superstars, Anson had always believed that without supporting actors, the main stars wouldn't shine as brightly, and without the dedication of hardworking blue-collar actors, the entertainment industry wouldn't have such a flourishing foundation.
When Anson saw Jane hesitating, unsure, and almost ready to leave despite her reluctance, he felt a deep empathy and naturally walked towards her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I lost my composure," Jane said, carefully dabbing her tears with a tissue, worried about ruining her makeup and unable to wipe them away fully.
Anson nodded slightly, "I think so too."
Jane was stunned.
Anson continued, "Now all the attention in the room is aimed at me. I'm not sure what the current rumors are, but I suspect I'm not in a good spot."
The subtext being that everyone likely now thought Anson had made Jane cry.
Jane: "Haha." She finally realized and couldn't help but laugh, "Haha, I bet more than one person has told you that you're funny."
Anson remained calm, "I get more compliments on my looks."
"Haha." Jane's smile fully bloomed, "I'm sure they were all sincere. So, do you really like my performance?"
"Absolutely." Anson wasn't joking; he admitted it straightforwardly.
Jane was stunned again, expecting Anson to say something polite or make a joke. His sincere response hit her heart hard. "Thank you. I needed that validation."
Genuine.
She paused and then said, "Sorry, I haven't seen your work." She, too, was entirely sincere.
Anson didn't mind, "So, this is just an ordinary TV viewer confessing their admiration to their favorite actor. It's really that simple."
Jane's smile blossomed again, "You really are a funny guy, you know? Generally, handsome men aren't funny, and funny men aren't handsome, but you're an exception."
Anson nodded slightly, "Let me tell you a secret—I'm actually the latter."
Jane's face and expression completely relaxed, "You almost had me there."
Anson graciously made a gesture of invitation, "I'm about to do a brief interview with the reporters. What do you say? Do you have time to join me and talk about your feelings tonight?"
End of the fourth update.