###
"Anson Wood."
Standing at the reception desk, Edgar announced the name of the appointment. The same building, the same floor, the same spot—it seemed nothing had changed.
The secretary sitting in front of him looked just as he remembered her. Her high ponytail was very recognizable, making her easy to spot at a glance.
The secretary with the high ponytail checked the appointment list on the computer screen in front of her, responding professionally and routinely out of habit.
"Ten o'clock appointment, audition."
"The agent will wait here, and the actor's union..."
She was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly looked up and saw the face in front of her, pausing in surprise—
She had to admit, Anson was not a face one could easily forget.
Even if their first meeting didn't leave a strong impression—after all, he was just another pretty face in Hollywood—seeing him again immediately brought back memories. Only now did she realize how deeply his image had been etched in her mind.
The high ponytail secretary clearly hadn't expected to see Anson again. During the last audition, she had thought he was just a cannon fodder, arrogantly digging his own grave.
But unexpectedly...
Just for a moment, the high ponytail secretary managed to control her surprise and quickly resumed her calm demeanor, continuing with her work.
Leading the way, she couldn't help but glance at Anson a couple more times.
Last time, Anson had seemed very low-key, carrying a large backpack and a skateboard, looking like a street kid, trying to suppress his brilliance, making him appear somewhat thin and clumsy.
Even so, the high ponytail secretary had been deeply impressed.
Today, Anson was still not flamboyant, but there was a slight difference. The natural aura he exuded unconsciously caught the eye, making it hard to resist glancing his way.
Then—
"If you want to look, you can do so openly."
The high ponytail secretary was startled. The next second, she saw Anson's bright eyes, with a faint smile, looking back at her confidently. Clearly, her supposedly discreet glances had been fully noticed by him.
Damn it.
The high ponytail secretary composed herself, straightened her back, and said in an even tone, "They say actors are narcissistic, but there's no need to assume everyone is looking at you."
"Heh." Anson chuckled lightly, "Even if you're not an actor, making eye contact and openly looking at someone is basic social etiquette. Although actors are all narcissists, not everything has to be about their profession."
Pfft.
Edgar swore he didn't mean to, but he couldn't hold back a laugh.
The high ponytail secretary's face darkened instantly, and she quickened her pace slightly. After escorting them to their destination, she turned and left hurriedly without staying.
Edgar looked at Anson and secretly gave him a thumbs up.
Then, they pushed the door open and entered—
Unlike last time, this time they were taken to a dedicated waiting room, which also served as a dressing room. Here, they needed to prepare for the audition.
This was also why Anson hadn't specifically chosen his outfit today; once on-site, professionals would handle his makeup and styling.
### As the Door Swung Open
As soon as the door swung open, before Anson even had a chance to take in his surroundings, a figure darted towards him, crashing into his arms with the force and swiftness of a homing bird. Even before he could see the face clearly, a voice exploded next to his ear.
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations!"
Just by hearing it, he knew it was James Franco.
Like Anson, James had made it to today's screen test phase. Surprisingly, yet not unexpectedly, he was the only one from the first round of auditions to advance to the screen test, making it through the tough competition.
James had already called to celebrate on the night Anson won the Emmy, but meeting in person today still called for an exuberant round of celebration. The energy and excitement in the waiting room were so intense that it left everyone in the room stunned and shocked—
Was this really okay?
Such an exuberant and lively Peter Parker?
But James, being the lively character that he was, didn't care at all and gave Anson a firm hug.
The hug was so strong that Anson had every reason to suspect that James was trying to suffocate him, subtly eliminating one of his competitors.
After finally breaking free from the embrace, Anson exaggeratedly rolled his eyes and pretended to foam at the mouth, making the people around them burst out laughing uncontrollably.
After silently mocking him, Anson asked, "What are you congratulating me for? For the Emmy or for the audition?"
James laughed heartily, "Both, both! Good things are happening left and right. So, are you ready for the ultimate showdown?"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
The entire waiting room's attention turned towards them—
There were four candidates in total for the lead role in today's screen test. Besides Anson and James, there were also Scott Speedman and Jay Rodan.
Anson was quite surprised that Scott Speedman had made it to this round, indicating that his agent must have worked tirelessly to get him this far. Definitely not someone to underestimate.
But Anson was even more surprised by Heath Ledger's elimination. Thinking about it, perhaps Heath's rebellious aura never really suited the superhero role from the start.
However, looking at the four actors with their distinct styles and characteristics, it was clear that the production team was still open to different interpretations. They hadn't yet agreed on a definitive image of Peter Parker.
For Anson, this was good news.
Obviously, all four competitors had an equal chance, but James's words made it seem like only the two of them were in the running, completely ignoring Scott and Jay.
James, noticing the gazes around him, quickly clarified, "Don't get me wrong. It's not that I'm looking down on you guys. I just see Anson as my main rival."
Was this explanation really any better?
Jay Rodan's expression was unreadable.
Scott's face darkened slightly.
But James didn't care, turning back to Anson, "So, did you prepare in advance? Chris said you were dragged out of a hangover and flown here. You're not still half-asleep, are you? Haha, if so, you're in trouble."
Anson chuckled, "If I manage to land the role while half-asleep, your (guys') expressions will be priceless."
The word "your" had a double meaning, applying to both "you" (James) and "you all" (everyone else).
Anson's words brought the room to a standstill, and then, with a serious expression, he stopped James, "Wait, don't disturb me. Let me imagine it for a moment."
One second. Two seconds.
"Haha. That is indeed hilarious," Anson laughed heartily.
James was left speechless.
Jay Rodan, who had remained expressionless until now, couldn't hold back a laugh, and the previously tense atmosphere in the room began to ease.
Finally, Anson had a moment to take in the scene—
No tight suits.
It seemed Edgar's assessment was correct. Even though they were auditioning for the role of Spider-Man, Sam Raimi didn't need to see the actors in costume to choose his lead.
Formal attire.
Not the type of formalwear suited for evening events or three-piece suits, but rather casual suits that a high school or college student would choose.
Combined with the single-page script they had received earlier, Anson had a good idea of what today's screen test was aiming for.
Chapter Three.