Chapter 36: Unexpected guest
Andy Rogers pushed open the gates of Village Vanguard. The porch was empty as he waited, and without hesitation, he lifted the red curtain and entered the interior of the tavern. The warm air inside caused a slight sweat to break out on his skin. He retrieved a deep blue striped handkerchief from his pants pocket, wiped his forehead, and then began to assess the interior decor.
The abundant green decorations made him involuntarily tighten his jaw. He disliked St. Patrick's Day. Unlike Christmas which could make money, or Valentine's Day which could deceive women, he couldn't discern the necessity of this holiday's existence.
"Sir." A woman with a smiling face approached from his right, holding a stack of disposable paper plates. "We won't be opening until five o'clock today."
Upon hearing her voice, a gentle curve formed naturally at the corner of Andy's mouth. His small eyes narrowed into slits, and his plump cheeks tinged with a light pink hue, making him look as amiable as Santa Claus. "I know, Happy St. Patrick's Day!" Andy's friendly opening prompted a big smile from the woman, who also replied, "Happy holiday." "I came here to look for a young man named Renly Hall. Do you know if he's working today?"
"Oh, Renly!" The delight between the woman's eyebrows caught Andy's gaze. "He's right there."
Following her indication, Andy saw two people sitting in the opposite corner of the bar. Next to them, a man dressed as an elf was merrily jumping. "Haha! I knew it! I knew it!" He then began spinning in place, shouting to the others, "I won, I won! I knew Renly would definitely be convinced by Stanley, hahaha! What's the wager? What's the wager?"
The scene of joy immediately ignited the entire bar, and others joined in the celebration one after another. "So, you came to find Renly for...?" The questioning voice in front of him brought Andy's gaze back. The benevolent smile on his face still felt like a gentle breeze. "An old friend, I'm an old friend."
"Oh, I see." The woman's expression lit up with realization, and she said in a friendly tone, "We're having a party here tonight, and everyone's welcome to join. If you don't have plans, you're welcome to join us."
Andy's face maintained its warm smile. "People always tell me that New York is a cold city, but now it seems my perspective was wrong." Without giving a direct answer, he successfully elicited a radiant smile from the woman – a gentleman's courteous, succinct, and subtle charm.
"Renly!" The woman turned her head and shouted, "An old friend is visiting!" Then she turned back to Andy and released more goodwill, "Hope you have a pleasant time in New York." It was only when Renly approached that she took the paper plates, stepped lightly, and walked toward the party table.
Andy placed his hands behind his back and carefully observed Renly standing before him. Dressed in a fitting green suit, his slightly tousled short hair gave him the appearance of a dwarf from a fairy tale. However, his slender physique had no connection to dwarves, creating a humorous contrast. But those clear and bright eyes blossomed with a charming smile, like a breeze gently ruffling a pond, causing delicate ripples.
"Good afternoon." Renly's steps halted three paces away. His gaze politely assessed, earnestly searching his memory, only to find no image that matched. "I suppose this is our first meeting?"
"The man before him appeared to be in his forties, slightly chubby, wearing a neatly tailored three-piece suit. The black suit was matched with a deep gray waistcoat. Renly's discerning eye immediately recognized it as a handmade suit, not quite as high-end as London's Savile Row, but at least starting from two thousand dollars. It was probably of Italian craftsmanship.
All the buttons on the waistcoat were fastened, yet they couldn't conceal the slightly protruding beer belly. The round belly stretched the buttons to their limits, and one could even sense the discomfort caused by their compression. However, the snug cut, precise lines, and dignified design conveyed an air of elite taste. One could easily overlook the slight disharmony brought by the paunch.
"This is indeed our first meeting, Andy Rogers." Andy extended his right hand proactively, leading with a gesture of friendliness.
Renly shook the man's right hand and gave a gentlemanly nod. With his face flushed and a smile accumulated, the image of Maitreya Buddha involuntarily surfaced in Renly's mind. This sense of incongruity made Renly bite his lip subtly, preventing a disrespectful laughter. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Did you come all the way here to attend tonight's party?"
Though this was Renly's first meeting with the man, he behaved appropriately, not imposing, but instead politely extending his greetings.
Andy continued to smile warmly. "One can sense that the entire city is in a party mood today." Still, he didn't provide a direct answer. He looked around and suggested, "Why don't we sit down? My heart needs a little rest." His self-deprecating words lightened the mood and drew them closer.
Renly led Andy to sit nearby. In this brief time, Andy had sweat forming on his forehead again. Not due to physical exertion, but because the indoor temperature was relatively high, and Andy hadn't taken off his suit jacket, causing him to perspire naturally. "Neil, could you get us a soda water here?" Renly turned around and called out.
"If it's cola, that would be even better." Andy was somewhat surprised by Renly's attentiveness and consideration. However, all his emotions were concealed behind his amiable smile. He not only refrained from expressing gratitude but also made a request that was harmless.
Renly couldn't help but chuckle. "Please excuse my rudeness." He turned again. "Neil, cola."
Neil retrieved a can of cola from the bar and a glass, deftly added some ice cubes, and placed it in front of Andy. Andy smiled and nodded in appreciation. After Neil left, he poured the cola and took a large sip, finally relaxing.
Throughout the process, neither of them spoke. Andy wasn't in a hurry, and Renly seemed even less so.
Andy found this quite amusing. From the information he had gathered, Renly had just turned twenty this year. It was an age of restlessness, eagerness, and impulsiveness, yet the young man before him displayed a composure and steadiness beyond his years. The image he had heard of in rumors gradually aligned with the real person.
"Aren't you curious about who I am?" Andy said with a twinkling smile. It was as if Santa Claus were gently asking a child what gift they wanted, without being overly childish, generating an easy affinity in people's hearts.
The corner of Renly's mouth curved into a subtle arc. "To the best of my knowledge, it shouldn't be from my admirers."
"Haha." This slight humor elicited a light chuckle from Andy. "Actually, you could say that. I am indeed an admirer." As expected, Andy saw a hint of surprise, tinged with a trace of puzzlement, in Renly's eyes.
Andy took a small silver box from the inner pocket of his suit. The box was no larger than a palm and exuded an air of delicacy, resembling an expensive antique. With his dainty, long fingers, Andy awkwardly opened the silver box, revealing a business card inside, which he handed to Renly. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm Andy Rogers, a talent agent."
Renly lowered his head to look at the card. It was a pearl-white card with intricate embossed patterns that could be felt under the fingertips. The stylish deep black font conveyed elegance and charm. Simple yet appropriately marked with all the necessary information, every detail turned this business card into a work of art.
However, Renly noticed a small detail. Andy's self-introduction was incredibly straightforward: "Talent Agent", without any adjectives.
But, in fact, from the business card, one could gather that he was a Senior at CAA (Creative Artists Agency). Not only was it one of the top five talent agencies in the industry, but it was also the leader of the pack, dominating Hollywood's talent representation for over two decades. It was an enduring supremacy in the industry.
For those lacking confidence, they might embellish their introductions with extravagant language to impress others. Yet, for individuals with real strength, they chose to let their accomplishments speak for themselves. The confidence that radiated from within was distinct.
In just one encounter, Renly had developed a profound understanding of Andy's impression.
"A talent agent?" Renly's eyebrow raised slightly, as if he hadn't realized how rare it was for someone like Andy to personally visit. As if he hadn't noticed that behind Andy stood CAA. "Why?"
This question caught Andy off guard for a moment. Then he chuckled softly. "I mean, why me? I don't recall uploading a personal video on YouTube."
The jest made Andy's smile widen even more.
Almost every young person harboring dreams of stardom tirelessly uploaded videos on platforms like YouTube or braved the elements to audition for shows like 'American Idol.' Their ultimate goal was to attract industry attention. Being noticed by a talent agent was a cause for celebration, even more so when the agent wasn't just anyone but a representative from CAA. Andy believed Renly had noticed the details on the business card. Even if not ecstatic, he shouldn't be this composed.
"So, you're not interested in standing under the spotlight?" Andy didn't give a straightforward answer, instead posing a question in return.
Renly arched an eyebrow. "Should I be concerned about the leaking of my personal information now?" He retorted.
"Haha." This banter truly amused Andy. In this brief exchange, the twenty-year-old youth before him had brought quite a few surprises. After his laughter subsided, Andy finally revealed the answer. "I know you appeared in "The Pacific", and I've watched the private screening."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Shallowman
Shallowman Meet Andy Rogers, opposite of the picture you have in your mind about Steve Rogers.
36, is there any such pose? Well, there is definitely such a chupster, and you can take it, you suckers!
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