Chapter 38: I'll Support You
Ding ding dong ding ding dong~
In the evening, at the Boston Symphony Hall, a piano concert was being held.
In the golden hall, classical pianist Brendel was passionately playing the "Wanderer Fantasy," and the audience was entranced by the performance.
"Richard, how do you feel?"
Gwyneth asked softly from her seat in the middle row.
Richard touched his chin, "If I say I don't understand it, will you laugh at me?"
"Haha, not at all."
Gwyneth laughed softly, covering her mouth.
Richard shrugged, "Laugh if you want. I really don't understand music. I used to spend every day going to school, practicing combat and boxing, and working part-time at convenience stores and restaurants to fill my stomach. Concert tickets were too expensive for me. Actually, this is my first time attending a piano concert. I should thank you."
"Really?"
Gwyneth smiled gently, "Richard, I'm actually a little envious of you."
"Oh?"
"Maybe you've seen it in the news. I was born into a middle-class family. To climb to a higher class, my parents demanded from a young age that I be a lady, learning music, painting, dance, opera, appreciation, and so on. Among these courses, I only liked music, but I had to learn the others too."
Gwyneth shook her head lightly, "I envy you for being able to arrange your time freely, doing whatever you want. Unlike me, I had to endure all those things. Looking back now, it was a tough time."
Richard smiled, "I remember someone saying that what you can't bear might be someone else's dream. I should congratulate you, Miss Paltrow, you are truly fortunate."
"Really?"
Gwyneth thought for a moment and laughed, covering her mouth, "You're right, my life is indeed good, but it doesn't stop me from longing for your life—exciting fights, intense battles, bullets flying. It's more thrilling than movies."
"Yes, my life is an action movie, and yours is a court drama. Now we're sitting together at a concert, it feels amazing."
"Haha, a bit!"
Gwyneth laughed softly.
——
A little past eight in the evening, the piano concert ended.
Richard saw Gwyneth off and returned alone to the crew's dormitory.
Gwyneth, being a star, stayed in a high-class hotel. Richard, a newcomer, stayed with the crew members, and the conditions were just a bit better than a motel.
"Hey, Richard!"
As he was opening the door, the door opposite opened, and Alexander, wrapped in a coat, came out. In the dim hallway, he looked like a standing grizzly bear.
"Alexander, still not asleep?"
Richard asked while opening the door.
"About to. How was your date with Gwyneth?"
Alexander leaned over and asked.
"It wasn't a date, we just walked around."
Richard said.
"Where did you walk?"
"At the dock!"
"Nonsense, you weren't there at all!"
Alexander glared, his voice full of grievance.
"Uh, how do you know?"
"Ah-choo!"
Alexander rubbed his nose, "In the evening, Henry and I went to the dock to shoot outdoor scenes, circled a few times, and didn't see you."
"Really?"
Richard shrugged, "It was too windy and cold at the dock. We took a turn and then went to the Symphony Hall for a piano concert."
"What? You went to a concert...ah-choo, ah-choo!"
Alexander tilted his head and sneezed loudly a few times.
Richard took a few steps back, keeping his distance, "Alexander, have you caught a cold?"
"Hmph! After blowing cold wind at the dock for an hour, could I not catch a cold? Richard, are you and Gwyneth in a relationship?"
"No, the director wants us to interact more so it's easier to shoot romantic scenes. Why are you asking, are you a part-time paparazzo?"
Richard looked at him curiously.
"Uh, of course not, I was just asking. No big deal, get some rest!"
Alexander waved his hand, walked into his room, and sneezed a few more times.
"Remember to take medicine!"
"Got it!"
——
After taking a shower, Richard took his phone and a coffee cup to the balcony. This was his daily chat time with Bundchen.
Bundchen had come to the U.S. in April this year. As a fresh newcomer, her career wasn't going smoothly. She had only landed three small contracts in half a year, and she was even less busy in the winter.
Since the September fashion week, she had been continuously interviewing and sending resumes, participating in over thirty brand shows but hadn't secured a single endorsement, feeling a bit discouraged.
Listening to her complaints, Richard kept comforting her, but Gisele was very resilient. After venting, she was happy again, boasting that she would walk a hundred shows by the end of the year and would definitely succeed.
Richard curled his lips, "Honey, how about you come home, and I'll support you!"
"Pfft, who needs you to support me."
Gisele laughed over the phone, "Someone only gets paid thirty thousand for a film, I can make thirty thousand in half a month. How about you come back, and I'll support you?"
Richard blushed, "Don't get cocky. I just started working, my career hasn't taken off yet. When I do, I'll make millions, even tens of millions a month."
"Hehe, it's not like I've taken off either. When I do, I'll definitely earn more than you."
Gisele said confidently.
"Alright, alright, you're amazing. But take care of yourself, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Eat more meat with your training and workload. Being too strict with your diet might harm your body. Isn't the era of skinny beauty over? Gaining a bit of weight might even set a fashion trend..."
Richard babbled on for over ten minutes.
"Got it, got it. I never realized you were so naggy."
Gisele complained.
"You think I'm naggy?"
"Haha, no, I like listening to you nag."
Gisele laughed softly.
"Alright, get some rest, I have a shoot tomorrow."
"Wait, how are you getting along with Gwyneth? You have intimate scenes, I heard some actors fall in love because of it. Will you?"
"Of course not. Gwyneth comes from a privileged background and is a big star, she's not as easy to get along with as you. She always has seven or eight agents, assistants, and bodyguards around. Every time I want to rehearse a scene with her, I have to ask her agent first. Do you think I'd fall for her?"
"Honey, you're being wronged. How about you come back, and I'll support you?"
"Get lost, go to sleep!"
Richard laughed and cursed.
"Haha, you go sleep too. Wait, give me a kiss first."
"Okay!"
Richard kissed into the air and received a crisp kiss in return.
"Good night!"
After hanging up, Richard smiled and suddenly noticed two messages on his phone.
"Are you asleep?"
"Good night!"
The sender was Gwyneth.
Richard raised his eyebrows and replied, joking about Alexander, saying the guy got a cold from blowing cold wind at the dock for two hours to take sneak photos.
Gwyneth responded with a series of laughing emojis.
After chatting for half an hour, they wished each other good night and slowly fell asleep.
——
(End of the chapter)