Chương 56: ### Chapter 55: Sharpening the Blade at the Last Minute
The sunlight in California always favors those youthful faces with sharp features. The golden rays cast shadows, leaving fragments on the contours of their faces, subtly refining the temperament between their brows and the colors deep within their eyes. A casual glance or a fleeting look can make time stand still.
"Hey, Uncle Darren."
A greeting, filled with youthful energy, seamlessly blends the man's physique with the spirit of a young boy, as if spring suddenly bursts forth.
Darren was a bit surprised and took off his sunglasses.
It was only then that he realized, in just two short months, the youngest son of the Wood family seemed to have transformed once again. His unique temperament made it hard to look away.
"Anson!"
Darren waved as he watched Anson stride towards him. In just a few steps, Anson was standing right in front of him, forcing Darren to look up.
Now, Darren finally understood David Klein's thoughts. Even if it was about going with the flow and taking advantage of the situation, the premise was that Anson was worth it.
Anson placed his motorcycle helmet on the ground and noticed Darren's momentary daze. "Uncle Darren?"
Darren snapped out of it and couldn't help but laugh. "Ha, it's nothing. It's only been two months, but I almost didn't recognize you. You're certainly still growing. I was just thinking, I kind of regret not casting you in our show. You would've been the talk of the town."
Of course, this was a joke.
**"Sex and the City"** airs on HBO, a cable network. They don't need to worry about ratings or advertisers, only about their paying subscribers.
In other words, **"Sex and the City"** doesn't need hype or attention. If Anson had made a cameo, he would've been just a pretty face, and the current opportunity wouldn't have arisen.
Anson smiled. "Uncle Darren, how could I trouble you like that? The current job just ended, and you're already thinking about the next one for me."
This was also a joke.
Darren, fully understanding, smiled even more brightly. "Don't worry, David Klein has already arranged your next job."
Anson didn't quite understand.
Darren didn't explain immediately but looked around.
The café still had some curious and probing glances cast in their direction, but no one approached; everyone remained seated.
That was enough.
Darren had chosen this table in a corner, with no other seats nearby, keeping a certain distance. Even if someone strained to listen, they wouldn't catch anything. Plus, the café was buzzing with conversation, a natural cover, so there was no worry about leaks.
Then,
Darren leaned slightly closer to the round table, gently lifted his chin as a signal, and waited for Anson to move closer before briefly summarizing the situation.
This matter couldn't be kept from Anson; they needed his cooperation.
Moreover, in the eyes of David Klein and Darren, Anson was just an eighteen-year-old kid, inexperienced and unfamiliar with the entertainment industry—impulsive, passionate, and a bit reckless. To ensure the plan went smoothly, they needed to give the kid a few pointers.
Anson immediately understood.
"Come on, this kind of trick is child's play in the age of social media. After seeing so many tricks and deceptions, suddenly getting hit with something this innocent? I suppose it's a bit refreshing."
Anson blinked, "So, what you're saying is, you need me to play along and create some buzz?"
Darren paused—
As expected, the thing he was worried about happened.
These young people always carry a certain aloofness and pride, believing themselves above the fray, harboring unrealistic fantasies about Hollywood—rejecting hype, relying solely on talent, and chasing dreams.
That's fine and all.
But they are sophisticated beings; they not only need to learn how to use tools but also how to use their brains.
Darren hesitated for a moment. An eighteen-year-old can be stubborn and rebellious, so how should he phrase things to convince Anson?
Darren chose his words carefully.
"Anson, this isn't about creating hype; it's a justified counterattack. Think about it, if David agreed to their request, that would mean you'd be out of a job, and there's no way David would take orders from Brad. But if David refuses, Brad might not go after David, but he would definitely see you as a thorn in his side..."
"Okay."
Darren had only gotten halfway through when Anson spoke up.
Darren was slightly taken aback. "What?"
Anson nodded. "I said, okay."
Darren: ???
Something felt off. He had prepared a long speech, but… just like that?
Anson looked completely at ease. "As you said, he dismissed my job opportunity based on his own unfounded suspicions. If it weren't me today, but say Jennifer collaborating with Tom Cruise and rumors started circulating, I bet he wouldn't have made that call. He simply believes I'm powerless to resist."
"So, I have no reason to just sit and do nothing."
"Besides, why reject creating buzz? News itself is a form of publicity; the methods and means of spreading it are just different."
"I firmly believe that people misunderstand news. Negative news is labeled as hype; positive news as publicity. But in truth, whether negative or positive, news is still news and is all part of promotion. The ability to leverage news to achieve your goals is a skill."
"No problem, I'll cooperate."
Even the choice of words is telling—"hype" carries a negative connotation; but the reality is, in an age of information overload, how to promote, advertise, and operate is a professional endeavor. Without news, there's no attention, and no one is exempt from that.
In essence, "hype" and "operation" are essentially the same thing.
Darren blinked, slowly coming to his senses, a smile spreading across his eyes and mouth. "It seems you've already completed Hollywood 101."
Originally, Darren had planned to impart some last-minute wisdom, teaching Anson a few tricks on how to deal with reporters and paparazzi. But now?
He felt he could save himself some time and effort.
Still, details are key, and there were some experiences Darren could still share with Anson.
"If everything goes as expected, the news should break tomorrow. It'll take some time to spread and ferment, and then the reporters and paparazzi will start swarming those two."
"Their homes should be quite lively."
"But I don't think you need to worry; this time, they shouldn't come to surround your place. You're not the main focus."
"On Monday, at Studio 24."
"They'll probably wait for you there, interviewing the other cast members and catching you in the process."
"I'm flying to New York tomorrow. I'll be there for a while, so I won't be in town on Monday to help, but I have time today."
Anson understood the first part clearly enough. **"Sex and the City"** is filmed in New York. Besides studio shoots, they occasionally do location shoots, so the entire production team is in New York, and with this season wrapping up, Darren needs to be on-site.
But the second part—help with what? Time?
The context of his words wasn't connecting, like a puzzle missing a crucial piece.
Anson looked at Darren. "Time for what?"
Darren didn't answer right away. He leaned back slightly, carefully appraising Anson before breaking into a mysterious smile.
"Shopping."
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