Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 323: Anger

Another year's Golden Globe Awards ceremony has come to an end, but the influence of the winner list has just started to spread. How long this wave will last is beyond estimation.

Jennifer and a group of other actresses had left early; they had to hurry back to change outfits, makeup, and hairstyles before attending the after-party.

For actresses, showing up at both the awards ceremony and the after-party in the same outfit is considered a major embarrassment. Even for actresses struggling financially, they spare no expense on styling for events like the Golden Globes. Taking out loans for outfits isn't unusual—on the contrary, it's considered perfectly legitimate and respectable.

Such is Hollywood.

Given there's less than two hours between the ceremony and the party, time is very tight. Most actresses book a hotel room nearby to change quickly. For an event like the Golden Globes, top-tier actresses stay at the Hilton, while second- and third-tier actresses choose nearby motels or borrow a friend's space.

Jennifer is a newcomer. Though she's rising fast, she hasn't found sponsors yet, which is why her gown tonight wasn't particularly striking. Her hotel is located on Santa Monica Boulevard, about a 15-minute drive from the venue—close under normal circumstances, but tonight, every second counts.

Compared to actresses, male actors have it much easier. For third-tier actors on a tight budget, it's fine to wear the same suit to the party. No one pays attention to what men are wearing. For top actors, changing outfits is expected, but it's far simpler for men: they don't need to redo their makeup or hair, and the whole process takes about 30 minutes.

Thus, Renly and Ryan didn't rush to leave. They waited for the first wave of actresses to leave before following slowly.

Even after waiting half an hour, the area was still packed with people, bustling with excitement and noise. Amid the clamor, a deep, raspy voice cut through the air: "Renly Hall!"

People glanced in the direction of the voice but quickly looked away. At an event like this, it's not unusual to run into familiar faces, and calling out to someone isn't rare.

Renly turned his head, and a flash of light immediately greeted him. After months of training, he was getting used to the flashes aimed at his eyes, preventing him from instinctively closing them. Though the bright light slowly faded, his vision was still dotted with light spots.

That didn't stop Renly from recognizing the figure. He clasped his hands behind his back, sensing the person's silhouette stop before him. Smiling, he introduced, "Ryan, Edith; Edith, Ryan."

Who else could it be but Edith Hall?

Tonight, Edith exuded her usual cool charm. Her short hair was slicked to the left, while the right side was braided into short fishbone braids, neat and sharp, giving her a striking look. She wore a black, long chiffon gown, a combination of leather and tulle, blending sleekness with a strong sense of individuality. Yet on her feet, she sported bright red open-toed ankle-strap heels, exuding a fatal allure. Her entire look was free of unnecessary accessories, both grand and edgy, bold and distinctive.

No need for smoky makeup, excessive tattoos, or outlandish outfits. Edith's evening attire seamlessly mixed her unique personality with an aristocratic air, delivering a powerful visual impact that made heads turn.

Renly was long accustomed to Edith's style and wasn't surprised that she managed to stand out. In a room full of stars at the Golden Globes, she wasn't the most beautiful, but her unique personality made her a bright spot. Ryan, on the other hand, wasn't as used to it, his eyes flashing with amazement as he glanced curiously between Renly and Edith.

"There's nothing between me and him," Edith said with a look of disdain, eager to distance herself from Renly.

Renly didn't argue, his lips curving into a smile. "I thought you were too high-ranking to attend events like this. Isn't this the kind of job only the lesser-known folks take?"

As a photographer, there were two possibilities for Edith being at the Golden Globes: either she was representing a magazine, or she was there to take on-site photos. The latter seemed more likely.

Edith lifted her chin, speaking with righteous indignation. "I'm here to do profile shots, hired by four PR firms. If not for that, I wouldn't have bothered to come. Everyone knows the Golden Globes ceremony is boring; the real action is at the after-party. But I'm not a paparazzo—I'm not interested in that."

Profile shots weren't hard to understand. Actors dress meticulously for these events, but the official photos are often crowded with people. Even official press photos don't always capture the desired effect. That's why PR firms hire skilled photographers to take profile shots, capturing the actors at their best.

There's a famous backstage shot from the Oscars, widely circulated online, showing Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly standing by a vanity, waiting for the Best Actress announcement. That kind of photo was the earliest form of candid photography, taken by the Oscars' official photographers.

As Edith spoke, she glanced down at her camera. She had captured the moment when Renly turned and Ryan looked up. As expected, Renly's charm shone through most in motion, and even a slightly out-of-focus photo had managed to capture the essence of his timeless quality.

"You should head backstage now—that's where all the excitement is," Renly helpfully suggested.

Edith burst into loud laughter. "I know! I just came over to tease you." She winked with her right eye. "So, how does it feel to get snubbed tonight?" Seeing Renly's unchanged smile, Edith gave his arm a firm pat and nodded with exaggerated sympathy. "Don't cry, buddy. Keep at it, there's always next year."

Then, with a triumphant stride, Edith turned and walked away.

Ryan stood there, stunned. "...Is she your ex-girlfriend?"

Renly gave Ryan an exasperated look and rolled his eyes. "My taste isn't that bad, okay?" Ryan tried to argue but fell silent at Renly's serious expression.

Renly found Ryan's curiosity amusing. He knew Edith's teasing was her way of showing care, albeit in a harsh manner. The Hall family wasn't good at expressing emotions—or perhaps more accurately, they refused to express them. Their coldness, detachment, and indifference made their emotional lives as flat as a stopped heartbeat, much like Elf. If Edith didn't care, she wouldn't have bothered to show up.

Watching her disappear into the crowd, Renly noticed many people approaching her to greet her. Clearly, Edith was doing much better than Renly in Hollywood.

Turning his gaze, Renly spotted Tom Hanks in the distance. "Ryan, I'm going over to say hello. Want to come along?" If Ryan was interested, Renly could introduce him to Tom. But Ryan shook his head. "I'm actually going to catch up with Fincher."

David Fincher?

"Good luck," Renly said with a smile, then walked toward Tom. Before Renly could get close, Tom spotted him and greeted him with a big smile, opening his arms wide—a hug? Tom wasn't usually the hugging type.

Though surprised, Renly stepped forward and hugged him. This moment didn't go unnoticed by several people nearby.

Tom patted Renly on the back as if comforting him. "It's a real shame about tonight." His tone was calm, though Renly could hear the frustration and absurdity from earlier had dissipated. However, a flicker of anger still flashed briefly in Tom's eyes.

The complete shutout of 'The Pacific' tonight clearly left Tom feeling dissatisfied.

Letting go of the embrace, Tom looked at Renly earnestly. "You know, Steven was actually considering inviting you to play the lead in 'War Horse' not too long ago."

This wasn't just small talk. 'War Horse' was a film Steven was currently shooting, and the male lead was around twenty years old, with a character somewhat similar to Eugene Sledge from 'The Pacific', though with notable differences. The film's perspective centered on a warhorse, leaving the male lead with less screen time, requiring an actor to bring a more delicate touch.

After much consideration, Renly seemed like the perfect fit.

"But unfortunately, Steven was a bit late—you've already started filming your new project." Tom wore an expression of regret. "Steven even threw a bit of a fit over it."

Renly was surprised and expressed regret, "Shouldn't I be the one throwing a fit? I missed out on this, and who knows when the next chance will come."

His lighthearted comment made Tom laugh. "We were all disappointed you missed your moment tonight. Steven and I both loved your performance in 'Buried'. Do you know which part I liked the most?" Tom paused for two seconds before revealing, "The opening. Your performance in the darkness—it truly showcased your ability and talent. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future."

What did Tom mean by that? Why did Renly feel like there was more to his words? Or was it just his imagination?