Chapter 65

At the Caesar's Palace Hotel, the golden light cascaded down, enveloping the vast, circular lobby like a prairie, with a giant stone statue of Caesar in the center. Christmas trees, still sparkling, were placed around, drawing tourists to take photos and group shots.

Every tourist looked so happy, and the staff greeted everyone with smiles, as if this were the happiest place on Earth.

After entering, Ye Wei, who did not plan to stay, did not go to the front desk. He just walked around, waiting for the time to pass.

However, after a while, a security guard noticed him and approached, asking, "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Oh, thank you, I don't need anything," Ye Wei smiled at him. "I'm waiting for someone, buddy, please leave me alone."

"Sure." The security guard stepped back but remained vigilant about this suspicious young man, especially the two suitcases. After 911, anyone could be a terrorist.

...

In Denver, Anna's home was bustling with activity. As a Christian family, this holiday was both festive and sacred, the most important of the year.

The family sat on the sofa, watching "It's a Wonderful Life," an annual tradition they never tired of. But this year, Anna was somewhat distracted, muttering again, "Has the 'Daisy's Trouble' crew seen the short film? Should I call Ms. Joan to ask for news?"

"Anna, don't be anxious. When there's news, Ms. Joan will tell us," Janet reached out to stroke her daughter's hair.

"Let's enjoy the movie first," David also laughed, looking at the TV screen. "George and Mary are about to meet."

Anna glanced at the clock. "I wonder if Wei is doing well in Vegas... We'll watch 'Dance of the Angels' together later!"

"Of course, sweetheart." "Yes."

...

In New York, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

In the spacious bathroom, the sound of running water from the faucet was loud. Lily bent over, submerging her face in the sink, letting the useless tears wash away with the water...

All she wanted was for everyone to stay together a bit longer, to chat and watch TV like a normal family, to watch "It's a Wonderful Life." Was that too much to ask? Why did they have to go to some damn bar, why did they have to see some stupid Christmas tree! Did anyone consider her, give her a little support for her small wish... her tiny wish...

Ha, what are you dreaming of! A normal family? A normal family made up of three marriages!?

They weren't family, not one of them, only her mother was. Why was she here? She should have left long ago!

Phil Collins is a bastard, they are all bastards!

What good does crying do? Will they listen? Will they change their minds? No, no, no...

More tears welled up, Lily's heart twitched, her body trembled, and she felt a suffocating sensation. Memories suddenly surged from the depths of her heart, nightmares vividly appearing before her eyes.

The Daily Mail, The Sun, The Daily Star, The Times...

Newspapers and magazines surrounded a little girl not yet five years old, her face full of confusion, fear, and sorrow. She looked at the media pages, which detailed every aspect of her parents' divorce, how they fought, separated, went to court, and ended it, and how she followed her mother to America...

Every detail, whether she wanted to see or know, she would. So ugly, so incomprehensible, why, why?

Why didn't she live with her father anymore, why did they move to America, why was her mother crying, why was everything different!

What could she do? Could she change their decision by crying, begging, locking herself in her room, refusing to get on the plane? Useless, all useless...

Ha ha ha, how ridiculous! Lily lifted her head, looking at her wet face in the mirror, choking with laughter, you are so ridiculous!!

Her entire soul trembled. She frantically searched her pocket, wanting to talk to someone, Wei... Wei!

But her pocket was empty, her phone was left in her bag outside. She sighed deeply, scratching her hair. Even if she called, what could she say? He wasn't her mother, he didn't like hearing her annoying words, her damn family, her damn problems!

"What can I do? How can I get rid of all this..." Lily muttered. Drink? Smoke? Marijuana? She shook her head, she didn't want to, she didn't want to be one of those fallen children of stars; leave? Wander? Don't be silly, no matter where she went, she would be found quickly...

Suddenly, Lily felt an unprecedented sense of confusion. The world was so big, yet it seemed there was no place for her.

She hated herself, hated everything...

"Stupid eyebrows, stupid..." The more she looked, the more she found the face in the mirror repulsive. She suddenly grabbed a part of her right eyebrow and yanked it off forcefully, "Stupid eyebrows! You idiot!! You idiot, you donkey, you hairy monster..."

A string of curses, her voice gradually fading, she covered her mouth to stop herself from crying, tilting her head back to take deep breaths, trying to suppress those emotions.

Quickly, use the happiness therapy the psychologist taught, think of happy things, happy things...

Scattered scenes flashed before her eyes, mostly from the past two months, his smile, his voice, Lily, Jane, little Jane...

After a long time, her mood slowly calmed down, and those nightmares were locked back in the cage in her heart.

"Phew, you are really childish," Lily sighed, shaking her head. He was striving for his dreams in Vegas, and she was sulking in the bathroom over her family, how childish.

And they didn't understand the whole story, they didn't have the same emotional connection, it was normal they weren't interested. "It's a Wonderful Life" wasn't suitable for this "family"... Let's go out, apologize to everyone, then go back to Mom, let them go wherever they want.

Lily washed her face, smoothing out the small patch of missing eyebrow, which wasn't very noticeable. She felt a bit self-deprecating, it really was a bush.

Then, Lily walked out of the bathroom. From the corridor, she saw the hall filled with laughter and joy, everyone sitting on the sofa watching TV, a warm and harmonious scene. She was taken aback.

"Hey, Lily, come over, you're going to miss the beginning!" Jolie laughed, patting the spot next to her.

"I haven't watched this movie in years," Simon also laughed from the other end. "James Stewart is still so young, ahaha!" He clapped his hands, proud of his joke. Everyone laughed, and her bastard father sighed, "Stewart is a good man, I met him a few times, he really is a good man."

Nicholas was also well-behaved, watching with interest, and Orion was smiling.

"Everyone..." Lily didn't know what to say, "I..."

"Come on!" Jolie called out again. At three, she became a Collins, and at eight, her parents divorced again. She understood 14-year-old Lily's thoughts better than anyone, even better than Lily herself.

This girl wanted everyone to stay a bit longer, "synchronized viewing of the short film" was just a reason she gave herself. The real reason was, she wanted a normal family... to watch "It's a Wonderful Life," to celebrate together, to be reluctant to part. If not, at least to look the part. She was angry because there was no hope.

She didn't develop any bad habits, didn't make bad friends, didn't indulge herself, wasn't arrogant or extravagant... Lily was already very strong.

"Didn't you want to watch it? Now you're just spacing out, come on!" Simon also called out. At four, his parents divorced, how could he not understand his sister's pain? He suddenly laughed, "Stewart is about to leave the town, but he can't, the poor guy."

Lily suddenly chuckled, didn't say much, and sat down next to Jolie, looking at the TV screen, smiling, "Just to let you know, the short film starts at 11:00!"

"Okay, okay!"

"11:00 is your friend's short film time, 'It's a Wonderful Life' has to make way!"

...

In Las Vegas, night had fallen, and the city of sin was just beginning to come alive, with lights everywhere.

Ye Wei checked his phone; it was almost 8:00 PM. He was both excited and nervous, frequently checking his messages and call logs, afraid of missing Lamo's text or call. Lamo, Lamo, show up soon!

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw a figure emerge from a distant elevator. Lamo walked out, and he hurried over, "Hey, Lamo!"

The security guard, who had been watching, followed but recognized the girl. Seeing the boy follow her into the elevator, he was surprised.

Now, only two people were in the elevator, ascending to the top floor where the presidential suite was located.

"How is Mr. Willis feeling?" Ye Wei asked. Lamo shrugged, "He's in a good mood with us, but I don't know about you." Ye Wei felt something was off and asked, "Does he know I'm coming up?" Lamo shook his head, "No."

"What...!" He frowned, "This won't do. If he doesn't want to see me, it's all over."

Lamo looked at him, amused, "You really don't know the situation. Lara, Bella, and my mom are all there. Any one of them could say something, and not only will you not get in, but your short film won't be shown. The old man dotes on his youngest daughter! I can't handle it, it's up to you."

"Okay." Ye Wei nodded, continuing to think about possible scenarios and how to handle them.

Soon, they exited the elevator. The top-floor corridor was still opulent, and the staff moved quietly, avoiding eye contact.

After a short walk, they arrived at the presidential suite where the Willis family was staying. Ye Wei took a deep breath, preparing himself. Lamo pressed the doorbell, "It's me, open up."

The door opened, and it was Willis. The old man's wrinkled face smiled, but his expression changed instantly when he saw the boy next to his daughter!

Before Ye Wei could greet him, the screen tough guy exploded, shouting, "Kid, I gave you a chance, but you refused it. Don't you dare use my daughter again! You... damn kid!"

"Mr. Willis..." Ye Wei was taken aback, not expecting such a reaction, "I have no ill intentions..."

"Dad, no one is using your daughter," Lamo said irritably, "if anyone, it's Lily, Phil Collins' daughter. She's the one dating him, not me, okay? I'm helping because I really think his set is professional, and I've seen the short film, it's great."

Willis puffed, not listening, almost ready to snatch Ye Wei's suitcase and smash it to pieces.

"What's going on, what's going on?" Lara and Bella rushed over, and Demi Moore, who came for the children's gathering, also approached.

When the two young girls saw the handsome Asian boy, they laughed, "It's you again!" "That funny guy! Dad, why are you yelling at him?"

"He's been bothering me," Willis told his daughters, then, suppressing his anger, said to Ye Wei, "I'll watch your short film, and then you get out of here."

"Old man, relax!" Lamo could only help so much.

Everything seemed to freeze, with only Ye Wei's heart pounding fiercely. With Willis in such a rage, watching the short film would be a mere formality, impossible to truly engage with. If the emotional impact was originally 10, it was now 1.

If he couldn't calm the big man down with a few words, today would be a failure...

What should he say!? It was like a guillotine blade about to fall on his neck. Ye Wei broke out in a sweat, his mind racing, and many genuine feelings surged up. He spoke earnestly:

"Sir, tonight is Christmas Eve. I should be at home, watching TV with my family, but I'm here. I have a three-year-old sister who asked me what I'm doing in Vegas. I told her I'm working, and she asked, 'Isn't Christmas a time not to work?' I didn't know how to answer, so I lied and said I'm here to play.

But I'm not here to play! I'm here to seize an opportunity, yes, another opportunity! I know you think I'm rash and foolish, and that's the most normal reaction, but..."

The anger in Willis' eyes began to fade...

"I, I, I..." Ye Wei didn't know how to continue, but a flash of inspiration made him stammer, "I really... need, need this opportunity, this opportunity! Mr. Willis, a person who leaves his family and hometown on Christmas Eve to work in a strange place, believe, believe me... that person is serious."

"Kid, that's enough, come in," Willis turned and walked away, his tone much calmer. "Your short film had better be professional, don't waste our 10 minutes."

Lamo gave Ye Wei a look, the old man had calmed down, your mouth is indeed impressive!

Phew! Ye Wei breathed a sigh of relief. Though he was on thin ice, he had managed to get through. He didn't know if it was due to Dodo or his stammering.

...

At the same time, in the apartment buildings north of USC's Park Campus, some rooms were brightly lit, with the sound of students' laughter and chatter.

In one of the four-person apartments, a dozen or so people, a mix of international students and those planning to shoot films during the break, were holding a small party. It was almost 8:00 PM, and one of the hosts, Darum, announced he would show a short film, an A+ project by a 15-year-old ninth-grader and their team!

"Ha ha ha! Darum, so this is what you've been busy with? Shooting a film for a middle schooler? Ha ha ha!"

"Shot well, right? Ha, the best joke of the year!" "The best Christmas gift, I mean joke, ha ha!" ...

Everyone except the crew members, Harley King, Pete, and Pareira, laughed uncontrollably, almost rolling on the floor.

The four remained silent until the laughter subsided, and Darum said, "After you watch it, tell me if you can match this level."

"Of course not, I can't shoot at a middle schooler's level anymore, ha ha ha!"

Everyone burst into laughter again, especially those who had been drinking, dancing wildly!

"I smell some marijuana, Darum, are you high? Ha ha!" "Bring out the marijuana! Buddy, share, you know!"

"Everyone, shut up, be quiet!! You'll see."

...

In New York, at 11:00 PM, "It's a Wonderful Life" was