Chapter 20

"Ha, just a joke, why-so-serious." (A famous line from the Joker!)

Chen Tiandu suddenly laughed, "My acting wasn't bad, right? You fell for it, Kate. If I didn't hope you'd take the role, why would I waste my breath explaining so much? Can we exchange contact information? If you're still staying there tonight, I can give you the part of Cole's mother's script when I get back. A mother who initially doesn't understand her son's behavior or the fact that he can see ghosts, but gradually accepts him after he tells her about his grandmother's conversations with her... I hope you can really get into the character."

Kate was stunned for a moment, then suddenly frowned and said angrily, "This joke isn't funny at all."

Now it was Chen Tiandu's turn to be embarrassed. He stammered for a while, not knowing how to respond.

"Ha ha~"

Just as he was at a loss, Kate suddenly smiled to ease the tension, "My acting isn't bad either. An eye for an eye, we're even."

Chen Tiandu couldn't help but laugh. Women... they really hold grudges.

They looked at each other and burst into laughter again. Their clear, lively laughter filled the somewhat stuffy café with vitality.

"Do you need a ride? I should go to the audition too. It's on the way, so I can give you a lift. Let's go."

Kate was even cooler than him. She slung her small bag over her shoulder and clicked her high heels on the floor, creating a series of crisp footsteps as she walked out.

"Hey, young people, are you actors? Do you live nearby? What's the name of that story? Maybe we'll go see it when it's released in theaters," the owner behind the café's cash register teased.

"Forget it, old Jim. Not every movie gets released," the man who had been arguing with Chen Tiandu retorted, waving goodbye to Kate, "Bye, beautiful, see you next time."

"Sixth Sense!" Chen Tiandu shouted, "The movie is called 'Sixth Sense,' and it will definitely be released nationwide."

"Wow, looking forward to it," Old Jim smiled.

"Don't get too cocky, kid. Millions of young people come to Los Angeles to chase their movie dreams. We've seen plenty like you who can't face reality. How long until it's released? Don't make us wait ten years," the man said dismissively.

"Cut it out, Cock," Old Jim advised.

Kate suddenly turned around and smiled, "A Christmas script is being directed by Steven Spielberg. It's called 'Saving Private Ryan' and will be released at the latest by next year. You can check it out first."

"Steven Spielberg, really?" "That Jewish director will direct this kid's script?" ...

"Thank you, Kate," Chen Tiandu said, sitting in the passenger seat and fastening his seatbelt.

"No problem, they were just joking. I think your movie will definitely be a success."

"No, I'm not talking about that. It's a bit of a hassle to catch a taxi at this time, so thanks for the ride."

"Ha." Kate rolled her eyes, "Where do you want to go?"

Chen Tiandu grinned, "Of course, I also want to thank you for your understanding and for speaking up for me. I plan to visit that café often, so it wouldn't be good to lose face."

Kate smiled smugly, "You're very confident. Aren't Easterners supposed to be humble?"

"Yes, humility is our virtue. Maybe it's because you're so beautiful, and I happen to be wearing a cool pair of pants," Chen Tiandu laughed.

"...Indeed, they are very cool."

Kate glanced at his wrinkled jeans and couldn't help but laugh again, "Ha ha, you've made me laugh so many times today."

"A laugh a day keeps the doctor away. At least it shows I'm not a gloomy person."

"No, I can't laugh too much. I'll get laugh lines. Comedy isn't my style. Oh, no, the play I'm auditioning for today is a comedy. I'm probably going to be eliminated," Kate said, forcing a serious face and rubbing her cheeks where there were no laugh lines.

Chen Tiandu shrugged, "Who knows? No one dislikes comedy. But I have a feeling you'll pass the audition."

"Why?" Kate asked curiously.

"Because you have a beautiful smile. If the interviewer is a man, he'll undoubtedly be charmed. If it's a woman, she'll fall in love with you too."

Chen Tiandu's eyes gleamed as he spoke bluntly. Even though Westerners are more open, Kate's face still turned slightly red, "Thanks for the compliment, but you're not the interviewer."

"Kate, do you want to talk about the play you're auditioning for? Maybe I can give you some advice."

"Sure, it's a fashion comedy. The director is Whit Stillman, who has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The movie is called 'Metropolitan,' the last part of his urban trilogy. It's about two women working in New York during the waning days of the disco craze, looking for love in clubs. I'm auditioning for a supporting role."

"Got it. I'm even more confident you'll get the role now."

Kate laughed, "Why? Because I have a beautiful smile."

Chen Tiandu shrugged, "That's one reason. 'True youth, chaste and virginal youth, full of fresh blood, light and inviolable, lasts only a few months.' You are in the prime of your youth. If they don't choose you, they must be blind..."

"Hey, that's French, a famous quote by Rodin," Kate said in surprise.

"Yes, I know you studied French literature. Born into an acting family, with an IQ of 152 at age 6, and winning poetry awards from age 13, you then attended Oxford University, majoring in French and Russian literature."

Kate's eyes widened, "How do you know that?"

Chen Tiandu shrugged, "In the internet age, celebrities have no privacy. I just checked online."

Kate rolled her eyes, "Okay, I didn't know my IQ at age 6 was on the internet. That's amazing... Did my mom tell the media? Am I that famous that journalists need to visit my home?" she muttered.

Chen Tiandu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly changed the subject, "Metropolitan, just from the title, a lot can be inferred. Do you want to hear it?"

"Hmm, I'm all ears," Kate said casually, driving and responding absentmindedly to pass the time.

Chen Tiandu didn't mind, "Even now, 'disco' is still a symbol of popular dance. From the director's perspective, I guess Mr. Stillman is probably trying to explore what kind of passion young people in New York found in the disco rhythm before the disco craze cooled down. The two girls might have just graduated from college and moved to New York to work, with low incomes and tight living conditions, perhaps sharing an apartment. They might be working as office ladies with not very demanding jobs, which would fit the reality of frequenting disco clubs..."

"Screech..." The car braked suddenly, and Chen Tiandu almost hit the windshield. Fortunately, he had fastened his seatbelt. He thought they had crashed, but when he looked up, it wasn't the case. Kate was staring at him with wide eyes.

"What's going on?"

The car behind them honked, urging them to move. Kate blushed, "Sorry," and quickly restarted the car.

"Christmas, did you know? Your guess was almost spot on!"

Kate was still in disbelief, "That's incredible. Could you really think like the director?"

"Maybe." Chen Tiandu grinned. This woman drives too wildly, even more than him. Are all British women like this?

"One is named Alice, and the other is named Charlotte. They work at a publishing house after graduating from college. Due to their low income, they share a small apartment in Manhattan with another roommate. I'm auditioning for the role of Charlotte. Can you continue your analysis? I want to hear more about the story," Kate said.

"OK!"

Chen Tiandu happily continued, "Even with tight budgets, they are already working women in the big city, enjoying the colorful disco clubs. The clubs are filled with young people like them, who have recently graduated and moved to the city of lights, New York, to work. Harvard graduates, lawyers, advertisers, bankers, and prosecutors who love dancing. American urban films often have a bit of a dark humor, and there might be some gay characters. In the early 1980s, before the disco craze faded, this group of people can be called the 'lost generation.'"

"Lost generation? That's a great description," Kate nodded in agreement.

"To find love in such an environment, your character needs a bit of recklessness and madness, but must also have a strong sense of self and principles. Otherwise, what you get won't be love, but decay. You have a gentle appearance with a touch of masculine charm, which can make you a very cool character. That's why I believe in you."

Kate's eyes sparkled, "That's amazing. You haven't read the script, yet you almost guessed everything. Hearing you say this, I suddenly feel like this role is meant for me. If I tell the director that you guessed his plot, he won't believe it."

"No, don't tell him. Otherwise, you'll lose the role. Men can be jealous, especially in front of beautiful women."

"Ha..." Kate laughed again. Such blunt compliments were hard for even a British woman to handle. But who doesn't like being told they're beautiful? "Okay, I'll listen to you."

...