Encounter in the wild

Looking at the person in front of him, Renly found it hard to recognize Roy.

It wasn't just because his cheeks had endured the harsh test of the sun, causing some distortion in his facial features. It was also because his attire broke the image that Renly had of him in his mind.

In their previous encounters, Roy had often been seen wearing a suit and shirt, but it always seemed a bit messy. His clothes appeared wrinkled, his tie crooked, and there were even traces of food residue around the collar or hem, reflecting his generally disheveled appearance that extended to his cluttered office desk.

Now, Roy was dressed in quick-drying underwear, a windbreaker, and lightweight hiking boots – the typical outfit of a professional hiker. It was a far cry from his office attire, but the real difference lay not in the clothing itself but in how immaculately he wore it. Every piece of clothing was neatly tucked in, belts and cuffs were secured, and a sweatband was around his neck – every detail meticulously adhering to professional standards. His clothes were no longer sloppily disheveled as they had been before.

This transformation took Renly completely by surprise.

It seemed Roy could read the confusion in Renly's eyes. He smiled wryly, but his oddly tanned face made it look somewhat comical. "If you want to survive in the wilderness, strictly following the handbook's rules is the first step, especially for newcomers," Roy explained. "After fifteen days of listening to a professional's nagging, even a boulder needs some improvement."

Renly couldn't help but smile at this, and Roy subtly shrugged, indicating that his strength hadn't fully returned. "It's also to avoid incessant complaints."

Roy nodded seriously and admitted, "That's the core reason."

After this brief exchange, Renly finally brought up the most obvious question. "How did you end up here? I almost thought I mistook you for someone else." Given that Roy didn't appear to be an outdoor enthusiast and, as an agent for SAG, he operated almost every day of the year, with holidays being a luxury, his presence was perplexing.

Roy didn't answer immediately. Instead, he unwrapped a chocolate bar, took a couple of bites of the already melted chocolate, and his hurried and erratic breathing gradually steadied. Then he said, "I quit my job."

Renly raised an eyebrow in surprise at this response. "I thought you enjoyed your work, you know, helping as many young actors as possible."

Roy shot a sideways glance at Renly, a look that clearly said, "Are you kidding me?" But Renly innocently pursed his lips, meeting Roy's gaze with an expression that was even more obvious, as if saying, "I'm serious." At least from their interactions so far, Renly couldn't sense any aversion from Roy.

Roy chuckled softly, "To be precise, no agent in SAG likes their job." He gobbled down the entire piece of chocolate, then, in a mouthful, swallowed it, replenishing his energy. As a side note, he explained, "In the morning, due to a minor mishap, my water bottle spilled, and then a badger ran off with my lunch."

In one simple sentence, Roy explained the reason for his current disheveled state.

Renly couldn't help but let a smile creep onto his lips. Roy was well aware of how absurd it all seemed, but in the wilderness, anything was possible. Roy shrugged, conveying his helplessness, and confirmed, "SAG agents are like court-appointed public defenders. Low pay, hard work, little recognition, limited benefits – it's like charity work. But the key is, no one wants their life to be a charity case."

Although Renly was just an actor himself and had limited knowledge of the agent's role, he was aware of the situation Roy described.

Professional agents like Andy earned a commission based on their actors' earnings. In simple terms, the higher an actor's income, the higher the agent's income, which was why agents always worked to negotiate higher fees for their actors. On the other hand, public agents like Roy relied on salaries from SAG to make a living, and their income was unrelated to the actors' earnings, especially considering that most newcomers barely had any income.

So, why would anyone choose to become a public agent?

The reasons were straightforward. Firstly, it was a career plan; they might aim to move into higher management roles within SAG or seek positions in production companies. Secondly, it was about building connections. By working under the umbrella of SAG, they could effortlessly establish relationships with all six major film companies, which would be invaluable when transitioning to a new role in the future.

Public agents like Roy had a high turnover rate, frequently coming and going. It was common for a third-tier actor to have three different public agents handling their work at the contract, filming, and wrap-up stages of a single project.

Resigning wasn't surprising.

"What are your plans for the next step?" Renly inquired.

Apart from a few public agents committed to their "charitable" work as a lifelong career, most public agents were well aware that they would eventually resign. So, before submitting their resignation, they often had some career planning in place.

Clearly, transitioning to a professional agent was the most suitable and straightforward choice.

However, to Renly's surprise, Roy shook his head. "I don't know for now. That's also why I chose to go on this hiking trip. I intend to temporarily set my work aside and enjoy this vacation. I'll see where this road leads, prepare to stop when the time is right, and then think about my future plans."

Renly was somewhat taken aback. From Roy's simple statement, it was apparent that resigning was an unexpected move. Roy hadn't yet made plans for his next step, yet he had already left SAG. There was undoubtedly an intriguing story behind this decision.

However, it was Roy's personal matter, and Renly had no intention of prying.

"Which direction did you come from?" Renly didn't continue the deep conversation but instead changed the topic.

Roy wasn't surprised by Renly's gentlemanly behavior. Their previous interactions had left a profound impression of maturity and wisdom from the young man. "Peggy," Roy replied, going along with the conversation.

Following this, the two of them engaged in a conversation about their recent hiking experiences, as if they were just ordinary hikers who had bumped into each other on the trail, sharing their stories before setting off on their respective journeys once more. They might meet again on the path in the future, or perhaps not, but this chance encounter had become a part of their journeys.

Roy attentively listened to Renly's stories, and from the lively sparkle in his eyes, he could tell that Renly was not just impulsively trying this out but genuinely enjoying every moment of it. Their brief encounter had left a deep impression on Roy, and when he came across news about Renly, he paid extra attention. The controversies, discussions, and doubts surrounding Renly were like a thin veil, separating him from the public eye, making it challenging to discern his true self.

But as Roy looked at the vibrant and youthful Renly before him, full of youthful vigor and vitality, his mental image of Renly gradually took shape.

"Are you sure?" Roy asked, looking at the supplies laid out in front of him: less than a quarter of a water bottle's capacity, a melted chocolate bar, half an energy bar, and two slices of whole wheat bread.

In the city, these supplies might be considered inadequate, and even a beggar might refuse them. However, in the wilderness, they were worth their weight in gold and extremely precious. Especially since Renly had left half of his already limited water resources for Roy, it made them even more valuable.

Renly's deep brown eyes flickered slightly. "Whether to leave these supplies or carry them with you to the supply point, it's not an easy choice." His humorous quip elicited a smile from Roy. "Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

After a brief conversation, the time came for them to part ways, an inevitable experience during a hiking journey. It was a journey of self-challenge, even though they had companions, every step on the road had to be taken by themselves. Both Roy and Renly understood this well.

Roy gestured for Renly to leave first, remaining behind to replenish his strength before continuing his journey alone.

"Don't worry; I won't joke with my own life. Otherwise, even if I have to hold onto your pant legs, I won't let you leave," Roy, now without his suit, seemed somewhat different from his office self, and his speech was slightly more relaxed.

Renly didn't fuss further, simply nodded in agreement. Then, he shouldered his backpack once more, stood up, flexed his muscles, and prepared to set off again. "When you arrive at the supply station, I'll inform the camp's rescue team. Everyone will be waiting for your arrival tonight."

This was one of the rescue techniques employed during hikes. If someone failed to appear beyond a certain time limit, rescue teams would be dispatched to ensure the safety of stragglers.

Roy waved in acknowledgment as he watched Renly's departing figure. A thought crossed his mind. He raised his voice and said, "Congratulations on regaining your health."

In previous news reports, Renly had faced health and mental issues related to filming "50/50", which had sparked considerable discussion. Some believed it, while others didn't. Many industry insiders thought it was a staged illusion created by Renly's public relations team to quell negative publicity.

But in Roy's eyes, he believed it was genuine.

Renly turned around, retreating methodically, and flashed a shallow smile as he spoke in a clear voice, "Congratulations on embracing freedom and starting life anew."