Emerald city

The airplane slowly descended at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and outside the window, a misty drizzle began. The whole city resembled an ink-wash landscape painting, with densely inked green mountains and forests gradually spreading into the distance. The city's edges, lightly sketched, emerged faintly from the mist. The thin veil of rain and fog pervaded the sky, reminiscent of the wondrous Middle-earth depicted by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, as if one could glimpse the hobbits' villages in the far horizon.

As Hugo disembarked from the flight, he adjusted his baseball cap and fastened his trench coat belt. He followed Joseph, dragging his luggage out of the airport. The lush greenery mixed with the mist enveloped them. The fresh scent of damp earth lightly danced on their skin, carrying the vitality and hope that belonged only to spring in the continuous drizzle. All weariness and irritability in their hearts dissipated silently.

No wonder this place was called the Emerald City; the enchanting green mountains and waters were incredibly beautiful.

Standing at the airport gate, no one noticed Hugo's arrival. There were no reporters surrounding him, no flashes causing a commotion. This made Hugo breathe a sigh of relief. Although he had adjusted his mood, the sight of reporters swarming around still inevitably caused annoyance. It was truly a blessing to be able to avoid dealing with them.

Joseph hailed a taxi and loaded the two large suitcases into the trunk. Then they got into the car, and Joseph said to the driver, "Fourth Street, number 1,112."

"The W Hotel in Seattle?" the driver confirmed.

"Yes," Joseph replied, adjusting his position and giving a definite answer.

The driver slowly pulled the car out of the parking area, and silence filled the vehicle. Only the sound of the tires splashing through the puddles on the road could be heard. The entire city exuded a quiet and mysterious feeling, with buildings gradually appearing in the rain and fog outside the window, giving glimpses of a corner of this land like an iceberg.

In 1993, Seattle was not as well-known as it would become in the following years. At that time, Seattle relied more on its flourishing shipbuilding industry to attract attention. The presence of the Boeing Company's headquarters earned the city the reputation of being the "City of Aviation". However, a few years later, as Microsoft and Starbucks, both headquartered in Seattle, began to rise, the city captured the world's attention. It was only then that people truly noticed how fresh the air was and how high the quality of life in this city. Seattle became the most desirable city to live in and enjoy life in the entire United States.

Seattle also had another name, "Gateway to Alaska". Countless people departed from here to reach the vast wilderness of North America. Hugo couldn't help but think of the 2007 film "Into the Wild", where the boundless wilderness of Alaska depicted the truest form of nature in his mind—icy landscapes, snowy fields, and lush forests.

As the gateway to Alaska, Seattle possessed a similar incredibility. Despite its low altitude, it had ancient glaciers, active volcanoes, and snow-covered peaks all year round. This gave the city a refreshing and pristine atmosphere. The green mountains, lakes, harbors, and rivers bestowed Seattle with unique geographical advantages, while its typical maritime climate provided the city with spring-like seasons.

Whether in the United States or elsewhere in the world, it is hard to find a city that resembles Seattle. Mountains and plains are almost entirely covered by dense, almost pristine forests. The city is adorned with tranquil harbors, rivers, and green trees, embellishing the colorful streets. Nestled among the surrounding green mountains are dozens of lakes, large and small. Lush trees, verdant grasslands, and even the drifting rain and gentle breeze, all carry the hue of green.

Enveloped in rain and mist, the city appears lush and inviting, tempting people to open their arms and embrace it, feeling the lively and light greenness in the air.

As Hugo gazed at the Washington Lake glimpsed between the buildings, a smile formed at the corners of his mouth. He whispered to Joseph, "If I have a chance in the future, I wouldn't mind settling down here. Every day would be refreshing and delightful."

Joseph knew that Hugo had been a bit tense these past few days. While they both knew not to fully trust the media's words, especially after the cloud of controversy that surrounded a previous project, Hugo had come to understand that media content had to be carefully analyzed, whether it was praise or criticism. However, understanding the reasoning behind something was one thing, and applying it in real life was another. Seeing almost every media outlet criticizing "Sleepless in Seattle", Hugo couldn't help but feel disheartened during this low point.

Although "Scent of a Woman" and "A Few Good Men" weren't highly anticipated before their release, the situation was different now. "Scent of a Woman" didn't garner much attention, and there were only a few media outlets providing feedback. During "A Few Good Men", Hugo was on an upward trajectory, with relatively balanced overall media responses. But now, while filming "Sleepless in Seattle", Hugo found himself at the bottom of an invisible valley, facing immense pressure from all the media outlets. Apart from the Los Angeles Times, only James Rudd from Us Weekly spoke positively about Hugo, seeing it as his chance for a comeback. However, among the truly authoritative media, it was surprising to find Nicholas from the Los Angeles Times standing by Hugo's side.

Therefore, the burden on Hugo's shoulders was indeed enormous.

Joseph looked at Hugo, who was visibly tense. He didn't offer him any comfort because he didn't know how to comfort him. They understood the reasoning, but truly relaxing was not that easy. In fact, Joseph was even more nervous than Hugo. Since confirming his role in "Sleepless in Seattle", Joseph had been unable to sleep, so he couldn't console Hugo when he himself was in a state of panic.

Now, as Hugo's spirits relaxed a bit, Joseph couldn't help but gaze at the beautiful scenery outside the window, allowing his tightly wound shoulders to relax slightly. "Living in Seattle? Are you crazy? It rains here every day, it's annoying, and the air is always humid. It feels like clothes never dry properly no matter how you hang them."

Hugo chuckled softly. "It's not pouring rain here all the time. This kind of gentle rain always brings joy. Didn't you have experiences like this in your childhood, running with an umbrella in the light rain, intentionally stomping into puddles just to see the splashes? Heavy rain can be frustrating, but light rain is enjoyable." Hugo looked outside again. "Spring seems to be just around the corner."

"Hehe, that's because you don't live here," the driver suddenly said, leaving Hugo stunned while Joseph struggled to hold back his laughter.

"Distance always creates beauty," the driver's words made Hugo have to admit their truth. He smiled and replied, "You'll know once you live here for a while. During this period, I'll be staying here for quite some time to experience the quality of life in Seattle."

"I think you should stick to living in Malibu," Joseph said, looking at Hugo's smile. His emotions unknowingly calmed down. Hugo's smile always had that power, like a ray of sunlight piercing through the gloom. The curve of his lips formed along with Hugo's smile before Joseph even realized it. Even though Hugo himself was currently in a tense and anxious state, Joseph could still draw positive energy from him. It was a subtle and comforting feeling.

"But what about your knees if you live in Seattle?" Joseph sarcastically commented, and indeed, he saw Hugo helplessly stick out his tongue.

Hugo had an old knee injury from a car accident, which tended to flare up in rainy weather. If he lived in Seattle, the situation would undoubtedly be extremely unpleasant. So, even though Seattle had a great environment, it was still not the best place for Hugo to live.

The taxi quickly arrived at their destination. It took about half an hour from the airport to downtown, but the continuous drizzle extended the duration a bit. Joseph and Hugo entered the W Hotel to check-in, but before they could finish the procedure, their old friends greeted them in the hotel lobby.

"Afternoon, guys," Rob Reiner was the first to approach, and Hugo could see a group of people behind him. However, at that moment, he only caught a glimpse of Nora Ephron's figure, unable to recognize the others due to Rob's tight embrace, which blocked his line of sight. "Oh, this terrible rain. It's made my clothes all damp. I constantly feel this rotten smell."

"Rob, what are you doing here?" Hugo ignored the clothing issue and curiously looked at Nora. The two nodded as a greeting.

Nora explained with a smile, "Rob showed up on the set as an actor."

"An actor? Oh, sorry, I completely forgot," Hugo finally snapped out of it. Although Rob had gained recognition as a director, he originally started as an actor. Hugo had always associated him with the director role in "A Few Good Men", so he often forgot this fact. "What role are you playing on the set?," Hugo asked. Since he hadn't received the script for "Sleepless in Seattle", he wasn't sure about the details.

"You're friends with your coworker, Jay," Rob said with a cheerful smile.

Hugo casually scanned the group of actors behind Nora but didn't see Meg Ryan's figure. "It's a good thing I'm not the last one to arrive on the set; otherwise, I'd feel extremely sorry for delaying the start. Are we still waiting for Meg upstairs or something? I hope I'm not going to perform a solo act," Hugo said, puzzled.

"In fact, our entire cast is here, and you're the last one to arrive on the set," Nora looked at Robert, and the two of them shared a meaningful smile as they said it.

"Huh, what?" Does that mean Meg is in her room upstairs, or something? Hugo couldn't help but wonder. He hoped he wouldn't have to put on a one-man show.