**Chapter 24: Potential Possibilities**

The hallmark of *Friends* lies in its six unique characters, each with their own charm and fan base. The various combinations of these characters always manage to spark something special.

Among them, though, without a doubt, Rachel and Ross's love story has always captivated viewers the most. The cliffhanger of Season 5, where they drunkenly got married, created a massive buzz and easily secured high ratings once again—a time-tested formula for the writing team.

Now, the writers have crafted a bold move by designing Anson's character to become entangled in the love triangle between Rachel and Ross. It's a daring step, one that draws attention and drives up ratings before the big proposal between Chandler and Monica. This is undoubtedly a high-profile role.

However!

Everything in life is a double-edged sword. Opportunities come with risks, and this character is no exception. He could ignite a media frenzy or be subject to harsh criticism.

Everything hinges on the character's individual charisma.

After all, Rachel and Ross have built a solid fan base over six seasons. A new character, even if just a passing guest, could easily end up as the fall guy, bearing the brunt of overzealous fan outrage if things aren't handled delicately.

So—

Marta was expecting a **"pretty face"**, someone harmless yet pleasant to look at—an unthreatening figure who could still add a little variety.

What Marta and Deborah didn't realize, however, was that David saw something more in Anson's charm, which is why he took a bold step in greenlighting this character.

A subtle misalignment, yet no one could foresee what kind of spark this would ignite.

At this moment, Deborah was quietly observing and thinking.

**Charisma.**

That's the core of this character.

Marta's description had been vague and simple: "Handsome, dashing, charming. I want him to exude a different charm than Joey."

In *Friends*, Joey is the resident heartthrob.

So, the guest character, also designed to be charming, would inevitably be compared to Joey. However, this character needed to showcase unique traits that set him apart.

The problem, though, was that Marta's description was so generic. Those adjectives could apply to any attractive man; there was no distinct direction.

When Deborah pressed for more details, Marta had become irritated, not bothering to hide her frustration, leading to the conversation they had earlier.

In essence, the character's concept was vague, and even the writing team didn't seem to have a clear vision.

Deborah didn't see this as a good sign. The character is meant to "interfere" in the relationship between Rachel and Ross, and without careful handling, he could easily become a scapegoat. But with the writing team lacking a clear direction, the actor would face even more challenges.

And on top of that, Anson was a rookie actor, only eighteen years old, with no prior acting experience.

This…

Thinking it over, Deborah could somewhat understand Marta's earlier comment: just being a competent "pretty face" without messing up would already be a win.

But…

Deborah was a little taken aback.

Standing before her, Anson exuded a maturity and weariness beyond his years. At the same time, he had a youthful energy and handsomeness, a raw, unpolished quality. His unique aura was somewhere between boy and man, effortlessly drawing attention with just his presence.

What's more, Deborah wasn't sure how much Anson had overheard from outside the door. But despite Marta's coldness and detachment, it hadn't affected him at all. He radiated an inner calm, a sense of ease that neither tried too hard nor cared too much, leaving Marta's initial aggression swinging at thin air.

This, indeed, was a pleasant surprise.

And the surprises didn't stop there.

As a stylist, Deborah's focus was on appearance and presentation. Clothes, in her view, often reveal a lot about a person's character.

Typically, someone in Anson's position would either be overdressed—wearing a suit and tie, bringing out their best outfit, which often made them appear stiff and lacking confidence—or too casual, donning a T-shirt and jeans, looking like a small-town boy crashing a party.

But Anson did neither.

Anson wore a chambray shirt in denim blue, paired with light blue jeans and topped with a deep blue bomber jacket.

It wasn't too formal, but also not too casual.

This "youth-cloth" originated from Cambrai, in northern France. It's typically plain or single-colored, with a soft, skin-friendly texture that's often in denim blue, easily confused with denim but with a completely different feel and vibe.

Unlike denim, the color of youth-cloth isn't achieved through dyeing but is woven from differently colored threads. The most common combination is light blue threads in the warp and off-white threads in the weft, producing a soft blue fabric that feels lightweight and slightly formal yet somewhat casual at the same time.

Anson's choice of shirt today wasn't form-fitting and was even a bit loose, with a slightly vintage design. It naturally evoked the aura of an 80s French gentleman, perfectly complementing the color of his eyes. Even the soft, slightly tousled hair seemed to match his unique style effortlessly.

That relaxed charm—certainly not something just anyone could pull off.

At first glance, Deborah couldn't help but take another look.

The more she studied him, the more impressed and drawn in she became.

Then.

She noticed Anson's gaze and realized how brazenly she'd been examining him, without introductions or small talk. But this young man didn't shy away. He stood there, poised and unafraid, calmly accepting her scrutiny.

He wasn't nervous, unsettled, or intimidated by authority. Instead, he carried an air of ease, meeting her gaze without flinching—this composure is an essential quality for actors, who constantly live in the spotlight, subjected to countless eyes.

Is he really only eighteen?

Deborah had a feeling that things were becoming more interesting. Maybe the situation was veering off course slightly, but in a good way.

Her smile widened. "Deborah. I'll be handling your costume fitting today. So, how about we get started?"

There was no small talk or handshakes. Deborah jumped straight into the task, turning toward the clothing racks.

They were in a small room, no more than seventy square meters. Despite the tight space, it was lined with four rows of racks, each packed with an array of clothing.

Piles of plastic-wrapped outfits were stacked beneath the racks, cramming every corner of the room. By eye, there were probably thousands of outfits in there.

Standing amidst the cramped racks, where the space seemed ready to be swallowed by clothes, Deborah moved with total ease.

Her presence exuded control, as if she were the ruler of the space—not overwhelmed by the sheer number of clothes, but navigating it with grace.

Her expertise was undeniable.

Deborah glanced at Anson, getting straight to the point, "So, have you read the script? Do you understand the kind of character you'll be playing?"

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