**Chapter 142: The Art of Making Money**

They spoke in unison and exchanged smiles.

Jack seemed a bit shy and reserved, as if he wasn't used to interacting with strangers and didn't quite know how to continue the conversation. Anson broke the ice by pointing to the brochure in Jack's hand. "We're both here for the same reason, aren't we? So, are you planning on systematically studying acting?"

Following Anson's gaze, Jack glanced down at the brochure and waved it slightly. "Yeah, I used to watch others act and think it was no big deal. It's just standing in front of the camera, saying lines, and making facial expressions, right? I thought, 'How hard could that be?' But once I tried it myself, I realized it's not like that at all. That's when I understood how naive and inexperienced I was."

Jack's father was also a director. Although he wasn't a famous one, he had contributed a fair number of works to the film and television industry. Jack must have spent plenty of time on set watching filming, similar to Anson's experience working on productions.

Anson fully understood Jack's perspective and his eyes lit up. "Exactly! I used to think acting was all about talent. But when I actually tried it, I realized—yep, it still depends on talent."

Jack: ...

He froze for a moment, unsure how to respond, and looked at Anson in surprise.

Anson shrugged lightly. "But aside from talent, there are also methods. Only by truly understanding yourself and those methods can you fully express yourself. Acting isn't hard, but it's not that simple either."

With that clarification, Jack finally got it, and a smile spread across his face.

Anson took the opportunity to ask, "So, what do you think of the courses here?"

Jack flipped through the brochure. "There are a lot of them. Maybe too many. It's overwhelming. I've heard that even actors who have been performing for years come here to further their training and keep learning new acting techniques."

Anson glanced around the lobby. "But I don't see any photos. Usually, to promote themselves, schools like this would plaster their walls with pictures of their alumni to generate buzz, right?"

The entire lobby was unexpectedly clean, simple, and elegant. It felt more like a Silicon Valley tech company. If not for the central banner, one could easily mistake the place for a robotics research center or a biotech institute.

"Haha." Jack's smile broadened, and he suddenly seemed much more lively. "Right? I thought the same thing! I asked the front desk about it, and they told me they don't need to advertise."

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "I just happened to walk by, so I came in to take a look. I didn't expect this academy to be so impressive."

Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "It's said to be one of the top acting schools in the industry," which is why he had come all the way here. "Their courses cover theater, musicals, television, and film. They even said if you're interested, you can take classes on film production."

A small surprise—it wasn't just comprehensive; it even extended beyond acting into other areas of the industry.

Anson's eyes widened, and he said meaningfully, "A great way to make money."

Jack paused, then burst into laughter.

Anson continued, "From the looks of it, either they're incredibly good—really, really good—or they're just another scam aimed at actors."

In Hollywood, there were plenty of the latter.

Jack couldn't hold back his laughter any longer, laughing heartily, his booming voice disturbing the calm in the lobby.

Anson noticed the front desk staff glancing over curiously, likely wondering what they were talking about. Anson didn't shy away, flashing a bright, confident smile at the front desk, which prompted them to awkwardly look away.

Anson turned back to Jack. "But aren't you going to try a sample class?"

Jack: ?

Anson elaborated, "Relying on just the printed words in a brochure, no matter how much time you spend looking at it, won't give you a clear idea. After all, they're obviously going to hype everything up, making it sound like they're the best in the world. Trust me, all advertising is the same."

Jack nodded repeatedly in understanding.

Anson continued, "So in the end, you still have to experience it yourself. Even supermarkets offer free samples of food—so why not acting classes?"

Clearly, Jack wasn't familiar with this concept, but he looked intrigued. "You can try samples in a supermarket?"

This time, it was Anson's turn to pause—

He wasn't sure.

In Asia, food sampling in supermarkets has become a common phenomenon, with even reports of unemployed people making rounds at different sampling booths to fill their stomachs. But thinking seriously about it, Anson realized he hadn't really seen this in Los Angeles yet. Was it truly absent, or had he just not come across it?

"They should," Anson replied confidently.

Jack nodded in agreement.

Anson tilted his chin in a casual gesture. "I'm going to try a sample class. You want to join me?"

Jack turned to look toward the front desk, following Anson's gaze. Before he could respond, the door to a practice room down the hallway swung open. A crowd of sweaty, red-faced people poured out, their smiles wide and full of joy. The diverse crowd, made up of different ages and skin tones, radiated a sense of exhilaration despite their exhaustion.

Leading the group was a young, beautiful woman. She wore a loose T-shirt that revealed her toned abs and the sports bra underneath, paired with denim shorts. Her vibrant energy and sweat-drenched youthfulness practically radiated from her.

Despite the relaxed clothing, she easily stood out from the crowd. With a dazzling, bright smile, she was cheerfully chatting with her classmates. Observing closely, one could notice that she was surrounded entirely by men, while the women trailed a little behind, keeping a slight distance.

There was no doubt—she immediately grabbed everyone's attention—

Kate Bosworth.

She would later become widely known for playing Lois Lane, Superman's girlfriend, in *Superman Returns.* But in fact, she started as a child star, co-starring with Scarlett Johansson in *The Horse Whisperer* back in 1998, when she wasn't even fifteen yet.

Although Kate was still underage, she was undeniably beautiful, with her refined features, great proportions, and natural charisma. Having been raised with an elite education, she stood out in a crowd. It was no wonder she often got cast as rich daughters or city girls.

As she approached, a wave of cheerful laughter filled the air.

A little closer now, and one could see Kate's striking, mismatched eyes: one blue, one amber, giving her an exotic look like a real-life Barbie doll, with every feature meticulously perfect.

——The center of attention.

This whole scene struck Anson as strange. He'd always thought such scenarios were a movie invention. How could something so dramatic happen in real life? Yet here it was, playing out right in front of him.

Anson turned to Jack, ready to suggest they step aside and make way for the queen and her entourage to pass smoothly. But before he could say a word, the bustling crowd spilled over into their space, pushing them aside.

"Ah…"

Jack staggered, letting out a surprised yelp.

(Third chapter update.)