**Chapter 342: The Runway Unfolds**

Robert Boyd Holbrook, with his angelic face and a touch of youthful fragility in his expression, carries a boyish aura that contrasts with his slender and tall figure. Though he is a year older than Anson, his demeanor exudes a sense of boyishness that stands out, and in moments of stillness, he reveals a hint of melancholy.

He is a model.

Boyd was discovered and became a model while working as a carpenter in a theater in Kentucky. His career in the industry is still relatively new, but he has already caught the attention of Hedi Slimane, becoming a part of Dior's October fashion week. He is about to step onto a highly anticipated runway, standing under the spotlight in the truest sense.

Before this, Boyd had primarily worked in print magazines, and this marks his first official runway show and his first time leaving the United States. Naturally, he feels a mix of nervousness and anxiety.

When he hears Anson's teasing, Boyd looks around nervously, "No, I haven't been drinking… where…"

It takes him a moment to realize that Anson is joking. A slight blush rises to his pale face, finally bringing some color to his complexion.

Boyd reveals a hint of helplessness but doesn't know how to explain, "I, I prefer to be called Boyd."

Robert? A name like that is just too ordinary, and it doesn't stand out in the modeling world. But Boyd? That's different—it easily makes him more recognizable.

Anson gently lifts his chin, "Boyd, so, did you hide the bottle?"

Boyd looks at Anson speechlessly and finally resigns himself, lowering his head, "I hid it."

"Shh. I'll keep your secret," Anson says seriously as he looks at the dejected Boyd.

In truth, when Anson met Boyd in his past life, Boyd wasn't a model—he was an actor.

Despite the objective barriers that still exist for models transitioning into acting, the rise of the internet, the emergence of grassroots talents, and the spread of social media have made the entertainment industry more diverse. Particularly with the advent of streaming platforms providing more opportunities for content, the range of actors has gradually expanded.

In 2017, Boyd appeared in the critically acclaimed film "Logan," playing a villain that audiences loved to hate, with his rugged and weathered tough-guy persona sparking widespread discussion. This role marked a turning point and breakthrough in his acting career, leading to more opportunities.

That was the first time Anson became aware of Boyd as an actor.

From the brutal tough guy in "Logan" to the innocent, angelic figure before him now, the contrast was visually striking, completely overturning his preconceived notions.

This actually proves that an actor's versatility can bring a character to life, whether by adhering to or breaking stereotypes, or by transforming themselves to shatter certain limitations. Different approaches can all inject vitality into a role, leading to delightful surprises.

At this moment, as Anson looks at Boyd, he feels inspired for the upcoming "runway audition."

"Anson…"

"Anson."

The continuous calling interrupts Anson's thoughts. The crowd parts automatically, and a figure sways into view through the rolling heat.

Hedi Slimane.

Behind him is another figure, who doesn't wait for Hedi and speaks first, before Hedi can open his mouth, "Anson, three-minute countdown."

This is the stage manager, responsible for ensuring that models appear on time, adjusting the order of the show, and coordinating the entire runway flow, all to bring the show director and designer's vision to life.

No doubt, he was a key figure at the runway show. Even in the presence of Hedi Slimane, he needed to issue his reminder, ensuring that everyone was aware of the current situation. If Hedi and Anson already knew the time but still delayed the show, the responsibility wouldn't fall on him.

After speaking, he gave Hedi a polite nod and moved on, turning to notify the next group of models.

Hedi: …

Despite being interrupted and feeling both anxious and irritated, Hedi managed to control himself. He took a deep breath and looked at Anson.

"How are you feeling?"

Anson could see that Hedi's face was slightly pale, with no visible sweat or color, and his eyes were unfocused. Just imagine—this was the debut of Hedi's hard work, not only bold but risky, even groundbreaking. What could he be feeling at this moment?

Anson gently lifted his chin. "Feels like a vampire waiting for sunrise."

A dry joke. Everyone around looked puzzled, and Boyd had a confused expression, but Hedi burst out laughing. "Good, that's the kind of spirit we need."

Anson shrugged lightly. "So, anything else you need from me, Mr. Designer?"

Hedi wanted to say: Yes. But seeing Anson in person calmed his nerves and anxiety.

Hedi had expressed more than once that the inspiration for Dior's first menswear collection came from Anson, which is why he invited him. Hedi knew that having an actor guest star as a model was a risk, and the launch of this menswear line was already full of uncertainties. Choosing an amateur model added more challenges, yet Hedi extended the invitation without hesitation for one simple reason:

If anyone could naturally embody the essence of his designs, it was Anson.

Hedi wanted to see Anson on the runway and hoped to see him interpret these clothes in his own unique way.

Thinking of this brought back some of Hedi's composure. "No, just be yourself."

Since Anson arrived in Paris, they had rehearsed multiple times, covering everything they should and shouldn't discuss.

Speaking of which, Hedi remembered another important point. "Boyd, remember to relax your shoulders, steady your steps, and keep your center of gravity stable."

Boyd was walking the runway for the first time, and his problem was that his walk was too light and unsteady, with his heels not firmly grounded, causing him to wobble, making his runway walk look unbalanced. In truth, he wasn't suited for the runway; he was better for print, where a still image could capture his unique charm.

In this sense, Boyd was the complete opposite of Anson.

But regardless, Hedi believed Boyd, besides Anson, was the model who could best capture the essence of his designs. After much deliberation, he decided to bring Boyd to Paris.

Boyd nodded repeatedly, feeling nervous.

The briefly relaxed atmosphere grew tense again.

Anson didn't try to ease the tension further. "Rock on. Guys, let's rock it out there. We need to show the audience the rock spirit beneath these ordinary fabrics."

However, no one responded—everyone's mouths twitched as if they were about to speak, and their arms, shoulders, and bodies fidgeted. But seeing Hedi, no one dared to move.

Hedi glanced at Anson and smiled, a shy, skeletal smile, like the resurrected skeletons in "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Outside.

Steven was nervous, even more so than the models. He was visibly uncomfortable, not suited for this kind of environment, and sitting in the front row made every cell in his body scream, "Run."

He originally thought Tom would feel the same, but to his surprise, Tom seemed completely at ease, thriving in the atmosphere. This left Steven feeling utterly dejected.

He was contemplating whether to leave early—it would be the same to audition another day—when he heard Tom's voice.

"It's starting."