Chapter 208: Night Visit

[Chapter 208: Night Visit]

By the time Link returned to Golden Oak Apartments, the sky had darkened, and the moon was shining down on the quiet streets. He had run over ten laps around the park track and was dripping with sweat by the time he got home.

Monica was off filming a new movie, so Link spent the past few days alone. Sometimes, he would crash at Jennifer Connelly's place, and other times, Renee Zellweger would come over to give him a massage. Occasionally, he would grab a bite with Lily or Michelle Pfeiffer. He rarely had a quiet moment to himself.

But tonight, he planned to sleep alone.

After showering and slipping into his cozy pajamas, he prepared a plate of seafood stir-fried noodles and sat down at the dining table to eat while reading a book.

The past few weeks had been hectic with work, leaving little time for reading. Now that he had some downtime, he took the opportunity to read various filmmaking books to recharge his knowledge.

Despite having spent decades in the film industry with plenty of experience, he knew that if he didn't continue learning, he would struggle to move forward in his directing career.

...

Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock!

While Link was immersed in his book, a series of knocks came from the door. Link sipped his red wine and got up to check. Peering through the peephole, he didn't see anyone outside.

Typically, visitors at night didn't come with good intentions. To be safe, he grabbed a baseball bat, opened the door slightly, and peered into the hallway, but there was no one there. However, the air was filled with a familiar scent -- a mix of lavender and a hint of fruit.

After glancing to the left down the hallway, he closed the door and returned to his meal and reading.

Once he finished eating, he grabbed a dessert from the fridge and made his way to Jodie Foster's apartment, knocking on her door.

...

The door swung open quickly, revealing Jodie in a T-shirt and sweatpants, her hair cascading over her shoulders. She squinted at him with an inquisitive look, "What's up?"

"I brought some dessert from the Stone Table restaurant. Want to give it a try?"

"Eating dessert at night makes you gain weight," Jodie stepped aside to let him in.

"I'm not an actress, so I don't mind a few extra pounds." Link chuckled and stepped into her apartment.

Jodie looked at his tall figure and thought how he always exercised, so there was no need to worry about his weight. Meanwhile, she had to be cautious since she was an actress. It seemed suspicious that he had come over to deliver dessert at night.

"Your living room is a bit messy."

Link scanned Jodie's apartment, noting the similar layout to his own, with three bedrooms connected to three living areas, kitchen, study, and storage scattered about. The white walls and marble floors contrasted with a large wool rug in the center of the living room, with a stunning crystal chandelier overhead.

Several magazines lay haphazardly on the sofa, while an old record player spun a track by French singer Edith Piaf. The soft and unclear melody filled the air.

The place was well-decorated, with luxury furniture, yet clothes and food wrappers were scattered across the sofa and rug. Wine glasses and dishes were left out, and wilted lilies sat in a vase that hadn't been changed. The air was thick with the scent of snacks.

Link had expected that two women living together would keep a neater space, yet it appeared he, a single man, could tidy up better.

Jodie cast an embarrassed glance at him and carelessly tossed some clothes aside. "You can sit, but if you don't want to, feel free to leave."

Link settled onto the couch, placing his plate down and reaching for a magazine, only to have Jodie snatch it away and toss it into a basket behind the sofa.

"Is Cydney not home?"

"Why do you want to know about her?"

"Just curious. I'm home alone too."

"I didn't ask you either."

Jodie quickly cleaned up a bit, grabbed a bottle of red wine from the counter, and took two wine glasses.

"Have they been washed?" Link asked.

Jodie gave him a sidelong glance. She went to the kitchen to rinse the glasses and returned a moment later with two still-damp glasses, her expression showing slight annoyance.

Link chuckled, taking out two napkins to dry them off. He poured the wine -- an '86 Chateau Latour, a Bordeaux that had a rich aroma.

"Cheers!"

"Hmph!"

Jodie took her glass and sipped.

"What have you been up to at home?" Link asked.

"Reading. I've just been here reading since five this afternoon until you knocked."

Jodie pointed to the couch.

"Explaining yourself means you're hiding something," Link teased. "What are you reading?"

"Satantango, a Hungarian novel."

"That one's pretty intense, somewhat depressing for reading alone at home."

"You've read it too?"

Jodie looked surprised.

Link shrugged and pulled out a VHS tape. "I found a gem recently. Want to watch it together?"

Jodie glanced at the tape, then back at him, giving a cold laugh. "What are you up to? You should know I'm not interested in men, so your usual tricks won't work on me."

Link set the tape on the table, leaving it up to Jodie if they would watch it.

She looked at him, snorted, then picked up the tape and slid it into the VCR.

...

As the movie started, subtitles in Japanese rolled across the screen alongside a Japanese song.

"A Japanese erotic film?" Jodie quipped with a smirk. "I've seen more than you."

"Well then, you're pretty knowledgeable."

Link laughed as he enjoyed his dessert and savored the wine.

Jodie shot him a glare, took a bite of the dessert, and quickly realized it tasted delicious, leading her to indulge in a few more pieces.

The film began to play, revealing a Japanese man with a briefcase stepping off a train, where he encountered an adorable Akita puppy in a snowy station. The protagonist, worried about the puppy's fate in a shelter, decided to take him home, naming him Hachiko. Under his owner's care, Hachiko grew up, faithfully waiting at the train station every day for his owner to come home.

Two years later, the man passed away from a heart attack, but the puppy continued to wait at the station for nine years until his own death.

This film, based on the true story of Professor Ueno Hidesaburo, released in 1987, had been remade several times across different countries, each with decent box office results.

The puppy in the movie was so adorable and the story so moving that Jodie couldn't help but cry as tears streamed down her face.

...

Link handed her a tissue. "How about that Japanese erotic film?"

Jodie glared at him, her eyes red-rimmed. "You're impossible."

"I was thinking of buying the rights to remake it. Want to collaborate?" Link joked.

"I'd play the professor's wife? Does that even fit?"

"Not really; you're too young. You might want to try directing instead."

Jodie was also a director who had made the movie Little Man Tate and an episode from the TV show Tales from the Darkside, with future works like Money Monster and an episode from the series House of Cards and 2 episodes from Orange Is the New Black, all receiving good reviews.

"Me, direct?" Jodie wiped her eyes and pondered. "I need to think it over."

"No hurry; you've got time."

Link glanced at the clock. It was past ten, and he stood to leave.

"Wait!"

"What's up?" Link paused and turned back.

"I'm sorry!"

"About what?"

"I shouldn't have assumed you were just another scheming guy."

"If that were the case, you wouldn't need to apologize, as I really do have ulterior motives for you."

Link lightly brushed his fingers across her cheek, wiping away a tear.

Jodie immediately changed her expression and swung her fist as if to hit him.

Link caught her arm, stepping forward to pin her against the wall, leaning down to inhale the scent of her hair and neck -- the same fragrance he had noticed in the corridor, now mixed with warmth.

"When you're feeling lonely, you can find me. When a man and woman are alone together, there's more they can do than just sleep together; they can talk too. Don't worry, as long as you're not willing, I will never force you to take your clothes off."

With a gentle smile, Link released the startled woman and departed.

After he left, Jodie stood frozen for a few moments before covering her racing heart, angrily kicking the spot where Link had been standing.

...

Back in his apartment, Link received two messages on his phone. The first was from Brooke Shields, sent at 8:30 PM, inviting him out for drinks. Half an hour later, she sent another message, wishing him goodnight.

*****

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