Actor in Hollywood

Anson wasn't losing his mind, and neither was Edgar. They both understood the premise behind the salary negotiation—

Anson is a newcomer.

At the same time, Sony Columbia is optimistic about Anson, with unanimous support for his selection.

So, how to strike the right balance and maximize benefits within the limited space available has become the second test of Edgar's skills as an agent.

The first test was landing the role of Peter Parker.

In Edgar's view, this is a golden opportunity to secure Anson's position as a $5 million to $8 million lead actor in Hollywood. He's confident he can convince Sony Columbia to agree, but now, the situation has shifted slightly.

If the movie fails, everything starts over from scratch. A new actor leading a movie that flops at the box office means that whether the box office take is $5 million or $10 million, everything for the next movie—position, treatment, salary—must be renegotiated.

Hollywood is that unforgiving.

But what if the movie succeeds?

A $5 million to $8 million salary would certainly make an impact, but a 5% to 10% share of the box office profits could achieve the same effect. It could even further establish Anson's reputation as someone with sharp instincts, unwavering loyalty, and total commitment.

Numbers are just the visible part; the unseen brand value is where the real worth lies.

With a quick shift in thinking, Edgar understood the situation.

Of course, this is a gamble:

Negotiating with Sony Columbia, presenting a strong front while simultaneously shaping Anson's image, and then placing all the weight on the movie's success—every step is a risk. It's like dancing on the edge of a knife, where any misstep could lead to a completely different outcome.

But…

Edgar looked up at Anson, needing some reassurance. Those clear yet deep eyes met his, with dappled sunlight reflecting in shallow ripples.

Confidence, calm.

Determination, composure.

It's really that simple.

Taking a deep breath, Edgar nodded. "I understand. Leave the rest to me."

The decision was made.

Edgar didn't feel nervous or uneasy; instead, he was eager, ready to get started—

He knew that inside William Morris, there were plenty of competitors, both senior and junior, waiting to trip him up. Those waiting to see him fail, those ready to kick him while he's down. They hadn't expected Anson to actually land the role of Peter Parker. Now, they think Edgar should play it safe.

Compared to taking more risks, Edgar should be satisfied with what he's achieved so far, focusing on securing the deal to ensure Anson signs the contract. Otherwise, if the negotiations fall apart, the sharks at William Morris, who can smell blood in the water, would pounce immediately, eager to replace Anson with their own clients.

But then again, if he had been playing it safe from the beginning, he never would have secretly slipped Anson's photo into that manila envelope.

And who could resist the thrill of a gamble?

The adrenaline was already pumping—this is why he wanted to be an agent in the first place.

Edgar left, and not long after, he sent Anson an email containing a digital copy of an agent contract.

The digital version was for review only; if Anson had no objections, they'd find a time to sign it officially.

Anson didn't open it to read. He knew he wasn't an expert in these matters, so he forwarded the email directly to Lucas Wood.

---

Lucas was busy, buried in a mountain of materials and reports. His eyes were sore, and his head was crammed with numbers, all tangled together.

Ding.

An email notification popped up, and Lucas reflexively glanced at it. He hadn't planned to pay it any mind, but then he saw an unexpected name and couldn't help but smile.

Anson?

That guy hasn't made a peep in ages, so why is he suddenly sending an email now?

He opened it casually and quickly scanned through the content before opening the attachment.

Speechless.

Lucas let out a small chuckle and quickly typed a reply on his keyboard.

"You know I'm not a lawyer, right?"

Despite his words, Lucas still read through the contract. With his mind full of numbers, switching to reviewing documents was a good way to clear his head.

Ding.

Another email came in. Another one!

Lucas felt a mix of surprise and disbelief as he shook his head with a wry smile and opened the new message.

"Yeah, I know."

One sentence, that was the entire reply.

Lucas couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. 

Outside his office, everything was dead silent. His colleagues exchanged nervous glances, staring at Lucas's office in horror. Had Lucas gone mad from reading too many reports?

The laughter didn't last long, and soon the office returned to quiet.

However, the anxious glances outside grew more alarmed. The sudden mood swings seemed completely out of character. So, had Lucas really lost it?

Meanwhile, Edgar started getting busy.

At the same time, Anson also shifted into a new mode.

The deal wasn't finalized yet. It wouldn't be over until the contract was signed. Until then, anything could happen.

Moreover, the contract's numbers, terms, and the mode of collaboration were the most crucial parts of the negotiation. As long as the contract wasn't signed, there was no room to relax.

But Anson wasn't planning to sit at home, anxious and fretting while waiting for news. Waiting around would only lead to overthinking, and even if nothing happened, the anxiety and uncertainty could drive him crazy. He wasn't about to let himself fall into that trap.

Taking the initiative, Anson headed to New York to start training—

Martial arts training.

First, for the role of Peter Parker, Anson needed to build muscle.

Second, the movie would require extensive wire work and many fight scenes. Although stunt doubles could be used, Anson wanted to do as much as possible himself.

It wasn't just about professionalism; Anson wanted to try new things. Since he had been given a second chance, he wanted to push beyond his comfort zone.

Moreover, Anson wanted to reconnect with the martial arts skills he had left behind in his previous life. He knew his current body had no muscle memory, but he was curious how much his soul might still remember. Rediscovering his childhood passion was something Anson was determined to do.

Even if it wasn't for filming "Spider-Man," Anson had already planned on doing this. Now, he had a legitimate reason and no excuse to be lazy.

At the same time, he could prepare for potential future roles. If he was going to be a "pretty face," he might as well add some extra value to it.

Without waiting for any updates from Edgar or the Sony Columbia negotiations, Anson had already returned to New York.

Why New York?

Chinatown.

New York not only has the largest Chinese community in North America—it remained the largest until it was eventually surpassed by San Francisco years later—but it's also one of the cities where Chinese culture is most vibrant and fully developed. There are hidden masters everywhere, just like in the movie *Kung Fu* where the seemingly ordinary landlords turned out to be martial arts experts.

For Anson, this was the perfect place to focus on his training.

Chapter 2.