God.
Oh, God, God, God.
Connor tried with all his might to keep it together, but his fingers couldn't stop trembling. He quickly clenched his hands into fists, trying to hide his nervousness.
It wasn't easy.
He looked up at the single-story house in front of him, then around at the palm trees swaying gently in the California sun. The golden light was warm against his skin, grounding him in the reality that he had truly made it to Los Angeles. The bustling traffic and crowded streets were a stark contrast to his life in Kansas City, reviving memories of his time in New York. He took another deep breath before finally moving forward.
*Knock, knock.*
Connor knocked on the door and glanced down at his simple T-shirt, feeling a bit awkward and wondering if he was being too casual for this visit.
But then, would a shirt and tie have been too formal?
"Oh, Connor, finally! You're the last one here."
It was Lily Watkins who opened the door, and the sight of her made Connor feel disoriented. He peeked past her shoulder, trying to get a look inside.
Lily noticed and smiled. "I know, right? I still can't believe Anson is an actor. And I can't believe we're actually in Los Angeles."
Connor pulled back and offered Lily a shy smile. "Everything's happening so fast. It still doesn't feel real."
There was so much to take in that Connor didn't even know where to begin feeling excited, amazed, or happy.
Lily understood. She held up her hands, showing them to Connor—
Her fingertips were trembling slightly.
Lowering her voice, she said, "My knees are shaking too. I can barely stand."
Connor immediately lowered his voice as well. "Do you think it's okay for me to show up like this?"
He noticed that Lily was wearing a black cocktail dress and had done her hair, making her look much more formal.
Lily self-consciously tugged at the hem of her dress. "This is the best outfit I have. It's what I wear for weddings. I'm starting to wonder if I'm overdressed..."
Before she could finish, a figure appeared from the kitchen, carrying a tray of tea. The person immediately noticed the commotion at the door.
"Hey, Connor, welcome. Come on in."
"Sorry I didn't greet you at the door, but I'm trying to be a good host. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right."
"Tea?"
Connor finally saw Anson.
Wearing a white T-shirt with jeans, barefoot, he looked casual and relaxed. Yet there was an undeniable charisma in his every move that naturally drew attention. The moment he appeared, the entire room seemed to brighten.
Miles, who had been sitting stiffly on the sofa, quickly stood up, ready to help. But Anson insisted on setting the tea tray down himself.
Connor glanced at his own T-shirt and felt a bit more at ease. "Tea? Sure, why not."
Anson was genuinely trying to play the role of a good host, but it was clear he was struggling. In the end, Connor took over the tea-making process.
Anson raised his hands in a mock surrender. "I blame the tools. I tried to set up a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, but I don't have the right equipment. It's been a challenge."
*You can't make bricks without straw*, as they say.
Seeing Anson's candid expression, Connor couldn't help but smile.
Anson smiled back. "Finally, you're relaxing a bit. Just a moment ago, it felt like Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf were in the same room."
Connor realized that over the past few months, he had unknowingly lost his edge, becoming cautious and reserved. Only now was he starting to feel like his old, confident self again. "Sorry, I just haven't been able to wrap my head around the fact that you're an actor."
"I mean, your house... it's so clean."
Anson laughed heartily. "Actors are supposed to be narcissists, right? The house should be filled with pictures and posters of ourselves. You should see James Franco's room—my roommate. He's every bit the stereotype you'd expect."
Lily nudged Connor's knee with hers. "Didn't you notice when you came from the airport? Anson's face is all over the city."
Connor: ?
"*Spider-Man*" had already entered its early promotional phase, with posters everywhere, featuring giant close-ups of Anson's face.
This time, the scale was entirely different, giving Anson a real taste of what it's like to be part of a hundred-million-dollar blockbuster.
Now, when Anson went out, he had to start wearing a baseball cap.
Last time, he was helping a lady load groceries into her trunk in a supermarket parking lot. The woman mentioned that he looked familiar. When he turned around, he saw a massive *Spider-Man* poster on a building across the street. The juxtaposition of his face in two different depths of field startled even him.
To avoid similar situations, Anson now always carried a baseball cap and sunglasses with him. It wasn't so much about avoiding recognition but more about avoiding the eerie feeling of breaking the fourth wall—like stepping into a horror movie. He didn't want to scare anyone.
Miles chimed in, "'*Spider-Man*,' right? I can't believe we're actually talking to Spider-Man."
Anson spread his hands and showed his wrists to everyone as proof. "Hey, I haven't been bitten by a mutant spider."
The room erupted into laughter.
After the humor subsided, Anson brought the conversation back to reality. "Let's get back to the main point. 'The Tonight Show' has extended an invitation, and I wanted to ask what you all think. Are you willing to accept the offer?"
Lily was the first to respond, unable to contain her excitement. "Of course. Of course, I want to go. How could we say no?"
After speaking, she realized hers was the only voice, making her feel a bit awkward. "Right, Miles? Connor?"
Anson stepped in to ease the tension, raising his hand to signal that Miles and Connor didn't need to rush their responses. "What I mean is, you've seen it yourselves—my movie is about to premiere. This is a new experience for me as well."
"I'm not sure how the show will play out, or how Jay Leno will approach the interview. They might have invited the band as a gimmick, but the spotlight could quickly shift to me."
"I think that's unfair—"
Miles interrupted Anson, "Things have been unfair from the start. You wrote that song. We were just the backup, and now we're getting this 'Tonight Show' opportunity because of that performance. It's only natural that the focus is on you, isn't it?"
"As for whether it's about the music or the movie, I don't think it matters because the focus is you."
Anson didn't entirely agree with that perspective.
A band and an actor are different. An actor is an individual, often relying on their abilities. A band is a collective, incomplete without any one member. Sure, the lead singer usually gets the most attention, but Anson always believed that without the other members, a band wouldn't be a band anymore.
Moreover, during their initial street performance, Anson had been an outsider, an intruder. He was the stranger, and he didn't think he should overshadow the band.
But now, looking at the three of them standing before him, he decided to hold back those thoughts.
Anson shrugged lightly. "I don't mind, of course. You know, actors—always wanting all the spotlights in the world on them."
Laughter filled the room once more.