**Chapter 45: No Surprises at All**

Watching the door close in front of him, Chris finally reacted, a few beats too late, hurriedly banging on the door and shouting loudly.

"Anson, wait, no, you guessed wrong, no, that's not it. The surprise is something else. Actually, um, actually... the surprise is that I'm cooking tonight."

"Yeah, that's it! Why don't you guess what I'm making? Ha, you'll never guess. Ha, ha..."

"Anson?"

"Anson!"

The only response Chris got was silence.

Chris: ...

He looked up at the sky.

How did things get to this point?

So, what should he do now? Anson should believe his story, right?

But to keep the secret, does he really have to make dinner? He worried he might blow up the kitchen—would that count as another surprise?

Every now and then, very, very rarely, Chris wished he could be like Gordon Ramsay.

However—

"Surprise!"

Brad Renfro, looking like a rock singer with his long, golden-brown hair, fragile and thin, wobbled at the doorway with a suitcase, seemingly needing the weight of the suitcase just to stay standing, avoiding being blown away by today's strong winds in Los Angeles.

Then, with arms outstretched and squinting his eyes, he mimicked Chris's movement, shouting cheerfully, delivering the surprise to Anson.

Instead, they were met with the party's guest of honor sporting a forced smile, greeting them in an exaggerated and overly oily manner.

Brad was stunned and immediately saw through Anson's exaggerated performance—clearly, Anson hadn't tried to hide anything.

Brad looked over at Chris. "So, you got caught early?"

Chris's shoulders slumped. "I thought I had fooled Anson."

Brad wasn't surprised at all. "I told you, you can't fool that guy. Of course he saw through it. If it were me, maybe there would have been a chance."

Anson glanced at the suitcase Brad was holding, then gestured to the bag of chips in his own hand, perfectly avoiding taking the luggage as he stepped aside with an inviting gesture. "Next time, how about we try?"

Brad rolled his eyes in resignation at Anson, picked up his suitcase, and struggled to carry it inside.

Honestly, Brad was really too thin; that suitcase was like an anchor, threatening to crush him at any moment.

Seeing Brad not responding to Anson's teasing, Chris snickered quietly to the side but didn't kick him when he was down. Instead, he reached out to help with the suitcase. "It's okay if we got caught. The main thing is the party. Tonight, we party together."

"Hayden will be..."

Before he could finish, James emerged from the living room. But even his steps were lazy, stopping at the doorway of the living room, not even bothering to climb the two steps leading to the corridor, smiling as he teased, "Chris, your secrecy skills..."

Chris, a beat slow to react, raised his hand to cover his mouth. "Ah!"

Anson and Brad both burst into laughter.

Brad glanced at Anson, seamlessly aligning himself with him. "Two months without seeing each other, and Chris is still Chris. That's great, that's great."

Brad was, after all, roommate number three.

Brad Renfro, born in 1982, is the same age as Anson this year, but unlike him, Brad started his career as a child star and has been famous for a long time.

In 1992, while in a juvenile detention center, Brad was spotted by director Joel Schumacher and cast in *The Client*, where he acted alongside Oscar winners Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon.

It was a breakout moment!

In just two years, Brad starred in three films and was named the 1995 Newcomer of the Year by the *Hollywood Reporter*. He appeared on numerous "rising star" lists and even secured a lead role in a film.

In 1996, *Sleepers* marked another peak in Brad's career. In this star-studded film, he played the younger version of Brad Pitt's character. Although the movie didn't perform well at the box office, working with major directors and actors further elevated Brad's profile.

Brad was widely regarded as the most talented and star-like newcomer since Edward Furlong, who delivered a stellar performance in *Terminator 2*. His handsome appearance, combined with a certain fragile, ambiguous edge, along with his expressive eyes, made him a natural on the big screen.

However...

In 1998, just before the release of his latest movie, the police raided his home after receiving a tip and found a large quantity of illegal drugs. This negative news was devastating, especially since Brad was only 16 years old at the time, still a minor, and without a guardian present during the investigation.

From that point on, Brad's Hollywood career suffered a direct blow.

In the past two years, although he has continued to receive offers, they have largely been for smaller, independent films, far removed from the Hollywood mainstream. His visibility plummeted, as did his income, forcing him to leave his luxury bachelor apartment and join a shared living arrangement.

From rising to falling, it only took five short years—but that's Hollywood.

As of now, Brad is unquestionably the most famous and successful actor under this roof.

In the entertainment industry, overnight success and falling from grace are common occurrences. The back-and-forth between heaven and hell happens more often and more easily than most realize. And the ever-shifting loyalties and attention make Hollywood fertile ground for short-lived fame. Brad, who once had a bright future, now finds himself at rock bottom.

But no one knows when he might make a comeback and re-enter the public eye. Nor can anyone definitively say that his career is over—just look at John Travolta, Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, and many others.

Each of their careers had, at some point, been declared dead due to various reasons. Some were even preparing to leave Hollywood and pursue other paths. But eventually, they all returned to the spotlight in their own ways and began new chapters in their lives.

"Fall" is a key word in Hollywood.

So is "comeback."

Right now, Brad has just finished shooting a project and returned home after two months away. Who knows? Maybe this film will be his turning point.

Judging by Brad's worn-out appearance, he seems to have rushed back just in time for the airing of *Friends*.

It really is a surprise.

Despite having an enviable past and having worked with top-tier stars, Brad doesn't flaunt it constantly. Living under the same roof with roommates who are just starting their careers, he has fostered a simple and genuine friendship with them.

No wonder Chris was so excited.

Exhausted from his journey and weary, Brad hadn't even had time to move his suitcase to his room before he made his way to the living room, scanning the scene.

His gaze briefly skimmed over the food on the table, not lingering for long, before finally settling on—

"Is this all the alcohol you have? It's barely enough to rinse your mouth with."

"James, I'm so disappointed. If Chris had forgotten, I'd understand. But you didn't remind him?"

James, sprawled lazily on the sofa, laughed heartily, completely carefree. "See? I knew Brad would be totally unimpressed."