### Chapter 75: Interested in Making a Cameo?

"Just this?"

Richard looked at the box lunch on the table in the resting lounge of the movie set for "Celebrity Life." "I traveled across the whole country to see you, and you treat me to a box lunch?"

"Eat it or leave it!" Charlize put down her fork and gave him a sidelong glance.

"I'll eat it. No such thing as a free lunch goes uneaten."

Richard put down his bag and took out a few cups of coffee and a fruit platter. "I knew I wouldn't get enough to eat here, so I brought my own provisions."

"Hey, quite a spread. Bella, go share this with everyone."

Charlize picked up the snacks and fruit platter on the table and handed them to her assistant, asking her to distribute them to the surrounding staff.

"Whatever!"

Richard chuckled and dug into his box lunch.

"You said earlier that you were at the movie set too. What are you doing here?" Charlize asked.

"Discussing work. I recently got cast as the lead in a movie called 'Dangerous X Games.'"

"Dangerous X Games?" Charlize gave him a dirty look. "Are you planning to enter that field? Oh, don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no prejudice. Actually, being an adult film actor isn't bad. You have the physique for it and might become a big hit. Go for it!"

"Go for it, my foot! I just mentioned the title and you're making wild assumptions. Charlize Theron, can't you think more innocently?"

Richard said, annoyed.

"You're in a movie called 'X Games.' How can I think innocently?" Charlize laughed.

Richard shook his head. "Apart from the title, the content is very wholesome."

"Really? That's a shame. From the first time I saw you, I thought you'd be perfect for that kind of movie. Richard, why not give San Fernando Valley a try?" Charlize smiled.

"Together?"

"Get lost!"

Charlize hit his shoulder again.

"Alright, no more jokes."

Richard blocked her punch and briefly explained his collaboration with Sarah.

"Sarah Michelle Gellar? You're something else. Your first movie was with Daniel Day-Lewis, then you landed a major supporting role with Michael Douglas, and now you're the lead opposite a rising star like Sarah Michelle Gellar. At this rate, in two or three years, you'll be an A-list actor!"

Charlize looked at him in surprise.

"Haha, it's not impossible."

Richard said proudly.

"Don't get cocky. If your second movie flops at the box office, and then the third one also flops, what will you do?" Charlize laughed.

Richard said nothing, just stared at her.

"OK, OK, I was wrong!"

Charlize laughed and covered her lips with a spoon.

"How about a bet on who gets a $10 million paycheck first?"

Richard smiled.

"Sure, let's bet. What's the stake?"

Charlize asked, blinking her blue eyes.

"Emm~" Richard pointed at the lunch box. "The loser treats the winner to dinner, and it can't be a box lunch."

"Just that?"

Charlize raised an eyebrow. "Betting with a beauty like me, can't you think of something bolder?"

"How bold?"

"What do you think?"

Charlize stretched, her tight-fitting nude dress accentuating her fiery figure, looking incredibly sexy.

"Charlize, you're truly beautiful!"

Richard complimented sincerely.

Charlize smiled slightly and rested her chin in her hand, blinking her eyes. "So, what's your stake now?"

"Em~, how about the loser treats the winner to ten dinners?"

Charlize's face fell. "You only think about food. Are you a pig? Don't act all proper, Richard. You can't tell me you don't have any bad thoughts about me?"

"No, I just see you as a buddy!"

Richard said, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"A buddy?"

Charlize laughed and pushed his arm away.

"Okay, okay. How about the loser spends the night with the winner?"

Richard joked.

"Haha, I knew it. You do have designs on me. You're despicable! Shameless! Low-life!"

Charlize gave him a disdainful look and scooted away a bit.

Richard tugged at his mouth. No matter what, it's my fault. It's really tough.

"Hey, Charlize, is this your boyfriend?" An old man holding a tray walked in just then. His hair was messy, he wore large brown-yellow glasses, and he was thin and short.

This was none other than director and screenwriter Woody Allen, known for films like "Annie Hall," "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy," and "The Purple Rose of Cairo," among others, including the ongoing "Celebrity Life."

He's won Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and been nominated for Best Actor, making him a multi-talented and highly productive filmmaker.

"Director Allen, this is Richard, my friend," Charlize introduced.

"Hello, Director Allen. I'm Richard Brad, a newbie actor."

Richard smiled.

"Hello!"

Woody Allen looked Richard up and down, nodded, and sat opposite him. After sitting down, he asked, "May I sit here?"

"Please do!"

Richard gestured.

"Thank you. You said you're an actor too? Been in anything?"

Woody Allen asked.

"Last year, I had a small part in a film with Daniel Day-Lewis."

Richard replied.

"Oh!"

"Director Allen, Richard's main job is professional boxing. Light heavyweight. He made his debut last December and is currently 6-0 with 4 KOs. The papers say he has a good chance of winning a championship belt."

Charlize introduced.

"That impressive?"

Woody Allen adjusted his glasses. "It's rare to see a promising white boxer. I hope you win the championship belt. When you make it to the finals, I'll be there to cheer you on."

"Thank you. See you at the finals!"

Richard smiled.

"Haha, seeing you so confident, I'm looking forward to it."

Woody Allen chuckled. After finishing his meal, the old man asked, "Richard, do you have time? Want to make a cameo in my film?"

"When?"

"This afternoon. We originally planned to get an NBA star, but he's playing games and won't be available until next week. Seeing you, I don't want to wait. A boxing star works too."

"Thank you. It would be an honor!"

Richard smiled.

——

"Celebrity Life" is directed by Woody Allen and stars Kenneth Branagh, Leonardo DiCaprio, Winona Ryder, and Judy Davis.

The story follows entertainment journalist Lee, who sacrifices his dignity and abandons his wife to fit into high society, witnessing all sorts of celebrity antics—fame, money, parties, nightlife, hedonism—only to end up with nothing.

Richard's role is a boxing star with two scenes and about a dozen lines, making it a relatively simple shoot.

Male lead Lee: "I... I can't find any echinacea."

Richard: "You need echinacea?"

Charlize: "Oh, do you have some?"

Richard: "Yes, I always carry some."

Charlize: "He has some!"

"Cut!"

By around 5 p.m., after finishing the shoot, Richard caught a flight back to New York.

During this period, he had matches every month, sometimes one, sometimes two.

Until he won the championship belt, he couldn't afford to slack off.

——

  (End of Chapter)