82 Renly the butterfly

"Apologies, Ryan."

After careful consideration, after the auditions and discussions, Rodrigo ultimately made the decision to entrust the role of Paul to Renly.

Rodrigo was acutely aware that this was a gamble. By foregoing his initial first choice and disregarding Ryan's social advantages, "Buried" would undoubtedly face constraints. Yet, Rodrigo had a clear objective. This film had the potential to become a classic, and he didn't want to sacrifice its quality for the sake of commercial prospects.

Renly's performance had truly moved him, persuaded him, and even ignited unforeseen inspiration. He had no reason to refuse.

This was a difficult choice, but Rodrigo had no regrets. For independent cinema, quality always stood as the foremost criterion, outweighing star power or commercial value.

The words had been spoken at last, with little hesitation. Rodrigo had anticipated the process to be arduous, yet once spoken, he felt a lightness in his heart. The sound of a heavy stone falling resonated clearly within him, strengthening his resolve. "Thank you very much for coming to New York in person and providing valuable insights. However, the film has already decided to sign with another actor."

Ryan's expression visibly froze, and the smile that had been fixed on his lips was on the verge of crumbling. He chuckled awkwardly, "Heh, what do you mean? What do you mean by 'decided to sign with another actor'?"

After thoughtful consideration, Rodrigo decided to be candid, "After our recent conversation and understanding, I believe there's a more suitable candidate for the role of Paul Conroy."

Ryan's smile still clung to his lips, but it was on the brink of unraveling. His complexion darkened gradually, far from the rosy hue of a simmering pot. Rodrigo's words felt like a slap to his face, landing with a stinging impact.

Rodrigo's words paused slightly, but he continued to explain, "You coming all the way to New York in person has undoubtedly been a great honor for me. Even now, it feels somewhat unreal. But work is work. Filming "Buried" will encounter numerous challenges. The complexity and depth of the character Paul surpass imagination. You're an outstanding actor—no, a great actor. Otherwise, I wouldn't have personally extended the invitation to you. However, you're not the best fit for the role of Paul."

Ryan's cheeks stung fiercely. Moments ago, he was confidently guiding the project, offering his ideas for the script and structure of "Buried". He had hoped to showcase his grand vision through this film. Now, the outcome was far from what he had envisioned. He felt as though he had been stripped naked, exposed for all to see, a sense of shame igniting from his feet and burning all the way to his head.

"Apologies," Rodrigo expressed his regret once again. His sincerity wasn't just professional—it was genuine. It was evident that his decision was solely based on professional considerations, devoid of any personal factors.

Ironically, this professionalism was what had humiliated him deeply, leaving him unable to vent his anger.

"He, Ryan Reynolds, an actor with nearly a decade of experience, who soared to fame last year with "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "The Proposal", was rejected by an independent film with a budget of less than $3M? He even traveled all the way from Los Angeles to New York personally just to express his commitment, only to be turned down? What's worse, this happened after he was actively invited, and after the audition? All for the sake of professionalism?

Ryan clenched his teeth, barely containing the urge to clench his fists. His muscles under the suit trembled slightly as he maintained that smile, which had begun to distort. Words squeezed out from between his clenched teeth, one by one, "Just as you said, work is work. I understand."

"To be honest, I'm still looking forward to working with you, hoping we can have the opportunity in the next project," Rodrigo said sincerely.

"Of course. Of course." Ryan nodded repeatedly, paused, and then said, "Wait, did you just say I'm not the best fit for the role of Paul?" Ryan was now a bit dazed, his thoughts entirely focused on being rejected, even forgetting to inquire about who might be the more suitable choice.

Rodrigo hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "There's no doubt about your excellence. It's just that, after discussions, we felt that Paul should be a more blue-collar, rough, and unrestrained character. Clearly, you exude a certain superhero aura, which slightly deviates from the character's design."

Ryan knew these were all empty words. Obviously, Rodrigo didn't want to offend him and was avoiding the truth. He took a deep breath, but the turmoil in his chest remained unabated. He had to inhale again, "Heh." He used a forced laugh to mask his restlessness and anger, "So... um... what does that mean?" His brain couldn't even function properly, "So, the actor you finally chose, do I know them?"

Rodrigo hesitated. Ryan was still fuming from being rejected; clearly, this wasn't the right moment. Moreover, if he told Ryan that the chosen actor was Renly, who had just finished auditioning, he couldn't predict if Ryan's anger might affect the upcoming shooting of "Buried".

"Haha." Rodrigo also exaggeratedly laughed twice, masking his emotions, "We're just an independent film. How could we attract so many famous actors? Honestly, missing out on you, I still have a burning sensation in my stomach."

The words of praise didn't manage to calm Ryan down. He had lost. No matter how much he tried to gloss over it, he had lost.

"Scarlet." Rodrigo's peripheral vision caught Scarlett's figure, as if he had spotted a savior. He hurriedly called out, "Apologies for keeping you waiting."

Scarlett was surrounded by a few young people, excitedly talking about something. She held a recently signed notebook in her hand and smiled at them. Then she walked over, placing both hands on Ryan's shoulders. She noticed Ryan's tense shoulders but didn't say anything, calmly saying, "Are you guys done with work?" Scarlett leaned closer to Ryan's ear and emphasized her tone, "Can we go see the exhibition now?" She reminded him, "Remember? We still have an exhibition to see today."

Finally, this sentence helped Ryan regain some semblance of composure, "Of course, I certainly haven't forgotten." Ryan stood up and wrapped his arm around Scarlett's waist, "Rodrigo, our conversation today was enjoyable. I hope we can stay in touch in the future."

Just a simple sentence, yet Scarlett sensed the hidden message, as if asking, "Was "Buried" not a done deal? Otherwise, why say "can" stay in touch instead of "will" stay in touch?"

The three of them engaged in polite small talk for a while, and then Ryan and Scarlett left the lobby of the youth hostel together. Ryan quickly regained his usual demeanor, even greeting others in the lobby. Even in such moments, he didn't forget about fan service.

As they entered the courtyard, Ryan saw the actor whose name he didn't know from before. The man had a faint smile on his face, appearing carefree like a breath of spring breeze. However, Ryan disliked him; he just wanted to punch that face. "Hey, is the audition over?" The man initiated a greeting. Ryan, on the other hand, had no intention of responding. He just nodded with a fake smile, not speaking. The man seemed unfazed, slightly tilting his head in understanding.

Suddenly, an incredible idea flashed through Ryan's mind: Could the actor Rodrigo ended up choosing be this person in front of him?

But the idea was immediately dismissed, "No, no, absolutely not." Ryan laughed at himself, feeling like he was overthinking things.

How could it possibly be this annoying guy in front of him? He seemed like an empty-headed model, with nothing beyond his good looks. It was quite likely he was just one of the millions of ordinary people in New York hoping to become an actor. The reason he was still here was due to his remote chances, relentlessly persisting. That was the most reasonable explanation.

Ryan's lips curled in relief. It seemed he had let his imagination run wild today. He needed some peace and quiet.

With that in mind, he felt a touch of pity for this nameless pawn before him. It reminded him of when he had just started his acting career, wandering aimlessly, hoping for a chance to perform, even if it was just an audition. But reality often hurts.

So, Ryan nodded in acknowledgment at the guy, a gesture of sympathy.

Scarlett's gaze landed on Renly, and her eyes gradually grew deeper. For some unknown reason, she felt sure that it was this guy who got the role. It was just a gut feeling, a sixth sense.

Scarlett found the situation getting interesting. Although Ryan didn't possess absolute prowess, he had certainly made a name for himself. He even flew from Los Angeles to New York for an in-person meeting, displaying ample sincerity. There were hardly any reasons for failure. Yet, the result was surprising. So, what had this guy before her done?

Scarlett's gaze lingered intently on the man. She suddenly became curious about what the finished product of "Buried" would be like.

Renly stood still, politely smiling at Ryan and Scarlett, watching them leave the youth hostel.

When they reached the doorway, they unexpectedly stopped and began to kiss passionately. For those who understood the context, it was puzzling—how did they suddenly start kissing? But for those unaware of the situation, seeing Ryan and Scarlett, who had just exited the youth hostel, embrace and kiss, was self-explanatory. Did the situation really need an explanation?

As expected, two paparazzi appeared across the street, rapidly clicking their cameras, capturing the moment. Renly remembered Scarlett's teasing earlier, "Don't you know how to stage a scene?"

Returning his gaze, Renly spotted Rodrigo at the entrance of the lobby. Rodrigo raised his voice, "Renly, can we continue the conversation we didn't finish earlier?"

"Of course."