Facing the challenge

The restaurant was situated near a corner, with a four-person table placed there. Sitting face to face were a man and a woman.

The woman facing the restaurant's entrance had a chestnut-colored ear-length hair and exuded elegance. She wore a black turtleneck sweater, and her slender face lacked the softness typically associated with women. However, she wore a crisp smile reminiscent of a man. The only hint of femininity was the wise gleam in her eyes, adorned with wrinkles. Her slender fingers held a tall glass, and through the red wine, one could catch a glimpse of the subtly elegant fingertips.

At this moment, the woman was engaged in a low conversation with the man across from her. The elderly man, dressed in a blue-black shirt, had a massive physique that easily blocked the gazes cast in their direction, concealing the woman from the view of those at the entrance. As the man had his back turned towards the entrance, his cheek couldn't be clearly seen, only two-thirds of his balding head and a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper goatee on his chin.

With her right hand gripping the wine glass, the woman spoke softly, and then both she and the elderly man chuckled softly. Their graceful smiles were haloed with a layer of radiance in the dimly lit restaurant, akin to a gentle breeze in spring.

When Hugo and Joseph entered the restaurant, this was the scene they witnessed. Although Joseph explicitly stated that the woman was Nora Ephron, Hugo still found it hard to believe. Nora was already fifty-one years old this year, but the gracefulness of the woman before Hugo made him overlook her age, leaving him involuntarily marveling at the fact that she was an outstanding woman with her abilities yet not ostentatious. Such a demeanor was truly not something an ordinary person could possess.

Though Nora didn't achieve the same level of success as Catherine Bigelow, who became the first woman in history to win the Academy Award for Best Director with "The Hurt Locker", her accomplishments were still remarkable. Nora spent her entire life without receiving a nomination for Best Director at the Oscars. She only received nominations in the capacity of a screenwriter, yet she never won an Oscar. However, Nora and another female screenwriter and director, Nancy Meyers, became leading figures among female directors in Hollywood. With their delicate and romantic perspectives, they elevated the genre of romantic comedies to new heights.

Nora's works include "When Harry Met Sally", "Sleepless in Seattle", "You've Got Mail", and "Julie & Julia". Although her works were not numerous, they spanned from 1983 to 2009, a total of twenty-six years. Nora bestowed upon romantic comedies a significance that went far beyond being simple romantic films, making this genre an irreplaceable part of film history.

The Nora before their eyes was the epitome of this excellence; she possessed such abilities!

Joseph gently tapped Hugo's arm, bringing him back to reality, and then the two approached them. Nora was the first to notice Hugo and signaled to the elderly man, Rob Reiner, with a glance. Both of them stood up together, expressing their welcome to Hugo through this gesture.

"Hugo, thank you for coming to meet me today." Nora's face carried a warm smile. After introductions and ordering were completed, she began to slowly delve into the main topic. "I don't know how Rob explained the situation to you, but in my opinion, you are not my first choice."

Neat and decisive, Nora unexpectedly expressed her position to Hugo right from the start, which was truly surprising. Rob couldn't help but smile, clearly understanding his friend's personality. However, Joseph was taken aback and immediately spoke up, "But you didn't give Hugo a chance to speak, did you?" After finishing his sentence, Joseph realized that he was a bit impatient and hastily adjusted his breathing before continuing, "I think you should at least talk to Hugo and come to a conclusion after dinner."

Hugo knew that Joseph was fulfilling his role as a manager, so he didn't rush to speak. If he hadn't seen Nora before, Hugo's reaction would have been similar to Joseph's—either impatient or astonished. But after their brief encounter just now, Hugo knew that it would be impossible for this formidable woman to establish herself in the male-dominated circles of Hollywood for over fifteen years without having some tricks up her sleeve.

In Hugo's opinion, since Nora agreed to have dinner today, it was actually an opportunity for Hugo. Regardless of whether her reason for agreeing to dinner was Rob's friendship or some other reason, and despite her direct rejection of Hugo earlier, this dinner process was Nora's way of observing Hugo.

"That's only natural. Let's have our meal first," Nora said with a smile, politely addressing Joseph. Then she looked curiously at Hugo and asked, "What do you think?"

"Of course, I'm already hungry, and I'm praying that my stomach won't growl loud enough to disturb the person at the next table," Hugo replied with a smile, gentlemanly yet humorous, causing Nora and Rob to chuckle.

However, Joseph still looked at Hugo with some concern. But by now, Joseph had also calmed down. It was like the time they auditioned for "A Few Good Men", where the dining process served as the audition. Joseph did his best to speak well of Hugo, but as a manager, there was only so much he could do. Ultimately, it was up to Hugo himself to win the role. After all, it would be Hugo on the big screen, not Joseph.

Nora clearly didn't expect Hugo's composure because, although Hugo was only twenty-five years old, Joseph was actually twenty-eight and, relatively speaking, more impatient. Hugo, on the other hand, displayed a maturity that surpassed his youth. If Nora knew that despite his young age, Hugo had already spent ten years in the social sphere, particularly in the lower echelons of society, she might not have been so surprised. Unfortunately, Nora was unaware of this.

"Do you have any thoughts on my earlier statement?" Nora raised an eyebrow slightly and said, sitting across from Rob. Rob shook his head, "Nora!" He felt that they had agreed to focus on having the meal first, so there was no need to bring it up again.

However, Hugo seemed as if he hadn't heard what Rob said. He smiled and met Nora's slightly sharp gaze, "Yes, of course. I came to have this dinner to fight for this role, not for a free meal..." Hugo paused and looked at Rob, "Rob, you're treating us to this dinner, right? Or did I make a mistake?"

This remark made Rob burst into laughter. He also saw a hint of cunning in Hugo's eyes, reminiscent of their time filming times. Rob felt more reassured. Meanwhile, Joseph, sitting across from them, saw Hugo's confident expression and finally felt a bit more at ease, but he still kept a close eye on Nora's facial expression.

Nora's smile widened slightly. "I should be the one paying for this meal. After all, it's my work." On the surface, Nora was responding to Hugo's teasing, but at the same time, she was asserting that she was the one with the decision-making power.

Hugo took a deep breath in his heart. He told himself that this audition was different from the previous one, and what he needed was composure and delicacy. He couldn't afford to lose his cool, or else all his previous efforts would be in vain. Hugo didn't show any signs of surprise on the surface and turned to Nora. "Well, I'm glad then. It seems like the dishes I ordered aren't cheap." His words were neither soft nor hard, but carried a hint of childlike playfulness, which amused everyone. However, Joseph and Rob couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

Nevertheless, Hugo continued, "I'm curious, Nora. What aspects of me are you dissatisfied with? I believe I should know in order to improve." The table fell silent at once. Hugo was taking a proactive approach, challenging the director as an actor participating in the audition. Such unconventional behavior made everyone's heart race. Fortunately, Hugo's words weren't sharp or interrogative; they were friendly, gentlemanly, and polite, preventing the atmosphere from becoming worse.

"I heard from Rob before, and I briefly understood the role this time. I speculate that, on the one hand, it's because I'm too young, and on the other hand... Well, although It's a bit inappropriate to say, it seems like it's because I'm too handsome?" Hugo's questioning sentence, brimming with a smiling expression, made Nora can't help but burst into laughter.

"I'll take that expression as a positive response," Hugo continued, looking at Nora. "So I suppose I should be happy, right? It should always be a good thing to receive praise, isn't it?" After Hugo finished speaking, he glanced at Joseph. Joseph didn't initially respond, but after a brief pause, he quickly spoke up, "But if that becomes the reason for your rejection, then it's not so delightful."

After Joseph's words, he looked at the smile in Hugo's eyes. Joseph knew that he had said the right thing. Fortunately, there was some tacit understanding between the two of them this time, unlike the lack of communication during the last audition.

Nora didn't speak immediately; instead, she playfully looked at Hugo. Hugo's words seemed like mere pleasantries, but they showed Nora different qualities. Maturity, stability, humor, intelligence, gentleness... These were qualities Nora hadn't expected, and they were also the traits she hoped to see in Sam's character. In other words, Hugo was showcasing his abilities in this manner, hoping to leave Nora with a reliable and accurate impression.

Suddenly, Nora became interested in the twenty-five-year-old young man in front of her. She remembered Rob's words when he recommended Hugo to her: "He will surprise you."

So, Nora adjusted her posture slightly, and with an inquisitive gaze, she assessed Hugo's attire. "Well, let's discuss this script. I think... let's start with your outfit today." Nora's eyes were no longer gentle; they had become more critical and probing, immediately making Hugo feel the pressure. "What... is this? A vagabond?"