Walking the Big Apple

When Hugo walked out of the dressing room, he saw the five bodyguards at the door still dutifully standing in place, their gaze focused on him, evidently alert for any possible movement. After recognizing Hugo, they turned their heads back with stern faces, except Katharine Hepburn's bodyguard who gave Hugo a friendly look when he met his gaze.

However, Hugo didn't have time to ponder the reason. He quickly saw a fatigued Joseph approaching him. Perplexed, Hugo looked at Joseph. Did Joseph just go for a run outside? Joseph had intended to inquire about the situation but thought better of it. It wasn't convenient to have a conversation while being "monitored" by others. So he slowed down his tone and asked, "How did it go?"

"Oh, let's leave first. Michael and Katharine need to stay a bit longer," Hugo said with continued puzzlement as he looked at Joseph. He then nodded and greeted the bodyguards, regardless of whether they responded or not. Basic etiquette was still necessary. Afterward, Hugo and Joseph walked back through the corridor they came from.

After turning the corner, Hugo frowned and looked at Joseph. "What's wrong? Why do you look so tired?"

"Stand outside for half an hour, and you'll see," Joseph replied irritably, which immediately made Hugo realize what had happened.

Hugo hadn't realized that he had spent half an hour in the dressing room. Truly, an enjoyable time was like sand slipping through fingers, imperceptible as it passed. Joseph, with his robust physique accustomed to sitting in an office, was understandably miserable when suddenly subjected to "standing punishment" for half an hour.

In this light, the reason Katharine's bodyguard was friendly towards Hugo was probably because Hugo could converse with Katharine for a long time, which made him sense the friendliness between Katharine and Hugo.

A fleeting thought crossed Hugo's mind as he heard Joseph continue, "Those bodyguards, they all acted as if I owed them money, not saying a word. I wanted to inquire about the assistant and bodyguard industry, but in the end, I was the only one talking... so frustrating."

Just imagine, Joseph, usually serious and taciturn, becoming a chatterbox. That scene alone could outline how desolate it was, causing Hugo to burst into laughter. "They may not necessarily tell you the truth about the industry's internal affairs. It would be more reasonable to approach a professional company."

Joseph shook his head helplessly, clearly reluctant to recall the past half hour. "I know that, of course. I just wanted to hear their opinions. You know, those agencies exaggerate, but their accounts can't compare to the firsthand insights of those involved."

That was a blunt truth. "But now I don't need bodyguards, and as for an assistant, I guess there's no hurry," Hugo said with a cheerful smile.

Previously, Joseph was anxious to find an assistant and manager for Hugo. However, after the series of events following the Golden Globe Awards, these matters were temporarily put on hold. Joseph found that he could handle Hugo on his own, and instead, Karl became busier due to the increased workload of Alex and Charlize. It is worth mentioning that at the end of February, Alex officially signed an agent contract with Karl, no longer relying on friendship alone, and became one of Karl's artists.

Joseph glanced at Hugo, confirming that he didn't appear dejected, and muttered, "The future always comes, and I can't keep being clueless." Since Hugo was Joseph's first official client, he was navigating the situation blindly. Now, getting familiar with essential skills for agents through more interactions with managers would benefit his future career development.

"Oh, by the way, this is for you," Hugo carefully took out a tissue from his jacket pocket and handed it to Joseph.

Joseph took the tissue, puzzled, and asked, "But I'm not sick..." However, his words trailed off when he saw the signature on the tissue, causing Joseph to stop in his tracks.

Joseph had never said that Katharine Hepburn was his biggest reason for becoming a manager. His admiration for Katharine went beyond mere infatuation; it was a deep respect. He admired Katharine for carving out her own place in the history of Hollywood as a woman, and her unwavering dedication and freedom in love were truly admirable. Not to mention Katharine's commitment to the stage as an outstanding artist throughout her life, all of this made Katharine an idol in Joseph's eyes.

So, seeing Katharine's performance up close today, Joseph was extremely excited. Although he ultimately didn't have the opportunity to communicate with Katharine face-to-face, this gift in his hand somewhat made up for that regret.

Joseph looked up at Hugo's retreating figure after receiving the gift. Hugo didn't stop his steps and continued walking at a steady pace. Joseph hadn't revealed his true thoughts to Hugo, but Hugo had still brought him this highly meaningful gift. Joseph's overwhelmed emotions could be imagined.

Lowering his head, Joseph carefully folded the tissue and put it in his jacket pocket. Only then did he run after Hugo. However, walking beside Hugo, Joseph didn't melodramatically say anything more. Gratitude between friends doesn't need words. He tried to suppress his excited voice and calmly asked, "What did you talk about in there?"

Hugo glanced at Joseph, immediately sensing his unease. A satisfied, smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Clearly, Hugo was pleased with Joseph's slightly awkward reaction. But he didn't directly mention it; instead, he cheerfully replied, "I talked with Katharine about some aspects of acting..."

The two of them walked out of the theater, looking around the bustling Broadway Avenue. Broadway Avenue runs north-south through the entire Manhattan Island, but only the section between 44th Street and 53rd Street is the true golden area of Broadway, known as "Inner Broadway". It is where classic, popular, and commercial productions are staged. The theaters beyond 41st Street and 56th Street are referred to as "Outer Broadway" and mostly feature experimental, lesser-known, and low-budget productions.

Hugo and Joseph were located on 43rd Street, still slightly away from the golden zone of Broadway. It could be considered a peripheral area, indicating that the play "A Matter of Gravity" was not receiving much attention. The adjacent 42nd Street was famous for being New York's renowned red-light district and also the central area of Manhattan.

The streets of Manhattan Island had two distinct atmospheres. The Midtown and Uptown areas followed a grid pattern, with streets running east-west and numbered from 1st Street to 220th Street. The avenues ran north-south and were numbered from 1st Avenue to 12th Avenue, with a few exceptions of non-numerical avenues such as Madison Avenue and Broadway.

As for the Downtown area, it was the original settlement of New York and did not have such a rigorous layout. It retained the warm memories of early immigrants' European homelands, so the road planning resembled European towns. The streets had a slightly disorderly layout, with occasional diagonal streets that made it difficult for newcomers to find their way. However, this area also exuded the charm of a fairytale castle town. If one had enough time, wandering aimlessly here often led to delightful discoveries in the heart of the city.

Times Square was located at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue, with 42nd Street running through it. It divided Manhattan Island in half, with Times Square at its center. Broadway split 42nd Street into two worlds: the eastern side with office buildings and the world-renowned New York Public Library, and behind the library, the rare greenery of Central Park in the midst of a steel and concrete forest. In contrast, the western side was desolate. Although there were tall buildings, supermarkets, grocery stores, and video rental shops were easily visible, the architecture appeared much more dilapidated. This was the oldest area of Manhattan Island.

Starting from Times Square, with Broadway as the boundary, the eastern side of 42nd Street became increasingly prosperous, while the western side became more desolate, reflecting a sharp contrast between affluence and poverty in Manhattan Island's population density. Of course, this so-called contrast was only in comparison to other areas of Manhattan. Compared to the Brooklyn and Queens boroughs, it remained a bustling and prosperous era.

43rd Street was located in the relatively bustling Midtown area, running parallel to Broadway. Soon, one could see the lively hustle and bustle of Times Square. Although Times Square was referred to as a "square", it was actually just a small open space. It was the intersection of Broadway, 7th Avenue, and 42nd Street, forming a cross-shaped junction. However, both "v"-shaped angles of the "x" were smoothed out, creating a rectangular open area. This small space was acclaimed as the "Crossroads of the World", and every New Year's Eve, over half a million people gathered here in the chilling wind, awaiting the moment when the crystal ball would drop, marking the kiss of the new year.

Hugo and Joseph leisurely walked in the direction of Times Square, deliberately slowing their pace on the bustling streets of New York. They strolled along the cobblestone paths, adding a touch of charm.

Passersby brushed past them, each resembling a busy businessman with "tens of thousands up and down every minute." They hurriedly walked with their heads down, not even sparing a glance at others. This gave the impression that the blood of this city, New York, flowed with a rapid and frenzied rhythm. It seemed as if a second of time was stretched into three seconds for use, creating a pace three times faster and infusing the city's air with restlessness.

Not only the residents of this city, but even backpackers and tourists moved in the same manner, quickly traversing between the famous landmarks of the city, always in a rush. However, they often overlooked the most beautiful aspects of this city.

If someone were willing to slow down their pace, like Hugo and Joseph, they would discover that the sky in New York was a hazy bright gray. The blue sky and dense clouds intertwined, and the towering skyscrapers divided the sky into bright gray grids, exuding a charm distinct from nature and other cities.