**Chapter 177: Inspiration Emerges**

From "Friends" to "The Princess Diaries," the first lesson Anson learned was that what the eyes can see is often the most straightforward—

They can create an illusion.

So, how to use one's own advantages, how to skillfully convert strengths and weaknesses, and how to use visual effects to break the constraints of an image.

This became Anson's first step into a character.

If everyone forms a stereotype based on height and appearance, thinking that such an actor could never play a nerd or an oddball, then Anson could similarly use these stereotypes to create the image of a school outcast.

After all, in high school, there are all kinds of small cliques, each with its own style: the looks-oriented group, the athletes, the top students, the school bullies, and so on.

With just a few strokes, a three-dimensional image begins to take shape.

Sam, still with his eyes downcast, looked carefully at the equipment and books in front of him—no one could tell what he was thinking. These scattered fragments of impressions quietly merged with the fleeting image he caught in the morning at the café.

Then, Sam understood why seeing Anson earlier in the morning reminded him of Peter Parker.

A scholarly air.

Besides the youthful, sunny, low-key, and shy qualities, there was that restrained scholarly aura—unassuming, not sharp, like the refreshing boy next door.

However, Sam didn't rush to a conclusion.

"What about the skateboard?"

Sam asked.

To be precise, this was something Sam couldn't figure out himself:

For a nerdy outcast like Peter Parker, a skateboard seemed too flashy. But that morning, when he saw Anson leaving on a skateboard, there wasn't the slightest sense of discord; everything seemed natural and harmonious, blending perfectly with his mental image of Peter Parker.

Why was that?

According to traditional stereotypes, outcasts should be dull and gray, moving stealthily in the shadows of corners even when walking through the campus, as if they'd never appear under the sunlight or in the sight of anyone popular, like a shadow cast on the ground.

A skateboard?

Too conspicuous.

Anyway, Sam would never be seen on a skateboard.

Sam didn't understand why this seemed reasonable for Anson, so he directly voiced his question.

Anson didn't quite grasp Sam's confusion—he wasn't a mind reader. But when it came to choosing a skateboard, Anson had his own reasoning.

"For a high school student, what truly grabs attention is a car. The moment anyone turns sixteen, if their family can buy them a car, they become the king of the school."

Everyone present nodded, as they all had similar experiences, and Anson's words immediately brought back memories of their high school days.

The slightly chubby woman smiled, saying, "A car is more useful than a pretty face."

Anson also smiled and continued.

"But obviously, Peter Parker couldn't afford one."

"Not just a car, he couldn't even afford a bicycle. So, he chose a skateboard, using it to cruise around the city, observing life in its corners."

Ian slightly raised his chin, showing an expression of understanding, as if he was convinced by Anson.

But Sam wasn't.

"No," Sam said. "He would choose the bus or the subway."

A simple statement, but Sam seemed very certain.

The atmosphere grew a bit tense.

Ian began, "Sam…"

But Sam ignored Ian and continued speaking.

"He's not good at sports."

"At least not before being bitten by the spider. He was not just bad, but terrible, which was one of the reasons the school bullies picked on him."

"Weak, pale, malnourished."

"That's probably why you put on so many layers of clothes, to hide your physique. Clearly, you considered this, but choosing a skateboard is contradictory."

His words were sharp and precise.

Ian was a bit stunned.

The slightly chubby woman smiled again, her face showing amusement.

Sam, unaware that his words had tightened the atmosphere, lifted his head and looked at Anson.

Finally, Sam's half-awake eyes met Anson's, as if waiting for a response.

Anson was momentarily taken aback, then his smile slowly lifted, "Sorry, I didn't think that through."

This was the truth, and there was no need to deny it—

Anson was still lacking in experience.

This audition, from yesterday to today, happened within twenty-four hours. Sony Columbia set traps in different places; from Edgar to Anson, they had to process a lot of information and establish a direction for the audition. Rushing through it, mistakes were inevitable.

However, from past experience, making mistakes was bad, very bad—no one wanted to make mistakes. But in reality, mistakes are unavoidable. So, making a mistake isn't the problem; facing it head-on and thinking of a solution is the right approach. Constantly denying mistakes or shifting blame only makes things worse.

Moreover, standing before him were the director and producer, whose understanding and vision of the script were undoubtedly more comprehensive than Anson's.

Making mistakes wasn't a big deal.

Anson faced it calmly.

Sam observed the clear and bright look in Anson's eyes for a moment, then another moment, before he was the one to look away, lowering his eyelids.

"It's normal," he said.

"Making mistakes is normal. If you had covered everything perfectly, I would've almost suspected you had read the script in advance."

Ironically, this mistake made Sam appreciate Anson even more—

Mainly because he admired Anson's attitude toward the mistake.

From their interaction so far, it seemed that Anson was a grounded person, willing to admit what he knew and didn't know, and even if he made a mistake, he faced it openly.

The sincerity in his eyes matched his actions.

Moreover, it was evident that Anson had thoroughly and deeply studied the character, closely aligning with Sam's vision of Peter Parker.

Is that a good thing?

Sam was still a bit hesitant about Anson's appearance. He murmured, "After being bitten by the spider, it would make sense for Peter Parker to carry a skateboard around."

Although Sam had just contradicted Anson, he couldn't forget the scene from the morning—

Anson, with his skateboard, casually rescuing the situation and then turning to leave on the skateboard.

This small action left a deep impression on his mind.

After muttering to himself, Sam didn't wait for a response and turned to head back to his seat, "We can start testing the script now."

Yes, the script performance.

Everyone had almost forgotten about this, as Sam's sudden action had derailed the audition, leading their memories astray; in the end, it was Sam who brought them back on track.

Ian glanced at the table full of books and supplies, couldn't help but laugh, and pulled out a page of the script, handing it to Anson.

"You have thirty seconds to skim through the script, and then give us a performance. That's it."

Thirty seconds?

Are we in a rush to eat or something?

But Anson didn't voice his thoughts and instead gestured toward the table, "Should I clean this up first?"

Ian noticed the look in Anson's eyes and understood, a knowing smile appearing on his face, "Sure, go ahead and clean it up, but make it quick."

As Anson tidied up, he kept the script page by his side, quickly scanning it with a ten-line glance.