**Chapter 250: The Art of Hospitality**

No matter what, Hollywood has always been an appearance-driven industry. Just as women have their own set of limitations, men face their own challenges:

Height.

Actors like Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon often face restrictions when choosing roles due to their height.

Since his first attempt at acting in 1988, Matt has repeatedly played the "scholarly" type—shy, introverted, slender, from a poor background but with high aspirations.

From "School Ties" to "The Rainmaker" to "The Talented Mr. Ripley," it's always been the same. In "Good Will Hunting," which he co-wrote with Ben Affleck, Matt even played a genius mathematician working as a janitor. Even his memorable role in "Saving Private Ryan" was no exception.

Of course, being from Boston, there's a small tight-knit group in Hollywood known as the "Boston Mafia," where they help each other out. Thanks to this, Matt and Ben's careers have developed smoothly, and even when they faced setbacks, they continued to get opportunities without much worry.

However, Matt has always been thinking about how to break his own typecasting and broaden his range of roles. Only by doing so could he extend his career as an actor.

Today, Matt was standing at the entrance of a martial arts academy, and the answer was clear—

Shhh!

But without needing to ask, An Sen could already guess that the project Matt was preparing for was a film series that would completely change his career.

"The Bourne Identity."

Before the series was released, Matt was already an A-list Hollywood star, with box office hits, Oscar-nominated films, and collaborations with top directors and actors. He also had a wide network of friends and connections, making his career undoubtedly impressive.

Even so, it wasn't until "The Bourne Identity" that Matt truly became a superstar. The film proved that he could carry a movie on his own and, most importantly, break free from the "bookish" image that had been associated with him. It showed that he had much more to offer, solidifying his place at the top of Hollywood's pyramid.

A brief exchange, a few questions, and thoughts surged through An Sen's mind.

But on the surface, An Sen remained calm. "As for martial arts academies, from what I know, there are three in this area. The one in front of us is 'Ye Martial Arts Academy.' Is this the one you're looking for?"

Matt said, "I'm not sure..." and turned to Nick.

Nick quickly nodded, "Yes, this is the one."

An Sen made a gesture inviting Matt and Nick to go ahead.

The three of them climbed the stairs to the second floor, where a spacious area came into view.

On the right side were bright windows, on the left was a wall-length mirror, and in the middle were two wooden dummies. Other than that, the room was empty.

Though simple, when Matt saw the wooden dummies, his eyes immediately lit up. "Bruce Lee! Hey, Bruce Lee!"

Nick gave a helpless smile and shook his head slightly. "Chinese martial arts are vast and profound. It's not just about Bruce Lee."

An Sen was slightly surprised—

--

"Don't talk about now; even ten years from now, when the online world has matured and information exchange has become increasingly convenient, the East will still be mysterious and full of unresolved unknowns in the eyes of Westerners. So, what about the present?

Eastern culture is diverse and rich; they are merely peeking through a small window and cannot fully grasp the vivid and lively details within. Perhaps the only thing they can confirm is the power of Chinese martial arts.

It is precisely for this reason that the spread of art becomes an important channel, allowing people to acquire information from life and explore the corners of the world.

For the average person, Chinese martial arts are often equated directly with actors. In the past, it was Bruce Lee, and now it's Jackie Chan. Matt is a typical example of this.

Little did they expect that Nick actually knew a thing or two.

Could he really be with the FBI?

Nick noticed Anson's scrutinizing gaze and flashed a confident smile. 'Sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? Nick Powell, martial arts choreographer.'

Anson showed a look of realization, as many things suddenly made sense.

Anson didn't know much about martial arts choreographers because they mostly work behind the scenes, rarely getting a chance to appear or receive recognition. In fact, the Nick Powell before him is quite a figure in Hollywood.

Nick has been active in the industry for nearly twenty years. His most famous works include the 'Mummy' series and this summer's blockbuster, 'Gladiator,' and 'X-Men.'

Of course, for Anson, who grew up watching Chinese martial arts films, the martial arts choreography in Hollywood action films lacks novelty and appeal, even including the later highly praised 'John Wick' series, which he found underwhelming.

But from another perspective, the definition of action films differs across markets, and naturally, the routines designed by martial arts choreographers also vary.

After a brief self-introduction, Nick looked at Anson, his eyes naturally revealing a sense of confidence—not in contempt of Anson, but in his own professional skills, unconsciously adopting the attitude of an expert scrutinizing a layman. 'I'm a bit surprised; you seem to know a bit about martial arts?'

Anson didn't mind. Rather than flaunting his skills, playing the role of the unassuming expert seemed more fitting for the current scene.

Anson responded with a smile, humbly saying, 'Just a little.'

Meanwhile, Matt could no longer contain himself.

He rushed forward and circled the wooden dummy as if he had discovered a time machine, his eyes darting around with uncontrollable excitement.

'Can I give it a try?'

'How does this work? Is there a routine to follow, or can I just hit it?'

'I've seen in movies that Bruce and Jackie perform all sorts of dazzling moves. Can those be achieved through practice?'

'Anson, do you know how?'

'Can I try it?'

Looking like a normally honest and shy person, Matt was rarely seen so excited.

Anson was just about to remind Matt that there were rules in the martial arts school when two figures in cloth shoes appeared with welcoming smiles, their eyes squinting into a line.

'Welcome, welcome to Ye's Martial Arts School. How can we assist you?'

As they spoke, they glanced at Anson.

Anson touched his nose, obediently standing aside, bowing his head to hide his slightly upturned lips.

The newcomers were one tall and one short, one fat and one thin. As they stood there, their contrasting body types naturally created a sense of humor. Combined with their Buddha-like kindly smiles, the atmosphere lightened, and everyone's lips couldn't help but curl up.

But upon closer listening, there was a sharpness hidden in their cheerful words.

'If you're here to learn, you can start by squatting in the corner.'

The speaker, the thin man, gestured to the corner as the hefty man signaled with his hand, providing a seamless explanation. Their coordination was so smooth that it seemed a waste they weren't doing a comedy routine.

'If you're here to visit friends, there's a waiting area by the entrance with snacks and Tieguanyin tea.'

'If you're here to inquire about information…'

The thin man paused, his gaze shifting between Nick and Matt, politely inquiring with his eyes, that smile on his face as warm as ever.

But that was the problem—the smile was too warm, to the point of being overdone.

Moreover, both the thin and hefty men simultaneously directed their smiling gazes at Nick and Matt, staring unblinkingly, which made the situation somewhat unsettling.

A sense of pressure could be felt without explanation.

Clearly, there was more to their words.

This kind of hospitality was indeed different from what they had expected.

First chapter."

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