**Chapter 42: A New Beginning**

To be honest, even though the audience hadn't forgotten Anson, there was still a noticeable difference in enthusiasm. Not to mention Jennifer, even James couldn't match up.

Anson wasn't surprised by this, nor did he feel any regret or sadness. The gap in public recognition was evident, and he was no exception. Seeing those characters on TV or movie screens come to life up close brought a joy that broke the fourth wall and was impossible to resist.

For Anson, today's filming was a gift. He was standing under the lights, in front of the camera, bringing a character to life through his performance.

That alone was already incredible.

Now, Anson was starting to look forward to the show's airing. What would it feel like to see himself on the small screen?

And then.

That girl appeared.

Her emerald green eyes were bright and clear, and on her snow-white cheeks, you could clearly see a few adorable freckles scattered across her nose and face. Her lips, trembling slightly with excitement and nervousness, were almost devoid of color. Her shoulders and fingertips quivered uncontrollably.

Her hands were cold to the touch.

There was no need for words; her eyes, expressions, and movements had already said everything, even more vividly than words could. They conveyed a fervent excitement.

Anson was momentarily stunned—

This was different from all the other audience members before. She was looking at him the same way they looked at Jennifer.

Happiness.

In those slightly shimmering eyes, there was only happiness, a pure and simple emotion, displayed without any guard or pretense.

So this is what "admiration" feels like.

"What's your name?"

The girl spoke, impulsively blurting out the words. They were somewhat rash, blunt, and awkward, yet filled with sincerity.

It's not that the earlier audience members weren't sincere or enthusiastic—they too offered their praise: "You're really good," "Great performance," "Have a nice day," and so on. But gradually, it all boiled down to the same phrase, the same word, "handsome," repeated over and over, with a noticeable lack of vocabulary.

In contrast, the girl's words immediately opened up the situation, as if pushing open the door to a new world, revealing a completely different scene.

Even Anson was no exception. It wasn't until this moment that he realized that, in the public's eyes, he was still a completely unfamiliar, fresh face.

Asking this simplest, most basic introductory question meant that curiosity had been sparked. This was a beginning.

Unexpectedly, the girl who asked the question suddenly panicked, worried that she had caused trouble. Her face was full of fear, and the light in her eyes flickered violently.

"I, I'm Gloria Preston."

The girl nervously added, trying to make up for it by introducing herself, so as not to seem rude or reckless with her previous question.

Anson could feel the girl's hands trembling uncontrollably due to her nerves, the emotions of excitement and nervousness continuing to surge.

He, with a slight smile on his lips, responded earnestly.

"Very nice to meet you, Gloria Preston. I'm Wood, Anson Wood."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Gloria's heart finally started beating again, and fireworks exploded in her mind.

Beside her.

Jennifer overheard the conversation, took a moment to glance over, and gave Anson a wink, silently mouthing, "Well done."

The curve of Anson's lips broadened into a smile. He then stepped forward slightly, released his hands, and opened his arms to give the girl a hug.

"Hey, Gloria, thank you for brightening up this day."

Gloria had no idea how she left the set, feeling as if she were walking on clouds. Her steps were unsteady, swaying as she unconsciously followed the flow of people until she exited the studio and felt the sunlight warming her skin.

A gentle warmth.

Her feet touched the ground again, regaining her balance, and everything became real.

"Anson."

Gloria softly repeated the name, savoring the way the syllables danced between her lips and teeth.

"Anson Wood."

Perhaps that's how a spell works—ordinary words, but when repeated, they stir up emotions and quicken the heartbeat.

"Anson Wood!"

Again, and again.

Once more, and once more.

If it's not a magic spell, then why does it feel like she's soaring through the clouds? The joy and happiness are so overwhelming that she can't help but bask in the sunlight.

"Ah, ah, ah!"

Gloria suddenly dashed forward, plunging into the sunlight, uncontrollably sprinting to feel the rush of wind against her body.

Meanwhile, inside the studio.

The small meet-and-greet had finally come to an end. The audience had all left, and the noise and commotion gradually subsided, leaving the studio in a calm quiet.

Looking up, Jennifer Aniston was the first to notice the figure. "David, you haven't left yet?"

David Klein smiled but didn't answer Jennifer's question. "You must be eager to get off work. What, got a date with Brad?"

Jennifer knew the producer was teasing her, and she laughed heartily. "No, no time for that. We're in the middle of planning the wedding, and Jesus Christ, I had no idea how terrifying wedding planning could be. Now I finally understand why so many couples argue while planning their weddings."

David Klein lifted his chin slightly. "Argue more, so we can feel better about ourselves. Oh, so even Jennifer and Brad argue."

With that little jab, Jennifer burst out laughing again.

David Klein continued, "You should head out. Everyone else is already gone. If anything comes up, I'll contact your agent directly."

James had been wondering how to make his exit—

Meeting with the producer was like running into your boss at work. After hours, the last thing you want to do is talk shop. All James could think about was clocking out and getting away as fast as possible.

But then David Klein spoke up, "Anson, how about it? Do you have time for a quick chat?"

James breathed a long sigh of relief, clenched his fist in a silent victory, and quickly spoke up, "David, Anson, I'll leave you two to it. I'm heading out."

He barely said his goodbyes before quickly catching up to Jennifer and disappearing from sight.

David Klein didn't mind at all. He turned to Anson and said, "Congratulations. I noticed earlier that someone in the audience asked for your name—that's the beginning."

"In the beginning, we're all nobodies, nameless and unnoticed. It's not until someone starts caring that we truly begin to exist."

Simple, yet profound.

A word immediately popped into Anson's mind: "Spirited Away."

David Klein was puzzled. "What?"

Anson quickly remembered that "Spirited Away" wouldn't be released until next year. "Nothing. You didn't stick around just to test if I remembered your name, did you?"

David Klein burst out laughing. "Haha, that's a good idea. I might start doing pop quizzes on set."

"But no, that's not why I stayed."

"I wanted to ask how you'd feel about this—would you be interested in guest-starring in another episode of 'Friends' next week, reprising your role as Paul Stevens?"