## Chapter 42: Hollywood Director

Clap clap clap!

"Well said! You're so eloquent, you shouldn't be a boxer, you should be a lawyer or a politician."

Emma Watson clapped and teased.

"Thank you for the compliment!"

Link rubbed her hair, but the girl slapped his hand away in annoyance and pulled his arm for a hug.

"Link, come out for a second, someone is looking for you."

Just as Link sat down, ready to watch the variety show with Emma in his arms, James shouted from outside.

"Who's looking for me? If it's a reporter, tell them to go to West Boxing Gym. We don't entertain reporters here."

"Come out first."

James urged.

Link shook his head, reluctantly letting go of the soft Miss Emma, and went to the front of the shop, only to see the chubby James alone, no one else.

Seeing him come out, James threw down the "Playboy" magazine and pulled him towards the door.

"Who's looking for me?"

"Me!"

James pulled his arm to the door, looked back at the living room, and lowered his voice. "Why are you hugging Emma Watson?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Big problem."

James nodded heavily, a worried look on his face. "Last time it was Taylor, this time it's the even more famous Emma Watson. Why do you always like to hang out with celebrities? The magazines say that their underwear costs thousands of dollars, and a piece of jewelry costs tens of thousands. Where do you get so much money to play with them?"

Link glanced at him. "You read fashion magazines all day, and all you remember is the price of underwear?"

James was stunned for a moment, then said with a sullen face, "Don't joke around, let's be serious. I told you, we're ordinary people, it's most suitable to find an ordinary girl to date and marry. Don't mess with those celebrities, their lives are too extravagant, you simply can't afford it."

Link shook his head and patted his shoulder. "James, look at my face, my figure, my muscles. Which part of me looks like an ordinary person?"

James blinked his small eyes and looked him up and down. "They all look like it!"

Link pushed him away, not wanting to persuade him anymore. He was about to go back inside when Michael from the surfboard shop waved at him from the beach. Beside him stood a middle-aged man with a camera. Link waved back and asked James to stay outside to block the reporters.

"Link, wait, Mr. Herrick has something for you."

Michael shouted.

"Michael, I'm busy today and not accepting interviews. If Mr. Herrick wants to interview me, please make an appointment at West Boxing Gym first."

Link said.

"Link, Mr. Herrick is not a reporter, he's a director."

Michael ran over excitedly. "Mr. Herrick is really a director. Have you seen '101 Dalmatians'? 'Mr. Holland's Opus'? And 'Man of the House' starring Tommy Lee Jones? They were all directed by Mr. Herrick."

A director?

Link had seen "101 Dalmatians," which was about a dog lover and a fashion designer. It was a comedy and quite good.

But what did a famous director want with him?

To make a boxing movie?

Link was a little confused.

Before he could think further, Michael excitedly told him the answer.

Contrary to his imagination, Mr. Herrick wasn't here to ask him to make a movie, but to find a skilled diver to take him to the surrounding islands and coral reefs.

"Link, have you seen 'Into the Blue' starring Jessica Alba? Jessica's figure is so hot. Columbia Pictures is preparing a sequel, and Mr. Herrick is the director of the sequel. He's looking for filming locations for the new movie, and he thinks our place is great. He even promised to let me play a small role in it."

Michael was so excited that he was dancing.

Link shook his head. He had thought that his outstanding performance in the boxing ring had attracted the attention of Hollywood directors, making them come to him personally to seek cooperation.

Now it seemed that he had thought too much.

The director named Herrick came over, a man in his forties or fifties, wearing a white collared T-shirt and a green vest with many pockets. He had red skin, a square face, big ears, and a white beard. Looking closely, his attire was indeed very different from the reporters.

Michael introduced the two, telling Herrick in an exaggerated tone that Link's diving skills were superb, comparable to those of Olympic athletes.

Director Herrick didn't comment.

He told Link that he wanted to visit the nearby islands and asked if there were any beautiful coral reefs or thrilling reefs nearby. "Into the Blue 2" would continue the style of the first film, shooting scenes of sunshine, beautiful women, handsome men, beaches, reefs, and coral reefs.

Link didn't know what the other party's standards were, nor did he over-describe the surrounding attractions. He simply explained the distribution and characteristics of the nearby underwater coral reefs and reefs, leaving it to Herrick to judge whether they were beautiful or not.

Director Herrick expressed his desire to go and see them and asked Link to lead the way, promising to pay him.

Link returned to the shop and informed Emma, asking James to find a suitable diving suit for Director Herrick to change into.

Then he drove the speedboat, taking him to visit the nearby islands, reefs, coral reefs, lighthouses, and other attractions, taking pictures along the way.

It took more than four hours.

Baker's small shop had relatively high charges. The diving equipment cost $200 per day, the diver guide service was $200 per half hour, and the speedboat transfer service was $100 per trip, with an additional $200 per hour for anything over an hour.

This business could earn the shop $2,000, making it the most profitable one in recent times.

However, after coming ashore, Director Herrick kept staring at him with a strange look.

"Mr. Herrick, is something wrong?"

Link asked as he put away the diving equipment.

Director Herrick sat on the deck, looked at him, and smiled. "Earlier, Michael praised your diving skills as world-class, but I didn't believe it. I didn't think a small beach shop would have any diving experts. Now I believe it. Your diving skills are excellent, few people can match you."

"Thank you!"

Link smiled slightly, declined the cigarette offered by the other party, and handed him a bottle of mineral water.

"Link, your image is outstanding, even among Hollywood actors, you're at the top level. Have you ever considered developing your career in Hollywood?"

Director Herrick said while smoking.

"Can you be an actor just because you look good?"

"Haha, not before. In the past, people considered movies as art and cared more about the actors' acting skills. Without acting skills, you would starve to death in Hollywood."

"But it's different now. Movies are just entertainment. People watch them and have a laugh. They don't need superb acting skills, just good looks."

"Beautiful actors are easier to catch the audience's eyes than those with good acting skills. This is the reality of the entertainment industry."

Director Herrick shrugged, his expression a little melancholic.

"Sounds good, I'll consider it."

Herrick laughed and gave him a business card, also asking for his contact information, saying that he would introduce him to suitable roles if there were any.

(End of Chapter)