Brushing past

Renly wouldn't deny his disappointment. The faint tinge of letdown that surged within him allowed his emotions to gradually settle. He had been moved—there was no denying it. The recent kiss had been sweet and intimate, passionate and surging. The fluttering in the depths of his heart danced wildly, and every cell in his body was screaming. It had been an incredibly beautiful moment. But suddenly, Felicity's rejection sounded in his ears, a fact that brought an undeniable pang of disappointment.

Yet he also knew that this kind of excitement could be deceptive. Maybe it was genuine, perhaps it was false. It could be Jacob's fascination for Anna or Renly's fascination for Felicity. It might just be a momentary impulse, or it might evolve into lasting affection. Time alone could confirm it. But that was the allure of acting itself—navigating between reality and illusion.

He was far from being a master of acting now, still in the phase of exploring through his own efforts. He couldn't control his emotions skillfully, nor could he freely switch between the channels of performance. After "Buried Alive," he had struggled to detach from the role for a long time, so he had taken up rock climbing to divert his attention. Now, with "Like Crazy", it was the same.

Perhaps, this was a good thing. It at least proved that both of them were accomplished actors.

As for the internal disappointment, it was simply a missed opportunity.

Renly was somewhat relieved. He was glad that Felicity had spoken up before things could develop any further, circling back to square one. Before emotions grew more intense, before impulses became more reckless, before feelings were completely lost. He didn't like being the third wheel, nor did he want to be involved in that kind of situation.

However, today was only the first day of shooting for "Like Crazy". They would continue to work together in the future. If he made a big deal out of this incident, it would only hinder their cooperation. So, Renly chose the simplest approach—neither evading nor emphasizing, just brushing it aside with a humorous touch.

Undoubtedly, this method worked. The ambiguous atmosphere between them dispersed, but the awkward and tentative emotions were gradually settling down. Although they didn't notice, their steps had unknowingly put a considerable distance between them, unintentionally becoming so. The warmth of their lips and the chaos in their minds still caused a sense of estrangement in their subconscious minds. But at least, they were talking again. That was a good thing.

Smiles exchanged, an unspoken understanding gently emerged. However, Renly was the first to avert his gaze, looking straight ahead. Felicity also withdrew her gaze, observing the busy crew members running ahead, leaving them both far behind. As if they hadn't noticed the little incident just now, as if they hadn't noticed the ups and downs that had transpired in the blink of an eye.

"Is that the person you confessed to?" Renly spoke again, breaking the silence and dispelling the tranquil night and the ambiguity that had lingered like tide.

Felicity was momentarily taken aback, her brain not immediately processing the context. After a moment of careful thought, she realized Renly was referring to their conversation that afternoon at Oxford University, when she had confessed to someone. Renly actually remembered. "Yes, that's him." It was her own genuine experience, not Anna's.

"He's a lucky guy," Renly spoke again, his eyes carrying a warm smile. Then, he turned away, resuming his stride and walking ahead.

Felicity paused her steps and then quickly caught up, not knowing what to say. She subconsciously apologized, "I'm sorry."

"No, there's no need to apologize," Renly chuckled. His cello-like voice resonated within his chest. "I think it's a good thing. It shows that both of us are dedicated actors. I believe that when the movie is released, the audience will be moved. Everything that just happened is simply an extension of the film, isn't it?"

A day of intimacy, a day of gradual closeness, a day of exchanging thoughts. As they bid farewell, Jacob and Anna lingered reluctantly by the doorstep... Everything flowed so naturally. However, Drake's camera hadn't revealed what happened next. It didn't show whether they kissed, whether Jacob returned to Anna's upstairs or left, or whether they confessed again. The abrupt ending left the audience to imagine.

So, was it logical that Jacob and Anna, in the late-night street, were sharing a kiss? Did it mean that what had just happened was not Felicity and Renly, but Jacob and Anna?

Thoughts surged, and Felicity could feel the warmth returning to her lips. She subconsciously lifted her fingertips, as if to touch them. But as she raised her right hand, realization hit her. She hurriedly lowered her hand, clenching her fist tightly.

Seeing Felicity, bashful yet bold, flustered yet resolute, Renly lowered his gaze, masking his emotions, and shifted his eyes to the crew members ahead. "What's his name?"

"Who?" Felicity's heart was beating rapidly, seemingly drawing her closer to Renly step by step. But her rational mind held her back, and she silently repeated to herself: It's just Anna messing with my thoughts, nothing more; it's just a continuation of the movie, only that.

"The lucky gentleman," Renly said with a light laugh, a sense of calm returning to his heart, and a hint of ease in his words. "Today is just the first day of shooting for the film. We'll need to work together for some time to come. So, I think I need to give myself a little warning. Otherwise, if someone comes knocking next time and I'm clueless about what happened, that's the last thing I want to see."

His semi-joking remark eased Felicity's tension once again. She chuckled softly, as Renly always managed to do—infusing humor into the situation effortlessly. "Rest assured, he's a pacifist, and I'm sure he can't beat you." Felicity's eyebrows relaxed, and her tense emotions gradually unwound. "Ed, his name is Ed."

Yes, all the emotions from earlier were just a continuation of Anna's perspective. Now, fully awake, everything became clear. Felicity folded her hands behind her back, and the chaotic emotions gradually settled. Her overheated mind cooled down.

"That's enough. I don't need any more information. Otherwise, things will start getting strange."

"It wasn't strange originally. It's just your saying so that makes it strange, okay?"

"Thoughts are strange, and naturally, things appear strange too. I'm perfectly normal, so that means..."

"Hey, Renly Hall! Don't confuse the issue!"

"Renly? Aren't you Jacob now? So, are you Felicity now? Then why have you been following me? We just met today, didn't we?"

"Are you sure you're not the one following me?"

...

The flirtatious atmosphere blended with awkward hesitance dissipated amid laughter and merry voices. The kiss remained forever on that dark street, as if it had never occurred; the cold moonlight spread through the slightly humid air. The scorching temperature gradually cooled down, returning to tranquility. It was like a calm, frigid pool after a boiling surge, the unruffled surface showing no signs of disturbance.

Renly and Felicity quickened their steps to catch up with the crew members. Renly raised his voice, "Drake, are we on our way to have late-night snacks or heading back?"

"Late-night snacks? Renly, have you lost your mind? Actresses eating late-night snacks is practically suicide! How could we possibly have late-night snacks?" Jennifer's sharp voice left no room for mercy. Another female actress, part of the Felicity alliance, chimed in, "Men are all the same, completely oblivious to the struggles we actresses face."

"...Drake, then I'm heading home. My place is in the opposite direction."

"Asshole! The worst!" Curses echoed.

The wide, empty streets of Los Angeles in the early morning were adorned with a sky full of stars, serving as the backdrop. It felt as if one could embrace the entire world by simply spreading their arms. A group of young dreamers, carrying their aspirations for the film industry, marched forward with resolute steps—one step, one footprint.

The crew of "Like Crazy" set sail smoothly, with no grand opening ceremony, no noisy media interviews, not even a formal announcement of the start of filming. It quietly commenced, and calmly immersed itself in the production process.

With a production budget of only $250,000, this crew didn't draw any attention in the vast expanse of Hollywood. Dozens or even hundreds of similar crews could be found starting filming every day, but maybe less than one percent of those works had a chance to make it to the big screen.

So, even for someone like Renly, who had garnered considerable attention in Toronto and Telluride, he failed to attract the media's gaze. Not to mention that "Winter's Bone" had premiered at Sundance eight months prior, and Jennifer's aura wasn't sufficient to excite reporters.

Moreover, Hollywood was always brimming with news. Gossip and rumors were in abundance. The Natalie rumors in Toronto hadn't progressed further, and the internal strife within the cast of "Fast 5" was enough to get reporters excited. Not to mention that the curtain had already been raised on award season, the annual spectacle was once again underway.

Who would pay attention to a small crew like "Like Crazy"?

However, this allowed the crew to wholeheartedly focus on their work, to immerse themselves in filming. That was a good thing.

Likewise, it was a good thing for Andy Rogers. Everything was proceeding according to plan. Renly was gradually approaching the "Fast 5" crew. Yet, he needed Dwayne Johnson to hold on a bit longer. Even if "Fast 5" ultimately chose Renly, if he, who was currently busy filming "Like Crazy", didn't have enough availability, it was very likely that other aspiring actors would benefit in this cutthroat Hollywood. Competitors were lurking everywhere.

So, Andy sincerely prayed, "Dwayne, please hold on a little longer."