**Chapter 257: Training Partners**

After a moment's hesitation, Anson spoke up, "This is why the martial arts school requires us to practice the horse stance."

Matt looked at Anson with a puzzled expression.

Anson continued to explain.

"To calm your mind, return to simplicity, and slowly hone your skills from the basics."

"In martial arts, a stable lower body is crucial because most of the power comes from the lower limbs. If your stance isn't stable, then all the techniques and moves are just for show."

"Unfortunately, very few people are willing to be patient. Everyone wants quick results—to become a martial arts master in thirty days, a grandmaster in three months."

Anson glanced at Matt. "So, they just want to see if you have the patience and perseverance."

As Anson observed Matt, Matt was also observing Anson—

In recent months, there had been a lot of rumors about Anson in Hollywood.

But that wasn't surprising. In this small and flashy world of fame, overnight success stories are common, and the important thing isn't becoming famous, but how you continue after achieving fame.

Matt wasn't surprised to see Anson in the martial arts school. No matter what role Anson had landed, it was common practice for production teams to arrange training for the actors.

Up until now, Matt had noticed a natural ease and composure in Anson, which suggested that he wasn't just learning for the sake of it, but genuinely experiencing and even starting to enjoy the process. This kind of patience and steadiness was a rare quality in Hollywood.

At first, Matt hadn't treated Anson any differently. Kindness and simplicity were part of his nature, and he was the same with everyone, even if Anson was a fellow Hollywood actor.

But now, his perspective had slightly shifted.

Curious, Matt asked, "And what about you? Do you enjoy this time of learning?"

"No." Anson's response was straightforward, with no hesitation.

Matt was taken aback, not expecting such an answer.

Anson continued, "You should see my posture right now and imagine the muscle soreness I'll feel tonight when I get home—unable to sit, stand, or lie down comfortably. It all looks great, but in practice, it requires sweat and tears. Who would enjoy that?"

Matt couldn't help but burst into laughter, slapping his thigh heavily, only to wince and clutch his knees in pain the next second.

Anson maintained his stance, "But I do like this time."

Not enjoy, but like.

What kind of reasoning was that?

Matt's interest was piqued. "Why?"

Anson's lips curled slightly. "Because all of this is real. You can clearly feel that you're grasping every second of life, burning it to the fullest."

The world of fame is dazzling and splendid, but how much of it is truly real?

Just like the Emmy Awards ceremony.

The glamour, the crowds, the laughter, and toasts at the after-party—yet, when you return home, it's eerily quiet and cold.

So, those cheers, applause, and lights—how much of it is real?

Compared to this newcomer, Matt's understanding of Anson's words was more vivid and direct, and he immediately grasped the deeper meaning.

A smile lingered at the corner of his lips.

Involuntarily, Matt looked at Anson again—

Logically, Anson should be at the peak of his career right now. The Emmy Awards had just concluded, and he'd landed a new role in a new project. For an eighteen-year-old, the vast world and bright future were laid out at his feet, making it hard not to be a bit cocky.

But to Matt's surprise, Anson showed such wisdom.

Anson seemed to notice Matt's gaze and calmly looked back, completely composed. "Please don't idolize me; it might lead to some misunderstandings and put a lot of pressure on me. After all, you're Matt Damon."

Like a cult leader?

One second, two seconds.

Matt finally caught on to the underlying message in Anson's words, and he couldn't hold back his laughter. It wasn't polite or forced; it was a genuine, carefree laugh, showing that he had fully relaxed.

In fact, once they reached a certain level in the entertainment industry, it became difficult to make new friends. Everyone who approached them often had some kind of agenda, trying to benefit from their fame.

Though Matt wasn't as extreme as Leonardo DiCaprio, who completely shut himself off and refused any potential friendships, he hadn't made many new friends since becoming famous.

Maybe today, there was an unexpected gain.

Matt shrugged lightly, his face serious. "Indeed, I am Matt Damon, but I'm not Ben Affleck."

Compared to Matt, the charming and flamboyant Ben Affleck was far more outgoing.

If Ben Affleck were to "idolize" Anson, the scale of the misunderstanding would be much larger, and that would indeed be a real disaster.

A smile reached Matt's eyebrows.

Without further hesitation or thought, Matt struggled to his feet, took a couple of deep breaths to adjust himself, and then resumed his horse stance.

Matt glanced at Nick. "Start timing from now—thirty minutes. I'm telling you, I'll do it. When I say something, I mean it. I'm..."

But as he spoke and tried to settle into the horse stance, his breath faltered, his knees weakened, and he plopped down again before even beginning.

Wide-eyed, Matt couldn't understand, "What happened? How is that possible?"

His awkward appearance made Anson burst out laughing. "Don't talk. Focus."

Matt looked at Anson. "What about you?"

Anson had been talking, hadn't he?

Nick finally stepped in, "If you practiced for two months and found the right technique, then you could too."

Matt responded, "Oh, so you're saying I'm just too weak, right?"

Who knew Matt had such a good sense of humor?

Anson couldn't help but think of Matt's friendship with Jimmy Kimmel. The talk show host often made fun of Matt on his show, to the point where the audience couldn't tell if it was real or not.

But in reality, Matt and Jimmy were very close friends, their bond strong enough that even their public jabs at each other didn't affect their friendship.

Supporting himself on the ground, using both hands and feet, Matt managed to stand up again. "Alright, I'll start now. So, thirty minutes?"

"Or should I go longer? If I do it for an hour, will I improve faster?"

Anson's lips curled up. "No. Like with fitness, it's important to be consistent, moderate, and progressive. Rushing it might lead to unnecessary injuries. Besides, this is just one of the basics. There's no need to spend all your time on this; it's not a competition."

Matt nodded slightly to show he understood. "Alright, I'll watch you and follow your lead. We're partners now."

With that, Matt didn't wait for Anson's surprised reaction. He stopped talking, took a deep breath, put on a serious face, and resumed the horse stance.

This time, he wasn't in a rush or anxious. More importantly, he wasn't trying to show off. Plus, his earlier practice had given him some insight, so Matt was noticeably more stable now. You could see that his time training in boxing hadn't been wasted; he wasn't just all show.

And Anson?

A smile appeared in his eyes: Partners? Is this what counts as being partners now?