Passing by

Nicholas' interview delayed the operations for thirty minutes, causing the shooting schedule of the crew to be pushed back. However, this was the first press interview after the start of "Scent of a Woman", so it was not a problem to delay by a little. Not only the two main actors, Al and Hugo, but also the main creators including Martin and Bo were interviewed briefly. This could be said to be the first wave of promotion for the movie.

Due to the delay in the interview, the scene being filmed at the Pierre Hotel continued until ten o'clock at night, and Martin finally shouted "wrap".

Hugo followed most of the staff back to the Waldorf Hotel. Al looked at Hugo and everyone chatting and laughing, standing next to him curiously. Hugo thought there was something wrong with himself and asked, "What's up?"

"You're twenty-three this year?" Al asked an unrelated question uncertainly instead of answering Hugo's question.

"Twenty-five." Hugo replied. This was the fastest thing he accepted after crossing over. He was this age before crossing, and he still was like that now as well. This made his psychological adaptation smooth.

"Young people," Al's words made Hugo laugh. But in front of Al, he was indeed just a child. "At your age, shouldn't you be out playing? New York is a city that never sleeps. The nightlife in Gotham is colorful. If you stay in the hotel, you won't be able to experience the unknown charm."

Hugo finally understood that Al thought he would come back to the hotel after shooting. He didn't look like a young man who loves to play. "Actually, my heart is already in Greenwich Village. You know, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy life throughout the year, but work opportunities don't appear every day."

If Hugo really wanted to play, he still had plenty of time after shooting "Scent of a Woman". There was no need to rush. It was work time now, and since it was work, he should be fully committed. Play hard when it's time to play, work hard when it's time to work, that's the right way.

"Besides, Martin has always instructed us to gather at seven tomorrow morning, right? I don't want to be sleep-deprived and snoring on set during the shoot." Hugo said with a smile. This relaxed tone made Al laugh too.

"If you dare to fall asleep during the shoot, I will be the first one to get you." Al pretended to be fierce, but it had no effect, causing Hugo to burst into laughter.

The elevator stopped on the twenty-third floor, where Hugo, Joseph, and others lived. They filed out, while Al, Martin, and others stayed in the luxurious suite upstairs, which was being used as a filming location. They would need to take the elevator again later. Hugo bid the staff goodnight and then walked with Joseph towards the end of the hallway.

At that moment, a room door in front of them opened, and a man and a woman walked out. They didn't seem particularly close, just like ordinary friends. However, the fact that they left a hotel room together suggested something suspicious. Hugo didn't intend to stare at them, as it was their private life, but he noticed Joseph's eyes drifting towards them. He thought maybe Joseph knew them, so he subconsciously looked over too.

The man in front of them was a completely unfamiliar face, with a neat short haircut, and looked around forty years old. He wore a sharp iron-grey suit, which highlighted his successful demeanor.

Standing next to him, the woman wore a black work suit with a white shirt, matching suit pants, and finally a long black coat. Her concise and neat outfit outlined her mature and competent temperament, and although she wore a suit, her impressive curves were still visible. One could clearly see the buttons on her shirt stretching tight. Compared to her appearance, her face wasn't particularly stunning. Her ordinary features, however, had a unique charm due to the coquettishness carved into her eyebrows.

This woman vividly illustrated the concept of "presence outweighs appearance". Her individual features alone were not outstanding, but the whole person standing there easily attracted people's attention. Moreover, the man fittingly complimented her on being a beauty, not out of politeness but because it was a fact.

The key point was that Hugo knew this woman, and his previous self must have been even more familiar with her, Tracey Jacobs.

Hugo had never expected this scenario, although he knew exactly who Tracey was. The failed audition for "A River Runs Through It" had many reasons, but Hugo's doomed fate before the audition was all due to Tracey. Hugo had seen Tracey once before the "A River Runs Through It" audition, seeing her and Brad on the fifth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. But at that time, Hugo didn't know the relationship between his previous self and Tracey, so today was the first real meeting between Hugo and Tracey.

Unexpectedly, Hugo saw Tracey again at the hotel, leaving a room with a man. Whatever they did in the room, such a coincidence was too embarrassing and led people to wild thoughts. But this time was different; Hugo took a good look at Tracey.

Tracey was seven years older than Hugo, and the physical differences between Western women made this age difference seem infinitely greater. However, Tracey's special temperament cleverly concealed this fact, making her look like she had no signs of aging at all. Hugo couldn't help but wonder whether he was with Tracey purely for the sake of benefits or if he had truly given his heart. He remembered the meaningful glance Tracey gave him the last time they met on the fifth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel.

Tracey also saw Hugo and Joseph fifteen yards away from her. She wasn't familiar with Joseph, but she was more familiar with Ron Meyer. Tracey took a detailed look at Hugo and had to admit that he had recovered very well - she knew that Hugo used to use drugs, but now he looked vibrant and full of life. Hugo was already a handsome young man, but at this moment, he looked like a pine tree, gentle and lustrous, making it difficult for people to look away.

However, Tracey's gaze only stayed on Hugo for a moment before she withdrew it as if nothing had happened. The man standing next to her asked in a low voice, and Tracey chuckled and nodded, saying, "But that's all in the past." The girl's voice was higher, so it was clearer, but the man's voice was deeper, so it was unclear and impossible to hear.

Joseph looked at Hugo with some concern, as if he was worried that Hugo would have an extreme reaction. But Hugo's behavior was unexpected - he just sneered, and then looked back at Joseph, continuing the conversation, "I don't think Nicholas had much malice today..."

Joseph was stunned for a moment, then followed Hugo's pace and continued walking forward.

At the same time, Tracey and the man also walked steadily towards them, as if they were going to take the elevator. The two of them talked and laughed, although not loudly or intimately, but the atmosphere of their conversation was very pleasant.

The two groups of people got closer and closer until they passed by each other shoulder to shoulder. Tracey used the corner of her eye to glance at Hugo, but found that he was still indifferent and had no reaction at all. But Tracey immediately brought her attention back, and continued walking forward without any pause. Then the two groups of people passed by each other without any conversation, pause, or even eye contact, as if they were complete strangers.

Hugo recalled Tracey's complicated gaze from the last time she looked at him. Today, however, it was different. Tracey looked at him as if he were a complete stranger, even with a hint of disdain. Hugo couldn't help but sigh. He didn't know what had happened between his previous self and Tracey, so he couldn't make any judgments. However, based on the information he currently knew, he couldn't help but feel that Tracey had abandoned his previous self. The reason could be that his previous self had failed three consecutive works, either giving up on himself or Tracey thinking that his previous self had no future, resulting in a falling out.

With an exploratory mentality, Hugo turned around and saw that Tracey had indeed not looked back, and had disappeared steadily at the end of the corridor.

Joseph watched this action from Hugo and shook his head slightly. Hugo's subsequent question deepened Joseph's thoughts.

"So, who was that man just now?" Hugo's question made Joseph take a deep look at him, making Hugo feel inexplicable. "What's wrong? Can't I ask this question?"

"No." Joseph opened the room door, confirmed that the door was closed, and then said, "That man is a middle-level executive responsible for film production at Universal Pictures."

"Universal Pictures?" Hugo thought for a moment, "Isn't that the producer of our movie?" At this point, Hugo suddenly became sensitive. The failure of the audition for "A River Runs Through It" was still vivid in his mind. "Could it be..."

Joseph immediately shook his head. "Tracey is not that powerful to dominate Hollywood." Although Tracey was a very outstanding producer and her network was beyond imagination, she was not the top-level figure and did not have the ability to control everything. "Tracey probably has some good projects and wants to negotiate with Universal Pictures."

Hugo carefully thought about it and realized that he had been overthinking it. Not to mention a producer, even the CEO of a top movie company did not have the ability to completely block an actor. On the contrary, if an actor had enough strength, both the film company and the producer would set aside past grievances and seek cooperation.

"I just don't know what they used to negotiate." Hugo dropped a sentence lightly, leaving Joseph stunned in place, and strolled to the bathroom to freshen up.