15. For a rainy day

Upon hearing the question, Matthew turned his head to the side, and the first thing he saw was a face resembling a bitter melon. This face not only looked old but also very ordinary. If he hadn't seen it in many blockbuster films, he wouldn't believe that a Hollywood superstar could look like this.

"Are you..." Matthew took a step back, creating some distance to see more clearly. "Are you Matt Damon?"

"You're Matthew Horner?" The bitter melon face didn't answer directly but implied agreement with Matthew's words.

Matthew nodded. "Yes, I am." He was surprised that Matt Damon sought him out. "Do you need something from me?"

In the memories Matthew retained, Matt Damon was an Oscar-winning actor. In terms of status, he seemed even higher than Angelina Jolie.

"Yesterday, Winona might have had a slight misunderstanding with you," Matt Damon spoke politely, "She's been angry since she came back, but she wouldn't tell me why."

Matthew immediately became guarded.

Matt Damon continued, "I just wanted to ask what happened. She got so angry over something trivial."

"You and Miss Winona..." Matthew looked at Matt Damon.

"Winona is my girlfriend," Matt Damon said, looking at Matthew as well. "And you and Miss Jolie?"

Last night, Winona Ryder had insulted these two as a couple of scoundrels.

Matthew shook his head, "I have no relationship with Miss Jolie."

"Sorry," Matt Damon smiled kindly. "Looks like I misunderstood."

However, behind that seemingly kind smile, Matthew read something else. "Just give it to me straight."

Still smiling, Matt Damon said, "I want to know if there was a misunderstanding between you and Winona?"

"Nothing..." Matthew wanted to explain, especially to Matt Damon, but he stopped himself. Why he had a conflict with Winona Ryder was something he couldn't talk about. Revealing it would be disastrous; he had signed a nondisclosure agreement!

"Hmm? What?" Matt Damon's face was expectant, making it hard to refuse.

Matthew quickly changed the subject, "Just a trivial misunderstanding."

Matt Damon and Winona Ryder were a couple, thick as thieves. Although from what he had read, this guy was famous in Hollywood, who knew what he was like in private? What if he was setting him up? Once he spoke about those things, he'd be in big trouble! He had signed a confidentiality agreement!

Having spent only two days on set, Matthew had already witnessed the intrigues of Hollywood and knew that he couldn't afford to be careless.

"A trivial misunderstanding?" Matt Damon's smile faded gradually, his face turning genuinely bitter.

"It's not that I don't want to reconcile," Matthew didn't want to confront Matt Damon, "But some things are better asked directly to Miss Winona Ryder."

Vaguely, he remembered that Matt Damon and his good friend seemed to have climbed up from the bottom. He probably wasn't an arrogant person.

Matt Damon's bitter expression became even more bitter. He couldn't understand how Winona Ryder, a star of her level and a powerful producer on set, could have a conflict with a small-time stand-in and end up worse for it, keeping him awake at night with frustration.

Thinking this, he glanced at Matthew again. This guy was just slightly more handsome than average, nothing special.

"I'll ask Winona," Matt Damon said after some thought. "She's my girlfriend. If..."

He suddenly changed his tone. "I'll remember you, Matthew Horner."

Matthew could only smile. Luckily, Matt Damon wasn't one of those brainless and arrogant big stars, or else it would be trouble.

However, thinking it over, competition in Hollywood was fierce. Apart from a few well-connected individuals, those who succeeded were probably not idiots.

After exchanging a few more words indifferently, Matt Damon took his leave. Once he was gone, few in the crew paid attention to Matthew. After all, he was just a stand-in.

Having watched a scene being filmed, Matthew felt a bit uncomfortable. He quickly left the studio and went to the makeup trailer to remove his makeup. During his time on set, he had drawn complaints from the effeminate makeup artist. Matthew knew that stand-in actors were treated no differently from miscellaneous workers on set, so he didn't say anything. After removing his makeup and changing into his clothes, he left the filming area of Universal Studios.

Outside Universal Studios, he called Dennis Kurt. The chubby man was still in the office area of the set, pulling strings. He said that Matthew's salary would be deposited soon, and he would be informed once it arrived.

Two hundred dollars wasn't much, but it wasn't a small sum for Matthew.

His job at Red Penguin Company only paid fifty dollars a day, slightly higher than Los Angeles' minimum wage. Even with night shift allowances, he couldn't make more than eighteen hundred dollars a month.

This job might also be gone on any given day now. If Angelina Jolie's divorce from Johnny Lee Miller made headlines, Miller's side would surely investigate the source of that recording, and it wouldn't be hard to guess that it was related to him. If Miller made a complaint, he'd be out of Red Penguin Company before he knew it.

But Matthew didn't regret it. This not only opened the door to Hollywood for him but also gave him a role with two lines!

According to Dennis Kurt, most temporary actors who came to Hollywood to chase their dreams couldn't get such an opportunity even after struggling for years, only serving as extras.

Given the choice between wasting years of time and taking risks, most people would choose the latter.

After wandering around Hollywood Boulevard for half an afternoon, Matthew became familiar with the area. When he reached the company's vicinity, he bought a few newspapers, greeted the receptionist, and entered the drivers' lounge. He picked up the recruitment section and started browsing.

This was being proactive. On one hand, he maintained his daily reading habit, and on the other hand, he looked for industries with a high demand for workers that suited someone like him. Another purpose was to find companies recruiting actors that weren't like the extras services companies or similar.

The old Matthew found his way to Starlight Company through newspaper advertisements but unfortunately encountered Dennis Kurt, a jerk.

After flipping through a few newspapers without seeing any ads for film crews, Matthew found three small agencies recruiting temporary actors. He noted down their numbers and called each one. Their responses were basically the same: he was to go there in person, provide personal information, photos, and a resume for their records, and they would contact him if a suitable job came up.

Matthew planned to visit these three agencies tomorrow after work.

Putting away the newspaper, he realized that not having a car was quite inconvenient. Public transportation in Los Angeles wasn't well developed. Buses were infrequent, and it was difficult to find a taxi on the road unless he called one himself. 

Matthew thought about buying a used car but considering his current financial situation, he decided against it.

Aside from the lawyer from that Tarot Cards crew who had already called him, Angelina Jolie had promised to find him a suitable acting school, which would be a significant expense. With the remaining money, it wouldn't be enough.

He'd call Dennis Kurt tomorrow to ask when he could get the two hundred dollars. Before he had that money in hand, he wouldn't reveal his cards.

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