Objectively speaking, Charlize's black pepper roasted turkey actually tasted very good, but it was too spicy and pungent, which led to poor sales and became the biggest highlight of Thanksgiving in 1992. Even Karl's unbelievably delicious braised lamb chops couldn't steal Charlize's thunder.The day after Thanksgiving, Alex returned first. Hugo and Charlize also ended their three-night "two-person world" and returned to the balanced state of three people, which made both of them secretly breathe a sigh of relief.Joseph didn't return until Saturday, his face covered in stubble clearly showing his exhaustion, and heavy dark circles under his eyes dimmed the sparkle of his ice-blue eyes.Although Hugo was curious about what exactly happened at Joseph's home and what the million dollars were for, he also knew that these were Joseph's family matters. If Joseph didn't want to talk about it, he'd best not ask.This had nothing to do with the depth of their friendship; even the closest friends should respect this, because for everyone, family is a special existence. If he wants to tell you, he won't hide it; conversely, if he doesn't want to say, even a confidant might remain silent.So, Hugo didn't ask anything, only inquired if Joseph's journey had been smooth and if everything was well, and that was all.As soon as Thanksgiving passed, December arrived, and the release date for "A Few Good Men" quickly approached, making Hugo and Joseph busy again.Unlike "Scent of a Woman," which chose a limited release strategy, "A Few Good Men" opted for a wide release in 1,900 theaters, clearly aiming for box office success—this was also the reason for originally casting Tom Cruise.Now that Hugo had replaced the male lead, Columbia Pictures was naturally more nervous and cautious. Therefore, a series of pre-release promotions were arranged, and Hugo, burdened with the responsibility of the opening weekend box office, appeared on various shows, hoping for a strong start.On Monday, Joseph drove Hugo back to the Burbank studio to participate in the recording of "The Tonight Show."After Hugo's last appearance on "The Tonight Show," the ratings achieved impressive results. The episode, aired at 11:35 PM, garnered 4.8 million viewers, not only making it the top-rated show in its time slot but also the highest-rated episode of "The Tonight Show" in November.It was evident that people were very interested in Hugo's dramatic acting career.The car slowly drove into the parking lot, where Hugo's parking space had already been arranged—a guest parking spot specifically for the show's recording period. So Joseph parked the car without any effort.Just as Hugo unbuckled his seatbelt, Joseph spoke, "Hugo, I didn't go back to Houston this time."Joseph had hesitated for a long time, even after returning to Los Angeles, and even before speaking just now. He wasn't sure if he should tell Hugo the truth, because it was a family matter.Joseph had been convincing himself that he and Hugo were merely professional partners, and there was no need to confide personal matters to each other. Hugo had never mentioned anything about his family, and neither had Joseph.But in the end, Joseph failed.When he suddenly needed to borrow money, Hugo agreed without any hesitation; when he abruptly turned and left, Hugo didn't press him for reasons or pursue him relentlessly; when he delayed his return, Hugo not only didn't worry that he had run off with the money, but also didn't pry into his family affairs, instead giving him enough trust...This was a million dollars, and Joseph knew that Hugo's trust was far more profound than that million.So, Joseph spoke, even though he still didn't want to talk much, he knew he should give Hugo an answer. After saying the first sentence, Joseph saw Hugo look at him in surprise, "Then what about Thanksgiving?" This was Hugo's first reaction.He didn't ask Joseph why he lied about going back to Houston, nor did he ask what was going on, only caring about Thanksgiving.Joseph gave a wry smile, "I went to Las Vegas." It was the gambling city, and the situation seemed to be clearing up. "Have I ever mentioned my brother, Peter?" Hugo nodded in confusion, not speaking, which made Joseph take a deep breath and quickly finish the rest of his story."He lost a large sum of money in Las Vegas and was pressured by the local powers. My father couldn't think of a solution, so he called me."Although Joseph only provided a brief introduction, from that brief start, Hugo could pretty much piece together the rest of the story. Gambling, like drug addiction, is very difficult to quit once you get involved, and in severe cases, it can lead to the ruin of a family.Hugo didn't know the exact situation of Joseph's family, but he occasionally heard Joseph mention his family with endless affection, so it wasn't surprising that Joseph, for the sake of his brother, with difficulty asked Hugo for help.And Joseph delaying his return for two days after Thanksgiving indicated that Peter's situation was so tricky that it took Joseph a bit more time to handle. Hugo's mind raced with thoughts, and then he let out a soft sigh. Family ties can bring happiness, but they can also bring helplessness. "So, is everything resolved now?"Joseph rubbed his temples and nodded, "Yes, everything is resolved.""That's good." Hugo patted Joseph's shoulder and fell silent. He didn't know what to say, as this was the first time he and Joseph had discussed private family matters.Although Joseph had suggested Hugo call his family, Joseph had never inquired about the outcome of those calls. So this conversation felt a bit strange to Hugo.He wasn't sure if he should express his concern like a good friend, or simply let the matter rest and allow Joseph to handle it himself.Hugo took a deep breath, "So, let's start preparing for today's work." Hugo guessed Joseph probably wanted to thank him, but for Hugo, it wasn't a big deal; it was just a string of numbers in a bank account, and a string of numbers that hadn't even warmed up yet, so it was just a small favor.Sure enough, Joseph called out to Hugo, "Hugo, thank you." Joseph once again expressed his true feelings, not only thanking Hugo for lending him the money but also for his trust."I'll find a way to pay you back as soon as possible.""Hey, buddy, don't lie to me," Hugo said with a chuckle, making Joseph pause. "You know you can't pay me back 'as soon as possible.'"With Joseph's agent commission, raising a million dollars in a short period would indeed be a very difficult task. Hugo's frankness actually made Joseph burst out laughing."So, you have to work harder, and then pray that I can find more and better jobs, and maybe the progress will be much faster."Joseph knew Hugo was telling the truth and also comforting him. Joseph let out a long breath and nodded, "Then what are you still doing in the car? You can't be late for today's work! Get to work!"Joseph, for once, played along with Hugo's little joke, even clenching his fist as he spoke, like an evil capitalist exploiting workers' sweat and blood.Hugo's smile vanished, replaced by a trembling expression. He fumbled to open the car door, "Yes, yes, sir, I'm going to work right away." After getting out of the car, he stumbled towards the elevator, while Joseph hurried after him, drawing frequent glances from passersby in the parking lot.Walking into the dressing room, many staff members came forward to greet Hugo, a treatment he hadn't received on his previous visit. It was clear that the excellent show ratings made the staff very welcoming of Hugo's arrival.Even the host, Jay Leno, personally came over and gave Hugo a big hug, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon. So, how are you feeling today?"Jay wasn't in a suit yet, just wearing a simple shirt and holding a bag of potato chips, looking like the uncle next door, except for his very prominent chin. Hugo said with a chuckle, "Very good, everything is very good, especially seeing this familiar chin, it immediately makes me feel at home."Jay's chin, a condition called prognathism, had become one of his trademarks. "This is a heavy weapon, it must be handled with care." As a comedian, Jay's self-deprecating humor was admirable, and the dressing room immediately erupted in laughter."So, any taboo topics for today's promotion?"Jay's question made Hugo look at Joseph in surprise. He didn't understand why Jay would bring up such a topic at this moment, because as far as Hugo knew, there were indeed some big-name celebrities in the entertainment industry who had forbidden topics when appearing on shows, such as scandals or rumors.However, this situation was more common in Asia and less so in the more open speech environment of Europe and America. Moreover, Hugo hadn't received any hint from Joseph.After confirming that Joseph was also confused, Hugo smiled at Jay, "I hope you don't bring up the embarrassing incident of me going into the wrong restroom today. That would be a huge blow to my popularity among women."Hugo's serious declaration made the makeup artist next to him unable to hold back, and he burst out laughing, spitting saliva all over Jay's right arm, and the situation immediately got out of control.Jay narrowed his eyes and said to the makeup artist, "I think you need to get some hot water and hand-wash my shirt right here, otherwise I won't have any clothes to wear on the show."A teasing remark defused the awkwardness, and then Jay looked at Hugo and said, "That's good. Compared to some people who clearly like men but insist on claiming to be normally married heterosexuals, and don't allow us to discuss it on the show, that's really difficult.Especially when I see his 'lotus fingers,' it's hard for me to control the urge to ask questions. It's truly agonizing."Who was Jay alluding to? "Luckily, 'A Few Good Men' is your work." Jay added another sentence, then said with a chuckle, "I have to go find an iron, otherwise I'll miss the live broadcast. See you later."Watching Jay's retreating back, Hugo and Joseph exchanged glances. Was the person Jay was alluding to... Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt?
