It was a very pleasant dinner, and while Hugo and Nora did most of the talking, Rob and Joseph weren't idle either; they would interject a few words from time to time, making the dinner atmosphere relaxed and comfortable. After dinner, Nora even ordered dessert, and the meal didn't end until half past ten.After Hugo settled into the spacious and comfortable passenger seat of the Renault Espace, Joseph drove the car steadily out of the parking lot and headed back home. After replacing the minivan, the new car was noticeably more stable and comfortable, and Joseph obviously loved it, driving it around almost every day—even on days when Hugo had no schedule.However, today Joseph wasn't in the mood to enjoy driving. His tense emotions could finally relax. "Wow, Hugo, you know, you really took a risk today. Any small mistake could have ruined the dinner atmosphere, and Rob would probably have been very embarrassed."Hugo also felt an immense mental exhaustion. In fact, for the first half of dinner, Hugo had been in a state of high alert because he had to immerse himself in a role, as if he were acting all the time. This made Hugo experience how difficult it was for spies, living every second of their lives as another person. What kind of torment was that?Of course, this entire performance was also another test for Hugo, as he had to consider how a widower like Sam would react to situations not present in the script. This was not only a deeper understanding of the character, dissecting the role beyond the script, but also a higher-level test of Hugo's self-hypnosis and entry into an acting state. Although there were still some flaws in the whole process, Hugo broke character several times, returning to his "Hugo Lancaster" state, but overall, it was still very good.This was also the reason for Hugo's mental fatigue; such a conversation was truly exhausting."If I didn't try this, you saw, it would have been over before it even began." Hugo leaned back in his seat, feeling the softness of the leather-wrapped foam, relaxing his body and mind. "Every script, every role, they have countless choices. Hollywood has a hundred thousand actors; no one is irreplaceable."This is the reality of Hollywood, and also the reality of society as a whole. No one is irreplaceable; you must rely on your own efforts to earn your place, otherwise life will quickly overwhelm you. Unless you are willing to be like Tao Yuanming, "picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains," you must strive—of course, even becoming Tao Yuanming in modern society requires a financial foundation.Although Nora didn't make a decision on the spot today, Joseph could feel that, thanks to Hugo's efforts, Nora's opinion had changed. This was a huge change, transforming the impossible into the possible, which meant the future was worth looking forward to.Joseph suddenly felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. In fact, as an agent, all he could do was secure audition opportunities for Hugo, then try his best to build good relationships with the producers, and use his negotiation skills to secure more benefits for Hugo. Beyond that, there wasn't much he could do. But seeing Hugo's diligent efforts, Joseph felt that he should do a little more, because he believed Hugo deserved more.Neither Joseph nor Hugo spoke again. The brand new Renault Espace drove smoothly on the roads of Los Angeles, with the deep night passing outside the car windows, filling the car with a tranquil peace and stability as it headed towards home. When they arrived home, Joseph realized that Hugo had fallen asleep; he was truly exhausted.Joseph didn't rush to wake Hugo. Instead, he sat quietly in the car for about twenty minutes, until Hugo slowly woke up, then he spoke, "If you're sleepy, go upstairs quickly, wash up, and rest."Hugo rubbed his sleepy eyes, mumbled a response, and with heavy steps, got out of the car. After returning to the third floor, Hugo quickly washed up, collapsed onto the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.He slept straight through to the next morning. When Hugo woke up, the house was still empty; Charlize and Alex hadn't returned. However, Hugo had recovered. After all, acting was a mental activity, not a physical one; after a good night's sleep, he felt refreshed. He took a invigorating shower, then began to survey the empty refrigerator, contemplating what to have for breakfast.When Joseph came to the third floor, he saw Hugo standing blankly in front of the refrigerator, and asked breathlessly, "Forgot to go to the supermarket?"Hugo had been alone for the past few days, so he hadn't bought too many things at the supermarket. Now that he had finished everything, there was no more stock. Hugo pouted, "I'll go this afternoon. There are still two boxes of cornflakes in the cupboard." He closed the refrigerator door and turned around to see Joseph, dressed in sportswear and drenched in sweat. Hugo immediately burst into laughter. "Uh, do you have a date tonight?""Uh, no, I just want to start working out," Joseph said, slightly out of breath. He would never admit that he hadn't slept well last night due to stress, woke up early this morning, and finally decided to embrace the upcoming 1993 with a new attitude, and working out was a good start—and it could also help him lose weight.Hugo was immediately amused by Joseph's words and burst out laughing. "Are you serious? Don't joke with me." Joseph's build had always been on the heavier side, especially in the past six months. At six feet two inches (1.88 meters) tall, he now weighed at least two hundred twenty pounds (100 kilograms). Hugo had even teased Joseph before, saying that while others lost weight due to too many engagements at the end of the year, Joseph, due to overwork, had an increased appetite and ended up gaining weight instead.As an actor, Hugo couldn't let his physique change drastically—unless it was for a role. Otherwise, even if Hugo wasn't an action actor like Arnold Schwarzenegger and didn't need to maintain muscle definition, he couldn't just eat whatever he wanted and let his body deviate too much. Especially since both "A Few Good Men" and "Scent of a Woman" required Hugo to maintain his physique, and coupled with his poor physical condition due to prior drug use, Hugo had always insisted on exercising to stay healthy.Joseph had once tried to work out with Hugo. It wasn't really a workout, just a thirty-minute run before going to bed at night, but Joseph only lasted two days before giving up, even saying, "I'm not an actor, after all."So, today, seeing Joseph start exercising again, Hugo's first reaction was to laugh out loud. But seeing the frustration on Joseph's face, Hugo quickly reined in his smile. "At least it's a good start. I've said before that your height is healthy under 180 pounds. Now that you're willing to work hard, that's naturally even better."There are simply too many high-calorie junk foods in Western diets, which has led to many Westerners being overweight, especially after entering the 21st century, when the proportion of obese children rose sharply, attracting widespread attention from Western health experts. So, in Hugo's opinion, changing eating habits might be difficult, but at least sticking to basic exercise and maintaining good health is very necessary.Joseph looked at Hugo's half-smile and knew that Hugo hadn't finished speaking, which was, "As for how long it can last, who knows?" Joseph glared at Hugo resentfully, then took the newspaper in his hand and walked to the dining table. "Here, this is today's 'Los Angeles Times,' there's good news in it."Hugo didn't look at the newspaper, but quickly said, "How about this, from now on, when I go for a run, you come too? At least, you'll have company, and maybe you can stick with it longer."Joseph recalled Hugo's relentless running and some basic fitness exercises every day when he wasn't filming. This perseverance was indeed admirable, but it also added pressure. Joseph couldn't help but hesitate, "Forget it, I can't handle your running pace and duration."Hugo's smile couldn't help but rise again. He knew Joseph had backed down, so his smile became a little more playful. "You can adjust according to your own situation, or consult a professional. You know, I'm not a professional fitness coach."Joseph saw Hugo's playful expression and knew his thoughts had been seen through. His cheeks immediately flushed, and he said somewhat angrily, "Fine, if we're going to work out together, we'll work out together. It's not bad to have someone to supervise each other." After speaking, he craned his neck and looked at Hugo, showing his determination.Since he had decided to welcome the New Year with a new attitude, he might as well give himself some more pressure and motivation. What's more, Hugo would definitely be busier in January, so the frequency of his workouts wouldn't be as high. Thinking of this, Joseph felt a little relieved.Hugo wasn't surprised by Joseph's answer, nodding with a half-smile. "Okay, let's start tonight." At this point, Hugo paused. "Or, do you start tomorrow, since you went for a run this morning?""Tonight!" Joseph almost rolled his eyes, stating emphatically. Joseph and Hugo were much more at ease with each other now. Compared to January of this year, when Joseph had few expressions and his emotions were quite serious, he had become much more "lively."Hugo nodded repeatedly in approval. This was clearly an affirmative expression, but in Joseph's eyes, it seemed awkward no matter how he looked at it, and his gaze shifted away uncomfortably.Hugo decided not to tease Joseph anymore and picked up the "Los Angeles Times" from the dining table. "So, what's the news today? You just said there was good news?""Oh, right, the Golden Globe nominations are out," Joseph quickly replied, turning to Hugo.
