Global Best Actor: Starting with Picking Up Attributes in America

Chapter 423 A Promise of Youth

"Hahaha, yes!"

Chen Xun laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight: "I remember that night, we only had twenty dollars in our pockets. In the end, we bought a bowl of plain noodles in Chinatown and shared it. You even gave me the only egg you had, saying that I was working hard as an extra and needed to eat more."

"Those were truly tough times."

Shen Man sighed, her eyes filled with emotion: "Studying abroad is bound to be crazy. You just have to grit your teeth and bear it. You have to attend classes during the day, finish assignments at night, and work on weekends to earn tuition. Sometimes you really feel like you can't take it anymore. It's like sitting on the side of the road in Chinatown all night, watching people come and go, and feeling like you can hold on for another day."

Chen Xun nodded: "Back then, I thought that when I had money in the future, I would definitely eat at all the Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, as many as I wanted."

"You've achieved that now. Now, not only Chinatown, but any Chinese restaurant in the world you want to eat at."

Shen Man was joking.

Chen Xun sighed, "But it just doesn't taste like that bowl of plain noodles from back then anymore."

Shen Man also fell silent.

That bowl of plain noodles we shared back then, though simple, held the purest memories of youth and dreams.

At that time, they had nothing, but they had inexhaustible courage and enthusiasm.

I believe that as long as you work hard, there's nothing you can't do.

As the two walked, they arrived at the snack street.

The food street is bustling with activity at night, and the air is filled with the aroma of various foods.

"Wow, it smells so good."

Shen Man's eyes lit up, and she pulled Chen Xun toward a pan-fried bun stall: "I haven't had authentic Shanghai pan-fried buns in a long time. Back in Los Angeles, this was what I craved the most. The pan-fried buns in Chinatown are not authentic at all; the skin is as thick as a steamed bun."

"Boss, two pan-fried buns and a bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup."

Chen Xun shouted to the boss, then turned to Shen Man and said, "I remember that every time you did well on an exam, you would drag me to Chinatown to eat pan-fried dumplings to celebrate."

The two felt like they were back in their school days in New York, where a delicious meal could make them happy for half a day.

I found a small table by the roadside and sat down. Pan-fried buns and duck blood vermicelli soup were served quickly.

Shen Man took a bite of the pan-fried bun, the scalding hot broth bursting in her mouth. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "This is the taste! It's so delicious!"

Chen Xun couldn't help but laugh as he looked at her, and handed her a tissue: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you, be careful it's hot."

Shen Man took the tissue, wiped her mouth, and suddenly looked up at Chen Xun, her eyes filled with a complex emotion: "Have you ever thought about what things would be like now if I hadn't returned to China back then and had stayed in Hollywood with you?"

Chen Xun paused for a moment, holding his chopsticks, and looked up at her.

The light from the streetlamp fell on Shen Man's face, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

He had actually thought about this problem before.

If Shen Man hadn't left back then, would they have worked together in Hollywood, played minor roles, and finally made it big together?

Could it be like this, where one becomes an actor and the other a director, and they make a movie together that belongs to them?

"I have no idea."

Chen Xun honestly said, "Maybe we'll struggle together in Hollywood for many years, maybe we'll succeed, maybe we'll fail. But I know that if you stay in Hollywood, you'll definitely become a very good director, even better than you are now."

"And what about you?"

Shen Man pressed further: "If I stay in Hollywood, will you—"

She didn't finish her sentence, but both of them understood what she wanted to say.

Chen Xun was silent for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "Maybe, but unfortunately there are no 'what ifs'."

There are always regrets and unspoken words in youth.

But time cannot be reversed; we can only move forward.

Shen Man smiled, lowered her head and took a sip of duck blood and vermicelli soup: "Actually, sometimes I wonder, what would things be like now if you had come back to China with me back then? Would we have already made many movies together and become the most compatible partners in the country?"

"Maybe."

Chen Xun nodded: "It's pretty good as it is now. You've become the most popular variety show director in China, and I've made a name for myself in Hollywood. We've both become the people we wanted to be back then, haven't we?"

"fine."

Shen Man raised her head, the complex emotions in her eyes had dissipated, leaving only a relieved smile: "Seeing you so successful now, I'm really happy. I knew back then that you would definitely stand at the top of the world film industry, and you did it."

The two looked at each other and smiled, all the regrets and unspoken words melting away in that smile.

Whether it was the excitement or the regrets of youth, it's all in the past.

They were the most important people in each other's youth, and that's enough.

After finishing their pan-fried dumplings, the two strolled slowly along the food street.

There were barbecue skewers being sold by the roadside. Chen Xun bought two skewers of sweet and sour pork ribs and handed one to Shen Man: "Try this, it's the flavor you loved back then."

"You actually remember!"

Shen Man took the skewer with delight, took a bite, and her eyes lit up: "It tastes exactly the same as that skewer shop in Chinatown back in the day!"

"I specifically told the boss to add more sweet and sour sauce."

Chen Xun said with a smile.

The two walked and ate, chatting about embarrassing things from back then.

When you reach the end of the food street, the car at the intersection is already waiting.

Shen Man stopped, looked at Chen Xun, and said with a smile, "Alright, that's enough for now!"

Chen Xun nodded: "Be careful on the road, and send me a message when you get home."

97

"See you at the premiere! I'll definitely be there to support you."

Shen Man waved.

The car slowly started moving. She rolled down the window and waved to Chen Xun: "Chen Xun, good luck! 'The Wandering Earth' will definitely be a huge hit!"

Chen Xun waved to her too: "You too! Good luck with the new show!"

The taxi gradually disappeared into the night. Chen Xun stood there, looking in the direction the car had gone, his heart filled with emotion.

A gentle evening breeze carries the aroma of the food street and the scent of youth.

Those days in New York, the days of staying up all night to finish assignments, eating plain noodles together, and shouting our dreams to the stars, feel like they were just yesterday.

Perhaps everyone has someone like this in their youth.

We cried and laughed together, fought for our dreams together, and maybe we didn't end up together, but they will always be the most special person in your youth.

The entrance to the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

This place was already packed with people.

A red carpet stretched from the theater entrance all the way to the roadside.

Outside the fences on both sides, fans stood densely packed, holding up support signs.

The messages on the support signs were varied and diverse. Besides the usual "Go Chen Xun!" and "The Wandering Earth will be a huge success!", many were masterpieces of netizens' memes: "The only designated survivor of the Spring Festival season, all the other films have run away!"

"Even Zhang Weiguo was speechless after seeing this; this is what Chinese science fiction should be like!"

"Taking the Earth on a journey: a romantic notion of family and country etched into the bones of the Chinese people!"

"Buy one ticket and get a sci-fi blockbuster + Fast & Furious spin-off + Thor talk show – a steal!"

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