America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 289 Almost Died

At New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, most of the film crew wandered aimlessly in the waiting area, waiting for the weather to improve.

A sudden downpour caused widespread flight delays, and the film crew's chartered plane was temporarily unable to take off.

Martin stood by the window, the raindrops pattering against the glass in front of him, so dense that he could not even see the Boeing passenger plane not far away.

Bruce brought over a bottle of water.

Martin took the drink, opened it, took a sip, and asked, "In this awful weather, only civilian pilots from the polar bear's country would dare to take off, right?"

Bruce shrugged, in typical American jargon: "Who knows? They'll drink antifreeze when they're really into it."

Chad rushed over to check the rain, muttering, "When will it stop?"

Martin asked, "Is your girlfriend waiting for you in Los Angeles?"

"I'm a bachelor, no girlfriend," Chad said, gathering his thoughts. "Remember Marcus, whom we met at Kane's Angels Shooting Club?"

The name sounded familiar. Martin thought for a moment and remembered: "The soldier who served in Afghanistan?"

Chad nodded: "Yes, that's him. Marcus is particularly interested in the film industry and wants to become a stuntman and action director after retiring from acting. We've been in contact."

He paused for a moment before saying, "I lost contact with him in December, and only last week did I learn that Marcus's SEAL team was attacked during a mission, and he was the only survivor."

Bruce chimed in, "He's lucky. In a godforsaken place like Afghanistan, just surviving is better than anything else."

Martin made no comment and showed no interest in the fate of the SEALs.

Chad added, "Marcus retired from the military and decided to settle in Los Angeles. He suffered a lot of psychological trauma. I had arranged to visit him as soon as I got off the plane."

Martin said, "Don't worry, these kinds of severe convective weather events come and go quickly."

After waiting for nearly two hours, the crew finally boarded the chartered plane back to Los Angeles.

Martin asked for a blanket to sleep on.

Bruce moved closer to Chad and they started talking about Afghanistan.

Returning from the cold, damp New York to the sunny Los Angeles brought an inexplicable sense of relief.

My mood is especially good when a stunning blonde beauty with an amazing figure rushes over and asks for a hug.

After a passionate kiss, Martin and Bruce got into the Mercedes G-Class that Blake had driven.

Bruce drove back to the Coty neighborhood, and Martin and Blake were still unloading their luggage from the car when the doorbell rang.

"Who is it?" Old Bu went to open the door and found it was his neighbor from next door.

Jenna, with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail, greeted him with a smile, "Hello, Old Brook." She tilted her head to look inside the door, "Is Martin back? I've looked for him several times, but he wasn't there. I just heard some noise..."

"She's come looking for you a few times," Blake said to Martin first, then went over and said with a smile, "Come in and let's talk."

Jenna glanced at Blake, admiring his absolutely dreamlike physique, and couldn't help but ask, "Blake, how do you train?"

Blake let the person in, saying as they walked, "It's partly innate and partly trained. I've been the cheerleading captain since sixth grade, so I've always had a lot of exercise."

Martin greeted Jenna and invited her, "Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

Jenna shook her head: "No need, I'm going to the Holy Valley right away." She opened her shoulder bag and took out a neatly packaged square box: "The wanted poster samples are out. You know this series best, so I'm sending the samples over to ask you to take a look and see if there's anything that needs improvement."

Martin took it, handed it to Blake, and said, "You're too kind."

Jenna smiled and said, "Without you, I wouldn't have been able to get the remake rights or capitalize on the popularity of the wanted poster. Of course, I'll show the film to you first once it's made. You weren't home the last few times I came over."

Martin politely replied, "I will see."

Jenna quickly said, "I have to go now, we'll talk later."

Martin and Blake saw her off at the door, then returned with their suitcases and went into the villa. Old Blake, being quite perceptive, went straight to the annex.

After putting down his luggage, Blake curiously opened the square gift box, and unsurprisingly, inside was a beautifully packaged CD.

Saint-Gobain's version of "Wanted"!

The female lead, Jenna, occupies most of the cover.

Blake, being only 18, couldn't help but say, "Where can I get someone to help me research these kinds of films?"

Martin picked it up and casually tossed it onto the coffee table: "Give it to Old Brooks later."

Blake took it back, looking curious: "How about... we take a look?"

Martin pulled him upstairs: "Let's go to the bedroom."

The following morning, after breakfast, Blake went to Burbank for an accent lesson to practice his New York accent.

Martin and Bruce got into the Escalade and drove off.

Bruce had just turned onto the road when he saw the Joneses taking a walk.

Mr. Jones waved over, so Martin had Bruce stop the car, got out of the passenger seat, greeted him, and asked, "What's up?"

"It's nothing important," Mr. Jones said with a smile. "Jenna sent you the sample photos, right?"

Martin nodded: "It was delivered to me yesterday."

Mr. Jones, very interested in his daughter's new work, asked, "How did it turn out? Not bad, right?"

Martin found the question incredibly awkward and tried to answer it in several ways, but none of them made him feel comfortable.

In contrast, Mr. Jones showed no embarrassment whatsoever; on the contrary, he was very serious, as if he were discussing a serious artistic topic.

This is an art form! Martin could only tell himself, "It's very well done, a masterpiece. I think Jenna could win this year's top prize."

Mr. Jones was quite pleased: "If we can really win a big prize, it will be a great achievement."

Martin decided to end their conversation: "I have things to do. Let's talk again when I have time."

Mr. Jones said, "When Jenna returns, I'd like to invite you, Old Brooks, and Blake to my house for tea, and I'd also like to offer some professional advice on the film."

Martin waved and quickly got into the car.

Bruce stepped on the gas, and the car immediately accelerated away from there.

He asked, "How's your research going?"

Martin said earnestly, "It's very strenuous for a man to carry multiple people at once, but it's much easier when it's the other way around."

Bruce muttered to himself, "When will I be able to take on two at once?"

Martin, too lazy to answer this jerk's stupid question, pulled out his phone and called Leonardo: "I'm back in Los Angeles, where are you? Let's hang out!"

"I can't have any more fun!" Leonardo seemed to be walking hurriedly. "I just found out that old Jack is in the hospital, and I'm on my way to see him."

Martin unconsciously raised his voice: "What's wrong with him?"

Leonando said, "I don't know either. He's at the University of California Medical Center. Come over when you're free."

"Bruce, to the University of California Hospital Center!" Martin said to Bruce first, then added into the phone, "I'm coming right now."

Will the trio of bastards turn into a duo?

Martin rushed to the medical center, found Nicholson's ward, and when he knocked on the door, Leonardo was already standing in front of the bed.

Nicholson lay in his hospital bed, looking very listless.

Martin lowered his voice and asked, "What happened?"

Leonardo, with a serious expression, pointed at Martin: "Because of you!"

Martin was baffled.

"That's right, it's all because of you." Nicholson raised his head slightly, his voice weak and feeble. "I used the miracle drug you gave me, and then this happened to me; I almost died!"

Martin looked at Nicholson, then at Leonardo: "How...how could this happen?"

He noticed Leonardo was acting strangely, immediately took two steps back, leaned against the wall, and asked in a trembling voice, his hands, face, and body shaking, "How could this be?"

Leonardo frowned, glared, and roared, "You bastard, think about how to make amends!"

Nicholson glanced at him and shook his head: "You're terrible, you have too many flaws."

Before Leonardo could speak, Martin strode over and wrapped his arms around his neck: "You've used it?"

Nicholson shifted up, instantly perking up: "He's a coward, he won't use him."

Leonardo pointed at Nicholson: "You..."

Martin said, "You've delivered your signature three-hit combo; I can't tell you're acting?"

Leonardo was exasperated; he had become the one among the trio whose acting was being ridiculed.

Martin ignored the jerk and asked Nicholson, "Why are you in the hospital? Did you throw a wild party and do too much at once?"

"The basketball game," Nicholson said, somewhat agitated. "That bastard referee was targeting the Lakers the entire game. I yelled at him from behind, reminding him to be fair and impartial, but he only went even further..."

Martin quickly said, "Calm down, calm down."

Nicholson took a deep breath: "I got so angry with him that my blood pressure went up and my heart felt a little uncomfortable, but it's nothing serious."

Leonardo said, "You're the Lakers' mascot. You yell at the referee, and the referee can't do anything to you as a spectator. He can only blame the team."

Nicholson retorted, "You don't watch basketball much, you don't understand at all."

Leonardo shrugged and said no more.

Martin told Nicholson, "Get some rest and don't think about it anymore."

Seeing that the old bastard wouldn't listen, he simply said, "Do you want me to have fun with Leo while you just watch helplessly?"

"Absolutely not!" This time, Nicholson listened and obediently lay back down on the hospital bed. "I'm going to fight for another ten years. I'm going to get revenge on Naomi Campbell!"

Leonardo chuckled, "Martin, you're the one with the best ideas, you bastard!"

Nicholson shooed them away: "You two jerks, get out of here and don't disturb my rest."

Martin said, "You get some rest. Call me and Leo if anything happens."

Leonardo DiCaprio also said, "The trio of bastards are waiting for you to step in and take charge."

Nicholson, sensing something was off, said, "It's just a minor problem, but you're making it sound like I'm dying!"

Leonardo pulled Martin out of the ward.

Martin said, "Shall we find a place to grab a drink and chat?"

Leonardo replied, "Let's go."

(End of this chapter)