America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 435 It's hopeless

Having been in Hollywood for over a decade, Casey Affleck considers himself an excellent and patient top hunter when faced with so-called genius students who are still in school.

He asked, "Would I have the honor of seeing more of your work?"

"All the works I've completed so far are here." Lily's gaze seemed fixed on Cassie, scanning him up and down, carefully observing his body structure to determine the most suitable places to make incisions.

Seeing that the girl's gaze remained fixed on him, Cassie became even more confident; the girl was clearly very interested in him.

Lily's gaze was intense and earnest, and her hand, tucked into her pocket, rapidly rubbed the carving knife.

Cassie sensed Lily's affection for him and went straight to the point, pointing to the sculpture beside him: "I'm so fortunate to have acquired such a magnificent work of art today; I should celebrate. Beautiful Lily Carter, may I invite you to join us?"

Lily's smile was unique: "I have to go to the airport to pick someone up later, so I don't have time."

Cassie wasn't a novice and knew she needed to be patient: "I'll call you another day." He added, "I hope to see your masterpiece again. I really like your style and want to collect more of your work."

Lily politely replied, "Thank you."

Cassie added, "In a few years, I might not be able to afford your works anymore."

He said some sweet and flattering words, and handed Lily his business card, which only had a phone number on it.

Lily accepted the order, politely said goodbye, and left. During the trip, she turned back and glanced at Cassie again to determine how to act in self-defense and how many stabs she could inflict without causing serious injury.

Cassie's smile was dejected and utterly disheartening—the most captivating smile in the art world.

Lily nodded to him, and as she was about to turn out of the exhibition hall, she stopped and began to point at the human sculptures made by other people.

The organizers came over to pack up the bust sculpture, and Casillas watched from the side, his mind racing, trying to come up with a surprise to get back at Martin Davis.

The Affleck brothers have received confirmation that Chuck Hogan has signed a contract with Martin Davis to sell the film and television adaptation rights to "Prince of Thieves" to Davis Film Studio.

They were the ones who had initially chosen and approached the project first, but it was snatched away right in front of them, leaving them with a burning resentment they couldn't vent.

Before the exhibition even ended, Lily asked her advisor for leave, got into her red Cadillac, and headed to Los Angeles International Airport.

Martin is coming back from New York today, and she's going to pick her up.

Upon arriving at the terminal exit, Lily didn't have to wait long before she saw Martin and Bruce pushing their luggage out.

She quickly waved to the two of them.

After Martin walked over, he handed Lily a bag he was carrying: "Where's the car?"

Lily, carrying a heavy bag, led the way: "This way."

The three of them put their luggage away, got into the Cadillac, and Lily drove out of the parking lot, asking, "Is the work in New York all done?"

"It's all done." Martin remembered something very important and specifically instructed, "When you go to New York again, tidy up the house in Central Park; it's a little messy."

Lily habitually replied, "Okay."

Bruce looked at Martin, then at Lily. One was inhuman, the other was so used to it, they were beyond saving.

Martin suddenly realized that he should be a good person, and added, "We could also hire a professional housekeeping company to tidy it up."

"I understand." After years of habit, Lily felt that doing these things was normal.

The mansion acquired from Pitt is still under renovation, but it's nearing completion.

Martin still lives in the Coty neighborhood.

The Cadillac drove straight into the gate. The house was tidy and clean, both inside and out.

Martin knew without asking that Lily had made it, and said, "I brought you a gift from New York this time."

Hearing the word "gift" gave Lily a headache; she didn't want any of the gifts she had received in the past.

She tentatively said, "I have plenty of raw materials now, and I carve them every day at the school or Warner Bros. studio, so I don't need to send bison horns and saltwater crocodile teeth anymore."

Martin had already opened his suitcase, taken out a set of carving knives, and handed them to Lily: "Here you go."

Lily took it, opened it, and glanced at it. Instantly, she felt that everything she had done was worthwhile.

Martin set aside the box full of gifts, including those for Elizabeth, Julie, and Aniston.

Since the latter two specifically supported Lily, he also had to do something in return.

Lily was busy all the time. She put away her carving knife, opened a cabinet, took out several letters, and handed them to Martin: "These are the letters that have been received in the mailbox at the door recently."

Martin picked them up and looked through them. Most of them were promotional messages for GG, but the only useful ones were the letters that the two neighbors had thrown into the mailbox.

A beautifully packaged DVD from next door featuring Jenna Jones, with a close-up of her firing a gun on the cover and the words "Never Ending" in large print next to it.

A note was attached to the back of the DVD. Jenna told Martin that the film was finished and she had specially sent over a collector's edition.

Martin was curious about the process of the female protagonist searching for a smart drug after the Saint Valley version changed the protagonist to a woman.

The idea of ​​finding a smart drug from genetic material is truly ingenious.

I wonder if Jenna is interested in "The Reader" and "Benjamin," especially the latter. What kind of Saint Graham ideas could she come up with based on the film?

Men are bound to be curious, and it would be really exciting to film Benjamin's childhood and his childhood.

Martin received a drawer containing a collector's edition disc, the Saint-Germain version of "Wanted".

Lily peeked over and muttered, "Who gives something like this as a gift?"

Martin said, "The Joneses are artists, and their ideas are different from others."

"I'm an artist too," Lily declared, adding, "My thoughts are perfectly normal."

Martin glanced at Lily, too lazy to say anything to her.

He knew all along that he always carried a carving knife in his pocket.

Another helpful email came from our neighbor across the street, Gillian Flynn, and was a handwritten note.

Gillian was afraid of disturbing Martin's filming in New York, so she didn't call him rashly. She had written the beginning of the novel she mentioned last time, and if Martin came back, she planned to show him the first draft of the beginning.

Martin picked up his phone and dialed Gillian's number. Once she answered, he told her that he had returned to Los Angeles and was currently at home.

Lily helped Martin and Bruce unpack their luggage and brought up the past: "You sent me pictures of the Affleck brothers last time, remember?"

Martin immediately asked, "What's wrong? Are they giving you trouble?"

"Casey Affleck bought one of my sculptures today..." Lily quickly recounted what had happened.

Bruce chimed in, saying to Martin, "They know you're a tough nut to crack, so they're targeting the younger, inexperienced people around you."

Lily pulled one hand out of her pocket, and a small carving knife danced around her fingertips like a butterfly.

Martin asked, "What are your thoughts?"

Lily actually had a lot of ideas: "I was planning to find a place and use a carving knife to poke 108 holes in him, and that would be self-defense."

Bruce cautioned, "Don't be silly."

"I've seen far too many scoundrels like him growing up." Lily's environment was different: "Take Clayton, for example, there are tons of people more dangerous than him."

She suddenly laughed: "Casey Affleck bought one of my sculptures for a high price and said he was interested in my other sculptures as well. I think someone like him, even if he can't compare to Ben Affleck, must be very rich."

Martin knew Lily too well; he knew exactly what she wanted to do just by listening.

Lily said, "I've spent most of the last two years studying and practicing, and I've accumulated quite a few practice pieces. I'm very poor, and Casey Affleck is a rich man. In order to become financially independent as soon as possible, I want to try and see if I can sell him a few more sculptures."

Bruce finally understood why Elena always treated her sister with such fierce love.

Without care, they'll go completely astray!

Martin shook his head: "I remember the Dark Knight production team paid quite a bit."

"It's different." Lily knew very well that the work and compensation on The Dark Knight set were closely related to Martin.

She thought for a moment and said, "Let me try. I'll come back if something goes wrong."

Martin glanced at Bruce, who gave him a barely perceptible nod.

"Okay, be careful." Martin believes that people cannot live in a greenhouse forever.

Lily nodded repeatedly, pondering how to use this to sell more sculptures at higher prices.

Don't miss the chance to empty the wallets of foolish customers who come to you uninvited.

Bruce sent a message to his two long-term bodyguards, asking them to assign one of them to work with Lily.

In Los Angeles, the job of a bodyguard is much easier.

The doorbell rang, and Gillian Flynn was outside the door.

Bruce opened the door and came out to greet the guests, soon entering with Gillian.

Martin stood up and shook her hand: "I just saw the letter you left. I'm sorry I didn't contact you sooner."

"I apologize for being so intrusive, you're busy with work." Gillian held some manuscripts in her hand. "I've written part of the manuscript and want to share it with someone, but I can't find a suitable person. The writers' circle is in chaos, and infighting is all too common. I don't dare to show it to my colleagues."

Martin laughed and said, "It seems my neighbor is trustworthy."

Gillian proactively handed over the manuscript: "The value of this manuscript is at most a few days' pay for you, or even less."

Martin took it and asked, "Is this the work you mentioned to me, the one inspired by Agatha Christie's real-life experiences?"

"Yes, it's the one I mentioned to you." Gillian said embarrassedly, "I can only write in my spare time, and my writing speed is very slow. It's been more than a year and I've only written the first third. The remaining part may take a year and a half, or even longer, because I don't know if what I write will be of any value."

(End of this chapter)