The richest actor in Hollywood.

Leaving Sky Dance Pictures, Matthew got into his car and told the driver to head back to Beverly Hills. Yesterday, Lily Collins had suddenly called him to arrange a lunch meeting at Mr. Chow's today.

For the past two years, Matthew and Lily Collins had only sporadically kept in touch through emails. Lily Collins' mother, likely for educational purposes, had sent her to Oxford University as an exchange student to study literature. She had recently transferred back to USC.

According to Lily Collins during the phone call, she had no plans to return to the UK.

On the way back to Beverly Hills, Matthew's car got stuck in a traffic jam caused by an accident. With nothing else to do, he picked up the Batman comic he had brought along and started reading.

The comic, centered on Arkham Asylum, featured many famous characters besides Batman, such as the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy.

Matthew had read more than half of the comic when the car finally started moving slowly. He called Lily Collins to let her know he might be a bit late.

As the car crawled along, Matthew finished the comic, set it aside, and looked out the window. In the distance, he saw a huge billboard featuring the promotional poster for Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," with Batman and the Joker prominently displayed.

Seeing the poster reminded him of the comic he had just read, and he, an unlearned person, suddenly felt poetic.

Of course, he couldn't write poetry himself, but he applied the characters of Batman and Gotham to a style widely used in smartphone app reviews at the time.

For example, in the style of "Mr. Gu, upright and honest, Ms. *** pure as jade," which was often seen in browser-pushed articles' comment sections, he applied it to Batman and Gotham's characters.

Out of boredom, Matthew mused, "Honest Gotham City, talents abound in Arkham. Virtuous Joker, benevolent Harley Quinn. Honest businessman Penguin, inquisitive Riddler. Environmentalist Poison Ivy, model husband Mr. Freeze. Impartial Two-Face, agile Red Hood. Inspirational Scarecrow, chiropractor Bane. Plumbing specialist Killer Croc, empathetic Black Mask. Animal lover Catwoman, unscrupulous Batman..."

He couldn't continue and glanced back at the increasingly distant "The Dark Knight" billboard, sighing: Batman will always be Batman.

Over forty minutes later, the Mercedes finally arrived at Mr. Chow's restaurant, nearly twenty-five minutes late.

"Sorry, Lily."

Matthew's first words to Lily Collins were an apology. "Traffic jam. Sorry to keep you waiting."

Lily Collins stood up and hugged Matthew, "No worries, I just got here." As they parted, she tilted her head and said, "You're still as handsome as ever."

Matthew also took a good look at her. Lily Collins was wearing khaki slim-fit pants, a cream-colored fitted sweater, and a dark gray blazer, highlighting her bright eyes and teeth while exuding the unique charm of a modern woman.

"Lily," Matthew genuinely praised, "you look more beautiful than ever."

He waited for Lily Collins to sit down before pulling out a chair and sitting opposite her. He added, "You were beautiful as a child, and now you have the beauty to rival Audrey Hepburn."

The waiter came over, and after they ordered, Lily Collins continued, "I could never compare to Audrey Hepburn. Look at her photos and movies; I can't match that."

Matthew casually said, "That era didn't have high-definition cameras, which was fortunate for actresses, allowing them to preserve their most radiant moments."

Lily Collins thought for a moment, "You know, that makes sense."

"Isn't it true?" Matthew laughed, "Look at today's high-definition cameras and paparazzi cameras; they can capture even the tiniest pores. People say today's actresses aren't as beautiful because they're comparing them to photos from the past."

"True," Lily Collins agreed. "Advances in photography make any flaw on a woman's face impossible to escape the lens."

They had interacted a lot before, and despite the long time since they last met due to Lily Collins being in the UK, a few words from Matthew dispelled any remaining unfamiliarity or estrangement.

As the waiter brought their dishes, Matthew continued the conversation, "If you compare today's celebrities in full regalia to the images left by the golden era stars, they wouldn't be at a disadvantage. They might even surpass them."

Lily Collins disagreed slightly, "Not necessarily."

Matthew, eating a piece of steak, shook his finger, "Why?"

"Because of Photoshop," Matthew said, swallowing his steak. "Even if they had retouching back then, it couldn't compare to today's technology. Modern Photoshop can give a woman the most perfect body and face."

Lily Collins hadn't expected Matthew to say this and burst into laughter.

Matthew added, "Don't forget, today's cosmetic surgery techniques are also unmatched by those of the past."

Hearing this, Lily Collins' smile faded. After a brief hesitation, she asked, "Do you not like people who have had plastic surgery?"

Matthew glanced at Lily Collins. Compared to the last time he saw her, there seemed to be some subtle changes. He had noticed before they hugged that she had grown, and her face had become more refined.

Now that she mentioned it... Lily Collins was very beautiful, with a face that bridged Eastern and Western aesthetics.

Matthew, pretending not to notice anything, said, "Minor cosmetic procedures are nothing and quite normal. Which Hollywood actress hasn't had some work done? Minor procedures can make an already beautiful person even more perfect."

Lily Collins' smile returned.

"What I can't stand is total transformation," Matthew said, thinking of the once-common snake faces. "Complete makeovers that make people look like they came from the same mold are terrifying."

"Yes," Lily Collins nodded vigorously. "I think so too."

She leaned closer, lowered her voice, and said, "I had a minor procedure when I returned to Los Angeles last year."

Matthew pretended to scrutinize her, "I can't tell."

Indeed, even without makeup, Lily Collins showed no signs of cosmetic surgery.

Lily Collins pointed to her nose, "Here."

Matthew shook his head, "Still can't tell."

"Really?" Lily Collins smiled happily, "You're not just saying that to make me happy, are you?"

Matthew emphasized, "You were already so beautiful."

Lily Collins laughed, covering her mouth. After a while, she said, "After so long, you're still the same Matthew I know."

"Really?" Matthew asked, "What kind of Matthew?"

"A friend, an idol..." Lily Collins looked serious. "A goal and a role model to learn from."

Matthew put down his fork and said, "I'm not a good role model."

Following him would surely lead one astray.

"No! You are!" Lily Collins insisted. "You went from an extra to a superstar!"

Matthew sensed something from her words and asked, "Lily, do you want to be an actress?"

Lily Collins nodded vigorously, "Yes! I've quit my part-time job at Nickelodeon. I want to be an actress." She looked at Matthew with determined eyes, "I want to be a big star like you."

"Have you thought this through?" Matthew had a good impression of Lily Collins. "Your family doesn't oppose it?"

Lily Collins replied immediately, "No. Both my dad and mom support me."

Hearing this, Matthew remembered that Lily Collins' parents were also in the entertainment industry. For her, pursuing this path was actually more advantageous than other fields.

"This path isn't easy," Matthew said, feeling positive about Lily Collins. "Lily, even with your parents' help, be prepared mentally."

Lily Collins put down her fork and wiped her mouth with a napkin, "I know." She seemed to have thought it through, "For a girl, succeeding in any field is not easy."

Matthew agreed, "It's rare for you to think this way."

"Matthew, I came to you today to ask for your help," Lily Collins said, scratching her curly hair. After some hesitation, she continued, "You've invested in 'Twilight,' right? I love the series. Before I came back from London, I had my mom send my resume to your crew... Oh, my mom is my temporary agent now."

She looked at Matthew, "I wanted to audition for the role of Alice Cullen, but the casting director rejected me."

Matthew didn't mind; he had done the same with connections. He asked, "You didn't mention we were friends?"

"No," Lily Collins said honestly. "I wanted to try on my own first. If it didn't work out, then I'd come to you."

She smiled sheepishly, "So here I am."

Matthew thought for a moment. Lily Collins had the looks and temperament for the role. As for her acting skills... this series didn't require exceptional talent. If she couldn't meet the basic requirements, he wouldn't use her.

"Alright, Lily," Matthew said directly. "I'll talk to the crew. You can audition for the role. If you don't pass, I can't cast you; it's not just my investment."

"Understood!" Lily Collins nodded firmly.

Like any favor, auditions often involved such connections. Besides Lily Collins, Matthew had also agreed to let someone introduced by Michael Bay audition.

Those who didn't pass the audition wouldn't be cast.

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