Seeing their uncontrollable excitement, it seemed like no small matter.
A surge of curiosity and anticipation rose in his chest, temporarily overshadowing his thoughts about Elisha.
He played along with their conversation, but his mind had already flown to the evening, back to that villa that had just been cleaned anew.
The car drove into the Sherman Oaks neighborhood and stopped in front of the villa.
The afterglow of the setting sun painted the pale yellow exterior walls with a warm golden halo, and the shadows of the olive trees stretched long.
"Wow, it feels like we only left for a few days, but it feels even more like home now!" Rachel was the first to jump out of the car, taking a deep breath. "California sunshine is still the best!"
Tracy also got out of the car, stood in front of the door, and quietly surveyed the house, a barely perceptible curve of satisfaction appearing at the corner of her mouth.
The three of them walked into the house; the windows were bright and clean, and the air still held the faint lemon scent of cleaning supplies mixed with the warm smell of the afternoon sun.
The housekeeping staff had clearly done a thorough job.
Tracy and Rachel put down their luggage and, as if inspecting the results, slowly took a tour of the villa.
From the living room to the kitchen, from the dining room to the backyard, they carefully looked at every corner, occasionally whispering opinions on where something could be added or where the layout could be adjusted.
Landon followed behind them, looking at their serious profiles, his heart filled with a solid sense of belonging.
This was the core part of the life he wanted.
Finally, they returned to the living room and sat down on the wide sofa.
Tracy patted the spot next to her, signaling Landon to sit down. Rachel sat on Landon's other side.
Landon looked at them with some confusion. Both of their expressions had become somewhat serious, yet they were suppressing an inexplicable excitement.
Tracy took a deep breath and spoke first, saying in her usual calm tone: "While we were in New York, besides Rachel's audition and a few commercial contacts, I also went to see someone privately to discuss a project."
She paused and looked into Landon's eyes; in those eyes that were always calmly analyzing, a rare light was clearly dancing at this moment.
"Original Film, have you heard of them? Their founder, Neal Moritz, happened to be in New York for some business."
A bolt of lightning instantly flashed through Landon's mind. Of course he knew!
Original Film, Neal Moritz! A name that would be closely linked to a series of successful commercial blockbusters over the next twenty years!
Tracy continued, her speaking pace steady, but every word seemed to carry weight: "Mr. Moritz is preparing a new movie, and he will be the main producer. It's roughly a medium budget, and the theme is street racing."
Landon's breath hitched slightly.
"The working title of the movie is 'the fast and the furious'." Tracy's voice remained steady, but Landon could hear the surging undercurrent beneath that calm surface.
"Mr. Moritz saw the Delmont advertisement and also noticed the recently published Marie Claire magazine."
"He is very interested in you and thinks you have a vibe that fits what they want. Young, stylish, with a bit of a rebellious streak, but not quite a pure bad boy."
She stopped there, picked up the water glass in front of her, and took a small sip.
The living room was extremely quiet, with only the faint sound of the wind coming from outside.
Rachel held her breath, her eyes wide, looking at Landon and then at Tracy.
Tracy put down the glass and locked her gaze on Landon again.
This time, a crack appeared in the calm mask of the professional Agent on her face, and her voice unconsciously rose a bit, carrying unbelievable pleasant surprise and emphasis:
"He contacted WMA, and the company passed The Message to me. Neal Moritz wants you to audition."
She paused again, as if needing to confirm that every word she spoke was real.
Then, her voice rose again, completely casting aside her calm, and she exchanged a wildly excited look with Rachel:
"He wants you to audition for the lead! Landon! The lead!"
The moment the words fell, it was as if a switch had been flipped.
Tracy and Rachel jumped up from the sofa at the same time. These two women, who usually had very different styles, now had the same unreserved ecstasy blooming on their faces.
They surrounded Landon, who was still sitting on the sofa, shouting and jumping; Rachel even hopped a few times in excitement.
"The lead! Did you hear that, Landon! It's the lead!" Rachel's voice was sharp and excited.
Although Tracy didn't scream again, her eyes were incredibly bright, and her chest heaved slightly; clearly, her heart was also far from calm.
She leaned over, cupped Landon's face with both hands, kissed him hard, and then pulled back, as if wanting to see every trace of expression on his face.
Landon was indeed stunned.
Even though he was mentally prepared, and even though he already had a premonition when Tracy mentioned'street racing', 'Original Film', and 'Neal Moritz', the moment the name 'the fast and the furious' was officially spoken—especially when the words 'audition for the lead' hit him—his mind still went blank for a second.
Boom—!
Immense joy surged from the deepest part of his heart like a tsunami, instantly sweeping through his entire body.
Adrenaline secreted wildly, and his heart pounded heavily and joyfully in his chest.
Of course he knew this movie! The original work of what would later develop into one of the world's most profitable film franchises!
He knew the street culture, brotherhood, speed, and passion it represented, as well as its huge influence on a generation of young people!
And he, Landon Williams, a rookie actor who was struggling to make ends meet just a few months ago, actually got the chance to audition for the lead, Brian O'Conner!
That undercover cop, the character who would later become one of the cores of the 'Family'!
After the ecstasy, a sliver of cold reality quickly cut in: this meant that this role likely originally belonged to Paul Walker.
That sunny, handsome actor who had an indissoluble bond with racing.
That Paul Walker who later died young in a car accident, breaking the hearts of countless fans.
A complex emotion welled up in Landon's heart. There was an extreme desire for the opportunity, the shock of a turning point in fate, and also a subtle sense of apology toward the actor he had never met.
But this apology was soon covered by a more powerful thought: this was a golden opportunity to change everything! He had to seize it! At all costs!
As for Paul Walker... Landon silently said to the image in that time and space: Sorry, but I'm taking this opportunity.
Perhaps, this might not necessarily be a bad thing for you?
At least, you wouldn't, more than ten years later, because of driving... Landon suppressed this somewhat absurd thought, chalking it up to a form of self-consolation.
But regardless, he wanted this role.
Tracy and Rachel finally calmed down a bit, but their faces were still flushed, and they stared at Landon without blinking, waiting for his reaction.
"The lead..." Landon finally found his voice, which was a bit dry. He cleared his throat and looked at Tracy, a strong light bursting from his eyes. "Are you sure? Auditioning for the lead? Brian O'Conner?"
"The undercover cop in the script is indeed named Brian," Tracy nodded, regaining some of her professional calm, but the smile at the corner of her mouth couldn't be suppressed no matter what.
"How did you know?" Tracy was a little puzzled, but quickly continued, "However, an audition is just an opportunity, Landon. The competition will be extremely fierce. This isn't a supporting role in a TV series; this is the lead in a movie targeting the summer season!"