Inside the hotel room, Landon let out a long sigh of relief as he emerged from that long and taxing immersive scenario. His forehead was covered in sweat, but his eyes shone with excitement and satisfaction.
He had fallen deeply in love with the content Jennifer directed; it was a sparring match of acting, a carnival of imagination, and an ultimate experience of emotional intensity.
He pulled the exhausted but bright-eyed Jennifer close and gave her a deep kiss. "You're a genius," he whispered. "Tonight... was incredible."
On the other side of the wall, Zoe was slumped on the sofa, her pajamas disheveled and the flush on her cheeks yet to fade.
She felt an unprecedented, complex, and indescribable sense of exhaustion and satisfaction.
Because of the missing information and the frequent switching of roles, her experience of immersion was fragmented and imperfect, even somewhat chaotic and frustrating.
But it was precisely this imperfection, along with the different impacts, that brought a cumulative excitement.
Every time was slightly different due to the variations in character settings, something unprecedented in her solitary experiences.
She listened quietly as the sounds next door gradually subsided, feeling her racing heart slowly return to normal.
The aftereffects of the red wine and the lingering physical sensations left her lightheaded. Staring at the ceiling, she thought vaguely: Jennifer Connelly... what kind of woman is she, really?
And Landon—how could he transform back into Charles the next day after a night like this?
She didn't know the answer.
She only knew that she probably wouldn't be able to quit this ridiculous habit of hers.
Moreover, an emotion she was unwilling to admit to herself was quietly growing in the darkness with every listening session.
When Eva Mendes received a call from Robert Newman, a senior agent at her agency, ICM, asking if she knew a singer named Landon Williams, she held the receiver and froze for a moment in a lounge near the Los Angeles set of training day.
"Landon... Williams?" She searched her mind, but the only things that surfaced were the melody of "Yeah!" which had been playing repeatedly on the radio lately, and the young face that occasionally flashed in entertainment news, linked to Britney Spears' name.
"No, Robert, I don't think I know him. Is something the matter?"
Robert Newman's voice came through the receiver:
"Universal Music Group just sent a formal invitation. They want you to star as the female lead in a music video for a new song by this Mr. Williams. The song is called 'Burn,' and it will be the lead single following 'Yeah!'"
Eva's hand tightened on the phone. Her first reaction was shock rather than joy.
This wasn't because she had any prejudice against music videos or pop singers—struggling in Hollywood meant any exposure was worth careful consideration.
Her shock stemmed from pure "surprise."
She had zero intersection with this singer who had become an overnight sensation. They had no mutual friends, and they hadn't even crossed paths at a single party.
For Universal Music Group, especially their top brass, to name her directly—the level of this invitation itself signaled an extraordinary amount of importance.
However, the reality of her situation soon set in, cooling her excitement.
With a hint of regret, she said to Robert:
"Robert, you know I'm already on the set of training day, playing the wife of Denzel Washington's character.
The role isn't the biggest, but the shooting schedule is tight, and you know how demanding Director Antoine Fuqua is... I'm afraid it'll be very difficult to coordinate enough time to go to New York to film an MV."
Robert was naturally aware of his client's schedule; that wasn't the reason for his call.
"I understand, Eva. A scheduling conflict is the most legitimate and irreproachable reason." His tone shifted, becoming more solemn.
"However, I personally suggest you call this Landon Williams yourself to explain the situation and express your regrets and sincerity.
Universal is serious this time; the contract starting point for this newcomer is very high, close to A-list. Directly rejecting their invitation, even with a good reason, isn't as secure as personal communication. After all, this is a good opportunity to build a connection, even if it doesn't work out this time."
Robert quickly obtained Landon's private number through his channels and sent it to Eva.
That day at noon, on the set of A Beautiful Mind, when Zoe handed Landon the phone showing an unfamiliar New York number, he answered and heard a female voice with a slight Miami accent.
"Mr. Williams? Hello, I'm Eva Mendes. I'm sorry to bother you..." Eva's tone was very friendly, even complimentary, as she praised the success of "Yeah!"
She then sincerely explained her predicament regarding the upcoming training day shoot and her inability to coordinate her schedule, expressing deep apologies.
As Landon listened, he felt caught between laughter and tears.
The other party's wording was cautious and appropriate, but behind that careful apology, he sensed a trace of concern that she might offend him, a Universal Music artist.
He thought helplessly: Had he already become the kind of "difficult big shot" in others' eyes who would hold a grudge and sabotage an actress just because she didn't have an opening in her schedule?
The hierarchy and reverence in this industry could be truly exasperating at times.
"Ms. Mendes, you're being too polite," Landon responded in an equally courteous tone.
"I completely understand; work comes first. I appreciate you taking the time to call. training day is a great project, and I wish you a smooth shoot." He came across as magnanimous and composed.
Eva seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and her tone lightened as she said, half-jokingly and half-seriously:
"Once my filming here wraps up, perhaps we'll have a chance to grab a drink together in Los Angeles. Again, I'm so sorry we couldn't collaborate this time."
After hanging up, Landon shook his head.
He understood that Eva's invitation to "grab a drink" was more of a signal of goodwill, intended to completely dissolve any potential unpleasantness. He didn't mind; in fact, he felt the girl had handled things quite thoroughly.
To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings and to ensure Eva's caution wasn't in vain, Landon immediately called Jimmy Iovine's assistant, Amy.
He first explained that Eva Mendes couldn't participate due to her movie schedule and specifically emphasized:
"Please tell Jimmy that Eva called me personally and explained everything very clearly with a great attitude. It's purely a scheduling conflict, nothing else. Don't let the company have a bad impression of her."
With that unexpected interlude handled, the choice for the female lead needed to be adjusted quickly.
Landon said directly to Amy, "Then let's go with the one on the backup list and contact Jessica Biel's people. See what her schedule is like."
Thanks to Universal Music Group's efficient execution and Jessica Biel's current itinerary, communication went exceptionally smoothly.
The following evening, at a private club in New York, Landon met Jessica Biel, who had come by invitation.
Looking at the youthful, beautiful girl before him, whose face carried a hint of nervousness and excitement, Landon felt that helpless sense of absurd destiny again.
He had originally intended to let Justin Timberlake off the hook.