Hollywood: The Greatest Showman - Chapter 251: Temporary Apartment

Chapter 251: Temporary Apartment

“Why do you want to keep staying in a hotel?” Nathan asked reflexively. Realizing he had spoken too bluntly, he quickly added, “Sorry,” and hastily explained, “I mean, staying in a hotel is not very convenient. It feels like being a guest, without the sense of home. Plus, there are strangers coming and going, your privacy isn’t guaranteed, and the paparazzi are a constant hassle.”

“I’m just a guest in Los Angeles,” Renly shrugged nonchalantly. Nathan blinked rapidly, his pupils dilating as he tried to discern the true emotion behind Renly’s words, unsure how to respond.

Seeing Nathan’s anxious and uneasy expression, Renly couldn’t help but laugh. He was reminded of the overbearing Fisher-Morgan and teased, “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

Nathan hesitated, then awkwardly scratched his head, his expression turning embarrassed. He wanted to explain but didn’t know where to start, finally just saying, “I know.” His clumsy words and honest demeanor made Renly chuckle, lightening the atmosphere.

Nathan refocused on the road, merging into the not-so-busy traffic. “I mean, you’ll be staying in Los Angeles for a while to shoot the film. Staying in a hotel won’t be convenient.”

“For a while?” Renly raised an eyebrow, not understanding Nathan’s comment. “Like Crazy” would wrap up in three days, and according to the plan, only one more day of filming was needed, with some time reserved for reshoots.

“Yes, the Justin crew will be shooting in Los Angeles for two to three weeks before heading to Rio. However, the Rio location hasn’t been finalized yet, so we might start shooting in Arizona first. We’ll have to wait for further notice from the crew. But it’s certain that Los Angeles will be the main base for the next period.”

Nathan explained calmly, but Renly felt a bit lost. He frowned and asked curiously, “Let’s backtrack a bit, Justin? Which Justin?”

“Justin Lin.” Nathan replied without hesitation, glancing at Renly and realizing his confusion. “Oh, sorry, you didn’t know yet. I forgot.” Another quick apology made Nathan flustered again.

Renly nodded slightly, “I’m all ears now.”

“Yes, yes,” Nathan nodded repeatedly. “‘Fast & Furious 5,’ that’s the project I was talking about. Andy said the contract is in the legal review stage. After ‘Like Crazy’ wraps up, you can start shooting ‘Fast & Furious 5’ right away.”

Renly’s eyebrow raised again, showing a mix of surprise and delight. He didn’t expect to actually get “Fast & Furious 5.” Thirteen days had passed since the start of “Like Crazy”—including two days crossing the Atlantic. He assumed they had found a more suitable actor, even if it wasn’t Dwayne, maybe someone else, as each day cost money.

“Does Andy have any other updates about ‘Fast & Furious 5’?” Renly asked curiously.

“Updates?” Nathan thought for a moment. “Yes, Andy said there are some surprises with this project, but he’ll handle everything. You just need to focus on wrapping up ‘Like Crazy’ and maybe hit the gym.”

Nathan didn’t say much, indicating Andy had given him limited information. However, Renly could imagine Andy’s composed and slightly smug smile—

Neither Andy nor Neil had truly seen Renly’s action skills, but he still secured the role of Hobbs, beating out Dwayne Johnson. It was like magic.

Some actors prepare for action films months in advance, but Renly had less than forty-eight hours. If “Like Crazy” wrapped up early, maybe he would have ninety-six hours.

“I think I’ll go for a run this evening.” Looking at the tall palm trees and wide streets outside the window, a young woman with a ponytail was jogging, wearing fitted leggings and a loose top. Her golden ponytail swayed rhythmically.

Nathan’s car stopped at a red light at an intersection, behind a silver convertible. The man in the convertible whistled at the woman. She jogged across the crosswalk, raised her middle finger at the car, and continued calmly.

Renly had visited Los Angeles several times but never truly experienced the city’s lifestyle. It seemed similar to New York yet vastly different. At the same time, his life as an actor was gradually changing.

Renly suddenly thought of Chris Hemsworth, who had moved to Los Angeles.

Once Nathan parked the car, Renly got out and surveyed the surroundings. The buildings were mostly two or three stories, with tall palm trees and low shrubs. The faded light green of late summer outlined a tranquil scene, with red brick walls and yellow roofs exuding a serene atmosphere.

Following the stairs to the building entrance, Nathan carried the luggage and opened the first-floor door. Inside was a rectangular atrium, with a corridor around it leading up. A piece of blue sky was visible above, and golden sunlight streamed in unobstructed.

In the pale light, yellow wooden doors could be seen, each hiding a small home, with about ten or twelve units per floor.

Nathan walked to the end of the right-hand corridor, opened a door, and called out, “Renly, here.” His voice echoed in the atrium, revealing a coolness of early autumn, but no neighbors reacted. This area was clearly better than Drake’s friend’s neighborhood, though Renly wasn’t familiar enough with Los Angeles to know exactly where it was.

Renly was surprised upon entering the room. From the outside, he thought it was a simple studio apartment, like the dense beehive residences in Hong Kong. But it was actually a two-bedroom apartment with a simple guest room leading to the courtyard. The bright light made the room look magnificent.

Walking down the hallway, a living room decorated in gray and beige appeared, with an L-shaped sofa against the wall and two large windows at the front. To the left, separated from the guest room by a wall, was the kitchen, divided from the living room by a reddish-brown bar. The spacious master bedroom was also on the left.

Spacious, cozy, modern, and elegant.

Renly found it interesting that both his New York and Los Angeles apartments were arranged by Andy. The New York apartment, located in Greenwich Village, had a strong design style and personal touch, with exposed pipes leaving a lasting impression and artistic elements hidden throughout.

The Los Angeles apartment, in a middle-class neighborhood of West Hollywood, had no particular style, just a simple living space, easy to move in and out of. It felt more lived-in than artistic.

In a way, this reflected the different styles of the two cities, at least in terms of art.

“This place was originally shared by two actors, you know, the typical Hollywood dreamers working as waiters while auditioning for roles. But one found a job in Las Vegas and moved out, and the other couldn’t afford the rent alone, so…”

Nathan set down the luggage and emerged, “What do you think?”

Renly looked around the room. “I’m a struggling actor too. Are you sure you don’t need another roommate?”

Nathan assumed Renly was joking, given that both top agents, Fisher and Andy, saw a bright future for him. Plus, as the new Emmy winner, Renly wasn’t exactly “struggling.”

Renly knew Nathan didn’t believe him.

Many viewers thought actors lived glamorous lives and envied their luxurious lifestyles. But maintaining such an image required significant expenses. Setting aside yachts, sports cars, and private jets, just the costs of clothing, food, and housing to match the level of public attention could be exorbitant.

Recently, Renly had attended the Toronto and Telluride festivals and traveled to London for a film, all at his own expense. His bank account had less than $10,000 left—his “Buried” payment hadn’t arrived yet. If “Buried” had no sponsors during its promotion, Renly would soon be broke again.

He truly was a struggling actor.