The deserted road runs through the low hills, and the vast expanse of green hides the villas with their own courtyards, and it seems that everywhere they go is deserted, but it seems that they have entered the boundaries of the town at this time. A mist lingers on the distant hills, churning slowly in the flow of the setting sun, and the verdant hills and turquoise lakes loom in the mist.

Suddenly, all the surrounding obscurations disappeared, and the endless sandy beach appeared in front of me, the mist rolled on the sea surface, and it looked magnificent against the background of the bright red sunset on the edge of the sky, but there was a roar on the calm sea, rolling in from all directions, but it was impossible to find the exact source of the sound, and the hazy water vapor and mist in front of me were surging and tumbling in the sight, and some of the scenery at the end of the horizon could be seen faintly, as if it were a legendary mirage.

"So, this is Huntington Beach. beach）？ Hugo raised his eyebrows slightly, he didn't expect that Huntington Beach, which is said to be more lively than Santa Monica, would be so deserted.

"You know it's winter, right?" Samora, who was driving, asked with a chuckle.

Hugo nodded, "Of course, but it's too ......" Hugo looked out the window at the gloomy and dilapidated, almost unable to believe that he was in California now, and that he was less than a thirty-minute drive from Los Angeles.

"Last year, Orange County (e. try), the municipal treasurer invested in derivatives and incurred large losses, and the government had to declare bankruptcy and pay back the money by laying off staff and curtailing municipal services. It's a mess right now, and it hasn't been restored yet. Joseph explained simply.

In Orange County, Hugo learned more about this Los Angeles county under the name of "Orange County". This is one of the most famous wealthy areas in the whole of California, and unlike Malibu, which has become the backyard of the rich and wealthy, most of the people living here are white middle-class or wealthy families, although not the top rich, but they all have rich family assets, which also makes the whole county form a small circle of self-protection. Orange County is one of the most Republican-leaning counties in the country, and their conservative attitude is no less than that of Utah.

However, Hugo's impression of Orange County is the image of sun-drenched affluence after the 21st century, when Orange County, which had just experienced bankruptcy, was full of a kind of depression waiting to be rebuilt. Of course, the cold winter weather in March is also one of the important reasons. That's why Hugo saw such a different landscape.

"It was a very ingenious decision to choose this as the venue for the dinner." Hugo felt the car gradually slow down and the scenery around him began to become clearer.

In front of you is a private house, not a villa, just a two-storey house with a small garden in front of the door and a garage for two cars next to it. This is true for many middle-class families. It's even more inconspicuous in Orange County, where almost all the houses around are pretty much the same.

The new line film company arranged tonight's dinner here, obviously to avoid people's eyes, Hugo looked around, this is a very strong life community, there is no special place, there are not many vehicles parked on the street, neatly placed, will not attract attention at all.

Samora stopped the car, turned back and said, "Get out of the car first, I'll park the car a little farther away." Hugo's license plate number is memorized by almost all reporters in Los Angeles, so to avoid accidents, Samora doesn't plan to park her car in a prominent place.

Hugo and Joseph got out of the car and looked at the house number in front of them, and Joseph confirmed, "Yes, this is it." ”

The two men walked through the garden in the vestibule and rang the doorbell. After waiting for a while, someone came and opened the door, revealing a very unfamiliar face, about fifty years old, with a white beard, a gray hair neatly combed, and a warm smile on his face, which looked like a university professor full of wisdom.

"Hey, look what's coming." With a look of surprise on his face, he said cheerfully, "Welcome, Hugo, Joseph, I'm Dan Colesrude. kolsrud）。 ”

The master skillfully says the names of Hugo and Joseph, but Hugo and they see each other for the first time, which makes the scene a little weird, as if they are attending some secret meeting on the street. Dan sensitively sensed Hugo's hesitation, and he didn't mind, and took the initiative to speak, "My daughter's room is covered with posters of glory to death, and if I don't know anything about it, then this father is too incompetent." ”

A clever answer, instead of mentioning the recent boiling movie news, instead mentioned the band in a different way, and in the name of children. Just by looking at the face, you can see Dan's sophistication.

Hugo remembered what Rick had mentioned before he left, that today's dinner was a private party, not large, and the organizer was not an insider, but a lawyer - and a lawyer dealing with divorce cases. It can be seen that the new line film company has worked hard for this dinner, and all of them are very low-key. Then, the Dan in front of him is a divorce lawyer.

"This has helped me a lot, every time I go to someone's house, I always worry about self-introduction and greetings, I am afraid that if I speak inappropriately and make the host uncomfortable, then the next dinner party will be bad." It was Joseph who spoke, and with a friendly smile on his face, he spoke calmly, and a self-teasing joke made Dan laugh too.

"Hehe, a lot of times, embarrassment is part of the dinner party, isn't it? Every awkward moment at the Thanksgiving table is always a must, and I always look forward to the moment when everyone looks at each other and has nothing to say. Dan's words livened up the atmosphere at once, and then he moved out of the way slightly, "So, do I have this honor to invite you in?" ”

"I think it's better for us to go buy a bottle of wine and come back." The expression on Hugo's face also became active, and he took over the conversation, "Isn't it too rude otherwise?" ”

Before leaving, none of them expected that today would actually be a private dinner, because Rick heard that the news confirmed that New Line Pictures had invited many people, at least twenty or more. Then it's more of a small pie than a private dinner. It's like the New Year's Eve school duì that auditioned for the "sugar-coated trap", but on a smaller scale.

Generally speaking, you need to bring a little souvenir when you go to someone's house, but you don't need to participate in the party. So, Hugo, they came empty-handed, but now it seems that it is not very timely.

While Hugo apologized, he wondered what the hell was New Line Film Company doing today? Joseph was just as puzzled at this time.

"Trust me, the last thing you need for dinner today is wine. Anne, my wife, had repeatedly stressed to me that if anyone was drinking in the dining room or in the hall tonight, I would not want to go back to my bedroom in the evening. Beer and champagne are her bottom line. Dan still said calmly, with a relaxed smile on his face, which was obviously what he expected.

Hugo and Joseph looked at each other, but they had to go with the flow. At least, judging by the current indications, New Line Films has no intention of hype, which is a positive sign.

"Oh, by the way, Hugo's assistant, Samora is parking, I'm ......" Joseph then remembered, if it was a pie, then there was no problem when to enter, but it seemed to be a private dinner, and even the door needed to introduce itself, so it would be more troublesome for Samora to come alone.

Dan interrupted Joseph, "I'm still wondering why Samora and Rick didn't show up, don't worry, I've got a place for them tonight." "It seems that the other party is really fully prepared.

"Rick, he's coming in another car." Joseph looked at Hugo and said something slurred.

In fact, before they set off, they were still worried about being followed by the paparazzi, Hugo has been watched by the paparazzi recently, and even the paparazzi have followed him when he goes jogging in the morning. So, Rick becomes the bait for the decoy, and he, Carl and Charlize are the first to set off in another car - Charlize is also invited to tonight's dinner, and she hopes to play the heroine.

Judging from the news just contacted, Rick was indeed entangled by the paparazzi, so Hugo was safe here.

Dan raised his eyebrows slightly, and didn't say anything more, "Then I think it's a wise choice for you to go and enjoy some desserts or fruits first." ”

Hugo and Joseph entered the room, and the two of them went to the dressing room to take off their coats and exchanged glances. Obviously, tonight's audition has changed a lot from expectations, but they don't have time to discuss it now, so they can only take it one step at a time.

After leaving the dressing room, Hugo had time to look at the situation in the room, at this time there were more than a dozen people standing in the room at random, everyone nodded and greeted familiarly, although Hugo couldn't remember his name, and he had face blindness, but from Joseph's reaction, it could be seen that these were all acquaintances in the circle, at least not unfamiliar faces.

It's like a secret club, where only a certain group of people can enter, and everyone may not know each other, but they won't be strangers. Although it is said to be a dinner party, it is actually a small party duì, but it is more personal and intimate.

At this time, people kept coming up to greet Hugo, and Hugo didn't remember any of his names, but he knew that they were either the senior executives of the New Line Film Company or the confirmed members of the "Seven Deadly Sins" crew, which also made the purpose of the dinner more and more clear. Hugo couldn't help but sigh a little, New Line Film Company took great pains for tonight's audition.

But...... Why? Isn't it okay to have one-on-one auditions? Can't you just talk over the phone? Why go to such great lengths to host a secret dinner party?

"Hey, Hugo!" A voice came, interrupting Hugo's train of thought, and Hugo put on a polite smile again, ready to greet him, but when he saw the comer, he couldn't help but be stunned.

It was Tom Cruise.