America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

In the therapy room of the psychological clinic, Dr. Laura with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail looked at Martin with surprise, "Not taking the couch today?"

Martin smiled, "The couch is boring."

Dr. Laura took off her gold-rimmed glasses.

But then Martin asked, "I have a question for you. If someone is in urgent need of money and doesn't have enough cash, and his wife disagrees with selling fixed assets, might he earn money through other industries or professions?"

After thinking for a moment, Dr. Laura analyzed, "Everyone has cognitive inertia and professional circles. Even if they want to earn money through other industries or professions, normally they would first choose work related to their own field."

Martin nodded, "Like me, not being able to make money as an actor in the short term, I'd still do work related to acting."

"You're not included," Dr. Laura said earnestly, "You might become a menace, like robbing the gold from the Federal Reserve."

Laughing, Martin chatted with Dr. Laura for a while before leaving the clinic.

Getting into the car, Martin asked Bruce, "How much is the victim suing Casey Affleck for?"

Bruce replied, "Three million US dollars. It's not a random demand but a compensation calculated by lawyers based on the serious psychological issues the victim will inevitably suffer from due to the disfigurement."

"Too bad Casey is broke," Martin had already considered these things, "His financial situation is very poor. According to what Lily heard from chatting with him, it seems he even had to raise funds specifically to buy those statues."

"The Affleck Brothers are very close; Ben has always been helping out his younger brother," continued Bruce.

"The deep affection between brothers ought to be touching, but it's being exploited by the wicked," Martin remarked.

"That's why you're a bad guy," Bruce called out Martin's true nature, "Always liking to attack people with their strengths."

Martin, thinking of Elizabeth, suddenly blurted out a very cliché villainous line, "He messed with the wrong person."

Upon hearing this, Bruce felt an urge to draw a gun and blow Martin's head to smithereens.

The line was too pretentious.

Martin took out his phone and called Nicholson, "Buddy, time to take action!"

Nicholson, with both money and time, only lacked entertainment. "Ha, it seems everything is going smoothly."

His laughter stopped, "Just wait, I'll handle the Adler School of Acting."

"Just give it a try, no need to take risks. Especially you, you're getting on in years, don't foolishly charge in," Martin reminded.

"What do you mean I'm getting on in years?" Nicholson patted the girl beside him, asking, "Jennifer, tell that asshole Martin if I'm still young and strong, will you?"

Jennifer Lawrence crawled forward a bit, yelling loudly, "Oh God, Jack, slow down, what are you using? A rod?"

Nicholson touched her cheek.

Jennifer Lawrence, displaying acting beyond her years, huffed and puffed for a while before catching her breath and apologizing, "Sorry, I was too excited just now, couldn't help myself."

Nicholson found that Martin had already hung up the phone, feeling a triumphant sense of having scored, boasted, "Very good, Jennifer, you've improved quickly. As your teacher, I'm proud."

He then thought of Martin's female student, "When we get the chance, I'll take you to a gathering. You must outshine that bastard Martin's student!"

Jennifer Lawrence responded, "Teacher, I definitely won't let you down."

Nicholson thought for a moment, then offered, "I have a job for you to do soon. If you do well, I'll take care of finding you a significant role."

The cunning Oscar-winning actor was well aware of what an eighteen-year-old girl desired.

Of course, it was opportunities and roles!

Could it be they wanted his wrinkled old skin, his potbelly like a beach ball, soft as a marshmallow?

Jennifer Lawrence had been eagerly waiting for such opportunities since she met Nicholson two years ago. She agreed immediately, "Jack, whatever you ask me to do, I'll do."

Nicholson, after all, was old; he said, "Alright, let me get some rest. If anyone other than Martin and Leonardo calls, don't bother."

Having been in an on-and-off relationship with him for two years, Jennifer Lawrence knew that aside from family, Nicholson's closest relationships were with those two.

Before closing his eyes to sleep, Nicholson reminded, "We have to keep our relationship secret."

Jennifer Lawrence hastily assured, "I haven't mentioned it to anyone."

......

Ben pulled up outside his home in his Volvo.

He didn't immediately get out of the car but instead opened the glove compartment, retrieved a bottle of whiskey, and took a few swigs.

As the alcohol hit his stomach, his agitation subsided somewhat.

Ben got out of the car and entered his home, asking Jennifer Garner to leave their kids with the nanny, saying, "We need to talk about something."

Garner followed him out to the yard, "Is it about Casey?"

Ben asked, "You already know everything."

Garner brushed the dust off her hands, "It's all over the gossip papers."

"Cassie was set up..." Ben roughly recounted the events, "Now the situation is very troublesome."

Garner crossed her arms, "So what? Are we supposed to pay for his possible compensation of up to 3 million US Dollars?"

Ben said, "Cassie doesn't have the money."

"Do we have the money?" Garner stated matter-of-factly, "Since Daredevil and Erica, how much have we earned? The earnings from the past few years barely cover the family expenses, where would we have that much capital?"

Ben tentatively said, "I'm thinking of selling the house in Miami."

Garner objected, "I don't agree! That's where we spent our honeymoon, it holds special meaning for us, and the selling other assets now would lead to significant losses due to the economic downturn! Besides, haven't we helped Cassie enough already? He's in his thirties, not a teenager!"

"Cassie is my brother!" Ben couldn't help but raise his voice, "He's my family!"

Garner's voice also rose, "I am your wife, carrying your child inside!"

The couple inevitably got into an argument, which ended with them parting on bad terms.

Ben went out for lunch, and he had to head to the Adler School of Acting in the afternoon. Originally, after Elizabeth Olsen had missed several classes consecutively, he had been considering quitting the job, but the contract he signed stipulated a minimum number of teaching hours.

The compensation for these kinds of part-time celebrity teachers was substantial, and there would be a hefty penalty fee for breach of contract.

The economic crisis across America left all of Hollywood in a financial crunch, and Ben, as an actor, couldn't even make it as a second-tier celebrity now, already accustomed to large expenses, was also feeling the financial pinch.

Ben suppressed his impatience and arrived at the Adler School of Acting to continue teaching.

Entering the temporary office, he heard several veteran acting teachers of the school chatting idly.

While these people were also seasoned actors, they weren't stars; acting was more like a side job to them.

"The school just admitted a large group of young students. I taught one of the classes this morning; it was tough," the middle-aged bald teacher shook his head, "They don't have any basics and just dream of becoming Hollywood stars and making big money."

The man with a large nose said, "The school isn't what it used to be anymore; it's all about money now, accepting any kind of student."

The woman with a ponytail jumped in, "They charge 6000 US Dollars for a few training classes, but what's the actual investment? The money comes in too quickly; why wouldn't the school recruit? The shareholders have all fattened their wallets."

In Los Angeles, the somewhat reputable acting schools or celebrity training classes charge exorbitant fees.

Many students borrow money or even take out loans to enroll, believing they are only a step away from success.

"This batch admitted four classes, over a hundred people," the bald man continued, "Unless they are second-generation stars or have resource backing, the rest won't escape the life of a temporary actor, until they leave Los Angeles or change professions."

The ponytailed woman said, "That's not for us to worry about. Once this batch is gone, a new one will soon arrive. North America will never lack young people dreaming of stardom; they're like grass for us schools to harvest over and over again, and yet new ones keep sprouting up."

The man with the large nose spoke, "I sneakily checked the school's financial reports, and they're really making a killing."

Ben interjected, "Have you thought about starting your own acting school?"

"Us?" The bald man laughed, "Ben, you think too highly of us. We don't have the funds, fame, or resources. If we really started acting classes, we'd even struggle to recruit students, let alone be like the Adler School that can introduce actors to Hollywood crews to serve as background--to get real acting experience."

Ben commented, "The resources at Adler are not something ordinary schools can compare with."

The ponytailed woman inquired, "Aren't there many Hollywood stars who start acting classes? In 2000, Marlon Brando started one and even kicked Leonardo out of the classroom."

She brought the conversation back on track, "Ben, haven't you thought about starting your own?"

Ben was rarely clear-headed, "My fame and resources are still lacking, it would be too taxing to do that."

"But the money comes really fast, just a few classes and you hear the sound of US Dollars flowing," the bald man gestured towards some young people, "People like them, ten or twenty years from now, will still flood into Los Angeles in droves."

Ben looked over there; he had been one of the many dream pursuers back in the day, understanding their plight.

Even with the slimmest hope, they dare to charge forward, committing everything within their means, to bet on that minuscule chance of success. Find exclusive stories on empire

It wasn't just money; they would readily gamble other stakes too.

In the Los Angeles area, there were many acting schools like this that harvested newcomers.

Studio Four, located in Burbank, was one of them.

Jennifer Lawrence, with a backpack, like many other dream-chasing girls, arrived at the front of Studio Four.

The most conspicuous feature here was the large poster of James Franco, along with movie posters and famous characters he had played.

Studio Four was an acting training school opened by James Franco.

Of course, it was much smaller and less well-known compared to Adler.

Upon entering the doorway, a receptionist at the front desk immediately greeted Jennifer Lawrence.

"Excuse me, do you teach acting here?" Jennifer Lawrence pointed to the portrait of Franco on the back wall, "Does James Franco personally teach the classes?"