Arthur Smith's Hollywood Odyssey

Around noon, Arthur found Simon and took him to have a big meal.

While cutting his steak, Simon asked worriedly, "Arthur, did you really beat up Ron?"

Arthur took a bite of his salad. "The cost of this meal, including the tip, exceeds 50 dollars, all covered by Ron!"

Hearing this, Simon realized it was true, "But won't the school punish you? After all, you fought in front of many people!"

"If they do, I don't mind beating up Ron again," Arthur said, wiping his mouth and taking a sip of coffee. "Let's not worry about that for now!"

Simon nodded and noticed Arthur picking up a copy of The New York Times and starting to read.

"The Mitsubishi Estate Company, under Japan's Mitsubishi Group, has purchased 14 office buildings in Rockefeller Center for billions of dollars, becoming the majority shareholder with 80% ownership!"

"On the other side of the Pacific, Tokyo's Imperial Palace Grounds in Japan, this small area of one square mile of land, is valued at the market price equal to California's 420,000 square kilometers of land."

"And now, the overall land value of Tokyo, Japan, exceeds the value of the entire United States' 9.3 million square kilometers of land!"

The New York Times thus asked all Americans: Who really won World War II?

"Japan is amazing, buying out America," Arthur now knew that the Japanese government had already proactively burst their real estate bubble this year, and in about two or three years, the Japanese stock market would face nightmares.

The earlier Plaza Accord had appreciated the yen and depreciated the dollar, giving Japan a lot of confidence. Although the Louvre Accord later came out to stop further dollar depreciation, the yen's appreciation couldn't be stopped.

"Hmm, I heard the Japanese plan to acquire Hollywood's Columbia Pictures. They have too much money!" Simon suddenly looked up and said.

"Now what we need to focus is on how to make money. What the Japanese are acquiring, or whether Eastern Europe's political situation is stable, has nothing to do with us. By the way, I remember you mentioned Compton is a rough place, right? How bad is it?"

Simon looked up, surprised, "Are you planning to go there? Don't! That area is a large black community full of gang members!"

Compton is a large community city in South Los Angeles. Arthur was interested because Compton had formed a group that released its first rap album this year.

This directly made Compton the center of West Coast gangster rap. Arthur saw many MV recruitment ads from Compton!

Who knows which big shot the future West Coast gangster rap king, Snoop Dogg, is currently under?

"I'm just asking. There are plenty of other jobs," Arthur said while flipping through the recruitment information in the newspaper.

"How about McDonald's? You used to frequent fast-food joints," Simon suggested.

"We'll see," Arthur didn't really want to keep being a waiter.

"By the way, I've decided to take a break from school. You'll probably see less of me after this."

"Ah, that's why you brought me out for a big meal. But don't you have some money saved up? You can work over the summer to gather tuition fees, right?"

"I have a dream to chase. It's time to fulfill that damn dream!"

"What dream?"

"I set a small goal: to make 100 million dollars first!"

"Cough, cough, Arthur, did the last time you fell in the water..." Simon pointed to his head.

***

In the afternoon, as soon as Arthur returned to school, he was called to the dean's office.

The dean of the College of Film and Television at California State University, Northridge, Lukoff, was flipping through Arthur's file. He then looked up at Arthur. "You want to take a year off from school?"

So it wasn't about the fight? Arthur thought it was because of the fight with Ron. Such a small matter, who would care about it?

Arthur nodded, "Yes, I need more time to prepare for the future!"

"Why not wait until you officially graduate? You can do some part-time jobs now, which will help with your employment after graduation," Lukoff knew Arthur's situation was special, and tuition was a big problem.

"For student loans, your application is totally fine!"

Arthur shook his head, looking at the slightly gray-haired Dean Lukoff. "Sir, it's not because of those reasons."

Saying this, Arthur stood up and walked to the window, looking at the campus. "The new cultural wave now makes the young rebellious, flaunting their individuality, pursuing freedom and taking pride in being anti-mainstream.

Look at those guys in school, they are full of alcohol, marijuana and sex, and their minds are full of freeing their nature.

They don't understand the real meaning of society. Our school's dropout rate exceeds 30%, right?"

"Arthur, you..." Lukoff didn't expect Arthur to say such a thing.

Arthur smiled and pointed at himself. "Mr. Lukoff, in the future, California State University, Northridge, will be proud of me. The College of Film and Television will be known for educating Arthur Smith."

"Just like California State University, Long Beach, having Steven Spielberg as an alumnus, becoming a shining star in the recruitment brochure!"

Arthur originally planned to drop out directly but thought it best to take a break first. Perhaps he might want to return to experience college life?

Although the possibility is small, dropping out could still happen anytime.

Lukoff smiled, "Kid, since you've made your decision, we wish you well and hope you have a bright future!"

After shaking hands with Lukoff, Arthur left the school directly. For other students, it was the start of a summer vacation.

But for Arthur, this was the start of a new life!

Arthur lived in a typical two-story home in the southern Northridge area, in the midwestern region of the San Fernando Valley. The house originally belonged to Arthur and his parents, but now it was just Arthur alone!

In the evening, Arthur went to a nearby fast-food restaurant to have dinner.

"Hey, Arthur, any plans for the summer?" The fast-food restaurant owner, Jeff, a bald and fat man, was clearly familiar with Arthur.

"Summer? No summer for me," Arthur shook his head while sitting in a chair. "I've taken a break from school!"

"No summer means..." Jeff was stunned. "You actually took a break from school? Is it because of tuition fees?"

"Sort of. Anyway, it was a waste of time for me," Arthur was quite calm about it. "Just the usual, please. Also, a Coke!"

"Oh, you haven't had Coke for half a month," Jeff smiled, patting Arthur on the shoulder with his meaty hand. "If there's no job in Hollywood, you can always come here!"

Jeff leaned in close to Arthur's ear. "I just hired a young girl, but she's too careless."

"Thanks, Jeff!" Arthur gladly accepted the suggestion.

"Sir, your food is here," a waitress brought a tray with a burger, Coke, and mashed potatoes.

"Ah!" The waitress slipped, but Arthur quickly caught her.

The Coke spilled, and the burger fell right into Arthur's lap!

Jeff facepalmed, shouting, "Jennifer, why can't you even handle this small task?"

"Sorry, sorry," the waitress quickly apologized. "I'll get another Coke!"

Arthur didn't pay much attention to the waitress and just glanced at Jeff, "Is she the one you mentioned?"

Jeff spread his hands, "Who else? Luckily it happened to you today!"

"Alright," Arthur waved his hand. "Young girls like her are either students or here to chase their Hollywood dream."

"Hey, Arthur, this meal is on the house," Jeff said before heading back to the kitchen. Soon, a few loud shouts were heard.

"Sir, your Coke," the waitress returned with a new Coke. "So sorry about earlier!"

"Hmm," Arthur looked up and noticed the girl had a bit of baby fat, seemed quite young, and was quite pretty. He comforted her, "Don't worry, old Jeff is actually a very nice guy!"

"Thanks. I've tried several jobs, but none seem to fit," the waitress chatted a bit more with Arthur, seeing that he was about the same age.

"By the way, I'm Arthur, Arthur Smith!"

Arthur extended his right hand.

"Oh, Jennifer Aniston!" Jennifer Aniston extended her hand and shook Arthur's.

*****

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