Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 30: A Beautiful Woman]

The phone rang, breaking the afternoon silence.

"Link, are you busy? Your old friend came to America. Do you have time to catch up?"

"Who?"

Upon hearing the familiar voice on the other end, Link rubbed his temples, feeling a rush of memories he didn't quite own.

"Don't you remember Lily? She came to Los Angeles back in '86 and stayed with me for over a month. You used to hang out with her a lot."

"Oh, I remember now. Is she with you?"

"Yep! I'll let her know you're coming. I'll have dinner ready by the time you get here."

After hanging up, Link went back to signing off on some purchase orders at Guess Pictures.

...

Around three in the afternoon, he left the studio and drove to El Monte, located on the east side of Los Angeles. El Monte was a small city in Los Angeles County, about thirty kilometers from downtown, similar to a suburban area.

With a population of roughly a hundred thousand, this place had become Link's home not long ago.

Initially, Link had been adopted at a young age by a couple after being left at an orphanage. They settled in Appleton, Wisconsin. Once he had turned nine, his adoptive parents divorced, and he moved with his mother to Los Angeles, finally landing in El Monte. Link's life took a turn at fifteen when his mother passed away from heart disease. Not wanting to return to an orphanage, he found work at a local restaurant.

It was there that he met Aunt Pat, who looked after him for a while.

Link spent three years in El Monte before moving to Los Angeles at eighteen, taking on various jobs, including one at a juice factory. Sometimes, he took on small acting roles on the side. Once, while doing a stunt, he accidentally fell off the shelf. He seemed fine at the time, but died suddenly after returning home that night.

The Lily mentioned by Aunt Pat is her cousin.

...

As Link drove into South El Monte, he parked in front of a modest Italian restaurant that bore a vintage sign from the old Northeast. 

As Link stepped out with a gift in hand, he greeted Aunt Pat and her husband warmly.

A few patrons recognized him and warmly complimented his success, mentioning how his film was a big hit.

...

While he spoke with them, a striking woman descended the stairs, her long black hair flowing behind her. She wore a beige jacket and black skinny jeans that accentuated her tall, graceful frame.

What captivated people about her was her gentle charm. Her sparkling eyes had a way of making a person feel like she was casting a spell.

"Are you Link? It's been years! You've grown up handsomely -- you look like a different person!"

As he admired Lily, she returned the gaze with a smile. Standing just over five seven, she was a bit shorter than him, tilting her head slightly to meet his gaze, her smile radiant.

[T/N: I think the author meant Liu Xiaoli, Liu Yifei's mother. I tried looking for US replacement for her, but I could not find similar person in the West. So, I went with an OC. If anyone has suggestions, reply here.]

"It's been five or six years. You still look as beautiful as ever!"

"Ha! You've changed so much. Not only are you handsome, but you're also quite smooth with those words. I remember you used to blush easily back then!"

Lily laughed, playfully pointing at his face.

"Yeah, back then, I was just a shy kid around beautiful women."

"Pat, listen to this guy -- he talks like a man in his thirties. Quite the smooth talker!"

Lily joked, glancing over at Aunt Pat with a playful smile.

"Link is an adult now; don't they all speak like that?" Aunt Pat chuckled and ushered them to the dining table filled with a banquet of dishes.

...

As they ate, Link caught up with Lily.

She had arrived a little over a month ago, starting off in New York, where she played a minor role in a TV show. Recently, she had moved to Los Angeles looking for work and to settle down.

"Settling down? You should be married by now! What about your husband?"

"We divorced last year. So, now I'm living here with my daughter."

She brushed her hair back, her expression composed as if her divorce hadn't affected her at all.

"Did your daughter come with you?"

"Yeah, I brought Cecilia along."

"Wow, you're a strong woman!"

Link teased her, a light laugh escaping him.

Lily gave him a mock glare, her gentle demeanor transforming into a fiery one. "Hey, men can't be relied on. If women don't empower themselves, what are they supposed to do -- starve?"

"How's the job hunt going? Planning to continue acting?"

"I'm not picky right now. I just want to find something stable."

She suddenly hesitated, her eyes reflecting a struggle. But then a sense of resolution washed over her. "Link, the news says you've become a big director. Do you have any connections for me? I can dance, act, and know a little bit of French."

"Sure! I hear you're open to anything, right?"

"It has to be a legit job. I can't work at a nightclub dancing -- that would be embarrassing back home."

"Come on, we're friends. Why would I set you up with something like that?"

Link put down his spoon and looked at Lily. "I have a friend at a film company who's looking for staff. There are openings in finance, PR, assistants, and logistics. Think about it. Just let me know what role fits you, and I'll put in a good word."

"Okay, you've made a promise. I won't hold back."

Lily smiled brightly.

"No need to be shy; we're family."

"You've definitely changed -- much more interesting than before. You were more straightforward back in the day," she said.

After finishing their meal at Aunt Pat's restaurant, Link exchanged contact details with Lily before driving back to Beverly Hills.

---

On the way, he received a call from Monica Bellucci, who wanted to meet for coffee the next day to discuss script and her role.

Link shared the address of Guess Pictures, letting her know he'd see her in the afternoon.

*****

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