America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

At the Sunshine Hotel, Heath Ledger received the message and stood there in a daze, unable to fathom why.

Bale had promised to do his utmost to help him, and yet he had not even made it to the final audition, let alone win the role.

One who had seen hope only to reap despair— the blow was simply too harsh.

Heath Ledger picked up the phone and dialed Bale's number, intending to question him, but when he thought about everything Bale had done for him, all he could utter was, "Why has it turned out like this?"

Bale sighed, "Your news appeared on TMZ." He could only say, "I'm sorry, Heath, for calling you from New York, I didn't expect it to end this way..."

Heath Ledger had already pulled up his computer and, seeing the news on TMZ, said, "It's not your fault, it's my own inadequacy."

Bale urged, "Quit it, just quit it. That's the only way you're going to get your career back."

"I'll try," Heath Ledger didn't say much and quickly hung up the phone.

At that moment, the frustration in his chest was overwhelming, and there was only one way to alleviate it.

Therefore, Heath Ledger decided to put off quitting until he got back to New York—losing the role meant there was no rush to quit there.

About fifteen minutes later, an extremely agitated Heath Ledger stormed out of the hotel.

Due to the TMZ news, a number of paparazzi and entertainment reporters were waiting outside the hotel.

Someone immediately closed in: "Heath Ledger, how did you end up like this?"

Heath Ledger seemed not to hear and just yelled, "Michelle Williams left me because Martin Davis interfered, meddled between us..."

The entertainment reporters and paparazzi were all excited.

......

In a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, the sounds of playing poker were endless, and a joyful game of fighting the landlord was underway.

The landlord dad, faced with the pincer attack of two female tenants.

These past few months, Aniston had systematically been working out with a plan, and her strength had increased quite a bit; she now pressed both hands on Martin's back, even pushing up her shoulder against him, fiercely shoving him forward.

Or to be more accurate, it was more like a barbaric charge.

Jolie's head bumped against the wall, thumping loudly.

She didn't cry out in pain, instead egging Aniston on: "Jen, is this the result of your training? Or did you skip your meal today?"

"I'm going to make you pay, you witch!" Aniston panicked, retreating several steps before charging at Martin's back.

After the thud, Jolie was so elated she almost passed out.

Martin suddenly felt that he wasn't the landlord, Jolie was!

Late into the night, the joyful game finally came to a halt.

The three of them took a shower and ate late-night snacks to replenish their energy.

Aniston appraised Martin: "I feel like you've changed, you're thinner than before, and in terms of temperament..."

Jolie finished her sentence: "Like a pervert."

Martin spoke the truth: "I've been a super pervert since playing landlord with you guys."

Aniston, thinking about what had transpired over the past six months, Martin had stolen Pitt's woman and treats; could a normal person do such things?n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

But it was also not normal for her and Jolie, who had been sworn enemies, to join Martin in playing landlord.

Could the trait of being a pervert be contagious through whatever they had used?

Jolie suddenly asked: "Today, the tabloids suddenly reported a scandal that Heath Ledger said his breakup with Michelle Williams was because you were the other man."

"Me? The other man?" Whether he had meddled or not, Martin was very clear: "How could that be! They are in New York, and I haven't been there for a long time."

Aniston asked, "Really not?"

Martin grinned: "Am I that perverted?"

Jolie and Aniston exchanged looks and said in unison, "You are!"

"Very well! Very well!" Martin's expression turned strange, and the corners of his mouth curled up into an evil, ominous smile, "You call me a pervert, I will not let you down."

Jolie and Aniston were still defiant: "Did we say anything wrong?"

Martin reached behind the couch, and in each hand he now held a Joker statue about forty centimeters long.

These were carved from redwood by Lily according to the design he described, newly crafted Joker statues standing upright.

Martin's large hands clutched the Joker's legs as if they were the handles of a weapon.

Jolie and Aniston were not scared at all and kept on challenging him.

"Come on, who's afraid of whom!"

"It's just your statues, we've used them before!"

Martin said darkly, "Let me see if your mouths are tough, or if my statues are tougher!"

Before dawn, Jolie and Aniston quietly left the Four Seasons Hotel.

Martin felt that he had deepened his understanding and portrayal of the character by another step.

This was certainly not about messing around and indulging in fun, but a genuine study of how the Joker should deal with beautiful women.

In order to win the role at the audition, Martin not only competed fairly, but he also put forth a few billion to get someone to help with practice, truly working hard at it.

...

Officially labeled "The Dark Knight", a Batman statue stood erect at the entrance of the production office building where Lily, her hair tied into a ponytail, showed the gatekeeper Louise's business card from the production team and was allowed inside.

Upon entering the reception area, Lily waited a moment before Nikki, Louise's assistant, came down from upstairs.

She had met Lily before and the memory of Lily's beauty and the special gift she brought was vivid; recognizing her immediately, she called out, "Come over here."

Lily, carrying a bag, jogged over and presented a small gift.

Nikki quickly tried to decline.

Lily said, "I made this myself, please take it."

"Thank you," Nikki accepted, seeing through the glass box that it wasn't a Bay Crocodile tooth pendant or a Joker statue, but a beautifully carved green stone trinket.

Leading the way, Nikki briefed her as they walked, "Miss Mel has spoken to the prop department, but the production is extremely demanding. You'll get a chance only if your skills are up to par."

Lily nodded, "I understand."

She recalled her teacher mentioning that the director was a maniac for live shooting and had particularly high expectations for the prop department.

After settling in at school and in Los Angeles, Lily began preparing for the next year's tuition and living expenses. Her teacher suggested trying her luck in Hollywood, in the prop or art design departments of a production team, so she contacted Louise.

Nikki led Lily to the prop department for the interview. After a short wait, she brought her in and introduced her directly to the three interviewers, saying, "This is Lily Carter, recommended by Miss Mel."

The interviewers nodded slightly, knowing they could reject someone recommended by Louise Mel if they weren't suitable.

But if the talent was there, they were bound to provide a fair and just outcome.

Egerton, in his late fifties, noticing Lily's youth, asked, "Are you still in school?"

Lily replied, "I attend the California Institute of the Arts, studying sculpture."

The interviewers didn't inquire further and simply handed her a box of black clay-like material, saying, "I want a bat-shaped throwing star."

"Okay!" Lily got busy immediately.

The clay appeared utterly tamed as Lily's fingers danced, and the shape of a black bat-shaped throwing star quickly emerged.

The interviewers nodded to themselves, knowing they wouldn't give a hard time to someone recommended with enough talent.

Nikki, curiously watching Lily, hadn't expected the girl to demonstrate such exquisite craftsmanship.

It wasn't long before a quickly dried bat-shaped throwing star was placed on the desk before the interviewers.

After exchanging a few words, Egerton said, "Leave your agent's contact information, and have your agent discuss the contract with the production team."

Only then did Lily remember to say, "I'm sorry, I don't have an agent."

The female interviewer on the left reminded her, "You should find an agent as soon as possible."

"Okay," Lily replied, cleaning her hands before following Nikki out.

Nikki, aware of her connection with Martin, suggested, "You could give Thomas a call."

Lily said, "That's the only option."

Having Thomas's contact, she immediately dialed Thomas's number.

Thomas, working within WMA and not responsible for non-actor-related business, obtained Martin's agreement and contacted a familiar female agent to join him at The Dark Knight Studio to discuss related matters.

As Lily was making the call, Christian Bale and his agent Parker walked by nearby.

The sudden appearance of the vibrant young beauty in his field of vision caused Bale to turn his head subconsciously, taking a second look at Lily.

Even with Hollywood's abundance of beauties, he was momentarily captivated.

Though Bale didn't stop, he asked a passing crew member curiously, "Was that girl part of the production team?"

"I don't know her," the crew member answered honestly, "but she looks somewhat familiar. I can't remember where I've seen her before."

The crew member then informed him, "Director Nolan is waiting for you at the training site."

"Thanks," responded Bale, heading in that direction.

His agent, walking alongside, reminded him, "The Heath Ledger incident is in the past; don't bring it up again."

Bale, feeling helpless, acknowledged, "I know."

Entering the training area, Nolan gestured Bale over and introduced a new action instructor to him.

After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, the action instructor briefly departed on another matter.

Nolan then called Bale to a secluded spot by the window, saying, "This project alone has a production budget of 180 million US Dollars; do you know how important it is to me?"

Realizing the gravity, Bale said, "I'm sorry about Heath Ledger."

Nolan, his confidence in Bale shaken by the forceful recommendation of Heath Ledger, stated, "If something unexpected happens with this project, the careers of you, me, and the other main crew members will be finished."

Bale, sensing Nolan's seriousness, asserted, "I promise, there won't be a next time."

This kind of promise, only valid until the first problem arises, seemed unheard by Nolan, who instead instructed, "You are one of the two lead male actors; you should focus on preparing for the role, let go of other things where you can."

Bale affirmed, "I will devote myself fully to preparing for the role."

"Train well and present your best state," Nolan concluded the conversation and walked off into the distance.

Bale could feel Nolan's newly-formed prejudices against him.