Chapter 373: Ultimate Emotion

Chapter 373: Chapter 373: Ultimate Emotion

Meanwhile, on a cruise ship in Northern Europe, after hanging up the phone, Ang Lee’s curiosity remained long after.

He walked to the deck of the cruise ship, looking at the boundless sea, Irene’s words echoing in his mind.

Brokeback Mountain, a story about a forbidden love between cowboys—what kind of moving story could it be to make Irene value it so highly and yet feel ill-equipped to handle it herself?

He could not wait to see this novel; a faint sense of anticipation was already stirring within him.

Ever since the failure of The Hulk, he had been in a state of confusion, not knowing what kind of movie to film next, nor where his future in Hollywood lay.

And Irene’s invitation was like a ray of light, illuminating the path ahead.

If Brokeback Mountain was truly as wonderful as Irene had said, and if he could really direct this film, perhaps this would be his chance to turn things around.

He could use his most proficient methods to tell a deeply moving story and prove his strength to Hollywood.

Thinking of this, Ang Lee’s heart was filled with anticipation.

He took out his phone and checked the address he had sent to Irene once more, hoping the novel would arrive in his hands as soon as possible.

He was prepared; no matter what this story was like, he would treat it seriously and give it his all.

The Northern European sea breeze carried a crisp chill, brushing past the port of Bergen.

This cruise ship, named "Nordic Star," slowly docked at the pier.

The massive hull contrasted with the colorful wooden houses on the shore, creating a tranquil and beautiful picture.

For two days, Ang Lee had been immersed in his curiosity about Brokeback Mountain.

Although the fjord scenery along the cruise route was beautiful, it had not been able to fully dispel the anticipation and anxiety in his heart.

When the announcement came over the broadcast—"The cruise ship will dock at the port of Bergen for four hours; passengers may disembark for sightseeing and shopping"—Ang Lee immediately got up and changed into light casual wear.

He had not brought an assistant on this trip, choosing instead to experience the scenery along the way and appreciate nature’s gifts all by himself.

He gazed at the charm of this small Norwegian town, preparing to go down and purchase some daily necessities that were lacking on the ship.

Walking down the gangway, there were not many people at the pier, mostly tourists traveling in groups.

Ang Lee strolled slowly along the shore, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the reception area not far away.

A white name tag was particularly eye-catching, clearly reading "Mr. Ang Lee."

His heart stirred, and he walked over quickly; it must be that Irene had sent someone to deliver the book.

A young man in a black suit stood by the reception area.

Seeing Ang Lee approach, he immediately greeted him politely.

"Mr. Ang Lee, hello. I am a staff member from Future World Pictures. Entrusted by Ms. Irene Coppola, I have brought something for you."

The man handed over a substantial black tote bag.

When Ang Lee took it, he could clearly feel the weight.

"Sorry for the trouble, and thank you for making a special trip," he said courteously.

"This is what I should do," the man replied with a smile. "Ms. Irene gave specific instructions. In addition to the original novel of Brokeback Mountain that you requested, she also had me purchase some daily necessities that would be useful on the cruise. They are all common items, and I hope they can be of help to you."

Ang Lee was stunned for a moment and opened the tote bag to take a look.

Aside from a novel of Brokeback Mountain with a simple and elegant cover, there were also several bags of high-quality coffee beans, a small jar of local Norwegian honey, an eye mask with better light-blocking effects, and even two pairs of comfortable cotton socks and a bottle of moisturizing spray.

These things seemed ordinary, yet they revealed thoughtfulness in every detail.

He had complained on the ship that the coffee tasted bland and had also mentioned that the dry climate in Northern Europe made his skin uncomfortable.

He had not expected Irene to have remembered all of it.

"Ms. Irene is so thoughtful."

A warm feeling surged in Ang Lee’s heart, and he could not help but exclaim.

Although he and Irene could talk, they had not met many times, nor had they formally collaborated.

Their relationship was perhaps better than a mere nodding acquaintance in the industry, yet she had not only arranged for air freight across countries for a novel but also cared for his daily life with such detail.

This sincerity and thoughtfulness were rare in the profit-driven Hollywood.

"Ms. Irene said that since you are on vacation on the cruise ship, it is inevitable that there will be some inconveniences in daily life, so these are just minor efforts," the man said. "If you have any other needs, you can contact me at any time. I will remain in Bergen until the cruise ship sets sail."

After thanking him repeatedly, Ang Lee took the bag and turned back to the cruise ship.

Along the way, his mood was exceptionally pleasant, and his anticipation for Brokeback Mountain grew even stronger.

Returning to his sea-view suite on the top deck of the cruise ship, he first organized the daily necessities one by one, then took the novel and walked to the balcony.

Outside the balcony, the scenery of Bergen’s port was in full view.

Green mountains surrounded the deep blue seawater, and white seagulls circled in the low sky.

The air was filled with a faint salty scent of the sea.

Ang Lee pulled up a rattan chair and sat down, pouring himself a cup of warm black tea.

The fragrance of the tea and the scent of the sea breeze intertwined, allowing his state of mind to gradually calm down.

He took a deep breath and opened the novel that had intrigued him for two days.

The original work of Brokeback Mountain was standard short story length, with only 7,500 words and about 30 pages in thickness.

The layout was sparse, making it effortless to read.

But Ang Lee had not expected that such a short story would completely sweep him into a storm of emotion within a short hour.

The opening text was simple and unadorned, yet it carried a strong sense of imagery.

In the summer of 1963, young Ennis and Jack met at Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming.

They were hired by a rancher to herd sheep and keep watch together.

In the barren and vast wilderness, two lonely hearts gradually drew closer, developing an emotion that transcended friendship.

Ang Lee’s gaze followed the text, as if he were placed in that vast grassland, seeing the two young men keeping each other company in silence by the campfire, feeling the budding of their emotions in an oppressive environment.

He had originally thought it was just an ordinary love story, but he had not expected Annie Proulx’s writing to be so sharp yet so gentle.

She did not deliberately exaggerate the intensity of their emotions, but instead used a large number of details to render it: a blood-stained shirt, a brief embrace, a sentence left unspoken—portraying the restrained, desperate, yet inseparable love between Ennis and Jack vividly and incisively.

Especially in the latter part of the story, after Jack passed away unexpectedly, Ennis came to his room and found the shirt that Jack had cherished for twenty years, stained with his blood.

At that moment, Ang Lee’s eyes involuntarily moistened.

"I love you more than anything in the world."

This confession hidden behind the words lacked flowery language, yet it possessed a power that pierced through the heart.