Chapter 84: Timing

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Timing

"Thank you for the recommendation, Adelaide. And thank you for your interest, Matt. You’re an outstanding actor. There’s no question about that." She gave them both sincere praise.

"But let’s decide everything based on next week’s audition, all right? I believe you’re also looking forward to reading and working with other actors," she said, turning to Matt Damon with a genuine look, not dismissive at all.

Matt Damon paused for a second, then quickly recovered. He shrugged and laughed. "Of course, Irene, I understand. The competition this time definitely won’t be easy, but I’ll give it my best."

A flicker of disappointment passed through Adelaide’s eyes. She knew Irene probably wouldn’t commit tonight, but she still wanted to try.

Fortunately, Irene hadn’t rejected the idea outright, so Adelaide smiled and smoothed things over. "Of course. I believe Matt has the qualities you’re looking for. I won’t keep you young people from having fun. Enjoy your night."

After Adelaide Griffin left, the mood at the table became more relaxed.

"Seriously, Matt," Irene said, swirling the wine in her glass, her tone casual and sincere. "I’m curious. After winning the Oscar for Good Will Hunting, did your mindset change at all? What do you look for in a project now? Are you more drawn to complex characters or to scripts with commercial potential?"

Irene was genuinely interested in Matt Damon. The year 2000 was a turning point for him. Before 2000, he mostly did dramas that appealed to Oscar voters. After 2000, he started moving toward commercial films.

The most famous example was the Bourne series, which created a spy character completely different from James Bond or Ethan Hunt and helped push him to A-list status.

Matt Damon clearly liked the question. He thought for a moment before answering. "That’s a good question. Honestly, the awards opened a lot of doors, but they also brought more pressure. Now I care more about the story itself and the team I’d be working with."

"When Ben and I were writing Good Will Hunting, we were just driven by the story. I want to find projects that bring back that kind of passion, whether they’re big productions or small films." He paused and added with a smile, "Of course, a cool project like The Italian Job is very appealing."

Irene nodded, then pulled Britney and Edward into the conversation. "Britney says the same thing when she’s working on a new album, right?"

Britney immediately nodded, sharing how she felt about creating music. Edward also joined in, talking about "staying true to the original idea." Even if his creations were just sketches from childhood, he still managed to add something to the discussion.

For a while, the mood in their small group was easy and friendly, as if the earlier tension over casting had never happened.

Just then, Irene noticed a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. It was Loren Li, her veterinarian, and also the current "crown prince" of Fox Pictures.

He was standing alone not far away, looking a little distant from the busy party. He saw Irene too, and their eyes met. Loren gave a slight nod, and a gentle smile crossed his face.

Irene waved at him first. Loren walked over calmly.

"Good evening, Director Coppola," Loren said. His voice was still gentle, exactly the same tone he used at the clinic.

"Good evening, Loren. I’ve told you before, just call me Irene. I really didn’t expect to run into you here," Irene said with a smile. Then she introduced him to the others. "This is Dr. Loren Li, Lucky’s lifesaver." She used that personal introduction on purpose to make things feel more comfortable.

She then introduced Matt, Britney, and Edward to Loren.

"So, you’re a doctor?" Matt Damon asked, sounding curious. He was clearly surprised to meet a doctor at a Hollywood party.

Loren nodded calmly, with a touch of humor. "Yes, but my patients usually aren’t dressed this formally. They all come with their own fur coats."

That clever answer made everyone laugh. Britney even said excitedly, "Oh! You’re the handsome, kind doctor Irene told me about! Thank you for saving Lucky!"

"It’s not as dramatic as Irene makes it sound. I didn’t do much," Loren replied gently, and then he joined the conversation naturally.

Irene watched him and noticed that, while he was still a bit reserved in social settings, his manners were perfect and his conversation was thoughtful. It matched the calm professionalism he showed as a veterinarian. He was actually an interesting person.

After the party ended, Irene and Britney walked out of the Beverly Hills Hotel together. Britney couldn’t wait to link arms with Irene, her voice full of excitement.

"Irene! Tell me the truth," her bright blue eyes sparkled in the night, "who exactly is Dr. Loren Li?"

Irene raised an eyebrow, playing it cool. "He’s just Lucky’s doctor. You already know that."

"Come on!" Britney gave her a playful shove. "I saw it earlier. Even Adelaide Griffin, who works closest with you at Fox, leaned in a little when she talked to him. That’s not how people treat a regular veterinarian."

She leaned closer to Irene and lowered her voice. "And I noticed something else. For at least two-thirds of the night, his eyes were on you. That kind of focused look is completely different from how he looks at anyone else."

"It’s not as dramatic as you’re making it sound," Irene said with a smile, giving her a light push. "We’ve only met a few times. He’s the son of Fox CEO Baird Fergus. He uses his mother’s last name, Li. He has no interest in Hollywood. He’s just a doctor."

Britney raised an eyebrow. "Wow. A wealthy second-generation heir, and a veterinarian who doesn’t care about fame or money and just focuses on saving lives." She dragged out her words, drawing a circle in the air with her finger. "That backstory makes the romance factor skyrocket."

Irene laughed and gently nudged Britney’s waist with her elbow.

Britney let out an "ouch" and nudged her back, laughing. The two of them walked through the parking lot, bumping shoulders like middle schoolers, their laughter carried away by the evening breeze.

Once they were in the car, Britney still couldn’t sit still.

She buckled her seatbelt, but her whole body leaned toward the driver’s seat. She tilted her head and moved her face right in front of Irene’s, their noses almost touching. "Seriously, that Dr. Loren feels like your type, right? Don’t you want to give it a try?"

"You know that now?" Irene stayed calm, gently pushed Britney’s head back, and turned the key.

Britney pouted and sat up straight, but her tone was certain. "Of course I do! I’m your best friend in the world. You always go for the gentle gentleman type. Calm on the outside, but full of depth underneath. That kind of person is totally your style."

The engine started with a soft rumble. The windows closed slowly, blocking out the night air and the noise. In the growing quiet of the car, Irene said, very softly:

"It’s not time yet."