Actor in Hollywood

"Hmm... her friend, the one in the white shirt, she's probably in her mid-twenties, around 25 or 26?"

Scarlett followed Anson's gaze to the other woman. She looked ordinary, nothing particularly striking.

"Judging by her outfit, she's probably an Ivy League graduate. I'd guess Berkeley, French major? Not because she yearns for Paris, but because she wanted to be a diplomat. Unfortunately, her grades weren't good enough, and after two or three failed attempts, she chose a different career path."

"But from her expression and demeanor, she seems quite content with her current job."

"Office worker? Maybe in advertising or public relations. She's not great at creative planning, but she's good at execution. She has decent logic and decisive judgment, but she's not overly assertive, which allows her to thrive."

At first, Scarlett didn't understand, and Anson's words didn't seem particularly special. But from the second sentence onwards, she was taken aback. She looked at Anson with a strange and shocked expression, but he wasn't paying attention to her at all. He was focused on observing and analyzing, and Scarlett's head was filled with question marks. She turned her head again, confused:

What was happening?

However, Anson's words continued without pause.

"As for her interests..."

"Movies. Believe it or not, she not only knows me, she probably knows you too. She goes to the cinema at least once a week, and she has a wide range of interests. Not just mainstream movies, but all sorts of independent films too."

"She doesn't delve deep, but she genuinely enjoys them."

"Her talent is piano, because her mother firmly believes that's true art. She might have also learned ballet as a child, but she didn't stick with it. So piano became the baseline, cultivating her temperament and refinement. Even if she doesn't love it, she still carries that classical elegance."

Scarlett was stunned, watching Anson effortlessly weave his tale without needing to think. The words flowed out, and she couldn't keep up. His expression, his eyes, his demeanor exuded a confidence that swept her along like a wave.

Finally, Scarlett found her voice. "Wait. Why? I mean, why doesn't she like it?"

"If she's in her mid-twenties now, that means she was born in the 80s, growing up with television and movies. It was the era of the commercial film boom, and also the heyday of rock and disco, and the wave of female empowerment."

"Kids from this generation often have a rebellious and defiant spirit towards tradition. Compared to traditional, old, and decaying classical arts, she prefers movies and rock music."

"But due to family constraints and upbringing, her rebellion isn't so overt, so she leans more towards movies."

"As for ballet and piano, it's not so much about lack of talent but lack of interest and perseverance. She couldn't handle the hardship. After all, times are different, and children's values and worldviews are completely different. I bet, as she grows up, she occasionally misses those childhood days, because the retro trend of piano and ballet is back now."

Scarlett quietly watched Anson.

From bewilderment to shock to fascination, not only her expressions and emotions changed, but her focus also shifted subtly.

In the first half, Scarlett had been carefully observing the woman, trying to find the basis for Anson's deductions. Gradually, she noticed that all of Anson's words seemed to have traces in the woman, and a vivid image became fuller in her vision. This made Scarlett shift her gaze:

To Anson.

Anson noticed, but he wasn't flustered or nervous. He calmly glanced at Scarlett and continued.

"She has a younger brother."

"Unlike her, her brother has both perseverance and talent. He stuck with piano and went to Germany for further studies. He's still learning now. Who knows, maybe soon we'll see her brother perform at Carnegie Hall."

"Ultimately, it probably has to do with their family upbringing."

"Their mother invested a lot of energy in her but didn't see the returns. Her brother saw this and tried to get more attention from their mother. So when she gave up, her brother seized the opportunity and successfully won their mother's favor."

"But, do you think she cares?"

"No. She doesn't."

"She's content with her current job and life. Not becoming a diplomat or a pianist doesn't stop her from enjoying her life. Even in front of her friend, she's very relaxed and carefree."

His words flowed effortlessly -

Unstoppable.

Scarlett was increasingly amazed, as if she were meeting Anson for the first time today. The more she thought about it, the more incredible it all seemed.

Looking up at Anson, Scarlett saw his calm expression and light smile. His confident look seemed to be mocking her for falling for his trick so easily, which made Scarlett raise her guard.

Connecting the dots, a bold guess popped into Scarlett's mind.

"Wait, is she your date?"

Anson couldn't help but chuckle. His smile bloomed without reservation.

Scarlett was speechless, looking up at the sky, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift slightly. The invisible haze that had been hanging over her head quietly dispersed, and her mood brightened. She couldn't resist teasing him back.

"That's the best explanation. Otherwise, how could you know so much about her in such detail?"

Most importantly, Anson had no time to prepare. He painted such a vivid picture in just a minute or two of glancing at the woman. It was terrifying.

Anson looked at Scarlett. "There's another explanation."

Scarlett: ?

Anson: "Making it all up."

Scarlett hadn't expected that answer at all, and her smile froze on her face.

Anson's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Miss Johansson, I'm not Sherlock Holmes."

Scarlett... couldn't argue with that.

Anson: "Imagination is like lying. People always think logic is the most important. Of course, logic is crucial because it's the framework. But details are the key. Rich and detailed details fill the gaps in the brain, leaving no time or space to question them, so the brain is easily convinced."

Bullshitting was also a skill.

Scarlett looked at Anson's calm and self-satisfied expression. The whole situation was so comical that she didn't even know where to start吐槽.

Looking at Anson's smile, Scarlett couldn't help but shake her head slightly. "Stop laughing. Your smile looks particularly sly right now."

"Ha." Anson burst out laughing. "I thought I looked innocent. Otherwise, you wouldn't have fallen for it."

Scarlett looked up at the sky in mock despair. "Ah, I fell for it. I actually fell for it."

Even so, the smile on her face widened, and her mood brightened along with it.

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