Annie lifted her head to look at Anson, her eyes filled with confusion. Looking at Anson's calm expression, she couldn't help but feel he was up to something mischievous.
Before Anson could answer, Annie gave a bitter but amused smile, "I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"
Anson pressed his lips together, hiding his smile. "This is the simplest way. Trust me, we are the New York Yankees."
Annie closed the door to the fitting room and changed into the T-shirt inside.
Anson called out, "By the way, if possible, I'd like to take you back to the hotel. If you need to go to a convenience store, supermarket, or hospital, that's fine too."
Click.
The fitting room door opened, and Annie reappeared. The XXXL T-shirt looked like a white dress, even covering her knees. It was loose and casual, inadvertently highlighting a side of Annie's lazy and sensual beauty that she had never shown before, immediately capturing attention.
Anson thought of Catwoman in "The Dark Knight Rises."
The difference was that the Annie before him wasn't as deadly or dark.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I... uh, I don't need to go to the hospital." Annie let out a long breath. After the ups and downs, she finally regained some composure.
Looking up, Annie met Anson's clear eyes. "I'm okay."
Anson was slightly stunned. "Alright, you do look fine. Really, you look very good..."
Annie tilted her head, indicating the T-shirt.
Anson almost lost his composure, his lips curling upward.
Annie rolled her eyes, looking up at the ceiling. "This is a prank. I knew it."
Anson's smile finally broke through. He gazed quietly at Annie. "Do you need a hug?"
Annie's heart skipped a beat but she shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Don't worry. Right now, I'm more concerned about my image."
Anson didn't hold back and his smile fully bloomed. "Wait a moment. Watch me perform some magic."
Annie was puzzled.
This time, it was Annie's turn to stand at the bathroom door and wait. After a while, Anson and Lucas appeared.
Lucas had a look of utter resignation on his face, but they were both wearing the exact same T-shirt.
The difference was that Annie's shirt had a "pilot version of Little Frank," Lucas's was a "doctor version of Little Frank," and Anson's shirt showed a picture of a smiling, unknown girl alongside Little Frank.
Finally, the names on the T-shirts read Brenda, Frank, and Mia.
Straightforward, bold, rough, with a sense of street style.
Pfft.
Annie couldn't hold it in and almost burst out laughing, but when she glanced at Lucas's face, dark as a pot's bottom, she managed to control her laughter.
It was Anson who had already gotten into character. "Luca, show some spirit. You're all ants. I am Thanos, here to conquer the universe."
Then—
A spectacular scene unfolded in the mall's main hall, like a slow-motion, background-music-equipped entrance of the protagonists in "Ocean's Eleven."
With confidence and a fierce demeanor.
They strode across the scene like a hurricane.
Amidst a sea of shocked and bewildered gazes, no one dared to look directly at their faces. Eyes unsure where to go were drawn to the dazzling T-shirts, which, although they seemed like knock-off streetwear, suddenly appeared like a top luxury brand, making everyone wish they had one.
Footsteps paused.
Eyes gathered.
But miraculously, it was as if their brains had pressed the pause button, unable to think.
Not until they entered the elevator and the closing doors completely blocked the view did people seem to return to reality, remembering that humans need to breathe.
Gasping for fresh air, they exchanged glances.
Finally, someone spoke.
"Was that... Anson just now?"
A voice popped up, and immediately, a flurry of voices followed.
"No way."
"Of course not."
"Anson is way more handsome, right?"
"Why would Anson wear that T-shirt?"
"Anson is still in New York, isn't he?"
"Anson has way more style than that guy."
Countless denials extinguished the thought, forcefully squashing any suspicions that the girl was Anne Hathaway, swallowing them back down until no one dared voice it.
Turning to look away.
"But doesn't anyone think that T-shirt... actually looks kind of cool?"
"Right, right, I thought so too."
"As expected, Anson's looks are justice. The T-shirt's quality instantly seems different."
The night was spreading.
No one expected the biggest winner tonight to be that graffiti artist.
They had thought they'd be packing up after the midnight show, but unexpectedly, they were so busy they didn't even have time to drink water—a real surprise.
...
Lucas drove steadily, moving silently through the night. No one in the car spoke, and the quiet air slowly spread.
In fact, the hotel where Annie was staying was less than a ten-minute drive from the cinema. It didn't take long for Lucas to arrive at the hotel—
He drove straight to the parking lot, not stopping at the entrance.
Annie thanked Lucas again and declined Anson's offer to accompany her. She opened the car door and headed toward the elevator in the underground parking lot.
Anson looked at Lucas.
Lucas nodded slightly. "I'll wait here."
Anson opened the car door and followed her.
Annie tried to hide her embarrassment, but Anson spoke first. "Just to your room door." Because Annie's face and lips were bloodless, pale as a sheet. Her knees trembled slightly, and her shoulders quivered.
She didn't look okay, a complete mess.
This time, Annie didn't refuse.
All the way to the hotel room door, she opened it and went straight to the mini fridge. On the side table, she grabbed a bottle of mineral water and gulped it down.
But her steps faltered a bit, staggering back slightly.
Turning around, Annie found Anson right in front of her.
She was startled. They were only a hand's width apart. She could even feel Anson's breath.
Anson stepped back a little. "Sorry for being so close. You looked like you were about to faint."
Annie was slightly taken aback. "Are you this kind to all girls?"
Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "Correction, I'm this 'kind' to everyone. Though I prefer to use the term 'gentlemanly,' because my mom told me that people always see their next step in your behavior."
Anson's eyes lowered to hide the unintentional panic that flashed across his face—
A memory from his past life.
Now, memories of the past and present were mixed, indistinguishable.
Annie noticed but didn't have the energy to investigate. "I need to sit down."
Leaning against the table, sitting in a mermaid-like posture, Annie felt tired, deeply tired. "I need a bath."
Anson sat cross-legged in front of her. Annie's face really didn't look good. "I think we should just sit here."
Annie pursed her lips. "I need to take off this rock T-shirt as soon as possible."
Anson tilted his head, once again looking her over, and with utmost seriousness, said, "I like your T-shirt. You look beautiful in it."
His deep voice, like a cello, resonated in the night, its soothing melody gently plucking at heartstrings, stirring a quiet ripple deep within. The world fell silent. Only Anson's eyes remained focused on her.
Annie was stunned.
---
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