"Coffee." Charlize lightly tapped on the coffee cup in front of Hugo with her slender fingers, a bright smile hanging from the corners of her lips. "Is this place even a restaurant?"
Charlize's words made fun of Hugo once again. The two of them locked eyes and couldn't help but laugh together.
Hugo had forgotten that it was only 1992. Though Starbucks was founded in 1971, it wasn't until Howard Schultz acquired it in 1987 that it began its journey as a global chain empire. At this point, Starbucks was still far from the massive corporation it would become in the following decades and could only be considered a rapidly rising domestic coffee chain in the United States. So, Charlize's comment about Starbucks was actually quite accurate.
Although Hugo had just embarrassed himself a couple of times, he quickly recovered, allowing all the awkwardness and unease to melt away within the smile at the corner of his lips. He gently bit his lower lip. "Of course, coffee." He nodded slightly and raised his eyes to look directly at Charlize. "May I buy you a cup of coffee?"
Charlize looked at Hugo's clear, lake-like eyes. The smile at the corners of her lips paused for a moment, then bloomed even more brightly. "Sure. Mandheling. No sugar, thanks."
"Mandheling? Excellent choice." Hugo stood up with a smile, nodded slightly toward Charlize, and then turned to walk into the store. Mandheling Brazil — this was a blend of Mandheling and Brazilian coffee beans. Fragrant and pleasant, yet strong and flavorful. And since Charlize preferred it without sugar, one could already glimpse something of her personality.
After stepping inside the shop, Hugo first took a deep breath at the door, trying to calm his nerves. He realized that whether it was seeing Brad during the last audition or today unexpectedly running into Charlize, who was still working in the modeling industry, he'd been a little too starstruck—completely like a crazed fan.
Though Hugo knew this was understandable after all, just days ago, he'd been struggling in the underground rock scene back home and now he was suddenly encountering people he had only seen on screen, it was hard to adjust. But he also knew he had to get used to it. He was now part of this industry, and he'd be meeting even more legendary figures in the future. If he got flustered every time he saw a celebrity, he'd wear himself out quickly.
Regaining his composure, Hugo walked up to the counter and ordered a Mandheling coffee for Charlize. After a moment's thought, he decided to wait at the side instead of going back out. It wasn't until the barista brewed the coffee and handed over the paper cup that Hugo walked out with the drink.
Pushing open the amber-colored glass door, Hugo immediately saw Charlize sitting at the coffee table. At that moment, she was resting her chin on her right hand, her golden hair cascading smoothly over her shoulders. Ivy vines crawled up the neatly lined palm trees along the boulevard, and sunlight filtered through the thick foliage, scattering golden patches of light that cloaked Charlize in a veil of gold. She looked like an elven girl peacefully resting in the forest—vibrant and beautiful.
Hugo could even clearly see Charlize's long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings in the sunlight. The shadows along the tips of her hair, her lashes, and the bridge of her nose made her features even more three-dimensional. Suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked up. The moment she turned her head and saw Hugo standing at the Starbucks entrance, her lashes lifted slightly. The lazy ease in her brows shimmered under the sun, and a soft smile curled on her lips, taking Hugo's breath away.
In truth, Charlize was only seventeen years old at this time not yet the stunning goddess from Hugo's memory. Right now, she was still a bit tender, her youthful aura making her seem more down-to-earth. But even now, her features had basically taken shape. The charm in her eyes was already a little electrifying, and under the golden light, she was truly breathtaking.
No wonder karl had insisted on giving Charlize his business card! Hugo sighed once again.
But this time, Hugo didn't freeze. Seeing Charlize's smile, he responded with one of his own, lifted the coffee cup in his hand slightly, and walked toward the table.
Charlize looked at Hugo standing in front of her tall figure, well-toned muscles, handsome face all nearly impossible to look at directly under the dazzling sunlight. His amber eyes shimmered like crystal-clear lakes reflecting unobstructed sunlight. When that smile appeared at the corners of his lips, it bloomed like a brilliant warmth that melted into the heart. Charlize couldn't help but stare in a daze.
"Hey, your coffee." Hugo called out cheerfully as he placed the cup in front of Charlize, noticing her dazed expression, then sat down across from her.
Charlize's gaze followed Hugo downward. "Has anyone ever told you that you're charming?"
"You're the first today." Hugo's response made Charlize laugh out loud, like a blooming lily.
She lifted the coffee to her lips and took a light sip. The bitter taste tinged with sourness of the Mandheling coffee spread across her tongue. She lowered her eyes and savored it for a moment, then looked back up at the handsome man across from her, fully satisfied. "So, are you an actor?"
Realizing her question might've been a bit rude, Charlize quickly added, "I haven't been in Los Angeles long actually, I haven't even been in the U.S. that long. I'm not really familiar with any of this. I only asked because I heard Karl say your name just now, so…"
Although Hugo didn't know much English, he could still hear that Charlize's English was slightly different from the accent he'd been hearing lately. Thinking carefully, Charlize was from South Africa. English was her second language; Afrikaans was her native tongue. So Charlize's explanation wasn't surprising.
"It's alright, it's alright." Hugo offered a slight smile, the tenderness in his eyes glimmering like starlight under the sun. "Yes, I'm an actor, but I haven't achieved much yet. Even if you had been here longer, you probably still wouldn't know who I am." This was also the first time since Hugo crossed over that no one mentioned the Razzie Awards in front of him, which was simply wonderful. "Oh right, my name is Hugo Lancaster."
"Charlize Theron." The young girl in front of him looked at Hugo's warm smile, and her own smile softened. "I only came to the U.S. a year ago. Originally, I wanted to become a ballet dancer in New York, but unfortunately, I injured my knee. My mother told me to come to Los Angeles and try my luck. Right now, I'm working as a model."
Though it was just a few words, Hugo could already hear the hardships Charlize faced living in America. This was also the biggest realization Hugo had since arriving in this world: don't be fooled by how glamorous celebrities appear on the big screen. Just getting to that spotlight takes immense effort. Not to mention, in Los Angeles alone, tens of thousands of actors are struggling just to get a role. This is an extremely brutal industry. Modeling is even tougher than acting.
"Trust me, I'm not a bad guy. You can tell me everything about yourself. Trust me." Hugo's teasing remark instantly dispelled the heaviness in Charlize's tone, and the two of them laughed softly together.
"So, do you know that agent just now?" Charlize also realized that she had revealed too much in her self-introduction despite having known Hugo for less than ten minutes, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Oh, yes, I know him. His name is kal El, and he's an agent." Hugo said this with a deliberately mysterious tone. Charlize looked at him with anticipation, waiting for more, but Hugo just shrugged, "Isn't that enough?" Clearly, he knew nothing about Kal either. Charlize realized Hugo had just tricked her and bit her lower lip in mock annoyance, her unwilling expression making Hugo burst out laughing.
"That was just a joke," Hugo quickly added, pulling Kal's business card out of his pocket and reading it seriously. "Oh, he's an agent from International Creative Management. That's great—I'm with that company too. If you need, I can check into his background for you."
Charlize also looked at the business card in her hand and nodded. "Really? That would be great." Then she looked back at Hugo, "What I mean is, since I can't be a ballet dancer in real life, maybe I can achieve that dream on the big screen, right?"
Hugo pressed his lips together. "I doubt it." Charlize was momentarily stunned, a surprised look on her face. Hugo then laughed, "Unless you're willing to use a stunt double, right? So I think you'd better work hard to become a great actress—that's a bit more realistic."
Charlize immediately understood what Hugo meant. Even as a ballerina on the big screen, her injured knee would still be a problem. Instead of clinging to an unrealistic dream, it was better to face reality and redefine her goals. That was more practical.
Once she realized this, the way Charlize looked at Hugo changed. She couldn't help but study the handsome man before her in more detail. Hugo felt a bit self-conscious under her gaze and looked down at his shirt. "Did I spill coffee on my shirt?"
Charlize laughed again and shook her head. "No, you're fine." After laughing, she added, "It's just that you're different from most men." Most men, when talking about such things, would only flatter and agree without thinking seriously, because they're driven by what's below the waist. But Hugo was different. He was attentive throughout the conversation, especially those gentle eyes.
"That's a good thing, right?" Hugo deliberately showed a worried expression. "You know, I embarrassed myself when we first met. If I don't change your impression after talking, that'd be awful."
That made Charlize laugh again. She had already lost count of how many times she'd smiled during their conversation. "Who knows? I can't promise anything."
Hugo looked frustrated, but what he said next was completely unrelated, "Then you will have to do give me your phone number. After I check out Kal's background, I'll call you."
Charlize looked at Hugo in front of her, and her smile bloomed even brighter.
.....
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