nucmednet Chapter 53 The Allure of the Night
Chapter 53 The Allure of the Night
Zik stood at the study door, watching the party continue its revelry. Neon lights swirled among the crowd, and the rich aroma of alcohol, the sweet scent of perfume, and a faint hint of drugs mingled together, making him feel dizzy.
He suddenly realized that the sweet dream that Hollywood weaves for all those who pursue their dreams might be created by these things: the numbing effect of alcohol, the allure of dollars, the addiction to drugs, endless revelry, and the ubiquitous lies.
He thought he had been cautious enough, proceeding step by step since his transmigration, not daring to slack off in the slightest. But even so, he still couldn't guard against the trickery of that Frenchman Jacques Morali.
The thought that those royalties might be completely lost made Zeke's heart sink again: the tuition fees for Maria Medical School, his own university tuition fees, living expenses, and the good life he had promised his family—those hopes that were once within reach suddenly seemed to have drifted far away from him again.
He looked down at his hands. All he had in them was a limp children's song, which didn't seem like the kind of thing that could make him a lot of money or support all his expectations.
Joyce's invitation seemed perfect, but Zeke knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Tino's words echoed in his mind again: "When doing business with the rich, it's all about whose lawyer is more skilled..."
According to Joyce, "best lawyers" seem to be everywhere in Los Angeles, but his entire fortune probably couldn't even afford a decent party.
He didn't know if there was an even bigger trap hidden behind this invitation. After all, his experience was far from that of Joyce and Neil, who had been working in Hollywood and the record industry for many years. If he was not careful, he would only fall even more miserably.
What's even more frightening is Neil's attitude. The record company president's gaze just now clearly regarded him as a junior who needed to be saved, or as an asset about to be acquired.
If he refuses, will Neil still maintain this mask of a gentle elder?
At that point, he seemed to have no other way out. Perhaps he would slink back to Brownsville and continue living his old life, or perhaps he would stay in Casablanca as an insignificant worker because of his good performance.
These thoughts swirled in his mind, making him feel somewhat disheartened. He had no desire to linger any longer and only wanted to leave immediately.
Perhaps only in that secluded yet quiet cliffside cabin could he more clearly review everything, sort out his thoughts, and see clearly how much unsavory content and scheming was hidden within this seemingly sweet dream.
As Zeke walked to the entrance of the manor, he saw Judy sitting on the hood of his Mercedes, her hands behind her back, gazing at the night sky in the distance.
Marco stood to the side, a mischievous grin on his face, waving a wicker basket in his hand. He immediately approached Qike when he saw him.
"Hey Zeke, I've got a surprise for you. I almost didn't recognize this girl in women's clothes, she's really hot, you better make the most of it~"
Zik followed his gaze and saw a bottle of champagne, two crystal-clear champagne glasses, and a dozen beers in the basket, surrounded by fresh flowers. It was clear that Marco had taken the decorations from a party; they were casually pieced together, yet they unexpectedly exuded a touch of romance.
He wanted to explain that his relationship with Judy wasn't the kind Marco thought it was, and that now wasn't the time to need a "wingman"...
But he swallowed the words back. Drinking a little wine seemed like a good idea; he really needed an outlet for his frustration, resentment, and anger towards Jacques.
"Thanks, Marco." Zeke took the basket and casually placed it on the back seat, then opened the car door. "Judy, it's getting late, I'll take you home first."
Judy jumped off the hood, frowned at Zeke's gloomy face, and said, "What's wrong, Zeke? Are you in a bad mood? I finally get to go out and relax for a while in the evening, and I don't want to go home so early."
Qi Ke rubbed his throbbing temples: "Yeah, something happened. I got scammed, really badly."
Judy's expression changed instantly, and she quickly grabbed his hand to explain, "I'm not lying to you, Zeke, I really didn't. It's just that my mother puts too much pressure on me; she's always trying to control everything I do..."
"I want to do what you did and see if I can handle my work without an agent and if I can stand on my own two feet."
"I never intended to take advantage of you. I'm truly grateful to you for this audition opportunity."
Zeke felt a sense of relief. Well, at least Judy didn't think he was a fool.
"I'm not talking about you, don't overthink it. A French gay guy scammed me about royalties. And Judy, not having a good agent is really a bad thing; I just learned my lesson the hard way."
He rubbed his face, sighed, and his eyes were full of exhaustion and frustration.
A few seconds of silence followed, and he felt a gaze fall upon him. Zeke looked up and met Judy's stare. The elation in her bright eyes had vanished, replaced by a mist of worry, as if Zeke's current dejection had struck a nerve.
She gently bit her lower lip and tentatively asked, "Do you want to drink? I'll keep you company; maybe it'll make you feel better."
Zeke nodded, his voice a little hoarse: "That sounds like a good idea."
"I know a place nearby, the house is uninhabited, and it's very quiet around here." Judy's eyes lit up, her tone somewhat mysterious.
Zik looked at her suspiciously: "How do you know about a place like this? Mount Holmby is quite far from your home, you don't usually come here, do you?"
"Don't worry about it, just drive. The environment there is great, you can see lots of stars, I promise you won't be disappointed." Judy opened the car door and got into the passenger seat.
Without asking any further questions, Zeke started the car and drove off in the direction Judy had indicated.
Before long, the Mercedes stopped in the driveway in front of a mansion. The place was very remote, surrounded by green trees, and the nearest house was hundreds of meters away. The night was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Zik opened a bottle of beer, the sound of the tab being pulled particularly clear in the quiet night.
He jumped onto the hood of the car, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp. The icy liquid slid down his throat, carrying a hint of spiciness, but it instantly ignited the pent-up frustration in his chest, making him feel a little better.
"Bang!"
Judy opened a glass of champagne, poured two glasses, handed one to him, and then sat down next to him. The two sat side by side on the hood of the car, gazing at the starry sky above, sipping their drinks.
The night was beautiful, the stars were shining brightly, and the evening breeze was gentle, carrying the moisture of the Pacific Ocean. Looking at the quiet Judy beside him, and listening to the occasional chirping of insects in the distance, Zeke felt his restlessness and frustration dissipate considerably.
Judy held a champagne glass in her hand, her gaze fixed on the dark mansion not far away. Her eyes were somewhat vacant, as if she were lost in thought, and a faint sense of loneliness lingered on her face, a stark contrast to her excitement at the party just moments before.
After a long silence, Zeke spoke first: "Judy, I feel like I understand your life now. I used to think the entertainment industry was too glamorous, that as long as you were talented and hardworking, you could gain a foothold and live a good life."
"But now I realize that it's really hard to survive in this industry. There are schemes and traps everywhere, and you can easily fall down if you're not careful."
Judy turned to look at him and nodded slightly: "Yeah, actually, I usually wear pants and have short hair not entirely for the role, nor is it something I naturally like."
"Why is that?"
"My mother thinks all men are bad, and she's always afraid that I'll be hurt by men, hurt by this industry... She's living with a female photographer now, living the life she wants, but she wants me to be a 'suitable' girl according to her requirements, to wear dresses, to wear makeup, to please those big shots in Hollywood, and to conform to the rules of this industry."
Zeke paused, the image of Evelyn's aggressive face flashing through his mind, and a surge of sarcasm welled up inside him—so Evelyn was a lesbian! No wonder she was so strict with Judy and so wary of men.
But this woman is so selfish. She lived a carefree and happy life and had four children. Now she's imposing her fears and obsessions on her daughter, restricting her freedom.
However, he obviously couldn't say these words aloud; he only whispered, "Your mother... is a complicated person."
"Maybe she's just afraid I'll become like her, hurt by men and worn down by life." Judy smiled, a hint of bitterness in her smile. "So I insist on being free, wearing the clothes I want, doing the things I want, even if I never find a boyfriend, even if I'm not recognized by this circle, I don't want to live under her control."
The relationship between this mother and daughter is so strange, it's like they love and hate each other.
Zik didn't know how to respond, so he simply tilted his head back and took a sip of wine.
"So," he asked softly, "you don't like men either?"
Judy suddenly turned her head, a sly glint in her eyes, as if she had hidden the heaviness from just moments before in starlight.
"I didn't say that."
She reached out and turned the knob on the car radio. After a hissing sound, a gentle melody flowed out.
It's an old song, "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)".
"Will you dance with me, Zeke?" she said, extending her hand in invitation.
She pulled Qi Ke along, and the two of them swayed by the hood of the car bathed in moonlight. There were no dance steps, just gentle swaying to the rhythm, their arms occasionally touching, like two trees brought close together by the wind.
Judy's skirt brushed against his trouser leg, the pale blue fabric shimmering softly in the night.
"Zek," Judy suddenly looked up, her eyes so tender they could drown you, her voice soft, "If I ever can't make a living, can you take me in? It doesn't have to be a big place, just a waterbed will do, like the one in your cliffside cabin."
His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to joke, "Then you'll have to charge rent," but the words that came out were just a soft "hmm."
Judy smiled, her eyes crinkling with laughter. She tiptoed and quickly touched Zeke's lips with a light, cool touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water. She immediately lowered her head, her cheeks flushed like a ripe apple.
The song on the radio was just reaching its climax, fitting and tender: "Why did it take me so long to see the truth? I once thought I was wrong, but now it seems so right. Oh, what a wonderful night and girl~ making me dizzy with desire, she is exactly the kind of girl I've always dreamed of..."
Zeke smiled too. All the frustration, resentment, and confusion in his heart seemed to be dispelled by the gentle night and Judy's smile at this moment.
He reached out and hugged Judy's waist, gently placing her on the hood of the car, and leaned down to tenderly respond to her kiss.
The moonlight bathed the two of them, gentle and tender, while the evening breeze carried the fragrance of champagne and the fluttering of youth.
The two quickly fell backward, the car swaying gently, their movements mingling with the music from the radio, whispering sweet nothings in the quiet night.
"Sweet surrender what a night
And I felt a rush like a rolling bolt of thunder
Spinning my head around and taking my body under..."
The song was melodious, the night was gentle, and at this moment, there was no deception, no scheming, no pressure or confusion, only two young hearts in each other's company, temporarily forgetting all their troubles and indulging in this beautiful night.