Chapter 005: Shattered Dreams
Countless chaotic thoughts surged through his mind, and a multitude of trivial pieces of information stirred up a tempest in his consciousness. His earlier panic was not related to Gwyneth herself, but rather triggered by the numerous pieces of information inadvertently revealed in her words, leading Lance to suddenly realize that something seemed amiss
Dreams and reality have become completely intertwined, and he is now unable to distinguish between the two. Lance closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and then breathes deeply again, forcing himself to calm down. He decides to temporarily ignore the traitor beside him and first get a clear understanding of the situation before proceeding.
However, it did not take long for Li Jin to realize the harshness of reality. His understanding of the entertainment industry was ultimately too superficial and too shallow. It is not enough to have watched movies to write a script, nor can one simply shoot a film after studying movies repeatedly. Knowing which films can achieve success does not grant one the right to usurp others' achievements. The creation of cinematic art requires not only talent but also depth and knowledge, as well as opportunity and luck. It is not enough to have watched movies to write a script, nor can one simply shoot a film after studying movies repeatedly. Knowing which films can achieve success does not grant one the right to usurp others' achievements. The creation of cinematic art requires not only talent but also depth and knowledge, as well as opportunity and luck
After finishing work at around 3 a.m. today, his last memory is of taking the early morning subway to Brooklyn, and then he vaguely fell asleep on the subway, struggling through one dream after another... and then... now is the moment.
The enormous opportunity that could change his life for the second time knocked him unconscious in an instant. He naively assumed that after traveling through time, he could leverage his prophetic abilities to make a significant impact, ultimately becoming a top-tier figure capable of commanding the world, wielding immense power in Hollywood, and emerging as a grand winner in life
In the beginning, he was named Li Jin, a true-blue Chinese with deep roots, a fervent enthusiast of film and music. After graduating from university, he joined an online media outlet, hoping to become an entertainment editor and immerse himself in the world of cinema, but unexpectedly, he was assigned to cover social news. On a hot summer day, while gathering material, he discovered a little girl who had fallen into the water; he immediately abandoned his work and heroically rescued her. Then he met a glorious end. On a hot summer day, while gathering material, he discovered a little girl who had fallen into the water; he immediately abandoned his work and heroically rescued her. Then he met a glorious end
Is this another dream
The dreams have become increasingly frequent and vivid, to the point where he can no longer distinguish what is real and what is illusory, as if he is immersed in a story akin to "Inception"
"Hey, buddy, don't tell me you're still suffering because of Gwyneth?" George's voice came intermittently from beside him. With a loud "thud," George gave Lance's shoulder a heavy pat, teasingly saying, "Come on, I really didn't mean it just now..."
Lance only felt a tremendous force pushing against his shoulder. He did not resist this power, allowing gravity to pull his body downward. The sensation of rapid and fierce descent suddenly struck him, causing his heart to contract violently, and every hair on his body stood on end. The illusory feeling of the dream receded like a tide in an instant, and the reality's authenticity rushed toward him. Then, he crashed heavily to the ground, the excruciating pain sweeping in with the force of gravity, causing his muscles to reflexively curl up. His heart contracted violently, and every hair on his body stood on end. The illusory feeling of the dream receded like a tide in an instant, and the reality's authenticity rushed toward him. Then, he crashed heavily to the ground, the excruciating pain sweeping in with the force of gravity, causing his muscles to reflexively curl up.
What is even more terrifying is that whenever he gains some opportunities, he loses his job for inexplicable reasons
However, the "legendary" part of this legendary experience ends here
The fierce competition in the American film industry has left him with almost no gaps to exploit, like a small boat in a storm, before he could even think of a solution, he was overwhelmed by wave after wave, completely losing himself
However, Lance understood yet was confused. How could he be at this funeral? Although Karel's funeral also took place in the summer of 2002, it was held two weeks after he left Western Mirror Film Company. One moment, he was at the entrance of the Western Mirror Film Company's office building, and the next moment he appeared at the funeral two weeks later? ... This ... One moment, he was at the entrance of the Western Mirror Film Company's office building, and the next moment he appeared at the funeral two weeks later? ... This ...
After the funeral, the memories of Lancelot in his mind never merged; he continued to exist more as Li Jin. To avoid exposing his true identity in front of acquaintances, he hurriedly fled Los Angeles and headed to New York, hoping to find an opportunity for rise in Gotham City and then create an era that belonged to himself
This is a funeral, quite evidently
Upon opening his eyes once more, Lance began to survey his surroundings. It was evident that he was in a cemetery, where simple tombstones were arranged in a scattered yet orderly manner. Lush green shrubs undulated in the distance, while the sycamore tree behind him remained lush and full of leaves. The air was infused with the distinct crispness characteristic of midsummer.
Turning his head to look at George standing beside him, he noticed that George still wore a sheepish expression, attempting to make some harmless jokes to alleviate the awkwardness and embarrassment of the earlier incident. He was naturally dressed in a well-fitted black suit. Looking further away, Ryan stood next to Barry Meyer, the CEO of Warner Bros., both of them bearing a hint of heaviness and repression in their expressions, yet their conversation was quite intimate. Not far off, Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons stood with their hands clasped in front of them, quietly conversing with Betsy Blair, whose face bore a calm expression of mourning.
However, now he has returned once again to the starting point of 2002, and he has once again won the opportunity to take fate into his own hands! He has once again won the chance to confront those "close friends" anew! He has once again won the opportunity to rewrite all of history! But what is different is that he can clearly see the truth behind each person's mask, he can also clearly grasp every thread of future development, and most importantly, he is no longer that naive novice.
He once relied on his own efforts to touch the threshold of Broadway, but the opportunity quietly vanished without a trace, and he even faced a devastating blow. The most severe incident occurred when he was given a chance to independently direct an off-Broadway play; however, just three days before the performance, the backer decided to withdraw funding, leading to the disintegration of the entire cast. It was not merely a missed opportunity; more importantly, he became infamous for ruining a play that was about to go on stage, and from then on, he fell into a state of despair. He was given a chance to independently direct an off-Broadway play, but just three days before the performance, the backer decided to withdraw funding, leading to the disintegration of the entire cast. It was not merely a missed opportunity; more importantly, he became infamous for ruining a play that was about to go on stage, and from then on, he fell into a state of despair.
He was forced to retreat step by step to Off-Broadway, then further back to Outer Off-Broadway, and ultimately, even while auditioning in Outer Off-Broadway, he still struggled for several months to find a performance job. He could only rely on a daytime job as a café waiter and an evening position teaching acting classes to make ends meet, struggling painfully on the path to pursuing his dreams
This time, he aims to reclaim everything that belongs to him
However, before the words had even finished falling, Lance's entire body fell backward like a marionette with its strings cut, leaving George completely stunned.
Approximately fifty yards ahead, a cluster of individuals in black suits and black dresses gathered together, resembling small patches of clouds scattered here and there. In the center, a faintly visible light brown rectangular coffin could be seen, surrounded by various bouquets of flowers. The murmurs of people whispering to one another were not loud, yet those trivial whispers formed a collective sound, imbued with an indescribable sense of oppression and restlessness, as if one could feel the weight of mourning in the very air.
But ideals are abundant, while reality is stark. The harsh reality quickly doused him with a bucket of cold water—or rather, ice water.
Gwyneth still thought she wanted to reconcile with her... George still believed he was a close friend of his... However, George also knew that he and Ryan had an irreconcilable feud... in a formal and serious setting... Mr. Lydes...
Lance truly feels that his second life is about to come to an end Recently, his dreams have become increasingly frequent, sometimes dreaming of his life as Li Jin, busy in the editing room with colleagues until dawn, just to meet the submission deadline; at other times, dreaming of his life after becoming Lancelot, sitting blankly on the empty seats of the New York subway, treading the moonlight of early morning back to his dilapidated apartment in Brooklyn
This is real, this is not a dream! The entire dream is shattered like broken glass, and the weight of reality has dragged Lance down to the depths of the ocean, then suddenly released him, breaking through the water's surface, fresh air flooding into his brain, the sharp pain awakening everything.
He had countless times believed that his dreams were merely the tip of the iceberg, a mirage; the harsh reality and bloody betrayal slowly, gradually, and gently suffocated the vitality of his dreams. He had countless times thought that his journey through time was thus submerged in the bustling traffic of New York, merely one among the multitude of ordinary beings. He had countless times believed that this was all there was, ... his unwillingness, his anger, his regret, his frustration, his pain, his struggle ... His journey through time was thus submerged in the bustling traffic of New York, merely one among the multitude of ordinary beings. He had countless times believed that this was all there was, ... his unwillingness, his anger, his regret, his frustration, his pain, his struggle ... ... suffocated tightly by the darkness and cruelty of society, leaving him with no outlet for his emotions.
But unfortunately, he understood it too late, and he has already missed too many opportunities
So, what is this situation? Is this a dream or reality
A flash of light passed through Lance's mind, and he suddenly understood that this was a funeral, the funeral of the renowned director Karel Reisz, for Becky was indeed his widow
This is reality
However, arriving at this funeral in a dream is a first! An unprecedented first! This is the place where he transformed from Li Jin into Lancelot, and it is also the place where the two lives he has lived intersect and then begin to separate. Could it be that his life has truly come to an end? Are the "legendary experiences" of his two lives about to come to a conclusion here
Originally, Li Jin thought that his luck had run out, that God had placed all his good fortune in that one and only instance of time travel, and that his dreams would ultimately be locked away beneath the bustling and noisy neon shadows of New York. However, as Li Jin came to understand the operational rules of the American entertainment industry, as he integrated Lancelot's memories, as he truly adapted to this time and space, and as he and Lancelot became one and the same person, he realized everything. The puppet master behind him was neither fate nor God, but Ryan Cavallaro.
Looking down at my attire, I see a suitably fitting black suit paired with an ivory white shirt. Just a slight turn of my body allows me to feel the soft fabric of the suit firmly enveloping my muscles. The tailored shoulder lines, the fitted waistline, and the exquisite stitching all suggest that this is a high-end custom-made Italian suit of considerable value
When he thought his life had come to an end and that he was about to have tea with God, he suddenly found himself awake. However, upon awakening, he was no longer Li Jin, but Lancelot Strelo, attending the funeral of Karel Reitz. As he realized that he had crossed over, becoming one of the countless individuals in the narrative of the novel, a wave of ecstasy overwhelmed him, nearly causing him to lose control. He was Lancelot Strelo, attending the funeral of Karel Reitz, and as he came to understand that he had crossed over, he became one of the many who had traversed into the story, and the sheer joy momentarily engulfed him, almost leading him to a loss of control.