Frank had always been very polite, and his words weren't overly harsh, merely stating facts. However, such words were hardly pleasant to hear. This was the reality of Hollywood: popularity was the sole measure of everything. There were many ways to gain popularity—perhaps through acting skills, box office numbers, or being a topic of conversation—but the most important thing was to garner attention and become a focal point. Once you had popularity, everything else would follow.In fact, given Hugo's current situation, if he went to some sports brands, he might receive a warm welcome; after all, the buzz from the Golden Raspberry Awards was sufficient. But for a top-tier brand like Armani, they required masculine charm and a positive image. Compared to Hugo, there was no doubt they would choose Richard.Although Frank remained humble and polite, the deep-seated confidence in the brand and the underlying disdain for Hugo were still clearly palpable. Imagine if Richard were the one visiting Armani; Frank's reception would certainly go beyond mere politeness.It was just that such a reality was too cruel and cold, leaving one feeling helpless.Hugo and Joseph had originally come shopping in high spirits, but their mood instantly plummeted. Even if they were attending the premiere of "the last analysis," so what? It wasn't Hugo's own work anyway.Despite this, Frank dutifully continued, "We have many excellently designed new arrivals for the spring season. If you need anything, I can personally introduce them to you." But looking at the gentlemanly smile on Frank's face now, it felt somewhat cheap, as if Hugo were a beggar he could easily dismiss.Hugo gave Frank a warm smile and said calmly, "No need. I can't afford this price. I think I'll try another shop."Hugo's words were clearly an admission of his own financial straits, an act of backing down and showing weakness. Yet, after he said it, the atmosphere in the room felt somewhat strange. It was as if Hugo were being sarcastic, saying, "Your Armani is too high-class, I'm not worthy," pinning the perfectly mannered Frank right where he stood. That smile on Frank's face froze, looking quite spectacular.Standing nearby, Joseph saw the twitching facial expression on Frank's face and couldn't help but feel a flash of amusement in his eyes. Watching Hugo's back as he walked into the dressing room with a straight spine to change, Joseph suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction.Hugo soon finished changing. He hung the suit back in the dressing room, then gave a smile to Frank, who was trying hard to maintain his etiquette at the door, and said very politely, "Thank you for your hospitality. I hope I can find work soon. Once I have enough capital, I hope to buy a suitable suit at Armani."Hugo's words were humble on the surface but barbed underneath, subtly mocking Armani's self-important elitism. Frank had no idea how to respond and could only pretend he didn't understand, saying with a smile, "Armani welcomes your visit at any time." Then, Hugo and Joseph walked out of the Armani store side by side with their heads held high, leaving a helpless Frank behind inside the shop.Although they hadn't encountered any scenes of open mockery at Armani today, and the staff hadn't made snide remarks like "don't touch if you can't afford it," and the overall etiquette was in place, the discrimination radiating from their bones—that snobbish self-importance—was still very uncomfortable."One day, Armani will come to your door and beg you to wear their clothes. When that time comes, you must reject them harshly," Joseph said in a flat tone. Although there was no fluctuation in his voice, his frustration was clearly audible.Hugo let out a soft chuckle. "Don't worry, I'll give that opportunity to you when the time comes.""So, do we still want to keep looking for clothes?" Joseph's mood lightened slightly at Hugo's teasing, but he didn't have much desire left for shopping. Men generally didn't have much of a penchant for shopping to begin with, and the experience at Armani had left a bitter taste.Hugo's eyes widened, and he said with an air of surprise, "Do you really want me to attend the premiere in that suit from the Golden Raspberry Awards and be outshone by Richard? Or would you rather I just show up in a T-shirt and jeans?"Hugo's slightly exaggerated expression made Joseph shake his head helplessly. He naturally knew that was impossible. Even if they were lacking interest now, work was still work; they couldn't give up because of a small setback. Furthermore, "scent of a woman" had already finished filming and was just waiting for post-production. Things were getting on track, so there was no need for them to be dejected. He believed today's experience wouldn't last long."Then let's continue. Why are you still standing there?" Joseph shrugged, giving an affirmative answer.Hugo smiled as he walked forward. "Exactly. I see at least hundreds of designer stores here. The problem isn't finding a suitable outfit, it's how much time it will take us to find it." After walking a bit further, Hugo saw a beautifully decorated storefront and walked straight toward it. "Let's go in and take a look."But just as Hugo was about to push the glass door of the shop, he saw Joseph stop in his tracks. Hugo thought something had happened and greeted Joseph enthusiastically, "Don't worry, the Armani thing was our oversight. There are only two movies premiering this week; how could this happen in every store?"Joseph remained where he was, his expression looking a bit strange, as if his mouth were twitching, yet he also seemed to be suppressing a laugh. This left Hugo somewhat bewildered.At that moment, the glass door was pushed open from the inside. Presumably, a staff member saw a customer and came to greet them. Sure enough, Hugo turned his head to see a woman dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, her hair in a neat ponytail, saying with a smile, "Good afternoon, welcome to the Chanel women's boutique.""Uh..." Hugo's smile instantly froze on his face. He had been so busy talking to Joseph that he hadn't noticed this was a women's clothing store. No wonder Joseph's behavior had been so odd. Hugo paused for a moment, then forced his frozen smile back into place. "Good afternoon. My female companion seems to have gone to the shop next door. I'll come back later." After saying that, Hugo gave a composed nod and walked back onto the street.Joseph, however, suddenly quickened his pace, walking straight ahead as if he didn't know Hugo, clearly feeling embarrassed.Hugo gloomily hurried to catch up. "Hey, Joseph! You should have reminded me; you just watched me make a fool of myself," Hugo whispered, complaining incessantly. Suddenly, he saw Joseph raise his right hand and point to the sign of the shop next door. Hugo kept talking, but his head turned toward it. "If I hadn't been quick-witted, that scene would have been awkward. Did you want me to go in and wander around..."Hugo's words came to an abrupt halt. Because he saw the sign for this shop read "Gucci," and then in the bottom right corner, there was a small logo: "Men's Store.""...Fuck." That was the only word Hugo could say right now.And Joseph finally couldn't hold it in anymore, letting out a snickering laugh, his pace becoming light. Hugo frustratedly smacked his own head, not daring to look back to see if the Chanel employee was standing outside. He could only hurry to keep up with Joseph. It wasn't until they were a hundred yards away from that area that Joseph truly burst into laughter—he had been holding it in with great effort. This was the first time Hugo had heard Joseph laugh out loud.Seeing Joseph's schadenfreude, Hugo couldn't help but chuckle as well, laughing out loud. Even looking back on it himself, the scene just now was indeed quite funny.Although Hugo had made a big fool of himself, it successfully allowed the two of them to put the Armani incident behind them and throw themselves back into their grand shopping plan.There were countless top brands on Rodeo Drive. Having given up on Armani, the choices were still dazzling. This premiere was very important—not only was it Hugo's first public appearance since the Golden Raspberry Awards, but he also had to bear the heavy responsibility of countering Richard's mature charm, so the choice of clothing could not be neglected. Thus, even though both men were truly tired, they didn't do a sloppy or half-hearted job. Finally, after tossing and turning for most of the afternoon, Hugo and Joseph managed to purchase a suitable suit at Givenchy. It cost four thousand five hundred dollars, representing a significant investment for the upcoming premiere, and finally ending the grueling process.Holding the suit in his hands, Hugo couldn't help but sigh. "Rent is only three hundred dollars, and one suit is almost five months' worth of our living expenses. Truly extravagant." Looking at stars under the flashbulbs in their glamorous attire was something to be envied, but after experiencing it personally, it didn't seem quite so wonderful.Joseph gave a light laugh. "Wasn't the suit you wore to 'hudson hawk' even more expensive? Don't you remember? In Hollywood, there is no upper limit to the price of these things."Hugo didn't dare ask how much his predecessor's suit for "hudson hawk" had actually cost, though he muttered to himself that he didn't remember anything in his closet looking particularly valuable."But last time you wore that suit to a bar, got dead drunk, and vomited all over yourself, then threw it away the next day. It was really a pity; otherwise, we could have dry-cleaned it and pawned it for a good amount of money," Joseph continued to drop bombshells, leaving Hugo dumbfounded.Seeing Hugo's shocked expression, Joseph couldn't help but ask in confusion, "What's wrong?"Hugo was stunned for a moment before replying, "Are we already so poor that we have to go to a pawn shop?""Please, that wasn't the point of what I just said, alright?" That was likely the only thought in Joseph's mind at that moment.
