Calm and composed. Neither humble nor arrogant.
Even when countering, there was no anger or aggression. Instead, Anson clearly and confidently conveyed his thoughts with a steady, unhurried manner. He exuded a subtle aura of calmness and composure, capturing the listener's attention with every word and expression.
His words carried weight.
Without anyone noticing, the entire conversation had shifted entirely under Anson's control.
So, how did all of this happen?
From the moment the Aston Martin arrived, events began to defy expectations repeatedly, leading to... silence.
It was a mix of surprise and confusion, as well as a moment to regroup and adjust.
At this point, the reporters finally realized that it was impossible to dig up the truth about Brad Pitt's rumors through Anson.
Of course, Nicholas had another thought in mind—they needed to adjust their expectations.
Initially, his biggest concern was that Anson's manager might step in to deflect all questions with a simple "no comment," a phrase as frustrating and unassailable as "I want my lawyer." But now, that concern hadn't materialized, and Anson was speaking candidly, yet things were different.
It didn't matter if it was just Anson or if David Crane, Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Aniston were all present—they would not retreat so easily.
Nicholas, being the seasoned professional he was, quickly regained his footing after the brief shock, immediately finding a new angle.
"So, what about you and Jennifer Aniston?"
He struck right at the heart of the matter.
The rumors about Brad Pitt were shrouded in secrecy, taking place at higher levels, allowing Anson to justifiably claim ignorance.
But when it came to the rumors about Jennifer, Anson was directly involved. Faced with the reporters' questioning, he had no reason to avoid it and had to respond directly.
Nicholas wasn't led astray by Anson. He stayed sharply focused and quickly got back on track, launching another round of questions.
Anson knew that reporters wouldn't give up easily. If they were so easily dismissed, they wouldn't be the nightmare of countless public figures. With so many reporters present, someone was bound to find another angle or flaw to exploit. What surprised him was that it was the same reporter again.
Anson, who had been scanning the crowd, refocused on the reporter before him, a glint of interest in his eyes. Things were getting intriguing.
Not just Nicholas, but the surrounding reporters also doubted their ears. What had Anson just said?
In the midst of the stunned commotion, Anson repeated his answer, "I said, I don't know her."
What kind of nonsense was this?
As they exchanged puzzled looks, a wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. For what felt like the umpteenth time today, Anson had caught them off guard.
The corners of Anson's mouth curled up into a slight smile. "Of course, as an audience member and as a colleague, I know Jennifer. Who doesn't know Jennifer?"
**"But here's the thing, how exactly do we define 'knowing' someone?"**
"You all know Jennifer, but it's clear that you don't know her the same way Courteney, Matthew, David, Lisa, or Matt do."
"Up until today, I've met Jennifer twice. We know each other's names, and we've worked together on a few projects. That's it."
"After work, when I get home, I brag to my friends, 'Hey, guys, I know Jennifer Aniston.'"
Anson's lively and vivid description painted a clear picture, and the reporters around him broke into low chuckles.
"But I wouldn't consider myself Jennifer's friend. Even though I'd love to boast to my friends that Jennifer and I went on vacation to Palm Springs together, the reality is, I don't even have Jennifer's phone number."
"Believe me, I'm not complaining about anything—just stating a fact."
"Hey, Jennifer, if you see this interview and want to exchange phone numbers, I'd be more than happy to. It would be my honor. And Courteney, and Lisa, um, and Matthew, and Matt... Okay, David, you can too."
Without warning, Anson broke the fourth wall, sending a message directly to Jennifer through the reporters.
Not just Jennifer, but to the rest of the "Friends" cast as well. His words were filled with ups and downs, his expression vivid, and there was even a hint of something more behind his tone.
In that instant, the comedic effect was undeniable.
The entire room erupted in laughter.
At this moment, the previously tense and confrontational atmosphere had melted away, replaced with smiles on every face, making it impossible to maintain any hostility.
More importantly, it was now clear to everyone that Anson and Jennifer weren't really "friends."
Some people "know" each other just in passing, perhaps only as colleagues whose conversations are strictly about work, with no further connection afterward.
Others "know" each other in a way that includes sharing meals, drinks, and conversations, tightly intertwined across various points in life.
There's a significant difference between these two kinds of "knowing."
Although Anson never directly addressed the rumors—neither confirming nor denying them—his casual and natural conversation conveyed enough information.
And it wasn't stiff or formal; it was convincing.
The scene was filled with joy.
Nicholas looked around in disbelief. Just a moment ago, these reporters were his allies, but now he felt surrounded by them.
Nicholas was ready to ask a few more probing questions, confident that if he could steer the conversation back on track once, he could do it again.
But this time, another reporter beat him to it.
"Anson, do you really not have the other cast members' contact information?" Fresh chapters posted on NoveI~Fire.net
The question itself signaled that the reporter accepted Anson's response, causing the rumor to collapse on its own while shifting the conversation toward Anson's experience with the "Friends" cast.
Originally, this should have been an opportunity to dig deeper into rumors and negative news. Now, it felt more like they were interviewing Anson about behind-the-scenes stories from his time on "Friends."
Nicholas rolled his eyes in despair, feeling that the situation had slipped completely out of his control and was now firmly in Anson's hands.
Anson chuckled softly, "Honestly, I'm a bit shy."
The room filled with laughter, clearly showing that the reporters didn't believe Anson was "shy."
Anson shrugged slightly. "It's true. Half of my attention on set was spent trying not to scream because of the familiar set and live audience, and the other half was focused on my lines and performance. I really didn't have the energy to think about anything else."
"So, any suggestions? How should I go about asking the other cast members for their contact information?"
"'Hey, I really like you, can I have your phone number?'—How do I say that without sounding like a stalker?"
Laughter continued to ripple through the room, and the atmosphere had fully transformed into a light-hearted discussion.
So warm, so amiable—was there really no problem with this?