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Hearing that a book she liked had poor sales, Charlize couldn't understand it.
A little indignant, she asked:
"But your book was recomnded by Audrey Hepburn. How could it still sell so badly?"
Henry spoke bluntly:
"Think of it this way—
without Ms. Hepburn's recomndation, it might've sold even worse."
Disappointing as the numbers were, Henry—as a translator—didn't care much.
**"According to the editor, the book would've benefited from a nationwide signing tour.
Go around Arica, use Audrey Hepburn's na to gather readers, then broaden the audience.
But from the very beginning, this book wasn't sothing I planned to publish.
"So its sales?
I don't really care.
As long as the publisher doesn't lose money on printing and nobody complains at , that's good enough.
I never expected it to 'do well.'"**
Charlize blinked.
"Not planned? What do you an?"
Henry explained:
**"It was just a series of quiet afternoons—
an elderly woman receiving hospice care,
asking to read her stories she'd never heard before.
"The notes I kept afterward were shown to a publisher—
by Ms. Hepburn—
and that's how the book got printed."**
Charlize frowned.
"But… you had such a good opportunity."
A girl at the very edge of despair, she couldn't help resenting Henry's nonchalance.
Yet she didn't know where to begin criticizing him.
Henry smiled.
"Let guess—you think I should've promoted the book, built up a reputation, then used that to do this and that, right?"
Charlize nodded.
Henry spread his hands.
**"But it's not my original work.
If I went around promoting it like it was mine and pocketing the profits…
don't you think that'd be weird?
"Yes, the original creators lived hundreds or thousands of years ago—no copyright issues.
But I'm just a cultural courier.
Not a creator."**
Charlize's cheeks reddened.
Well… that did make sense.
"Right?" Henry said.
"So since I never planned to make money off it, I also didn't bother with signings or promotion.
"The publisher handled what little marketing existed.
That's why you could doubt I was even the real translator—
barely anyone has seen ."**
"That's true…" Charlize muttered bitterly.
Seeing soone talented still struggle in Los Angeles…
she felt a cold chill wash over her.
"If Hollywood is so impossible… maybe I should go back to South Africa."
— And just like that, Henry nearly talked a future Oscar winner out of Hollywood.
Henry chuckled without remorse.
"If it hurts too much, going ho early is an option.
Do you have family there?"
He already knew the answer—if this world matched his mories.
But he asked anyway.
Charlize said softly:
"Just my mother."
"If you really can't keep going, going ho sooner will save her a lot of worry.
But if you want to keep fighting, then stop letting negative thoughts drag you down.
People who hesitate too much might not grab opportunities even when they're staring right at them."
Charlize's anger flared again.
"Oh, you're so wise, huh?
Then what about you?
Why are you still in L.A. instead of going ho?"
Henry smiled.
"I don't have a ho to go back to."
The simple sentence hit like a stone.
Charlize froze.
"Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"Nothing to be sorry about.
Having no retreat just ans I learned to accept reality faster.
That's not necessarily a bad thing."
Henry scribbled a phone number onto a piece of paper and pushed it toward her.
**"There's a saying where I co from:
'At ho rely on family, outside rely on friends.'
If you ever need help, call this number.
"I have an answering machine—if I miss it, leave a ssage.
I can't make you a superstar, but I've survived in Hollywood longer than you.
Maybe I can offer advice."**
Charlize stared at the paper for a long mont.
She didn't take it.
Instead she asked:
"I know everything has a price.
So what do you want out of this?"
Henry laughed softly.
"Smart girl.
And cautious.
Good."
Then he explained:
**"Let's put it this way—
I ca here alone, and a lot of people helped along the way.
"They didn't ask for anything in return.
So just consider this my way of passing that goodwill forward.
"Whether you accept or not is your choice.
But if you reject everyone who reaches out…
you might push away people who could have helped you.
"And that's not a smart way to survive in Hollywood."**
Charlize bit her lip, then asked bluntly:
"So how am I supposed to tell who's good or bad?"
Henry tsked.
"You're asking the wrong question."
"Why?"
**"Because here, there's no such thing as a pure 'good person' or 'bad person.'
Sure, you can check criminal records if you want, but that's not what you an.
"In Hollywood:
Show your weakness to a 'good' person,
and they might still hurt you.
Share interests with soone with a 'bad' reputation,
and they might help you.
"Your behavior determines whether soone harms or helps you.
The only exception is drugged-up maniacs waving guns—
stay away from them.
They're beyond reason."**
Charlize stared at him, overwheld.
"So I'm supposed to accept people's help openly…
but also protect myself wisely?
Is that even possible?"
Henry grinned.
**"You have to make it possible.
"If your strategy is to avoid everyone to stay safe,
then go ho now.
Hollywood is not for you.
"But if you accept every request, climb into every director or producer's bed…
well, then the most 'successful actresses' in Hollywood should be the won of San Fernando Valley.
"And in a certain sense… they are successful.
"But the real world isn't black and white.
Every actress who reaches the top,
none of them are fools or naïve little bunnies."**
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