The stalemate was broken.
Everyone knew that at an event like the Golden Globes, completely isolating Anson was impossible. But keeping a certain distance, giving this young superstar a little lesson in the ways of the industry, was definitely achievable.
More importantly, who breaks the stalemate first, who extends the olive branch first—this matters.
It could be someone like Anson, an outsider, or an industry heavyweight like Steven Spielberg. The impact would be entirely different.
If it were the latter, Brad's efforts to create a certain atmosphere might crumble instantly. Forget about isolating Anson—the crowd might even flock to him just because of Steven's gesture.
But—
Steven wasn't in the room; he had probably gone to the restroom.
So, who stepped forward?
Amidst the quiet shuffling of feet and the tense, heated atmosphere, all eyes turned.
It was an entirely unexpected figure.
Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Standing in front of Anson was Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jake Gyllenhaal's older sister and also an actress.
Coming from a Hollywood acting family, Maggie and Jake weren't just second-generation stars; they also came from wealth. They grew up pampered, carrying the confidence of the privileged, completely indifferent to those staring at them.
Hollywood, without a doubt, is one of the representations of the American Dream.
Even now, Hollywood continues to tell stories of overnight success, where nobodies become somebodies. For the average person, it remains a fast track to upward mobility.
For this reason, countless people flock to Los Angeles, year after year, becoming the ever-widening base of the entertainment industry.
After thirty or fifty years of accumulation, Hollywood has also formed its own "nobility"—families where the parents laid the groundwork, giving their children a springboard into the industry.
Now, Hollywood is home to several acting dynasties, some going back three or four generations, spreading their influence across different areas.
The Gyllenhaal family may not be as extensive as the Coppolas, but their three decades in Hollywood have allowed them to build a robust network, extending deeply into various layers of the industry.
Maggie Gyllenhaal noticed the subtle shift in the atmosphere of the ballroom—
She found it childish and dull.
Actually, Maggie had never met Anson before. Jake hadn't asked her to look after him, and she hadn't expected herself to step forward to help.
But...
Maggie knew Anson was friends with Jake, and that was enough for her.
As for all those gazes—those surprised, curious, shocked, devouring stares?
Ha, she didn't care.
"...Turns out, Jake was right. You're not afraid of pranks at all—no fun."
Maggie didn't hide her disappointment.
A faint smile crept onto Anson's face.
"Seems like Jake is an honest guy, willing to tell his sister the truth."
Maggie made an "oh" sound, immediately picking up on the teasing in Anson's words: not all brothers are willing to be honest with their sisters, so there's a hidden story here?
"Did Jake tell you to be careful—I might be a bad guy?"
Maggie: ?
What was this even about?
Maggie couldn't make sense of it; her brain wasn't moving fast enough. Before she could react, Anson made his move.
Stepping forward slightly, maintaining a waltz posture, his right hand politely rested on Maggie's waist, and without a signal, he twirled her around.
Maggie found herself spinning in place, a full 360 degrees, her white Chanel evening dress swirling gracefully. Anson supported her waist with his right hand, slowly, gently lowering her into a dip.
It wasn't a waltz—it was a tango.
Maggie played along, extending her arms to complete the dramatic pose.
Finally, Anson helped Maggie stand back up, holding her single-handedly, spinning her once, twice, three times before stopping abruptly—
Pose held.
The air grew quiet, but after a brief stunned pause, the room erupted in applause.
Was this scene a bit... over the top? Dramatic? Performative?
The answer was yes, but this was the Golden Globes—a performance stage by nature. The goal was this kind of exaggerated drama.
As actors, sometimes a little theatricality is exactly what's needed.
And a thick skin.
It wasn't just applause; there were whistles and cheers. The ballroom was buzzing with excitement.
The awards ceremony had instantly shifted into party mode. Any tension or awkwardness from earlier had evaporated completely.
Brad: ...
To be honest, Brad was panicking. He hadn't expected Anson to break down the barriers in such a way—no arrogance or conceit, but rather, by lowering himself to entertain the crowd like a clown, turning the image of a burden into a delightful surprise. The envious glares from earlier had vanished entirely.
For a moment, Brad didn't know how to react.
Amidst the lively commotion, Maggie finally realized—
She had been played!
She had meant to prank Anson, but instead, she had fallen for his prank.
Realizing this, her smile widened, and she gently patted Anson's chest.
"Anson, are you flirting with me now? Oh, I'm sorry—you're not my type."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she launched her counterattack.
Maggie thought Anson would be flustered, but instead, he moved closer, leaning down slightly to whisper in her ear.
"I know. Jake's sister—you're into guys like Peter, right?"
Maggie: ... "What?"
She had let her guard down and revealed her own surprise.
Anson continued, "I mean, guys like Peter Sarsgaard."
Maggie froze completely, casting a quick, suspicious glance at Anson before quickly catching on. "Who? I don't know what you're talking about."
Anson's smile widened slightly. "Oh, so it's still a secret, huh? Don't worry—your secret's safe with me. Just like how I've never mentioned who Jake's been dating."
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Now Maggie understood what Jake had meant—Anson wasn't so simple.
Originally, Maggie had thought of Anson as just a young kid, his pranks barely at college level. But now, she found herself flustered and on the defensive, accidentally revealing her own secret.
Even though Maggie refused to admit it, Anson's words and expression were far too confident. He knew what he was talking about.
The problem was, even Jake didn't know about this...
Maggie narrowed her eyes. "How do you know?"
Anson shrugged lightly. "A guess. But now, it's confirmed."
Maggie: ... Damn, she had been outwitted by this little guy!