2. Non Relevant Information

[ ASHER POV ]

My flat is small but spacious enough. I've had offers to move which my agent brings it up every few months, usually right after some award's event where I show up in a 10 year old blazer and get photographed next to actors half as good and twice as rich. But his saying everytime is

You could afford better now, Asher. Optics matter.

I don't want better. I want the same 3 rooms I've had since my second film. The one with my mother's old recipe tin still in the cupboard, even though she's been gone four years now and I've never once opened it.

I microwaved leftover noodles and ate them standing at the counter, reading my sides for tomorrow, Mandarin on one page, while My own English notes scrawled in the margin. Instead of for long staying in Shanghai, I still struggle with Mandarin. I failed but I know how to get results.

Directors correct me All the time. I welcome it, honestly. I'm known for being the easiest actor on a call sheet, because my ego doesn't need protecting the way some people's do. It was the way they say it. Like I was a problem to be solved instead of a person doing their job. Like the years I've spent building a name for myself, one small role at a time.

******

My phone buzzed on the counter. My sister Claire 📱

"Did you eat something that's not instant noodles today?" she asks. "Noodles. proud of me?"

"Shocked mostly! How's the new film?"

"I still have to get the script, though my agent had words with the respective director & writer. But he said the Producer is a Nightmare."

"The young one? Saw his photo. He's handsome"

"That's not relevant information" I replied.

"I Didn't say it was relevant. I said he's handsome. I saw the Weibo post of CCTV. Why not you check it too Gege?"

"Not interested."

I put My mobile face down on the counter, which felt, even to me, like an overreaction to a joke from my own sister, As she is die hearted fan of handsome males.

If I state correctly, One of her reason to come & want to settle in China. Pfft-not surprising for Me.

I rinsed the bowl, set it in the rack next to the single mug and plate that live there, and went to sit by the window with my sides again. The city outside was doing its usual late things.

I hate it, more than almost anything, when someone rich and untested turns out to be right.

***** My phone buzzed again ******

"You didn't answer the pretty thing, Gege."

"Goodnight claire" I replied....

"🙄 Goodnight. Have sweet nightmares"

****

I put the phone in the other room, on the charger, out of reach of any more opinions, and sat a while longer with the window open and the sides in my lap. Not reading anymore.

Just looking out at nothing in particular, aware in the low, irritated way that some part of my evening had been about My Sister yapping about some random handsome Males for longer than I wanted to admit.

But I must admit, Her information gathering skill about handsome males is much more faster than Weibo or any News Channels. Pfft-....

But whatever, her this information is always

Non Relevant for Me.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

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