Chapter 53: A Child Star Who Never Truly Rose

Lin Tian even had to tilt his head to the side, maneuvering around the massive obstacle, before finally seeing the beautiful face behind it—one that seemed completely out of place next to such a huge barrier.

An absolute masterpiece.

Even though Lin Tian was currently at the Atlantic Arena, the place with the highest concentration of beauties and female celebrities in all of America, or even the world, right beside him he could spot several famous female stars from the ’90s.

Everyone knew that the front rows of the Atlantic Arena were not only VIP seats for watching the game but also the stage where female celebrities vied to outshine each other, showcasing their charms.

Yet, even so, as Lin Tian’s gaze swept across the entire venue, few could rival the scale and presence of the woman before him.

Not to mention, she had a somewhat youthful and innocent face, resembling a high school girl.

“You don’t recognize him?” Lin Tian withdrew his slightly impolite stare in just a second and instead smiled at the beauty.

The woman blushed a little and said, “Honestly, I don’t really know much about the NBA. But judging by his skills and physique, I’d guess he’s an assistant coach? But I do recognize the two guys around that fat man—Jordan and Rodman!”

“Looks like you really don’t know much about the NBA,” Lin Tian chuckled, shrugging. “I thought every Los Angeles local would know this ‘fat guy’ who doesn’t follow basketball. He’s ‘Magic’ Johnson, once the king of Los Angeles, and even the king of the league!”

“The best point guard in NBA history, bar none!” Lin Tian looked at Magic, who was now drenched in sweat and resting at the sidelines. He genuinely wanted to approach Magic and chat for a bit, hoping to squeeze some skills out of the legendary player.

After all, any point guard worth their salt would look up to Magic’s achievements and abilities.

“Alright, I admit it. My agent told me to come here and stir up a little scandal or something, to get me on some entertainment news page, gain some exposure,” the girl shrugged and added with a slight complaint, “This ticket was really expensive!”

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Jennifer Connelly! And you? You must be a new actor, right?”

It was her!

Lin Tian immediately recalled who this girl was.

Once hailed as Hollywood’s purest and most beautiful top child star, in 1984, 14-year-old Jennifer Connelly made a fleeting but unforgettable appearance in “Once Upon a Time in America,” portraying a delicate, ethereal girl. Though her role was brief, anyone who watched the film would remember Connelly’s stunning beauty vividly.

That film was also her debut. Following such a dazzling first impression, Connelly formally entered the entertainment industry and quickly landed numerous roles, riding the wave of the film’s fame.

Then...

Nothing followed.

She went on to play various roles across genres—horror, suspense, fantasy, fairy tales, romance, action…

A resilient schoolgirl, a girl searching for love, a dream-chasing young woman, a valiant female agent, a graceful ballet ghost…

From her debut in 1984 up to the early ’90s, Connelly tried every role she could and sought every possible way to progress, but unfortunately, all efforts failed.

None of her subsequent films achieved success. Many even said she had “lost her looks,” lacking the vitality and breathtaking charm she had at fourteen.

In short, Connelly’s path in showbiz became narrower and more difficult; she was on the verge of losing her mind.

An absolute prodigy at the start, yet now reduced to a struggling nobody.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely her fault. Hollywood is full of actresses with stunning looks and great figures who never make it big, and others who flare briefly like shooting stars before vanishing.

Sometimes, it has nothing to do with talent, attitude, or personality—it’s just pure luck.

For Connelly, she worked hard but always lacked luck.

Her current status, hovering around third- or fourth-tier fame, would persist well into the 21st century until she finally encountered a film at the century’s start that truly revived her career, propelling her into the second tier of actors with some global recognition.

Before that, she would have to remain obscure for another four or five years.

Now, at 26, time was running out for her. Although Hollywood would grow more tolerant of women in the future—even to the point where one could be a lead actress despite scandalous behavior—in her era, female stars over 35 were basically unemployable.

Just look at the movies she took in the past two years to understand her desperation.

She crossed all previous boundaries with “Passions in a Turbulent World,” even portrayed a lesbian relationship in “Campus Chaos,” and played a corpse in “Mulholland Hop.”

Unfortunately, these wild pushes didn’t bring her any acclaim or awards.

Commercially and critically, she remained a failure.

After twelve years since her debut, Connelly looked back and found that her most memorable role was still that naive little girl in “Once Upon a Time in America.”

This was why she listened to her agent, bought front-row Lakers tickets, and sat behind Jordan, waiting for an opportunity.

If something could happen between her and Jordan, or at least if everyone believed something happened, she could make the front pages a few times. Maybe a director would notice her and give her another chance.

After all, if she didn’t fight for it now, Connelly might forever fade from the audience’s view.

That said, she really didn’t understand basketball and had hardly watched it; otherwise, she wouldn’t have failed to recognize Magic Johnson.

Lin Tian even thought that chances were, she only recognized Jordan and learned about Rodman from a newspaper she bought beforehand—indeed, the headline on her paper was a tabloid story about Rodman.

“My name’s Lin. I’m not an actor; I’m an athlete. I play for the Bulls, but I’m currently suspended,” Lin Tian glanced again at Magic, who was gasping for breath, and finally made up his mind.

To hell with Magic! I’ll rely on myself, not his skills, and still become the best point guard!

Right now, a struggling young lady needs my help and comfort.

I, Lin Tian, shall not shirk this duty!