The Most Famous Actor in Hollywood

The vast savannah stretched endlessly, with only a few low trees occasionally blocking the view. A convoy of over twenty off-road vehicles bumped along the dirt roads of the savannah. The roar of the engines startled antelopes and zebras, which fled in a flash.

Matthew took off his sunglasses and looked out the window, faintly seeing a few lions hiding in the grass. The male lion, majestic and powerful, roared as it saw the convoy, as if its territory was being invaded.

"This is Kenya's nature reserve."

In the front passenger seat, the bodyguard Brown Williams, dressed in camouflage, spoke up, "There are many wild animals here. Predators like lions and cheetahs are not uncommon."

Helen Herman withdrew her gaze from the window, took a sip of water, and said to Matthew beside her, "Be careful and don't act alone."

"I know," Matthew nodded and asked Brown Williams, "Have you been here before during your missions?"

Brown Williams appeared to reminisce, "I've been to Kenya twice, once while serving in the Delta Force and another time a year and a half ago as a bodyguard."

Matthew curiously asked, "Why did you leave the Delta Force? I remember a few years ago, you were an instructor."

Before filming "Black Hawk Down," Brown Williams had trained Matthew and some other actors.

"Being your military instructor was temporary. At that time, I was a member of the Delta Force." Brown Williams hesitated for a moment, probably due to some confidentiality, before continuing, "I had no prospects for promotion and was tired of military life, so I applied for discharge."

He sighed, "Besides being proficient in military skills, I didn't know what else to do, so I became a bodyguard."

Matthew nodded, having heard before that Delta Force or SEAL members were all skilled at killing, but finding a regular job after leaving the military was challenging.

"How's the income?" Matthew thought of Brown Williams' military skills and had an idea. "Not bad, I guess?"

Brown Williams smiled vaguely, "It's okay, better than the military, but it's hard work running around the world to make a living."

"Are you married?" Matthew asked.

"Yes," Brown Williams, who was an old acquaintance, talked more, "I have kids too, but unfortunately, I have to travel around the world."

Helen Herman glanced at Matthew and then subtly at Brown Williams. She had worked with Matthew for many years and quickly guessed his intentions.

Since she had hired Brown Williams as a temporary bodyguard, she knew some basic information. She timely asked, "Does your wife mind?"

"She does, but there's nothing we can do." Brown Williams shrugged, smiling, "We have a mortgage on a house in Santa Monica. If I don't go out and earn money, we can't pay off the loan."

"Mortgage interest is a headache," Matthew seemed to empathize deeply.

Brown Williams nodded, "Yes, the interest is frightening."

Matthew then chatted with Brown Williams about their training days. Since the driver was also a bodyguard, it wasn't appropriate to discuss poaching him now.

After a bumpy ride, the convoy finally stopped in front of a large tent area. After getting out of the car, Matthew looked into the distance and saw tents and makeshift houses connected endlessly. At the entrance of the camp, there were many blue berets, and most of the people coming and going inside the camp had black skin.

Helen Herman withdrew her gaze and said, "This is the place."

Brown Williams immediately stood by Matthew's side, reminding him, "The peacekeepers here only maintain basic order. In refugee camps like this, thieves and robbers are rampant. Don't leave my sight no matter what."

Matthew, not being foolish, nodded, "Got it."

At this moment, the UNHCR official leading the convoy, Philip Grand, walked over and also gave similar advice to Brown Williams.

Matthew was here to put on a show, not to save the world. He knew what to do and what not to do.

Once people have money, they value their lives, and Matthew was no exception. Everything here combined wasn't worth as much as his own life to him.

The surrounding journalists were preparing their equipment to document the refugee camp's conditions. After communicating with Philip Grand, Matthew, accompanied by several UNHCR officials and bodyguards, walked towards the refugee camp, followed by many journalists.

This refugee camp had been established for a long time. Upon entering, Matthew's strongest impression was of the dirt and disorder. Even the shantytown he had lived in during his poorest times was a hundred times better than this. Walking past one tent, he deeply realized one thing.

It wasn't that he needed to give everything to help the suffering black brothers; he wasn't that altruistic.

Matthew deeply felt that being born was truly a matter of luck. Not being born in Africa was indeed fortunate.

He remembered people complaining about unfairness and demanding more. They would probably appreciate the stability and prosperity of their own country more if they spent a few years in an African refugee camp.

Walking along a somewhat smoother dirt road between the tents, Matthew saw thin, listless black people who seemed to have lost all hope. It was as if the war had destroyed everything, including their inner spirit, leaving only bodies moving like zombies.

Wars had never disappeared from human history. Although Matthew hadn't received higher education, he knew that wars driven by religion, belief, ethnicity, and ideology couldn't be eradicated, not even by the UN or a hypothetical Earth Federation.

"This is the area," a UNHCR staff member whispered, "This is our designated relief zone."

The journalists followed, and Matthew entered a tent, shaking hands with a thin black man and saying some pre-prepared words. He even gave him a hug.

All of this was faithfully captured by the many photographers behind them.

As Helen Herman had instructed, Matthew didn't bring any relief supplies. Instead, he focused on verbal and physical interactions. Every handshake and hug with a refugee was carefully documented by the journalists.

Helen Herman had told him that tomorrow he would be interviewed by "Time" magazine and appear on the cover of the second issue of the following year's "Time" magazine.

Given his current fame and status, he wasn't likely to be the cover person for the first issue of the year. Appearing on the cover of the second issue was already quite an achievement, thanks to the combined efforts of many parties.

His two major sponsors, Mercedes-Benz and Rolex, had contributed, as had the UNHCR. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" crew was also pleased, and with Matthew's own influence, this interview was arranged.

In the refugee camp, Matthew followed the UNHCR's plan meticulously. The UNHCR had a comprehensive plan, so he didn't need to worry too much.

With journalists behind them and UNHCR staff leading the way, they were close to Somalia but still within Kenya. Kenya was one of the most stable and secure countries in East Africa, ensuring their basic safety.

Besides taking photos with the refugees, Matthew paid special attention to Brown Williams. Perhaps due to his military background, this former Delta Force member, in his thirties, remained vigilant, closely watching every black person Matthew interacted with from an unobtrusive angle.

The visit to the refugee camp went smoothly, without any dramatic incidents like shootings or robberies. Under the blue berets' maintenance, basic order was upheld, and no one would target UNHCR personnel arbitrarily, as there was nothing to gain.

Leaving the refugee camp, Matthew got into the car and, with journalists and UNHCR officials, drove north for about two hours to the outskirts of the nearest city to the refugee camp. There, a large children's welfare home housed over a hundred orphans.

Compared to the black people in the refugee camp, the children here had better conditions. They received basic education from volunteers, and the UNHCR provided timely supplies. As Helen Herman put it, this welfare home was a showcase for the UNHCR.

Everything at this children's welfare home was meticulously managed, making it clear that the UNHCR's work was effective and every donor's penny was well spent.

Charity work was never simple; it required careful planning and execution.

Matthew stayed at the children's welfare home until sunset, finally sitting among a group of black children, holding a little black girl and taking a group photo.

At that moment, he was undoubtedly an angel fallen to earth.

But upon returning to the hotel, Matthew headed straight to the bathroom, taking a bath for nearly two hours until the rough skin on his palms wrinkled before coming out.

The next day, he was interviewed by a "Time" magazine journalist at the children's welfare home. After the interview, he returned to Nairobi, Kenya, and flew back to Los Angeles.

Of course, Matthew didn't forget about Brown Williams. He specifically instructed Helen Herman to learn more about this retired soldier.

As 2005 quietly passed, 2006 arrived, and in the second week of the new year, Matthew appeared on the cover of "Time" magazine.

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