Chapter 868: Chapter 274: Trending People
Under the bright lights, what should have been a tidy kitchen was a total mess. Several kitchen utensils were strewn on the floor, along with some torn pieces of clothing, hinting at the intensity of what had just occurred.
With a soft pop sound, a fair arm stretched out from under the table and pressed onto it. Then, amid rustling sounds, a woman’s soft sigh echoed, and soon a head with disheveled hair appeared at the edge of the table. But before the head fully emerged, a sudden exclamation was heard, and the woman was pulled back down, followed by another round of commotion.
“Enough, Ed!” Kate shouted angrily at Adrian, who was holding onto her tightly, “Don’t try to challenge my limits! Otherwise… ah… ah…”
Her words were only half-spoken before her voice suddenly heightened, provoked by Adrian buried in her softness. Her pretty face quickly flushed with a rosy hue. Despite her strong resentment, her body went limp, unable to resist, allowing him to continue his indulgence.
“Were you saying something earlier?” Adrian finally lifted his head, feigning surprise with a cheeky smile, while Kate glared at him with eyes full of frustration.
Unfortunately, in their present state, both were lying naked on the kitchen floor, with just a few clothes spread underneath them. Kate looked not threatening at all, but rather charmingly adorable.
“You bastard!” She spat through gritted teeth after a long pause under his gaze, a phrase already stale from overuse, “You actually… so much it!”
“Hey, Kate,” Adrian quickly held up his fingers and shook them, “You know you were moaning so loudly and seductively just now. If I hadn’t controlled the pace, we might have woken a lot of people.”
“You…” Kate’s face immediately flushed red but quickly turned gloomy, looking away. After a long while, she murmured, “That T-shirt cost me 1000 US Dollars.”
Adrian then wiped away his smile and, propping himself halfway up, kissed her shoulder: “I’ll compensate you, Kate. I’ll get you a better, lighter, more comfortable, and… less easily torn T-shirt.”
Kate snorted softly, her eyes half-closed, letting him kiss her until his hand once again ventured between her legs.
“Did you… did you leave it… leave it inside?!” The woman suddenly turned her head in shock and anger to ask, Adrian paused for a moment before realizing: “The safe period is over?”
“Your memory is usually very good, isn’t it? Don’t you remember everyone’s cycles very well? How could you forget now?” Kate mocked but didn’t seem too angry, “This time maybe in a few months I’ll have to suffer through childbirth pain again.”
“Don’t be so agitated, dear, it doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get pregnant.” Adrian reassured her, “Besides, it wouldn’t be bad to give Lily a new little sister, a complete one.”
“Are you sure?” Kate sneered, “I heard that men who indulge in too much sex have sperm with less vitality. Oh, how I hope Lily won’t have any more sisters.”
“But many reports show that my sperm always maintain high spirits, so your guess doesn’t hold, Kate.” Adrian countered with a laugh.
Grinding her teeth, Kate was about to continue her attack, but then something made her close her mouth, her complexion worsened, and after staring at Adrian for a moment, she suddenly began hitting him with her arms. She wasn’t using much strength; it was more like venting, so Adrian just held her gently.
“You bastard… always this way…” She said softly after several rounds, until she felt tired and calmed down, burying her head and muttering resentfully and helplessly.
“That’s because you always have feelings for me, just as I have feelings for you,” Adrian whispered in her ear, “So stop the pointless resistance, Kate, I need you, really really need you.”
Kate finally lifted her head again, exhaling with a self-deprecating expression: “I knew it… But don’t imagine me getting along peacefully with Emma. That detestable… I never thought she would do such a thing, and even come to me… I will definitely make her pay, I swear!”
“Alright, I got it.” Adrian couldn’t help but laugh. Since Little Emma had already done such a thing, naturally, she had considered the consequences, so Kate’s warning was meaningless, more like giving herself an out.
It’s not a big deal. Even if Kate and Little Emma don’t get along, as long as Lily is unaware of what Little Emma and Daddy did, she’ll maintain a close relationship with Little Emma. In such circumstances, even if the two have conflicts, it will remain within a small range. With Lily gradually becoming accustomed to each other’s presence, the prior agreement not to tell Lily about this was part of the plan.
Of course, discretion and confidentiality are essential.
“Let’s go back to the room; it’s late and getting colder.” Adrian said with a smile, then lifted the naked Kate in his arms.
“Just like this?” Kate instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, “What if… what if Lily suddenly wakes up when we go up?”
“It’ll be fine,” Adrian replied with a mischievous grin, “We just have to move quickly, the night is still young.”
Kate clenched her teeth again, indeed, the night was long, and she had been building up for more than half a month, while this guy had undoubtedly been reveling every night during that time. Even if she knew she was at a disadvantage, she intended to teach him a lesson!
The whole matter temporarily came to an end as Kate returned to Ed’s mansion and appeared on time at the mothers’ gathering. Time continued to move forward, and after Halloween, another movie season arrived. This time, the opening film was Universal’s “Spider-Man 3,” which hit theaters in early November. Thanks to the accumulated reputation and support from 4,000 theaters, it easily grossed over a hundred million in its three-day weekend debut, making many envious once again.
However, this series is almost reaching its end for now. First, this year saw the release of several superhero movies, mostly under Marvel, so the audience’s attention has been scattered, and interest will begin to fade. Secondly, if one wants to fully exploit the value of something, exhausting it is not feasible; moderation is key. By taking a break and letting “Spider-Man” disappear for a while, when people start to want to see it again, it will surely generate substantial profits.
Thirdly, as a major star, Toby Maguire doesn’t want to be confined to superhero franchises, which are essentially commercial films. Kirsten, backed by Adrian, always gets good roles, so she can be indifferent, but Maguire can’t. So having gained fame through “Spider-Man,” he naturally wants to expand his reach and pursue higher honors, even though his baby face is a hindrance.
Of course, keeping him is not impossible, as long as the remuneration is high enough, but whether it’s worth it needs to be evaluated.
Anyway, “Spider Man 3” still made a great harvest, although the movies to follow will definitely not continue like this, at least it’s a good start. What’s more, Universal’s next film is not bad either; it’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” featuring Knight and Aniston, which has attracted a lot of attention since filming began.
Over the past few years, Dennis and Aniston have been considered one of Hollywood’s most famous celebrity couples. If it weren’t for Winona constantly getting involved, they might have succeeded Cruz and Nicole’s title of golden couple. Such a star couple playing spouses in an action movie and portraying the fragile seven-year itch by trying to kill each other is undeniably eye-catching.
What’s more, both have appeared in quite a few action films, further heightening anticipation. Hence, since the announcement of filming, public attention on “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” has been constant, with even some enthusiasts suggesting on the official website why not give Winona the role of the third party involved in the film.
Under such circumstances, the performance of the film was remarkable upon release, securing a box office of 50 million in its first week. Coupled with Dennis and Aniston’s engaging performances where their interactions as a couple were spot-on, and their rich experience in action scenes, especially Aniston’s.
One must commend America’s Sweetheart. Ever since Adrian suggested she appear as an action star, she formally embarked on this path. Then, with Adrian’s growing fame and insight and Dennis’s continuous persuasion, Aniston began sprinting along this path. Although fitting roles in this aspect are not numerous, quite a few fans expressed a desire to see the sweet and lovely Rachel Green, but she persists. Over the years, she has cultivated a unique aura and gained a group of supporters, even MGM extended an olive branch, hoping to invite her to be the Bond Girl in the new 007 series.
Furthermore, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” specially attended to by Adrian, had a female lead essentially tailored for Aniston. Whether it’s daily confrontations with her husband or merciless acts during missions, her traits of hidden sharpness are particularly highlighted, including an elegantly alluring killing method—descending with pockets from a high-rise, a classic shot that’s still present and even more attention-grabbing.
In sum, the perfect mix of character and actor, even overshadowing Dennis in some scenes, many found it thoroughly enjoyable. Even in another time and space, it might temporarily be difficult to link the competent, short-haired Mrs. Smith with America’s Sweetheart. Thus, two weeks later, the North American box office easily surpassed 100 million.
While it’s not the most successful film released in November besides “Spider Man 3,” it’s definitely the most talked-about. Especially not long after the release, a reporter inadvertently captured a photo of Winona and Aniston passionately kissing outside a restaurant, and Winona quickly publicly declared her pursuit was for Aniston, not Dennis, instantly igniting the entire Hollywood.
Bear in mind, she previously sparked media speculation with remarks like “Why am I not pursuing Jenny,” and headlines like “Winona Ryder Out for Jennifer Aniston” circulated with question marks on major newspapers’ entertainment sections for a long time. Many wondered what might be happening in the Knight couple’s household. Now with the gossip confirmed by those involved, how could the former pure girl star’s outing with a rival not attract a swarm of blood-scented sharks?
Although Dennis and Aniston remained silent and did not respond, journalists unleashed their creativity, fabricating various stories. Besides past rumors like “Winona pursuing Aniston as revenge on Dennis” and “Dennis is gay, married Aniston to cover it up,” new versions emerged, like “Aniston was originally gay; she approached Dennis for Winona” and “Dennis dating Aniston was a ploy by him and Winona to facilitate Winona’s pursuit of Aniston.”
Really makes one laugh and cry, the paparazzi’s imagination can always leap to this level. No matter what, the trio’s dynamic became the most explosive topic of late November 2004, drawing countless attention. Yet, even so, when certain individuals appeared, journalists would temporarily shift their focus, for the figure is also a king of topics, after all.
“Mr. Cowell, what made you want to bring Mr. Johnny Cash’s life to the big screen?”
“Undoubtedly, his talent, his spirit; he is one of the greatest musicians not only in the U.S. but globally. Such a figure must leave his mark on the big screen, even if by someone else’s portrayal.”
“Why not depict his most glorious phase, but rather his never-ending entanglement with Joan and the scandals?”
“This is an inevitable part of Cash’s life; it’s the most touching aspect, his most representative moment, which can tell everyone that as long as there’s love around, no matter how deep in the mire, one can struggle out.”
“Don’t you think launching such an inspirational film after recently releasing a horror movie with an obvious anarchist tone is conflicting?”
“First of all, I only made a few suggestions on the ‘Saw’ script. Secondly, if making horror films then means I can’t make inspirational ones, David Fincher would be quite disappointed.”
After finally dealing with these journalists, Adrian finally walked into the Gailord Art Center and breathed a sigh of relief. Though over a month had passed, these folks were still entangled with “Saw,” really decisive whether to dislike or appreciate them. He hadn’t responded to these matters, as there was no need, and explanations at that time would evoke reckless interpretations from those guys. Adrian could guide public opinion, but that would be overreacting. Once time passed and new topics emerged, like certain people’s wife and rival kissing outside a restaurant, they would naturally redirect.
He still didn’t expect that at the “Walk the Line” premiere, there were still journalists fixating on this, needing him to steer the focus subtly. But then again, who made him constantly draw public attention?
Because “Walk the Line” was scheduled post-Thanksgiving, as the date approached, promotional efforts naturally intensified. Furthermore, marking the one-year anniversary of Cash’s passing, coupled with Miracle Director’s direction, the movie received considerable attention. Reporters had been eager to extract some information from him, especially with the situation surrounding “Saw,” proving Miracle Director always had news around him.
Yet they couldn’t track Adrian’s whereabouts, particularly since late October, nobody knew where he went. Initially, reporters felt nothing, but upon his absence from both “Spider Man 3” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” premieres, they began suspecting.
The “Spider Man” series is among AC Media’s most significant franchises, generating massive profits from comics to movies to merchandise. Unless under special circumstances, Adrian would definitely attend the premiere, and insiders knew Miracle Director had a close relationship with Spider Girl Kirsten. As for the starring Dennis Knight in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” he was discovered by Adrian early on, having followed him over a long time, with quite a good relationship, likewise would surely attend the premiere unless under special circumstances.
So what special circumstance could it be? Many journalists wanted to know, then a message circulated that Miracle Director is filming his new movie in Europe! This was big news; as a director whose works have covered countless themes—horror, thriller, inspirational, sci-fi, fantasy, black humor, English classics, etc.—no one wasn’t keen on his new work. But now keeping low profile and secrecy when shooting movies, much to journalists’ headache.
Even though they grasped the news of his European whereabouts for a new movie, journalists remained uncertain: for one, local informers did confirm a film crew there, but whether Miracle Director Adrian Cowell was directing couldn’t be completely verified; secondly, a vague rumor previously indicated Miracle Director may have made a new film aside from “Walk the Line,” seemingly… involving homosexuality!
This would be big news; as a Hollywood media mogul, creating a film about same-sex romance, does this denote his support of the LGBTQ+ community? Remember, even though he dons the director and producer hat, he still simultaneously holds media mogul status.
So even if this news source wasn’t particularly sure, journalists wouldn’t dare relax. Meanwhile, amid their hesitation, “Walk the Line” premiere arrived post-Thanksgiving, and Miracle Director finally surfaced to the public more than a month later, with reporters naturally rushing to fire questions.
Lucky for Adrian sprinted inside before they could ask further questions in the art center, otherwise, even if everything was still within acceptable range, he’d still have to exert considerable effort defending himself with words again.
“Hey, Joaquin, how does it feel, holding the premiere here?” Entering the center, Adrian duly let go of these issues, greeting the Phoenix brothers. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit and cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)