After getting into the car, she carefully examined my Mercedes-Benz, clearly very satisfied with its luxurious and comfortable interior. With a charming smile, she said, "Mr. Chen, it seems you're determined to do business in Hollywood? This car is quite nice."
I started the car and said calmly, "Oh? Miss Alba. It seems you've seen the news in the newspaper."
“Call me Jess.” She smiled slightly, then turned to look at me. “By the way, when we met in Canada last time, you still haven’t told me what kind of business you’re in.”
“I’ve invested in a film company now. You see?” I replied vaguely.
Although the Mercedes-Benz's interior was already quite spacious and comfortable, I couldn't help but feel a little awkward when I smelled a hint of Dior perfume emanating from Jessica. The uniquely alluring scent filled my nostrils, and with such a beautiful woman sitting so close to me, I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
"Oh, you're joking. You're not going to tell me you only do film business, are you?" She looked at me with a smile. "Are all you Easterners so fond of being mysterious?"
I could see a hint of deliberate provocation in the woman's eyes, a look she was deliberately trying to make me feel better...
Perhaps because she's a movie star, she's used to living under the spotlight and in front of cameras, so when I'm with her, I feel like she's constantly, almost instinctively, trying her best to showcase her charm.
"What if I told you I'm Mr. Thorin's colleague?" I subtly provoked her, deliberately darkening my expression.
"Really?" Jessica's expression faltered slightly. Of course, she knew what Thorin did... and my mention of being Thorin's companion was an implication that I was also a member of the underworld.
But then I realized my threats hadn't intimidated her, because she clearly didn't believe me. Instead, she winked at me playfully, then deliberately lowered her voice: "Oh? So... have you ever killed anyone?"
“I have killed him.” I looked at her expressionlessly.
She paused for a moment, but then smiled and said, "You're joking."
Look. Nobody believes the truth...
The car pulled onto the street, and we chatted casually for a few minutes. Then I asked her where we wanted to get coffee. After all, I'd only been here a day and wasn't familiar with the area.
"Oh? Then I can show you around." Jessica suddenly became interested.
“I would love to, but I’m afraid I don’t have the time.” I declined cautiously. “I’m afraid I’ll be very busy in the next few days. In fact, I have an appointment with Mr. Wins tomorrow.”
“Wins?” Jessica’s beautiful eyes showed undisguised surprise. “That Wins? That smooth-talking old fox? He’s a top Hollywood agent. What do you want with him? You’re not really saying, like in the newspapers, that your company is about to start shooting a new movie?”
Then the pretty girl thought for a moment, with a hint of doubt: "I think I know something about that Billy Hill Company. They were involved in the post-production of a movie I made a few years ago. Is this company really going to make an independent film so soon...? How much money did you invest in this company?"
I knew she was just remarking casually and wasn't really asking what I meant, so I just smiled in response. However, Jessica seemed genuinely interested in my company's film project: "The actors under Wins are all big names now, their salaries aren't cheap… Are you planning a big-budget production for your first film after taking over the company?" She suddenly widened her beautiful eyes and looked at me: "Is what the newspapers said true? You're not really going to cast John Depp or Keanu Reeves, are you? Their salaries alone are tens of millions."
It seems the celebrity effect does have its advantages. Although I bought a Hollywood film company and spent money on promotion, without the connection of these big-name stars, the news probably wouldn't have made it to the newspapers so easily.
I didn't want to dwell on this issue, so I quickly changed the subject: "Okay, Jess, didn't you say you wanted coffee? Where are we going now? I'm completely unfamiliar with this place."
"Hmm..." She was a smart girl and immediately saw through my attempt to change the subject, but then a sly smile appeared in her eyes: "Alright, let's not rush to have coffee. I need to go buy something first. If it's convenient, could you come with me?" After a pause, she added, "It's not far from here."
"OK".
Located in the heart of Los Angeles' most bustling area, on Beverly Hills, this Prada flagship store truly lives up to its reputation as a world-renowned luxury brand. Occupying such a large space on prime Beverly Hills, with dedicated parking and access for VIP guests, it's clear that only wealthy individuals can afford to shop here.
Stepping inside, the spacious and bright interior is equally impressive, with the expensive diamond-studded tempered glass design making the space feel much larger and more visually expansive. The various uniquely designed and priced Prada handbags are truly breathtaking.
The staff member who was supposed to greet her clearly recognized Jessica, even though she deliberately put on sunglasses after getting out of the car.
"You don't mean you want me to go shopping with you, do you?" I rubbed my nose.
“Oh, no. I ordered a new evening clutch.” Jessica glanced at me. “I prepared a dress for the exhibition at the Torch Building tomorrow night, but I hadn’t found a suitable evening clutch to match. Now I can finally stop worrying about that.”
She made it sound so casual, but after a staff member brought over a light brown evening handbag that Jessica had ordered, I glanced at the price... $190,000.
Jessica carefully examined the luxury handbag she had chosen… a satisfied smile spread across her face. Then, she suddenly asked me, “You’ll be attending that exhibition tomorrow night, won’t you?”
"Me?" I was taken aback. "What kind of exhibition is that? I have no idea."
Jessica smiled. Then she pulled me to the windowsill and looked into the distance, pointing with her hand: "Do you see that building in the distance? It's the big thing with a torch-shaped top."
"Hmm." I nodded.
“That place was just completed, although I personally think the torch-shaped design is really ugly.” She winked at me and then laughed, “The top floor is the most luxurious exhibition center in all of Los Angeles. Tomorrow night, there will be a world-class jewelry exhibition there, along with top fashion brands from Europe, showcasing exceptional jewelry and fashion. According to the catalog we’ve seen, the jewelry on display tomorrow night includes a diamond-embellished evening gown worth fourteen million dollars. There are also many other expensive pieces of jewelry. The organizers have invited many Hollywood actors to attend and personally wear the jewelry they provide for the show. Tomorrow night is going to be a huge event… At least half of the world’s top 100 luxury brands will be participating in this exhibition. Moreover, almost all the celebrities from Los Angeles and Hollywood will be invited there tomorrow night. It’s safe to say that this is the biggest party in the past two years. I doubt even the Oscars could gather this many people.”
I whistled.
However, I still noticed a few subtle details.
Clearly, when Jessica said, "The organizers invited many Hollywood actors to attend and personally showcase the jewelry they provided," there was a hint of sourness in her voice. It was obvious that although she was invited to the party, the organizers didn't ask her to wear the most expensive jewelry for a live demonstration.
Perhaps it's because her current popularity has declined, and in the eyes of the organizers, she's no longer considered important enough.
A party of this caliber is guaranteed to attract a media frenzy! And the female celebrities adorned with jewelry worth millions or even tens of millions of dollars will have their photos reprinted by media outlets worldwide within a day! Such exposure is incredibly tempting!!
Seeing her slightly disappointed look, I smiled and said, "Alright, you're so pretty. Tomorrow night, you'll definitely stun everyone with this beautiful bag."
Jessica thought for a moment, then suddenly looked at me and smiled, "Oh, I'm missing a male companion for tomorrow night's event. If you don't mind..."
A thought struck me, and I looked intently at the woman. She was beautiful, with an angelic face and a devilish figure. She was also a Hollywood actress. Although I thought she was a decent person, she had been immersed in the world of fame and fortune in Hollywood for too long, and inevitably possessed some of the pretentious and affected mannerisms of the time…
However, after glancing at her twice, I was certain she wasn't joking or making a casual remark. She was genuinely inviting me.
I paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "You mean it?"
I started to seriously consider it: attending such a high-society party would certainly be very beneficial for me, especially since I had just arrived in Hollywood. If I could make a few friends and build some connections at such a party, it would be an excellent choice.
But... we don't really know each other that well, and for her to be so friendly to me like this... I don't believe that just because we've met once, this Hollywood star who's seen it all would fall in love with me. That's ridiculous... she's probably seen way too many handsome men in Hollywood.
In this world, you get what you pay for. Since she offered to help me, it's obvious she wanted something in return.
However, I still wanted to seize this opportunity, so I quickly nodded and said, "OK, it would be my honor to attend the party with such a beautiful woman."
Then we finally went for coffee. She led me to a very elegant coffee shop. There, we arranged to attend the Torch Building's exhibition party together the following evening.
Frankly, going on a date (and I use the neutral term here) with a Hollywood actress like this, having coffee together, and seeing such a beautiful woman—who usually only appears on the big screen—up close to you, smiling and chatting sweetly, is actually quite a pleasant experience. And she truly is very beautiful and charming.
As we walked out of the coffee shop, I saw several paparazzi-looking people across the street, flashing their long-bar cameras at us.
Jessica immediately put on sunglasses and lowered her head slightly. Then, instead of waiting for me to do so, she took my arm and pulled me quickly into the car.
"Are you a reporter?" I asked her after getting in the car.
“It’s definitely true.” Jessica sighed, but there was no hint of unhappiness in her tone. Instead, she smiled at me and said, “I’m afraid tomorrow’s papers will carry the news that Jessica Alba is dating a movie company boss.”
"Hmm... I hope people won't call this an unspoken rule?" I chuckled.
But Jessica's eyes widened in surprise: "What are unspoken rules?"
I was stunned, but later I learned that what's called "unspoken rules" in China also exist in Hollywood, and are even more blatant than in China... it's just that the Chinese media makes a big fuss about it. In Hollywood, there's even an open saying among actors, especially those who are still unknown: "Who do I need to sleep with to get this role?"
And this isn't just for actresses; sometimes, male actors need it too.
Here, this isn't an unspoken rule, but an open secret. Nobody will say anything.
"You're back?"
When I got back to the company, I saw Yang Wei sitting in my office, leaning back in her chair.
She was wearing frameless glasses, rubbing her brow with one hand, and carefully looking at a document. When she saw me push the door open and come in, she only glanced up at me briefly, said a few words quickly, and then put her eyes back on the document in her hand.
"Did you arrange those reporters?" I asked directly.
"Yes, that's right." Yang Wei smiled at me. "How was it? Dating a Hollywood star was pretty good, wasn't it?"
"She's just an ordinary friend, and she might even be able to help us," I said casually, pouring myself a glass of water. "But those reporters, I hope they won't do anything negative about her. Don't get me wrong, I just don't want to harm an ordinary friend for my own benefit."
"Don't worry, this won't hurt her at all; in fact, it will help her. In fact, she's been doing so well lately that she needs some scandals to keep her in the spotlight."
After Yang Wei finished speaking, she threw down the documents in her hand and sighed, "You're so lucky. You went out to have coffee with a beautiful woman, leaving me here to look at these documents. You're the boss of this company! And I'm just here to help out!"
After sighing, Yang Wei pulled out a drawer and took out a beautifully crafted invitation: "Look, this was just delivered."
"What?"
“There’s a huge party at the Torch Building tomorrow night. Basically, all the big Hollywood stars and celebrities will be there. This kind of gathering is very helpful for us to quickly break into the upper echelons of this place, so I managed to get an invitation.” Yang Wei smiled at me.
“Uh…” I was stunned for a moment, then looked at Yang Wei with a strange expression.
Yang Wei, being Yang Wei, thought for a moment and immediately smiled: "You...you've already accepted Jessica's invitation? Hmm, although her popularity has declined a bit recently, with her fame, she would definitely have been invited. She invited you to be her date, right?"
Looking at Yang Wei's ambiguous smile, my face flushed slightly. Then I suddenly realized: Why am I blushing? I haven't done anything wrong.
"I just thought this party would be good for us, so I agreed." I tried to make my voice sound as confident as possible. But Yang Wei deliberately said in a gloomy tone, "Oh? Fine then. You go and accompany Jessica. As for me... hmph, I'll find another male companion to go with me."
My forehead was sweating a little.
What should we do?
I already felt a little guilty towards Yang Wei about my marriage. And Yang Wei hasn't mentioned it at all, not even a single word… Heaven knows if she even knows! I don't want to upset her any further!
But having already accepted Jessica's invitation, if I were to call now to refuse, it would obviously... completely offend that woman. Besides, she's the one who's showing me friendliness; should I rashly offend her?
"Alright." Yang Wei saw my slight embarrassment, but she smiled easily and waved her hand. "I was just joking with you. Don't worry, I know what you want to say. Let's stick to the original plan. You'll attend tomorrow as Jessica's date. As for me, I naturally have my own arrangements."
The following evening, a red carpet was laid out on the ground floor of the Torch Building. Countless fans and media reporters lined both sides... The scene truly rivaled the Oscars ceremony!
Luxury cars and expensive vehicles pulled up one after another, and superstars familiar to movie fans worldwide stepped out, dressed in their finest attire, a dazzling display of handsome men and beautiful women! Their frequent waving elicited cheers and screams from the surrounding crowd!
Our car followed closely behind Yang Wei's car. Soon after, Yang Wei's car stopped beside the red carpet. The door opened, and Yang Wei stepped out in a black evening gown. Her radiant beauty instantly captivated countless reporters! Her elegant hairstyle, meticulously designed by a stylist, her expensive evening gown, and her outstandingly slender figure, especially her exquisite and alluring legs… her charm was comparable to any Hollywood actress present!
Many reporters whispered among themselves, wondering where this beautiful woman with an Asian face came from. Was she an actress?
What left me speechless was that standing next to Yang Wei, acting as her male companion... was...
Lei Xiaohu, the eldest brother's son!
The young man was dressed in an exquisite black suit, a pristine white bow tie, and his tuxedo was perfectly wrinkle-free. His shoes were gleaming, and his hair was styled slightly slicked back, giving him a more mature and less childish appearance. His tall and robust physique, honed through martial arts training, was a perfect match for Yang Wei beside him.
His handsome face, standing next to Yang Wei, made them a perfect match of a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
However, the boy was clearly a little nervous, while Yang Wei was very composed. She took his arm and secretly pulled him along, walking discreetly across the red carpet.
My appearance with Jessica Alba attracted quite a few glances. I wore a light-colored Armani suit, while Jessica wore a pure white evening gown that perfectly revealed a section of her rounded, alluring shoulders. Her Barbie doll-like face was truly captivating, and with her exquisite makeup, she looked almost flawless today! She held my arm tightly…
What struck me as odd was the way she linked arms with me... It wasn't just the polite arm-in-arm gesture between male and female friends at a party. It was almost too intimate, even bordering on a romantic relationship!
Even more surprisingly, her hand, which was hooked around my arm, brushed against my soft breasts almost imperceptibly with my elbow... making my heart flutter!
Jessica and I walked out of the car and across the red carpet. At one point, she deliberately stopped to give an impromptu interview to a reporter. I went along with it; I knew her profession required media exposure.
The reporter, seeing her and me standing close together, was clearly very interested. He snapped several photos of us with his camera before, amidst the surrounding noise, loudly asking, "Jessica, is the person next to you your new boyfriend?"
By the way, today's newspaper already has photos of Jessica and me being photographed by reporters yesterday as we left the coffee shop. And the reporters quickly figured out my identity: a mysterious, young, wealthy Eastern tycoon who has just entered Hollywood and bought a film company.
“No, we’re still just friends.” Jessica smiled generously and sweetly, befitting her status as the new generation’s “America’s Sweetheart.”
However, I noticed that she used the grammatical structure "SoFar" in her reply, meaning that she meant: at least for now, we're just friends. But who knows what the future holds...
This carries a slightly ambiguous implication.
I immediately realized... I'm probably not the only one trying to use the scandal for publicity.
I wasn't quite used to this bombardment of interviews from the media, so I took a half step back and just watched Jessica talk to the reporter with a smile, while actually looking around.