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25% The Legendary Actor / Chapter 150: Unruly yet talented woman

Chapitre 150: Unruly yet talented woman

Renly blinked, then chuckled quietly. Was this a scene from "Notting Hill"? Well, this was the Toronto International Film Festival, where actors were scattered around and reporters and paparazzi were countless. Unexpected encounters like this weren't uncommon. What truly intrigued him, though, was that if he wasn't mistaken, the person he encountered was also an actor.

This sense of absurdity lifted the corners of his lips. Renly glanced around, still unable to determine who were the paparazzi and who were regular audience members. His experience in this aspect was somewhat lacking. "I think no one has noticed us here," he stated with a degree of certainty. Renly hadn't sensed any overly focused glances; the scene was bustling with people coming and going.

With cautious steps, the woman behind him emerged, surveying her surroundings before letting out a relieved breath.

From the unexpected encounter until now, merely a few seconds had passed. Renly hadn't even had time to get a good look at her yet. At this point, he finally observed the outline of a profile, characterized by distinct, slightly rugged facial features. The coolness and sharpness between her brows and eyes seemed to have faded compared to his impressions, but the dominance and wisdom within her gaze remained, emanating a clear but distant air.

Natalie Portman, the actress who embarked on her acting career with "Léon: The Professional", was evidently an anomaly in Hollywood. Intelligent, rational, and forceful, she was an independent and unique presence under the aura of an academic overachiever. In the fiercely competitive world of fame and fortune, she had secured her own place.

"Black Swan" was one of the films competing in this year's film festival. It wasn't surprising for Natalie, the female lead, to be present here. What was unexpected, however, was the manner in which Renly encountered her.

Exhaling deeply, Natalie adjusted her beret and confirmed she hadn't been exposed. Then, she looked up at Renly and pursed her lips. "Thank you." But before her words even ended, she turned around and positioned herself behind Renly again.

Renly chuckled quietly, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "I think the best solution right now is to buy a movie ticket and enter the cinema. Aren't movie plots usually played out like this?"

"Don't act too strange, don't talk, just appear normal and quietly wait for those paparazzi to leave," Natalie disregarded Renly's jest, her voice impatient and stern, issuing commands as if she was giving orders.

This made Renly feel somewhat uncomfortable. They were just strangers who had met for the first time. Offering his assistance was a gesture of goodwill, not an obligation. He could very well refuse. Yet, good manners prevailed, and Renly maintained his position without moving. "The one acting strange now is you, not me, Ms. Portman." Politeness was intertwined with detachment, creating an invisible distance between them.

Hearing her own name, Natalie tensed up. She swiftly turned to glare at the man before her, preparing to snap at him. However, she noticed the reporters continuously passing by in her peripheral vision, stifling her anger. She feigned composure and stood by Renly's side, grabbing his left arm. "Just buy two movie tickets randomly. Let's go into the cinema now and pretend like nothing happened."

Once again, she adopted a commanding tone. Renly didn't appreciate it, so a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He politely remarked, "Miss, do you usually command strangers you meet for the first time like this? Or is this your preferred way of interacting?"

Natalie furrowed her brows. The man before her was clearly too petty. He was making a big fuss over such a trivial matter. But with the current urgency, she didn't have time to argue. It was all Benjamin Millepied's fault. She had waited for him for a full fifteen minutes and he still hadn't shown up. Otherwise, she wouldn't be in such a sorry state right now.

In the blink of an eye, Natalie made her decision. She took a deep breath, lifted her head, and composed herself with a calm demeanor. She began, "I apologize. Please forgive my rudeness. I'm currently in a tight situation and need to evade those paparazzi. Could you please help me?" Address the immediate situation first, then continue.

"I'm sorry." Renly's response left Natalie completely stunned. Apparently, she hadn't anticipated this answer.

Renly understood that as a gentleman, offering a small help in such a situation was the right course of action. Yet, he also realized that Natalie was merely resorting to a temporary solution, without any remorse or gratitude, simply using him. If they were friends, this might not have mattered much. But that was the issue; they weren't friends.

"You…" Clearly, Natalie hadn't expected that beneath Renly's gentlemanly façade, he could be so petty. She had already lowered her stance! What more did he want from her? "You're not much of a man!" The words tumbled out of Natalie's mouth. Her hastiness today was evident.

If the reporters saw her and Benjamin on a date, it wouldn't just be gossip; it could affect the post-"Black Swan" public relations strategy. It was a crucial turning point in her acting career. She absolutely couldn't be caught by the paparazzi, let alone exposing Benjamin's presence.

However, before she could even finish her sentence, a string of profanities hanging at the tip of her tongue, she saw two reporters approaching head-on. They weren't paparazzi; they were reporters. She immediately lowered her head and gritted her teeth, repeating to herself, "Pretend nothing's wrong. Pretend nothing's wrong, and they'll naturally leave." Her anxious words carried a hint of sharpness.

At this moment, the only thought racing through Renly's mind was: What would happen if he broke free from Natalie's grip and left? However, his gentlemanly manners dissuaded him from such a prank. He stood his ground and lowered his head, engrossed in flipping through the program guide.

Unexpectedly, the steps of the two reporters came to a halt right before them. Renly didn't raise his head, feigning an entranced look at the program guide. But after waiting a while, he realized the two people weren't simply passing by or checking the announcement board behind them. They were actually facing them, the two of them. Could it be that Natalie's movements had been noticed?

A powerful twist surged from the inside of his left arm. Natalie clutched the tender flesh of his arm fiercely, twisting it. The sudden pain startled Renly. Clearly, she was using all her strength. He could even feel the marks of her nails digging into his skin, as sharp as blades. Reflexively, he raised his head and found two reporters standing right before him.

Cameras hung around their necks, press passes adorned their chests. Their identities were evident. When Renly raised his head, six eyes locked in on each other. Then, the reporters' eyes betrayed a glimmer of delight. But before Renly could decipher the source of their joy, Natalie's voice echoed in his ears, "Aren't we about to be late? Let's hurry into the cinema."

Her voice sounded as if it was squeezed through gritted teeth, as though saying one word of refusal would result in a vanishing act.

"Renly Hall?" Gavin Hunter beamed without restraint, his voice cheerful. "I'm from Us Weekly. Can we ask you a few questions?"

"Didn't I say we're running late?" Upon hearing the words Us Weekly, Natalie suddenly lifted her head, glaring daggers at Renly. Her fierce gaze seemed to convey: If the reporters spot us, you're done for!

Renly felt somewhat bewildered at this moment. The inside of his arm still throbbed faintly, and it seemed like Natalie had increased her grip even more. The reporter's greeting before them remained unanswered – why was his name coming up? Natalie's relentless push left him with no room to breathe.

Turning his head, Renly flashed Natalie a brilliant smile and, with utmost grace, said, "Miss, he's looking for me." However, the mockery and sharpness in his tone were unmistakable, crashing down directly.

Natalie was momentarily taken aback, her accusing words escaping her, "Absurd!" But as soon as she said it, she realized she might have made a mistake. Things didn't quite add up.

"Natalie?" Only now did Gavin recognize Natalie standing next to him. She was dressed in a low-key black shirt and jeans, her face mostly concealed by a combination of the beret and scarf. He hadn't noticed earlier. Originally, he had only accidentally come across Renly. Being in the midst of the latest hot topic, he could finally conduct a face-to-face interview to dig up some insider information. Unexpectedly, he got a two-for-one deal – it was truly a surprising turn of events.

Natalie's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. She shot Renly an angry glare. If it wasn't for him not cooperating, how could she have been found out? That darn nuisance! Even so, she had no choice but to turn her head and look at the reporters, forcing a tug at the corners of her mouth to muster a smile uglier than crying.

"It's really you!" Gavin's voice jumped in excitement. Cornell McGregor, standing beside him, also displayed a pleased expression. Luck was truly on their side today, catching two birds with one stone! "I didn't recognize you just now. Your outfit is incredibly low-key!"

Natalie's heart sank. It was only now that she realized: these two reporters weren't here for her; they were here for the man beside her. This was embarrassing. Despite her intelligence, in the midst of consecutive surprises, even her sharp mind grew cloudy, freezing her smile in an awkward stiffness.

Cornell's gaze scanned back and forth between Renly and Natalie for a moment, then a spark of insight lit up in his mind. "Are you two on a date?" Connecting the dots with their previous conversation, the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Could it be that the up-and-coming actor who was currently in the spotlight was actually Natalie's date? This was truly sensational!

Cornell was practically bursting like fireworks.

"Yes!"

A simple and succinct monosyllabic response came from Natalie.

This surprised Renly. Out of respect and politeness, he hadn't directly denied it. However, Natalie's answer caught him off guard. He couldn't help but turn his head towards her, his eyes showing a hint of amusement.

Not only Renly, but Gavin and Cornell as well, all looked on with great interest. Natalie could feel three pairs of eyes focused on her shoulders, burning hot enough to set her skin on fire. She couldn't help but close her eyes, a headache developing. Things seemed to be getting more complicated.

"Natalie? What are you doing here? I've been looking for you for a while!" Apparently, things could get even more chaotic.


L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
Shallowman Shallowman

Whenever Natalie appears in Chinese showbiz novels, there is always a mention of "Leon" or "The Professional" how they call it in US. The funny part is that I read mostly in MTL, and the MTL version of the title is always "This Killer Is Not Too Cold". Like in every goddamn novel, it is actually hilarious. It seriously means that the adapted title of the movie is "This Killer Is Not Too Cold" in China. There is an example of a bad yet funny adaptation: in Russia, the really moving "About Time" (2013) which was rich with connotations, was actually adapted as "Boyfriend From The Future". Like what is wrong with you dudes, I don't get it.

The song of the chupster is "Toad the Wet Sprocket - Something's Always Wrong"

Chapitre 151: Awkward confrontation

Natalie's emotions were aflutter, and it was hard for her to think calmly in such a short span of time.

"Black Swan" had its official global premiere at the Venice Film Festival the previous week, garnering a chorus of praises from the media. The spotlight was especially on the two female leads, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. Fox Searchlight, responsible for distribution, believed that the film held strong potential to secure nominations and even awards for the two protagonists during the upcoming awards season. As a result, they laid out a preliminary publicity plan.

Part of this plan involved highlighting Natalie. News releases had already started circulating, describing how Natalie had devoted a year and a half to transforming herself. She spent seven months immersing herself in ballet lessons, not only to rekindle memories of her childhood ballet, but also to deepen her professional foundation. Her aim was to personally perform ballet in the film, showcasing genuine ballet skills. Her arduous journey, the struggles endured, resonated with the character she portrayed in the movie.

The upcoming promotional efforts would center around this narrative. They would emphasize how Natalie had gone to great lengths, drawing parallels between her dedication and the character's intensity – "mad and alive". The campaign would blur the lines between the film and reality, spotlighting her personal involvement in every scene to bring forth a genuine display of acting prowess.

However, those in the industry knew that professional ballet required years of consistent practice; a mere seven months was insufficient. Most of Natalie's ballet performances were actually executed by a professional dance double, while she took charge of acting and poses.

It was foreseeable that experts in the field would question Natalie's professional competence. When that happened, it would not only necessitate the dance doubles on the set to remain silent but also demand unity among the entire crew in supporting Natalie. Only then could the smooth progression of the awards season publicity be ensured.

If it were to be exposed that most of Natalie's ballet performances were done by doubles, the repercussions wouldn't just be about dishonesty; the marketing strategy itself would be shattered, with incalculable consequences.

Benjamin Millepiede, the choreographer for "Black Swan", was responsible for choreographing and directing all ballet sequences in the film. Serving as a professional consultant for the crew, he commanded the dance ensemble and double team. His statements were a crucial element, directly and authoritatively confirming Natalie's "professionalism".

However, during the filming process, Natalie and Benjamin had sparked a connection, developing a relationship. Should the media discover this, Benjamin's credibility as a witness would plummet, consequently affecting the subsequent public relations plans. Of course, even if they were found out, it wouldn't be the end of the world; the question was, why take unnecessary risks?

Thus, Natalie's concern wasn't avoiding the paparazzi but rather the paparazzi uncovering her relationship with Benjamin. If everything had gone according to plan, they would have met at the ticket counter fifteen minutes ago and then proceeded to the theater to watch the film. In that scenario, it would have been impossible for the paparazzi to detect anything amiss. However, Benjamin hadn't shown up on time, and that's when things began to go awry.

"Are you two on a date?"

When Natalie heard this speculation, her first instinct was to go with the flow. If she admitted to currently being on a date with this... stranger beside her, she could divert the media's attention and create confusion.

"Yes," she affirmed with certainty.

But once the words were out, Natalie realized she had made a mistake. The person beside her clearly wasn't a gentleman. If he outright denied her statement, it would be embarrassing. Moreover, she knew nothing about him. Would he be willing to cooperate in this act? Would he be willing to pretend to date her for the coming days? Did Benjamin even care? How would Fox Searchlight handle this? What about his agent? What if he used her name to stir up news? Would she be sabotaging herself?

Wisely, she quickly acknowledged her error. Hormones had seemingly thrown her off balance lately, and the jetlag from flying from Venice to Toronto yesterday had made her somewhat scattered. Her judgment had slightly skewed.

Sensing the weight of the visual attention on her shoulders, Natalie flashed a bright smile. "If you consider chatting about movies with a friend at a film festival as dating, then yes, we're on a date." It was a bit strained, but she managed to spin it around. Advance when she could, retreat when she must; Natalie had once again seized control of the situation.

The corner of Renly's eyebrow raised slightly. He wasn't sure what Natalie was up to, but from her fragmented words, it was evident she was contemplating something else. He was just a pawn in her scheme. Yet, he had no intentions of playing along.

With a significant look, Renly glanced at Natalie. This Harvard-educated prodigy truly lived up to her reputation. "Renly, is this really true?" Cornell clearly wasn't fully convinced and directed the topic back to him.

Natalie raised her head and gazed at Renly, a warning shimmering in her eyes. Renly responded with a knowing smile. "In matters like these, we should always respect the lady's answer, shouldn't we?" His gentlemanly reply was impeccable. However, the teasing tone in his voice and the mockery in his eyes started to make people ponder the underlying message.

Before Gavin and Cornell could digest this, a voice rang out from the side. "Natalie? What are you doing here? I've been looking for you for so long!"

As the voice emerged, everyone turned their heads in unison. A tall, elegant man sprinted over, worry etched on his face. He was out of breath, his gaze fixed solely on Natalie. Concern flickered in his eyes as he hastily explained, "I waited for you at a different ticket counter, but I never saw you. Later, someone told me there were four ticket counters here." His English carried a faint French accent, captivating and refined.

Now, the situation was truly awkward.

Natalie kept sending signals to Benjamin with her eyes, watching as he was about to envelop her in a warm embrace. In her panic, she blurted, "Benjamin!" This finally caused him to pause slightly. "I'm sorry, I ran into two journalist friends here, so I lost track of time."

Though her words were brief, they contained enough information. Benjamin finally caught on. His outstretched arms relaxed. Natalie turned her gaze towards the two journalists and caught sight of the unfamiliar man next to her. Just as she was about to start explaining, the unfamiliar man's courteous voice reached her ears, "I apologize, I must leave now. I'm heading to watch The Illusionist", and there's not much time left before it starts."

That polite voice resonated like a mellifluous cello, yet the subtext made Natalie's left eyelid twitch. Then, the man continued, "May you both have a splendid afternoon." That damned guy! Natalie gritted her teeth inwardly. What was he implying with that statement? It was practically baiting the journalists into speculation. The whole plan was thoroughly disrupted now.

Gavin's pupils contracted slightly. Renly's words seemed ordinary, just the pleasantries of a social setting – polite and graceful. However, his tone and timing carried an intriguing subtlety. He first declined to answer the dating question, respecting Natalie's response as if it held hidden meaning. Then, this seemingly French man appeared, and Renly immediately excused himself. Though the excuse was seamless, the timing was incredibly delicate.

What was Renly implying?

Natalie watched the stranger's departing figure, her teeth grinding in frustration. She was about to call out, but she realized she didn't even know his name. Her intended words screeched to a halt, barely avoiding biting her tongue. "Wishing you a pleasant afternoon too," she responded between gritted teeth. In an instant, Natalie regained her composure, her eyes on the journalists. "He's always like this, wildly enthusiastic about movies. Nothing can deter him. We, as a film crew, are planning to watch the movie together later. I was going to extend an invitation, but it seems the answer is now all too clear."

Witty and intelligent, Natalie's explanation casually interpreted Benjamin's appearance. She wrapped up the situation quickly, preventing it from escalating further, even if not faultlessly, at least avoiding exacerbation.

Something was off, extremely off. Every pore on Gavin's body was screaming that there was something fishy. Especially Renly's final tone and reaction; there was definitely something awry here. While it might be an overactive imagination, his gut feeling told him so.

"Psst, psst." A light touch on his arm – Gavin knew it was Cornell without even looking. Cornell was surely asking whether they should follow Renly's footsteps or stay and unearth Natalie's secret. Initially, Gavin had planned to trail Renly, given he was the hot newcomer of late. However, his stance shifted now.

"Is the "Black Swan" cast planning to watch a movie together today?" Gavin raised his voice, curiosity evident. "What movie? Is it really worth the entire crew's outing?"

Natalie felt things were growing more complicated. That cursed man had wreaked havoc!

Renly walked straight toward the ticket counter. He hadn't lied; he was indeed planning to watch "The Illusionist".

As for Natalie... In her previous life, Renly couldn't recall the exact timing, but everyone knew about Natalie's pregnancy, and the father of her child was Benjamin. The two even got engaged later on. However, from the hints earlier, it was clear Natalie didn't want the journalists to find out, especially about her relationship with Benjamin. As an outsider, Renly held limited information and didn't care or wonder much. Ultimately, he merely returned the favor by throwing in a minor wrench.

Checking the time, a movie was scheduled in five minutes. Remarkably, there were still tickets left, an uncommon occurrence at the festival. Renly purchased his ticket, entered the theater, and left the unexpected encounter behind.


L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
Shallowman Shallowman

Slap that wench *Slap-Slap-Slap*. Palms red, justice served.

The song of the chupster is "Foals - Into the Surf"

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