บท 160: Friends to the rescue

The ambiguous atmosphere swirled in the air, and the journalists' gazes once again shifted meaningfully between Renly and Natalie. It was as if the brief exchange between them had transformed into a scene of mutual understanding and resonance. Especially noticeable was the smile in Natalie's eyes, familiar and intimate, directed affectionately towards Renly. The afternoon sun refracted dazzling light in those bright pupils.

Thus, everyone began to anticipate Renly's response.

What followed was that Renly turned towards the fans in front of him, wearing a warm smile on his face. He politely raised his chin slightly, acknowledging the fans to his diagonals, front, back, left, and right. It was as if a top-tier celebrity was expressing gratitude to his fans. His focused and earnest expression conveyed genuine delight.

Then, Renly took a half-step to the side, leaning close to Rodrigo's ear and whispered something. Rodrigo, who had remained outside the journalists' radar, suddenly came into view. He nodded somewhat bewilderedly and followed Renly's gaze towards the audience. He raised his right hand and waved it twice, a shy smile playing on his lips.

Without a doubt, this was the scene where the cast showed gratitude to the fans.

Renly appeared to be overly absorbed, overly excited, and overly engrossed, to the extent that he forgot Natalie, who was standing beside him. This...

Natalie's gesture of goodwill had evaporated into thin air. So, had Renly truly been moved by the fans? Did the sparks between them not exist at all? Or was it a case of unrequited love on Natalie's part? The rumors that had ignited the spark had been snuffed out just as silently. What was more crucial was that nobody could blame Renly, as it was Natalie who had initiated this surge of enthusiasm. Otherwise, with "Buried" and Renly's appeal, the audience's response would have never been enthusiastic.

Natalie tilted her chin upwards, the graceful curve of her white neck smooth and elegant under the golden light. Her unwavering gaze was fixed on Renly, but it all amounted to nothing. This moment of solitude and desolation caused a slight stiffness in Natalie's smile. The burning anger deep within her heart threatened to consume her rationality entirely. If it weren't for years of self-control, she might have lost her grip by now. Even if she didn't turn and walk away, her expression would undoubtedly reveal a flaw.

But right now, she couldn't afford to expose herself.

So, Natalie's stiff smile continued to rise at the corners of her mouth. In line with the gesture, she extended her hand over Renly's shoulder, looking towards the fans on that side. With a gentle motion, she brought her hand into a graceful wave. This action intensified the fans' screams, as if Natalie had also merged seamlessly with the atmosphere of the scene.

However, the degrees of intimacy and distance lingering in the air carried a hint of tension. Even a perceptive eye could discern that things had seemingly deviated from their initial expectations. The underlying currents of turbulence had the journalists excited. What hidden secrets lay behind this?

Daisy's suspicions were further confirmed; there was definitely something wrong here! It wasn't just a rumor; the palpable sense of disconnect between the two was so evident that it was almost unbearable to witness. True, Renly hadn't said much, and Natalie hadn't either. Everything seemed calm on the surface, but beneath this outward calmness, the invisible confrontation and distance revealed themselves. It was like two interfaces that couldn't find common ground. Any further effort would be in vain.

Now, Daisy's curiosity intensified: Why? The emergence of the rumor might have been the journalists' fabrication, circulating only within their ranks before. There hadn't been any real news reports about it. But Natalie's behavior today was too... urgent. So, what was the reason? And why was Renly entangled in this?

Initially, she had come to show personal support for Renly, but unexpectedly, she had caught a big fish. Daisy was now eager to put her theories to the test.

While Renly maintained his smile, his mind was racing. Ignoring Natalie earlier had sent a clear message, but after the cheers had subsided, he certainly had to express his gratitude to her. Otherwise, even if their relationship was strained, Renly still wanted to utilize Natalie's attendance to draw more attention to "Buried". He couldn't simply dissolve it all in a blunt manner.

But how to show his gratitude? Being too distant wouldn't work; it would seem contrived. Being too intimate wouldn't work either, as Natalie wouldn't let the opportunity pass. So, should he brush it off with a touch of humor?

Just then, a commotion at the beginning of the red carpet caught Renly's attention. He looked over instinctively and a slight uplift of his lips followed: Ryan Gosling had arrived, choosing the most opportune moment to make a dazzling entrance.

Ryan looked left and right as he raised his head, his eyebrows slightly furrowing and then lifting to form a quizzical expression. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated that the scene would be so lively. He waved his hand in greeting before cheers and screams erupted from both sides of the red carpet. This was Ryan's home ground, and all Canadians present were giving him a warm welcome. The roar of their voices even surpassed Natalie's entrance just a while ago, creating a deafening crescendo.

Of course, compared to the "Blue Valentine" premiere, this was a far grander spectacle. Ryan quickly regained his composure and skillfully greeted the audience. However, he didn't linger on the red carpet for too long; this afternoon, he wasn't the protagonist. After a brief pause, he started walking forward.

Daisy caught a small detail: Renly took two steps forward to welcome Ryan's arrival. Ryan proactively gave Renly a hug, and Renly responded with a polite embrace. However, after breaking the hug, he pushed Ryan's shoulder away in a seemingly disdainful manner, as if he was reluctant to get too close.

This small action caused both Renly and Ryan to chuckle. The disparity in their closeness had subtly come to light. Daisy glanced at Natalie, who was standing alone on the side, seemingly a bit isolated.

Ryan looked down at his suit and then at Renly's collarless shirt. A dissatisfied expression crossed his face. "I'm wearing a suit to show respect. And you, as the host, are entertaining your guests like this?"

"Are you sure you didn't choose a suit just to make yourself look more handsome?" Renly countered directly, causing Ryan to laugh awkwardly. "How did you end up arriving alone? Weren't you supposed to have "1+1"?" He was referring to Michelle Williams.

Ryan, however, gave Renly a disdainful look. "You're attending my premiere alone, and you're actually expecting a favor in return? Business doesn't work that way." His eyes, though, carried a warning – an almost teeth-gritting one: Don't say anything! His date with Michelle had always been a secret. They had no intention of letting the journalists in on it.

Renly raised an eyebrow, seemingly saying, "Don't push my limits."

With that menacing look, Ryan immediately backed down, flashing a broad smile and nervously rubbing his hands together as if pleading for mercy. Then, he surveyed the surrounding journalists and exclaimed, "Wow, the atmosphere here is quite lively today." It was only at this point that he noticed Natalie. He hurriedly walked over and extended his right hand politely, saying, "Good afternoon."

Since this was an unexpected encounter, Ryan and Natalie had no prior acquaintance. Ryan's actions were very formal, as if they were meeting for the first time in a social setting. Natalie also couldn't appear too familiar, so she politely shook Ryan's right hand and nodded – a simple greeting.

Ryan clenched his teeth, glancing at Renly and mouthing, "What the heck is this?" Then, the two exchanged a look. Ryan turned away from Renly and faced the journalists, saying, "What do you all think? Personally, I can't wait to see this film. The guy behind me keeps showing off his talent and skills. What I'm most curious about is how much the big screen can reveal. I hope he's not a fraud."

The straightforward words, laced with a touch of intimacy, instantly showcased the camaraderie between the two. Laughter erupted from the crowd of journalists.

Unable to resist, Daisy looked at Natalie. She was still displaying grace and charm, with a cheerful smile on her face. However, it was clear that her frequency with Renly was different. This was truly interesting.

"Ryan, are you attending the premiere of "Buried" to support Renly?" a journalist among the crowd inquired.

Just as Ryan was about to answer, Renly stepped forward and interjected, "By the way, official statement, I just mentioned we're on a date." He finished speaking and then nonchalantly stepped back to his spot. Ryan, on the other hand, had a puzzled expression, clearly not understanding what had just happened. He then retorted disdainfully, "You're not my type."

The entire gathering of journalists burst into laughter, and even the fans standing nearby couldn't help but join in the hearty amusement.

Unbeknownst to them, people had unconsciously forgotten about the rumor between Renly and Natalie – or perhaps they hadn't forgotten, but they couldn't find an opening to bring it up again. Ryan's lively exchange with the journalists lightened the mood, and to make things even better, Rami Malek, James Badge Dale, Jon Bernthal, and others appeared on the red carpet, making a special effort to support Renly.

Moreover, the unexpected presence of Gary Goetzman, the producer of "The Pacific", was a surprise. It was well known that he was Tom Hanks' closest friend, having collaborated on two-thirds of his career projects, and he was also friends with Tom's wife, Rita Wilson. In other words, his attendance represented Tom's support.

As a relatively unknown independent film, the "Buried" premiere's red carpet might not have boasted an array of stars, but its level of excitement, entertainment, and brilliance far exceeded expectations. It was unquestionably a dark horse at this year's Toronto Film Festival.