บท 482: Caught off guard
In the sunny Los Angeles of April, with its refreshing sea breeze and subtle floral fragrances, spring was still lingering in the air. People eagerly stepped out of their homes, arms wide open, embracing the warmth and freedom as the gentle spring breeze caressed their skin.
Chris Hemsworth gradually slowed his pace, adjusting his breath. His slightly flushed skin glistened with sweat, and the cool sea breeze provided a refreshing sensation. After an hour of jogging, he needed to relax his muscles.
Before him, the expansive azure coastline stretched out endlessly. Occasionally, surfers could be seen chasing after the rolling waves. The golden sunlight danced on the wave crests, tracing steep and graceful curves. The world was constantly changing, calm yet grand. The vast open view made him feel liberated.
Chris raised his hands high and performed some simple stretches. A polite and friendly voice reached his ears, "Chris? You're Chris... um, the actor who plays Thor, right?" The voice carried a hint of hesitation and then opted for a more straightforward approach.
Chris turned around and saw a slender young woman. Her jogging attire accentuated her graceful curves, and her forehead and temples glistened with a healthy sheen of sweat. She was still in a jogging pose, having unexpectedly spotted Chris during her run and recognized him as the new Thor.
In the past three months, the early-stage promotion for "Thor" had already concluded. This movie had garnered considerable attention, especially after the massive success of the first and second Iron Man films, which had laid the foundation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following them, "Thor" had made a dazzling debut, sparking countless discussions.
As the actor portraying the new Thor, Chris's handsome face, muscular physique, and towering stature had been spread across the United States through trailers, sparking widespread interest. Over time, some people were able to recognize Chris in real life, though they were still relatively few in number. It was easy to imagine that as the second phase of promotion officially began and the film premiered, his fame and reputation would soar.
For Chris, who was relatively new to the industry, it felt like a dream come true. It was almost too good to be true.
With a beaming smile, Chris replied, "Yes, I'm Chris." He placed his hands on his hips and nodded friendly. His expression radiated joy, charm, and friendliness.
"Wow. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me earlier, but with such a sturdy physique, you're quite distinctive," the young woman exclaimed, coming to a halt and sizing Chris up. She couldn't help but express her amazement. This made Chris's smile even brighter. "I mean, I'm really looking forward to "Thor". I can't think of anyone better to play Thor than you."
Chris extended his hands in a humble gesture. "Thank you for the compliment." However, deep inside, his heart was quietly dancing with joy.
"May I take a photo with you, please?" The young woman made her request with eager anticipation, her eyes shining. Chris readily agreed, saying, "Of course, no problem at all."
Chris kindly bent his knees to match her height, changing angles for three photos using her phone. Finally, he gave her a polite hug, concluding the brief fan encounter.
As he watched the young woman jog away, Chris couldn't help but lightly leap in place. Moments like these were always so wonderful.
This wasn't Chris's first encounter with fans. "Star Trek" was a true fan-driven film, and although his role in it wasn't particularly prominent, for fans, every character on screen was a cherished gem. So, occasionally, there were ardent fans who could recognize him.
But now it was different. The energy encapsulated in "Thor" was unimaginable, especially considering he was the unquestionable lead, making his influence all the more profound. It was still only the first phase of promotion, and its impact was already clearly visible.
He clenched his fist tightly to calm his excited emotions. Chris resumed his jogging, heading towards the parking lot, ready to conclude his exercise for the day. Compared to New York, he preferred Los Angeles. The city was bathed in sunlight, beaches, and smiles, with every corner veiled in a warm golden glow, inviting people to bask in it.
Entering the parking lot, Chris noticed two reporters. It wasn't Chris's keen observation; the reporters had no intention of hiding and were standing there openly, smoking and with large cameras hanging around their necks, making their identities quite conspicuous. This was Los Angeles, home to Hollywood, where reporters and paparazzi were ubiquitous. Chris had grown accustomed to such scenes.
However, the paparazzi weren't after him today. But Chris wasn't concerned. He knew that after the official release of "Thor", the situation would gradually change.
"Is there any other celebrity running in Santa Monica today?" Chris wondered in his mind as he surreptitiously glanced around, pretending to be nonchalant on the surface. He slowed his pace and headed straight for his car.
At that moment, the two paparazzi suddenly sprang into action, rushing towards Chris like wolves.
Chris believed he was prepared, even if he were faced with a swarm of paparazzi, he wouldn't panic. However, the gap between imagination and reality was immeasurable. As he caught a glimpse of the two paparazzi's movements from the corner of his eye, his instinctive reaction was to step back, a reflex that humans displayed when facing danger.
Meanwhile, his brain began to signal: this evasive action looked too clumsy, he should exude the aura of a true professional. But if he remained too composed, it might seem like he was anticipating the paparazzi's appearance, which could come off as arrogant and as if he had been expecting them.
These conflicting thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Before Chris could arrive at a conclusion, the two paparazzi were already in front of him, displaying an agility almost on par with athletes. It was truly baffling how they managed to operate both a voice recorder and a camera flash simultaneously. Did they have three hands? Chris hadn't even had time to fully comprehend the question. He only felt his eyes being assaulted by a silver halo, and something hard repeatedly poking at his cheek. He had to hastily dodge away in confusion.
"Do you think you're better suited for this role? Or is Renly more suitable? Did Kenneth demand more from your acting during the filming?"
"What?" Chris finally came to his senses. After all, there were only two paparazzi in front of him, not two hundred. After a brief moment of confusion, Chris managed to steady himself with his imposing stature, and he responded with a question.
He hadn't heard the question clearly; everything had happened so quickly. The question sounded like the muddled cawing of a crow, almost indecipherable. He could only vaguely make out the name "Renly". But why would the paparazzi be asking him about Renly? He couldn't help but dismiss the possibility, believing he must have misheard.
"Today, we received the latest rumor that Renly Hall was Kenneth Branagh's first choice for "Thor". He was on the verge of signing the contract, but then he chose "Buried"..."
The paparazzo on the left repeated the question, but before the words were even finished, Chris erupted, "Nonsense!" His short reply carried the weight of thunder and released all the pent-up anger in his chest.
Elliot Cort couldn't help but pause. As a paparazzo, he was always prepared to endure anger. He had witnessed Sean Penn physically assaulting paparazzi, delivering unrelenting punches directly on the car hood. But paparazzi's job included using all kinds of extreme methods to provoke celebrities.
Note, Elliot was a paparazzo, not a journalist.
However, Chris's anger had erupted too quickly and too fiercely, leaving Elliot somewhat baffled. But what did it matter? Behind this fury, there was a story. Elliot couldn't help but feel excited. After suffering twice at Renly's hands, Elliot was somewhat frustrated by him. Compared to Renly, interviewees like Chris were much more endearing.
Seeing the flames burning in Chris's eyes, Elliot felt extremely pleased. If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, he might have started humming a tune.
Chris felt like he was about to explode! Renly, Renly, Renly, it was always about Renly! Why were there such rumors? Why couldn't Renly just go away? Right, Renly must be trying to piggyback on his fame! "Thor" was about to premiere, and "Fast 5" was scheduled to release a week ahead of "Thor". So now Renly wanted to use him for publicity?
That damn guy!
"It's absolutely not true!" The rational string in Chris's mind snapped, and he blurted out, "He didn't even participate in the audition; how could he possibly be the first choice? Let alone signing the contract!"
Elliot and his colleague Joey Murphy exchanged a puzzled glance. Both of them were brimming with question marks as they turned their gaze toward Chris. Elliot then asked, "Do you know Renly?"
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