章節 488: Escalating
The atmosphere at the interview scene was rather peculiar. All the reporters had their attention fixed on Chris. They listened intently, but their expressions betrayed a strange sense of disbelief. Chris, standing at the center, was gesticulating wildly, spewing words and humorously recounting the story of him and Renly.
He was narrating a time when both of them had gone to SAG. Many people recognized him, even asking for autographs and photos, inadvertently sidelining Renly. He had to step forward to smooth things over, and the situation became momentarily awkward, but both of them had laughed it off.
Was this story really funny?
Reporters exchanged glances and their expressions were filled with a mixture of laughter and confusion. Their eyes held a peculiar, quizzical expression, with question marks hanging above their heads: Were they really friends?
Recalling the earlier article from Vanity Fair and now watching Chris's animated expression, things were starting to get interesting.
Chris vaguely felt like he might have said too much, but he wasn't entirely sure if he had met Morgan's expectations. He took a deep breath and emphasized once more, "We're brothers. This was just a friendly competition between us men, a misunderstanding blown out of proportion by the media. I should give Renly a call to clear up the misunderstanding."
After uttering this sentence, Chris still felt a tinge of regret. He enjoyed this feeling; after years of ups and downs in Hollywood, this was his first time truly standing in the spotlight. Yet, time was so fleeting, and reporters were about to leave. However, this was just the beginning.
Now, Chris was beginning to see the merit in Morgan's plan.
"Renly," Chris emphasized, "This was just a friendly competition between friends that accidentally got reported by the media. Is that true? Do you have anything to respond to regarding this?"
As the other participant in this showdown, how could reporters let Renly off easily? Especially after Chris had made such intriguing remarks, reporters were even more excited. Almost immediately after Chris's interview ended, within fifteen minutes, Renly was surrounded by a chaotic mob of reporters at the entrance of Studio Eleven. On one side was Los Angeles, on the other was New York, situated at the opposite ends of the North American continent, yet they had successfully synchronized.
Looking at the reporters before him, about thirty to forty of them, they piled up, surrounding him. Each person's eyes gleamed with the desire to witness a spectacle, concealed beneath their greed, urgency, and longing. Amid the bustling concrete jungle, it was as if they were singing a modern society's war chant, displaying their primal brutality and ferocity without restraint.
Interestingly, not a single person noticed the building behind Renly. No one inquired about Renly's purpose in coming here, as if Studio Eleven were nothing more than an ordinary backdrop.
This reminded Renly of Neil's teasing from the day before. "Do you think this news storm might accidentally become a promotional opportunity for your new album? Then, a record company will come knocking on your door? And your album will become a hit?" Looking at the situation now, Neil was bound to be disappointed.
The reporters were perplexed, their gazes fixed on the carefree smile playing at the corners of Renly's mouth. Renly appeared to be in a good mood as he casually shrugged and said, "Good for him."
In English, it was just three simple words, but the implications ran deep. Taken positively, it could be seen as a congratulatory remark, an expression of happiness for the other person, or an acknowledgment of the right outcome after their efforts. On the other hand, when viewed negatively, it could be interpreted as perfunctory or mocking.
But what did this statement mean in this context?
The reporters went wild with questions, thrusting their microphones toward Renly, one question following another incessantly. Each reporter was giving their all, trying to extract more content. However, Renly had no intention of responding. He walked straight into Studio Eleven and closed the door, leaving the reporters standing outside, looking at each other in confusion.
Was this dismissive? Was it sarcasm? Was it scornful? Was it a direct response? Or was it a sign of friendliness? Was it a tactical retreat?
Initially, the reporters thought that Renly would seize this opportunity, talk at length, or, within the memory of less than two months, remind everyone of the time he left Hollywood's expedition team in Seattle speechless and disheveled. Perhaps he would take the moral high ground, criticizing and refuting Chris, or promote "Fast 5". People still remembered the impression of Renly's "malicious publicity stunt".
But, but, Renly had only spoken three words—simple, straightforward three words!
No rebuttal, no mockery, no publicity stunt, no sarcasm, not even further engagement. Yet, these three simple words left the reporters dumbfounded, and they inexplicably felt a burning sensation on their cheeks. Renly always seemed to find a way to make reporters feel utterly disconcerted, as well as those internet users.
What was worse, the reporters were collectively helpless and confused now. Renly had said just three words, so what should they do?
Reporters could certainly indulge in creative interpretations, freely use their imaginations, or deliberately twist Renly's meaning, creating a false impression of confrontation between the two individuals. However, this time, with over thirty reporters gathered, and Renly having uttered only a single sentence, the room for interpretation was indeed limited. Unless they all aligned their narratives, the reports would be all over the place, making the reporters look like a bunch of fools.
It was... it was truly a headache.
Since excessive interpretation was not an option, they took a step back, leaving infinite space for the audience to use their imagination. Almost all reporters shared the same idea. Consequently, the news on the second day looked like this:
"Faced with Chris's challenge, Renly cryptically refuses further response."
"Rejecting publicity, Renly adopts a firm stance."
"Giving up a reply, officially entering battle mode?"
"Actions speak louder than words. Two distinctly different ways of responding."
"'You want a war, then I'll give you a war, as you wish.' Renly responds with action."
"The big battle is approaching, and both sides are full of confidence."
"Is this a showdown between friends? Or the last confrontation before becoming enemies?"
...
The headlines were diverse and seemingly thrilling, but clicking into the articles, readers found that Renly had only said that one sentence, and all the meaning had to be interpreted by the readers themselves. The most direct and succinct was from the Los Angeles Times, with the headline simply stating, "Good-for-him".
In bold black letters, Renly's exact words were displayed, and even without any additional explanation, the provocation was evident. Between the lines, it showcased Renly's confidence and dominance. Whether it was seen as a provocation or a friendly gesture, Renly dismissed both with equal indifference. With such a simple sentence, the topic reached its peak.
Chris's defense, Renly's disregard; Chris's mockery, Renly's sarcasm; Chris's arrogance, Renly's aloofness. Regardless of whether they were friends, the air was filled with the unmistakable scent of gunpowder.
A small portion of netizens speculated that Renly and Chris might be staging a double act, given that they were once roommates. They might be deliberately adopting a confrontational approach to generate publicity for their films, resulting in a win-win "war".
However, this speculation was quickly debunked because neither of them directly tore into each other, and they maintained a veneer of civility. Presently, all interpretations were left to the media and internet users, making this the most exciting part of the situation.
The greatest characteristic of the internet was that everyone could express their thoughts, even those that hadn't undergone much thought. Consequently, various opinions surged forth, diverse and dizzying. Remarkably, neither of these two, who were not even considered to have a substantial fan base, should have had the capacity for such a feud. Yet, unexpectedly, fans of Marvel comics and "Fast 5" started quarreling.
The scene was truly bustling.
However, this was far from over; strictly speaking, it was just the beginning.
Chris was merely an up-and-coming newcomer. Even though he had garnered much attention thanks to his role as Thor, how could he compare to the newly-crowned Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman?
As feared by Morgan, the media had shifted their focus onto Natalie and Renly! Despite "Thor" being a male superhero movie and Natalie only playing a supporting role, and despite "Fast 5" starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, with Renly being the third lead, this was still Natalie and Renly!
Previously, due to the "stunt double" incident, these two leading figures of the Y-generation had already clashed once, but lamentably, Renly had been absent from the Oscars, and Natalie had smoothly clinched the award, severing the news at that time. But now, the opportunity had come again.
Not only was it a showdown between Renly and Chris, but it was also a showdown between Renly and Natalie! How did Renly view this showdown? How did Natalie see this collision of commercial films? Was there any real grudge between them, or was it all just a coincidence as Renly had claimed?
Compared to Chris, the "Natalie vs. Renly" showdown had at least doubled the intrigue!
As Renly had said, since Chris wanted a war, then let there be a war. With the major media outlets fanning the flames, the showdown between "Thor" and "Fast 5" had truly ignited all the enthusiasm in the market. After all, it was the summer season, the annual summer season, and it was the showdown that marked the opening of the summer season.
In an instant, the entire North American market was in a frenzy, with everyone eagerly anticipating, discussing, and fervently debating. Summer had quietly arrived.
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