Before being spotted by the paparazzi, everything was going well.
The Hawaiian floral shirt couple outfit became the best shield for Renly and Scarlett. Disguised as a honeymooning couple, they blended into the stream of tourists, heading to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Just like any newlywed couple on vacation, they enjoyed various Hawaiian tourist activities.
Located on the northwest side of Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center was undoubtedly one of Hawaii's most famous tourist attractions. Its winding artificial lake cleverly divided the cultural center into seven natural areas, each representing a different cultural village. The architecture in each village maintained the traditional appearance of its native culture from centuries ago.
This was a tourist destination created for commerce, heavily influenced by commercialism. Only tourists visited here; for locals, it held no value for exploration, preferring to bask on Waikiki Beach. Scarlett had always done that too, but in today's unique circumstances, the tourist site became the best cover.
Hidden in plain sight, the two appeared as ordinary tourists, enjoying the beauty of Hawaii. They didn't draw any unnecessary attention, allowing Scarlett to momentarily set aside her worries and thoughts from the past and immerse herself in the joyful atmosphere of the cultural village.
Hawaii was no longer just synonymous with beaches and surfing. Its diverse culture infused it with vibrant hues, bringing it to life.
So, when she saw Tahitian girls wearing grass skirts and passionately performing Tahitian dance, she couldn't help but want to join in. Yet, she was concerned that being too conspicuous might attract unwanted attention and expose their whereabouts.
Renly seemed to sense her eagerness and took the initiative, stepping forward and extending an invitation.
"Are you sure?" Scarlett stared at Renly incredulously, glanced at the other tourists, and a worried expression flitted across her eyes. "What if we get recognized? What do we do then?"
In Scarlett's words, Renly heard her eagerness to give it a try. He spread his hands, "Are you really willing to ruin your vacation because of those awful paparazzi? You should know they're everywhere. Even if you went to Antarctica for vacation, they'd still find you."
Scarlett found herself amused, chuckling softly. Playfully blinking her eyes, she said, "Well, since you're already not concerned, why should I worry?" If they were caught on camera, the trouble would be for Renly, not her.
Renly placed his left hand behind his back, slightly inclined his upper body, and politely extended his right hand in an inviting gesture. His gentlemanly demeanor made Scarlett purse her lips in a smile. The Hawaiian floral shirt added a touch of humor. Suppressing her grin, she performed a half-curtsy as a courteous lady would, then shook Renly's right hand. Together, they stepped onto the dance floor.
Under the guidance of Tahitian girls, they began to learn the authentic indigenous dance. Scarlett even forgot to pay attention to others, fully immersed in the dance. Unintentionally, a smile tugged at her lips, and even the sunset on the horizon paled in comparison. Just as Renly had said, even if they were discovered, so what? In this moment of graceful dancing, everything else became inconsequential.
Scarlett swayed her hands and moved her feet to the rhythm, turning her head to look at Renly, who was fully engrossed in learning. She couldn't help but raise her voice towards him, "Thank you." It was a heartfelt gratitude. Originally, she had only wanted to use Renly to escape the paparazzi, but unexpectedly, this afternoon had taken an unexpected turn.
Renly also leaned in and whispered into Scarlett's ear, "I think we should leave." After speaking, Renly swiftly grabbed Scarlett's right hand and dashed in the opposite direction. In an instant, they left the attraction's area. Scarlett only had time to glance back and saw a figure quickly catching up.
The dancing crowd became a natural barrier. The figure's sprint was repeatedly interrupted, and its speed was severely hindered under the torchlight's illumination. Anxiety and impatience were clearly visible on their face in the torchlight.
It was the paparazzo from earlier this afternoon!
However, seeing him again didn't dampen Scarlett's mood in the least. Instead, she laughed heartily, "Jesus Christ, he really is like gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe. How do you think he found us again?"
"Let me guess, Facebook?" Renly quipped with a smile, running alongside Scarlett. Her laughter was infectious, and he continued, "He just can't let go, can he?"
Passing through wooden bridges, the sound of their footsteps echoed on the planks. Walking through pathways lined with palm trees, the roar of a waterfall reached their ears. As they traversed the serene artificial lake, they left Tahiti in a fleeting moment and entered another cultural realm. The rapidly changing scenery with Renly was truly mesmerizing, and even their running pace felt lighter.
"Now what?" Their footsteps slowed slightly. Scarlett looked back, not seeing the paparazzi but was certain that he had caught their trail. It was only a matter of time before he caught up.
Renly lifted his chin and pointed to the girls and boys performing not far away. The girls held flower wreaths and danced in graceful grass skirts, while the boys, adorned with swords and armor, portrayed the powerful demeanor of island chieftains. "We can join the performance team at any time, until that guy stops and starts genuinely enjoying the show."
Scarlett burst into hearty laughter. "I'd highly recommend you join that performance."
Following Scarlett's pointing finger, Renly saw a muscular young man applying coconut oil to his body. His bare upper body bore tattoos unique to various tribes, their designs vividly visible in the torchlight. They were clearly preparing for the evening's performance.
Scarlett had intended to tease Renly, but when she looked up, she saw Renly's calm expression. His eyes always held a mysterious and enigmatic depth, much like in the ABC supermarket earlier. This unexpectedly made Scarlett feel awkward instead.
Annoyed by her own embarrassment, she raised her right fist and waved it in protest, "Do you believe I'll just strip you naked right here?"
"I believe you, but we'd better find a different place." Renly's response left Scarlett momentarily stunned. Before she could reply, Renly grabbed her hand and started running again. She only had time to glance back and saw the persistent figure – seriously, did this paparazzo implant a tracker on them?
The two of them raced through bridges, artificial lakes, and crowds of tourists, suddenly, Renly stopped in his tracks, darted behind a rockery, concealing both of their figures. Just as a large group of tourists was passing by, the line of sight became blurred, and it was the perfect opportunity to shake off the paparazzi.
Scarlett quickly took cover behind the rockery as well. Luckily, although the space behind it was narrow, it could accommodate a person comfortably. The length of the rockery was also quite substantial, around a dozen steps, spacious enough for hiding. They could remain concealed for twenty or thirty minutes without any issues.
Scarlett raised her chin and gestured inside, indicating for Renly to move further in, away from the side of the rockery to avoid exposure.
Renly nodded and took a couple of steps back.
By now, the sky had gradually darkened. The setting sun still lingered near the horizon, and torches were being lit around the cultural village. The lights were gradually turning on. However, the light behind the rockery wasn't bright, and there were uneven stones underfoot. Renly had to lower his head to avoid stumbling.
"Thud."
He bumped into a warm object with his back. Caught off guard, Renly was startled and turned around suddenly. A cry of "Ah" escaped the other person's lips but was immediately muffled as they clamped their hand over their mouth, forcefully stifling the sound. Obviously, the other person hadn't anticipated bumping into someone behind the rockery.
"What happened?" Sensing Renly's movement, Scarlett stopped as well, lowering her voice in nervous inquiry.
Renly's initial reaction was that it might be Elliot, the paparazzo. However, the action of covering the cry somewhat eased his worry. If it was Elliot, he wouldn't need to cover his mouth; he'd just start taking photos.
"Who are you?" Without waiting for Renly to answer, the person on the other side was the first to speak, firing off a demanding question.
Renly found the voice somewhat familiar but couldn't quite put a finger on it. Either it was someone less familiar, or the voice was quite common. "Who are you?" It was Scarlett who asked, and the unexpected encounter made her break out in a cold sweat.
In the faint light, Renly could vaguely see a facial outline. The image in his mind gradually became clearer, but he still wasn't entirely sure, and he hadn't managed to speak yet. Unexpectedly, the person on the opposite side was impulsive. They didn't want to answer Scarlett's question either, so they simply pulled a lighter out of their pocket.
Click, click, twice, and then a flame ignited. Under the crimson light of the flame, the surrounding darkness receded like a tide. The faces of the two people in the middle gradually came into view.
Renly confirmed his suspicions; his guess was indeed correct. But despite this, question marks still surfaced in his mind. This sentiment seemed to be shared by the other person, who was even more bewildered, freezing momentarily in shock.
"Leo?" Scarlett's perplexed voice came from behind Renly.
"Scarlett?" Leonardo DiCaprio, standing opposite, was equally bewildered. "What are you doing here?"
"Somebody's coming." Another voice sounded from behind Leonardo. He quickly released the lighter, and before the flame went out, Renly caught a glimpse of the face behind him – it was Blake Lively!