"Hurry up, hurry up, the young heir is here! He's here!" Hope Bates repeatedly looked back at the beginning of the red carpet, urging anxiously. William Taylor stood beside him, fidgeting, but unable to be of any help.
Graham Hughes didn't even have time to speak; he was immersed in his work, sweat coating his forehead. He finally tore off the plastic wrap that had been covering the large support sign, revealing it to be a massive banner. He promptly handed it to William. Then, he bent down to pick up the litter on the ground, stuffing it into his backpack. In his peripheral vision, he saw Hope crouch down as well, helping to tidy up the mess in a flurry of activity.
As faithful fans, their every action represented the actor's image. They didn't want to tarnish Renly's reputation.
William held the banner high and shouted in a low voice, "Woah!" His voice wasn't loud; it emerged from the depths of his throat. The rhythm wasn't fast; it gradually accelerated, akin to the rumble of a bomber passing overhead. The surrounding onlookers joined in, their voices gathering together in a deep, dense chorus that was both imposing and intimidating.
In the bone-chilling January wind of Park City, the thick snow beneath pedestrians' feet had begun to turn muddy due to their constant movement. The air in the streets and alleys had turned sharp, like countless strands of cow hair piercing into their blood through their pores.
But the cold weather didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the film fans. The premiere of "Like Crazy" had drawn a crowd of over six hundred people, and the line for tickets at the cinema's entrance was packed tightly.
Considering the passion of the fans alone, the Sundance Film Festival was no less impressive than Toronto. The premieres of each film received enthusiastic applause from the audience, including documentaries. However, after the screenings, the audience in Sundance wasn't as polite as Canadians.
Next to the line for tickets, a red carpet was laid out, leading directly to the interior of the cinema's hall. The media interview pathway flanked the red carpet on both sides. The bustling scene formed a misty steam in the air, clearly divided into two worlds but magically connected by the red carpet.
"Heir! Heir!" William temporarily paused his shouting and turned to his two companions, then quickly turned back around and continued, "Ah!"
Graham and Hope stood up after cleaning up the trash, and both joined in William's chant. The well-coordinated and forceful shout accompanied the appearance of a figure at the end of the red carpet, gradually rising in intensity.
Renly had arrived.
Suddenly, at the beginning of the red carpet, a series of organized shouts reached their ears, "Heir! Heir!" This surprised Graham, Hope, and William.
Their decision to attend the Sundance Film Festival had been the result of discussion among the three.
Originally, they had thought that after the Golden Globe Awards, Renly would take a short break. However, they unexpectedly found information about "Like Crazy" premiering in North America on IMDb's official page. By following this lead, they discovered the Sundance Film Festival. The three of them were instantly thrilled – they had missed the premiere of "Buried" in Toronto, and they were determined not to miss the premiere of "Like Crazy" at Sundance.
They were well aware that Renly was still a newcomer who had only gained a bit of attention. The red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards was the best proof. Therefore, they put all their effort into cheering for Renly on the red carpet at Sundance, hoping to make him feel the unwavering support of the fans.
However, what was happening now?
However, now was not the right moment to seek the truth. The three immediately joined the chorus of support, shouting loudly, "Young heir!" The sound resonated in their lungs and chests, a simple word that seemed to possess a magical power. Their lips curved upward, their footsteps became lively, and adrenaline surged.
Hope could clearly see a trace of surprise on Renly's face. This elevated her mood, making her shouts even more enthusiastic.
In her line of sight, Renly politely nodded to the fans who were supporting him and continued walking steadily and powerfully forward. Yet, the short red carpet was covered in just a dozen or so steps under those long legs. In the blink of an eye, Renly had reached the entrance of the reporters' interview area on the left side.
He glanced at the eager reporters whose camera flashes were already raining down. Then, he looked at the dedicated fans who were still cheering, courteously waved to the reporters, turned around, and walked back again.
"Young... heir!" Hope's voice was filled with excitement, almost losing control, shooting upward involuntarily. She put all her effort into the shout, managing to avoid screaming. She continued to call out resolutely, "Heir!"
Then, Hope saw Renly's steps slightly pause. The smile at the corners of his mouth bloomed like the dawn on tree branches, suddenly radiant. A hint of pure joy appeared in his eyes. He walked straight toward the direction she was in.
Thud, thud, thud!
Hope felt her heart racing uncontrollably, pounding fiercely against her chest. It seemed like it would break free and explode the very next second. Her fingers were trembling so intensely that even her voice started to quiver, "Young heir!"
She felt like her sight and hearing had separated into two different worlds. She could see the radiant smile in Renly's eyes, as dazzling as summer flowers, but she couldn't hear any sounds. After a delay of about three beats, she finally heard the laughter, resembling the bubbling of hot spring water, resonate in her eardrums. The whole world suddenly became bright, as if the icy landscape was gently fading away, and the scent of spring was in the air.
"Are you sure you used the right meaning for that sentence?"
Renly's cheerful voice resounded, with a warm laughter entwined within his words. Hope's cheeks felt like they were burning up. She looked up at Graham and William beside her, and the two of them burst into laughter, carefree and lighthearted. "Do you like it?" William asked.
Hope's heart contracted suddenly. She quickly turned her head to look at Renly and saw him relaxing his brows and nodding earnestly. "Actually, I really like it." After speaking, Renly lifted his right hand, pressed his index finger and middle finger together, and circled the sun, making a gesture that meant crazy.
Now, the surrounding crowd of fans all leaned in, craning their necks to read the words on the support sign. A burst of laughter couldn't be suppressed, making the remaining people even more curious.
On the sign, in bold letters, it stated, "Young Heir Renly, "Like Crazy"."
Originally, "Like Crazy" referred to the premiere of Renly's film, "Like Crazy". However, when combined, it carried a certain ambiguity, prompting people to unavoidably speculate whether this was a sign specifically crafted by the pretending detractors for the purpose of retaliation and mockery.
The effect was uncertain, but the laughter it induced was undoubtedly outstanding.
The news spread through the crowd, and as curiosity grew, more and more people tried to step out of the queue, leaning forward to catch a glimpse of the support sign. Others became excited and started jumping and waving, attempting to catch Renly's attention. The orderly line was gradually falling apart.
Suddenly, a panic-stricken commotion arose nearby. The bustling crowd started to grow restless. Some moved left, some moved right, some moved forward, and some moved backward. The queue, once orderly, was now like a lump of dough that had been thoroughly kneaded. A small section in the middle of the long line was forcibly squeezed out, and those spectators lost their balance and fell to the ground like dumplings, causing a chaotic scene.
Tessa Britton felt an enormous push from behind, as if she were a paper doll, and was thrust forward with a bang. One second, she had been drooling over Renly's good looks, and the next second, she felt the call of gravity, hurtling her forward. The red carpet, dampened by melting snow, rushed toward her face.
What was happening? What on earth was happening?
Tessa felt herself spinning and then heard a cacophony of noise behind her. It surrounded her from all sides, as if it could bury her at any moment, like an avalanche. She hadn't even had time to panic, just a moment of confusion. She had no idea what was going on when a steady voice reached her ears.
"Spread out! Everyone, spread out! I said, spread out!" The voice was not particularly loud amid the chaos and screams, but there was an underlying determination and sharpness to it, like a whip cracking through the heavy air around the red carpet. "Calm down! Everyone, stay calm!"
Shortly after, Tessa felt a pair of feet in black shoes passing by her, positioning themselves between her and the commotion. It was like a wall that separated her from the others, keeping all danger at bay. "Everyone, stay calm! Spread out!" The chaotic noises around her gradually subsided as his voice became clearer. "Don't crowd. Your safety is the priority. Now, everyone move slightly outward and make space. Help those who fell around you get up. Safety comes first, safety comes first! Don't get hurt!"
Amid the chaos, that calm and authoritative voice gradually restored order. The volatile and tumultuous atmosphere in the air was gradually subsiding.
Everything had happened too quickly. In the blink of an eye, danger had suddenly emerged, only to vanish just as quickly. Tessa hadn't even had a chance to assess her own situation when she heard the man turn around and ask her, "Young lady, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Young lady.
That rich and elegant London accent, with a hint of huskiness, was akin to a cello's soft singing, resonating on heartstrings, causing her heartbeat to skip a beat. Tessa lifted her head and plunged into those deep brown eyes, profound and expansive, like fragments of golden sunlight on the vast ocean, an instant of eternity, stunning in its beauty through time.