Boom!
The media exploded once again. Was there more to Renly and Chris's friendship than met the eye? This was getting interesting.
In reality, the reporters were smart individuals. Chris's promotional intentions were glaringly obvious this time around. Anyone in the industry could see it. At such a critical moment, the way he hinted, almost blatantly, was meant to create attention, both overtly and subtly. Clearly, he was vying for the spotlight.
But even though they saw through his tactics, the reporters eagerly began their coverage. Their concern wasn't being manipulated; it was missing out on a story. Now that the people involved were willingly revealing information, what reason did they have not to follow suit? Moreover, Chris's revelations were truly astonishing.
While Chris didn't explicitly state it, his implications were crystal clear: Renly had severed contact unilaterally, distancing himself in a self-righteous manner, thus ending their friendship. This "provocation" might be Chris's way of counterattacking, or perhaps, extending an olive branch. However, it was evident that Renly had no intention of responding.
So, why was that? What had transpired between Renly and Chris? And how would Renly respond?
In an instant, the reporters swarmed Renly like sharks that had caught the scent of blood. This time, they couldn't even wait to go to Studio Eleven. Early in the morning, they stood outside Renly's apartment building, eagerly waiting. There were more than sixty reporters gathered around, more than double the previous number, indicating the explosive nature of this news event.
It wasn't just New York; on the other side of the continent, Los Angeles had many people closely monitoring the situation. Among them was Morgan Fisher.
Jasmin Francis cast a cautious glance at Morgan. She had only been Morgan's secretary for two months, and she had heard that she was the fourteenth secretary in the past two years, but her tenure was the longest. She hoped to continue to hold on and remain cautious.
She knew she should keep her mouth shut and leave. Today, although Morgan was still engrossed in work, his gaze inadvertently drifted towards the phone. Such small details still revealed his tension and anxiety. Wisely, she should leave the office to avoid any potential danger that might ignite a powder keg.
However, she couldn't resist the urge, and the question slipped out of her mouth, "Mr. Fisher, aren't you worried about Renly retaliating?"
Morgan paused for a moment. It seemed like he needed to vent some of his tension, or maybe it was because he was so confident that he didn't mind the question. Either way, he didn't rebuke Jasmin but instead replied, "I'm not worried about him retaliating; I'm worried he won't. To be precise, I need him to retaliate for the news to gain traction. Otherwise, this plot will fall flat."
"But..." Jasmin hesitated, struggling to find her words.
Unexpectedly, Morgan wore a faint smile. "Are you worried about what Chris did?"
Stealing a script, if Renly were to reveal the truth directly, Chris would be in an extremely disadvantageous position, possibly sinking him deep into trouble and significantly affecting the box office prospects of "Thor". This was something Paramount Pictures absolutely didn't want to see, even prohibited. However, Morgan chose to take a gamble.
To rise to power and succeed, one must not fear to take bold actions!
"I'm gambling," Morgan knew he was a bit restless. Gambling came with the chance of success and the possibility of failure, and he had lost control over it. "I'm betting on Renly's pride and integrity."
Morgan's gaze shifted towards the window, his mind wandering. "Those media reporters are fools. Renly will never engage in malicious publicity because his pride won't allow it, and neither will his education and background. He will only choose to win or lose honorably, with his own abilities. Proud people always lose to their own pride."
The people who know you best are not friends but enemies, especially those with deep-seated enmity.
Morgan was acutely aware that he was playing with fire. But those who achieve greatness don't get bogged down in details. He resolutely chose to push forward with the subsequent news event and placed his bet on Renly refusing to slander his opponent due to his pride.
Jasmin's mouth hung open, her face filled with shock, and her heart was about to leap out. Did Chris know about this? The question popped up, and she already had an answer in her mind.
"Renly, Renly!" The reporters swarmed Renly like leeches. His figure had just emerged, and they rushed towards him. The overwhelming crowd took Renly by surprise, and Matthew, standing nearby, widened his eyes, completely unprepared for this situation.
What was even more exaggerated was that the number of reporters seemed to be quietly increasing. What was once visible on the fringes was now obscured. They were completely engulfed by the crowd.
Faced with such a situation, Renly shook his head with a wry smile. "Can someone tell me what episode this soap opera has reached? I fell asleep last night when my assistant was updating me on the plot. Sorry, I haven't kept up with the updates."
Once the reporters quieted down, Renly continued. Some reporters couldn't help but chuckle, while others blushed, feeling like every word from Renly was loaded with barbs, leaving them at a loss.
"Renly, is it true that you haven't had any contact with Chris since you moved?" Finally, a reporter caught on. In any case, Renly's previous taunts had thickened their skin, and pretending not to understand had worked.
Renly raised an eyebrow. So, were they ready to tear the façade apart officially? To stop pretending to be good friends? Regardless, this was good news. He had no interest in playing along anymore. In his view, these trivial matters had no value for discussion, let alone for publicity. "Yes."
There were no fancy quips, no hidden mockery, and no evasive defenses. Renly simply gave a straightforward affirmative answer.
The reporters exchanged glances, happiness arriving too quickly, leaving some unable to cope. After a brief pause, another reporter immediately followed up with a question, "Chris said he called you several times but couldn't reach you. Is that true?"
"Have you tried investigating my call records? I thought in the United States, we had the protection of human rights, and this kind of information was off-limits." Renly's unexpected response left the reporters in disarray.
Renly knew that reporters often liked to cherry-pick quotes, and their reiterations weren't necessarily accurate. Maybe Chris had said those things, maybe not. Perhaps it was just the reporters deliberately trying to provoke a reaction, or perhaps not. But he had no intention of pursuing it any further. With calm composure, he continued, "If you're curious, personally, I listen to and respond to every message." At this point, Renly paused briefly, smirked, and added in a half-joking tone, "At least I hope so. I haven't missed any, have I?"
His uncertain expression was truly lively, showing no signs of feeling pressed by the reporters' questions. He maintained a relaxed demeanor throughout. Then, he casually mentioned, "Oh, by the way, I haven't changed my phone number."
Clear, concise, and well-organized, there were no accusations against Chris, no unwarranted comments on the incident, and no rebuttals to the reporters' previous questions. Renly merely emphasized his stance, making it clear. At the same time, his words carried a deeper meaning, encouraging people to read between the lines.
Compared to Chris's obvious implications, Renly's attitude always frustrated the reporters. However, today's response was sufficient.
If what Renly said was true, that he responded to every message, it meant that Chris hadn't actually called him. But conversely, if Chris's claim was true, it meant that Renly had intentionally avoided responding to him. Who was lying? More importantly, it had been nearly a year since the two of them had spoken. That was an indisputable fact! It meant one thing: a falling out.
"Renly Hall stated that he has never received any calls from Chris."
"Who is lying? What hidden truth lies behind the fracture of their friendship?"
"Former roommates, current rivals! Which way will the opening battle of the summer box office head?"
As Morgan had anticipated, the news focus once again centered on Chris and Renly, with everyone discussing the reasons behind their separation.
Some believed that Renly was definitely jealous and regretful after realizing the immense popularity of "Thor." Others thought that the two had different paths and couldn't collaborate; one chose art, the other chose commerce, and they grew apart. Some believed that Chris was maliciously using Renly's fame for publicity for his movie. There were also those who believed that both of them had made each other their imaginary enemies and were engaging in a rivalry.
On one side, there was the burgeoning performer, Chris Hemsworth, with limitless commercial potential. On the other, there was the rising star showcasing his acting skills, who had carved a niche for himself in the recent awards season. Strictly speaking, both sides were evenly matched, with Renly having a slight advantage. Therefore, various speculations and theories abounded, creating a dazzling array of ideas, and no one-sided consensus emerged.
As the release dates of the two movies approached, media attention continued to escalate. The discussions about the "opening battle" became increasingly heated, and online discussions remained high. If this trend continued, it would undoubtedly be a win-win situation for both movies, at least in terms of generating buzz.
As for the outcome, that was secondary.
Just when everyone thought the situation would develop in this grand yet predictable manner, TMZ, the renowned gossip entertainment website, broke a bombshell story that set off a frenzy across North America.
"Chris Hemsworth's Successful Audition Secret: "Borrowing" Roommate's Script."