Roy Lockley? It was actually Roy Lockley!
He still wore that crumpled suit and shirt, still had that unpolished look about him. Once again, the image of the American actor's union agent from his memory overlapped with the reality before him. If it weren't for the slightly bronzed skin and somewhat dehydrated cheeks, Renly would have almost believed that their previous encounter during the trek had never happened.
But why was Roy here?
His presence was entirely unexpected. Renly had initially thought it was Matthew, who was supposed to come out early to pick them up, effortlessly navigating through the crowd to take the driver's seat of the car. But now, standing within sight was Roy, a character no one had foreseen.
Even Renly displayed a hint of surprise between his brows, let alone Nathan.
Nathan stared at the stranger before him, unsure of his identity, momentarily unable to determine if the newcomer was friend or foe. His steps involuntarily paused, uncertain whether to advance or retreat.
Although a myriad of questions filled his mind, now was clearly not the time for conversation. After a brief moment of bewilderment, Renly regained his composure and patted Nathan's shoulder, signaling him to follow. They quickly advanced.
Escaping the encirclement smoothly did not equate to safety. All the journalists gazed forward, leaning slightly forward with an urgent and dominating stance that pervaded the surroundings, waiting to pounce.
Roy turned his head slightly, casting an inquisitive glance. There were no words spoken, but Renly understood and nodded in affirmation. Then, Roy turned back and raised his voice, saying, "Now, you can start asking questions, but!" The journalists were eager to speak, but Roy cut off their impatience with a stern tone. "One at a time, or I won't hear the questions clearly, and they will be disregarded."
The journalists exchanged glances. Although they were not entirely pleased with Roy's assertiveness and bluntness, they understood it was the right approach. So, who should be the first to ask? Among the crowd, at least a dozen journalists reacted swiftly, raising their hands high. Some even tiptoed and jumped, standing out from the dense crowd.
Sure enough, Roy immediately called out, "You, sir." The siege had quickly turned into a press conference, and the abrupt shift in tone left people somewhat taken aback.
"Renly, did Chris really steal your script?"
The first question hit the nail on the head, with the journalist even slyly switching verbs from "borrowed" to "stole". With a single misstep or impulsive reaction, they could fall into a trap, and the onslaught from other journalists was already foreseeable.
While this attack primarily targeted Chris, no one would overlook Renly's response. What if Renly erupted in anger? What if his emotions got out of control? What if he became agitated? If he revealed a sensational revelation in a fit of emotion, this battle would become truly captivating. If necessary, the journalists didn't mind adding fuel to the fire to push Renly to the brink of emotional breakdown.
That's the nature of journalism. The truth is essential, but sensationalism is even more critical, and self-interest trumps all.
Faced with the journalists' attempt to twist the narrative, Renly remained calm and composed, even offering a smile. "Indeed, I can't find my script. I hope Paramount Pictures won't hold me responsible for this."
He had managed to sidestep the issue entirely.
While Renly acknowledged the loss of his script, his words never mentioned Chris directly. He didn't confirm or deny any possibilities. What was more, he skillfully steered clear of the sensitive core topic, instead mentioning Paramount with a hint of sarcasm, making his intentions crystal clear.
Just when everyone expected Renly to take advantage of the situation and deliver a crushing blow to Chris, turning this showdown into an all-out battle, Renly elegantly evaded. Why? The journalists on the scene were utterly bewildered, their eyes reflecting confusion as they struggled to keep up with the unfolding events.
Amidst the chaos and excitement, Renly remained exceptionally composed, keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings.
Despite TMZ's exposé and the subsequent chain reaction, the essence of the situation hadn't changed. Unless an insider at Paramount could produce substantial evidence, Renly couldn't prove Chris's theft. Chris remained resolute in his denial. Both sides clung to their positions, and no definitive conclusion was in sight.
In other words, even if Renly relentlessly pursued the issue, it wouldn't clarify matters. Moreover, the media would only become more excited, perpetuating the saga endlessly.
Furthermore, from the beginning, Renly had no interest in sensationalism. He wasn't interested in the media's incessant hounding. He wasn't interested in his and Chris's names being perpetually linked in the headlines. He certainly had no interest in kicking someone when they were down.
With this time, he could be immersed in his work instead of getting ensnared in the vortex of gossip.
As for Chris, as Renly had previously stated, he had achieved his goals in his own way, which was a good thing, something to be celebrated, as everyone had their own way of life and principles. They were on different paths, and for Renly, "Chris Hemsworth" was merely a name with no deeper significance.
Rather than condemning Chris, Renly found it more amusing to toy with the journalists. He was dead serious about it.
As he looked at the bewildered and innocent-looking journalists before him, a slight smile tugged at the corners of Renly's lips. It settled deep in his eyes before he exchanged a glance with Roy, signaling that he had finished answering and it was time to move on.
Unnoticed by all, Nathan, standing by the car door, and Matthew, in the driver's seat, exchanged a brief glance. Nathan puffed his cheeks in frustration, while a faint, fleeting smirk graced Matthew's lips. It seemed that someone had won a gamble.
Roy caught the smile that played on Renly's lips, momentarily puzzled before breaking into a grin himself. He then turned to face the perplexed journalists before him, as well as the few who had swiftly raised their hands again. He casually selected another one and, after some thought, a light chuckle escaped his lips.
However, the journalists seemed somewhat fatigued. The first question they directly addressed had been artfully circumvented. Despite their attempts to rephrase and inquire in different ways, Renly remained steadfast, standing his ground with unwavering composure. His responses were not only intelligent and astute but also laced with humor.
Round and round they went, with the journalists becoming increasingly disoriented. The questions began to revolve around a narrow spectrum:
Did Renly and Chris truly part ways? Have they genuinely lost touch? Did Renly refuse to answer Chris's calls due to the script incident? Did Renly genuinely turn down "Thor"? What are Renly's thoughts on box office prospects of "Thor"? What are Renly's expectations for the upcoming summer blockbuster season? How much does Renly know about Chris's actions? Did Renly lose the script carelessly, or was it genuinely stolen?
In truth, these questions were all variations of the same theme, and despite their efforts to dig deeper, the journalists were left with mere scraps. They probed and prodded, but the essence of the matter remained elusive.
"If there are no further questions, I'm preparing to leave. I'm already running late for work. If rumors about me throwing a diva fit start circulating, it won't be good."
The journalists were reluctant to let go, but Renly had no patience to continue the charade. He punctuated his statement with a smile.
A gust of cold wind swept through, causing the journalists to shiver involuntarily. It was only then that they realized Renly had remained relaxed and composed, not a bead of sweat on his brow, while they were drenched in perspiration, disheveled, and yet, they hadn't made any substantial headway. The sense of frustration was palpable.
More importantly, they found themselves powerless against Renly. In this whole affair, he was also a victim. Unless they could prove that TMZ's report was false and somehow shift the narrative back in Chris's favor, turning on Renly now might incur the wrath of internet users.
This wasn't Renly's first appearance, but it was the journalists' first direct encounter with him, and the fragmented images were gradually forming a clearer picture: the young man who had risen to stardom with his acting prowess, constantly at the center of the storm, only twenty-one years old, yet firmly establishing his presence in Hollywood in an unstoppable manner.
As Renly was about to turn and leave, someone in the crowd shouted, "Renly!" No raised hand, just a call, but the entire scene fell silent, and all eyes turned in that direction, the voice ringing crystal clear.
It was Bradley Adams, a reporter from The New York Times.
Amidst the surging crowd, the presence of a single journalist had been quite inconspicuous. Only now did people realize that The New York Times had joined this party from the very beginning. Bradley stood tall, raising his voice to pose his question, "Regarding the ins and outs of this incident, from its inception to its twists and turns, what is your assessment?"
From a routine paparazzi interception to a news sensation sweeping across the United States and the world?
Renly flashed a faint smile, a glint of light twinkling in his eyes. "Welcome to Hollywood."