As expected, when the new issue of Time Magazine came out, it immediately triggered a frenzy of purchases. Laila stood by the window on the cover, illuminated by the outside light, softening the lines on her body and creating a hazy feeling as if she could disappear at any moment.
She smiled, her ice-blue eyes softened by half-lowered eyelids, making her look more gentle and approachable. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail, and the strands flowed smoothly over her shoulders, and her porcelain-like skin appeared even fairer and flawless in the light.
What was most memorable was her demeanor. Only a small portion of the liveliness and youth that should accompany a twenty-year-old was present in her. Instead, she exuded tranquility and serenity, leaving people feeling comfortable and leaving a deep impression.
Above her image were the words "The Witch - Laila Moran." Originally, Time Magazine had considered using terms like "Taking the Unconventional Path" or "Miracle Girl," but after much consideration, they settled on her fans' nickname for her: "The Witch." Perhaps this was the most fitting title to highlight her mystique.
What truly stirred fans was the magazine cover. It was probably the clearest photo of her in print media. Previously, her images in newspapers were always blurry figures or screenshots from videos. Collecting photos of her was challenging. So, as soon as the magazine was released, Laila's fans rushed to buy it.
The power of fans was boundless. The newly released magazines were sold out within two hours. The magazine's staff didn't expect such a surge in sales and had to urgently print an additional 100,000 copies. Almost as soon as they were placed on the shelves, readers snatched them up.
The astonishing sales figures became the focus of media attention. Why was she so popular among so many people? Was it because of her youth, her talent, or the wealth behind her? This phenomenon was worth studying.
Simultaneously, the revelations about Laila in the press were like fireworks, popping and crackling one after another.
Laila accepting the challenge of "The 13th Warrior"? Engaging in a showdown with them?
A new film featuring a female lead in an action role?
Would there be a lot of Japanese culture in it?
Never mind accepting the challenge, what kind of film did she want to make?
Before fans could ask their bewildering questions, Cooper, who despised Laila to the core, had already acted first. An article analyzing the news about Laila's new film appeared in the entertainment section of the New York Post in record time.
"When the news about Director Moran's new film came out, my first thought was that I must have misheard. However, after confirming the accuracy of this news, all I can say is that this will be the most regrettable decision she's made. Success truly has the power to cloud one's judgment. After the success of her Eastern martial arts film, it's evident that our small director now has her sights on another Asian country's culture."
"But are we choosing movies for the sake of cultural differences? If that were the case, we could simply shoot documentaries in various countries. Do we still need a storyline to elevate the film?"
"To be honest, I still don't understand why 'Rush Hour' had such high box office numbers. In my opinion, the film's plot lacked any highlights. It was full of crude and unfunny jokes, as well as incomprehensible fight scenes. Perhaps it was these previously unseen elements that attracted the audience?"
"Now looking at the setting of the new film, an action movie with a female lead? Really? Isn't that a joke? Please tell me, how many people would want to watch an entire movie of a woman on screen getting beaten up, battered, and humiliated?"
Cooper attacked Laila as if he had lost his sanity, abandoning his previous low-profile stance. If he had some self-restraint due to their wager, after his comeback, once he passed the initial phase of addressing specific issues, his style suddenly changed. He became like a rabid dog, lunging at Laila to take a bite.
Looking at the recent news about Laila, his attack articles always followed closely. Nevertheless, each time the New York Post published his articles, their sales would skyrocket.
Some readers were curious about how he would criticize Laila again, while others simply wanted to enjoy the spectacle. There were also Laila's haters who wanted to see how he would berate her.
When there are people who like something, there will naturally be those who dislike it. Laila wasn't money; it was impossible for everyone to like her. Many liked her, and some disliked or even hated her. Among her detractors, many were envious of her talents, envious that she was born into such a privileged environment. They felt that if they were born into a similar family, they could achieve the same success.
And many gathered together simply because they didn't like her movies. Take her first film, "The Blair Witch," for example. Some people found the movie terrifying, the DV filming innovative, and the plot excellent. Others thought the opposite, believing it was a nauseating mess that made people want to vomit, not scary at all, and devoid of any appeal.
To the successive waves of attacks from Cooper, Laila paid no attention. Others naturally fought on her behalf. Moran Media wasn't idling around; whether it was the "Entertainer" or NBC, they were all rapidly growing media outlets.
The future leader was under attack, so they naturally had to charge forward to defend her. Most importantly, in this battle, their sales and viewership kept soaring.
As the New York Post moved further down the path of attacking Laila, Moran Media's outlets continued to defend her steadfastly. With both sides engaging in a back-and-forth, the battlefield was lively and thrilling, and the public couldn't help but exclaim in satisfaction.
And so, even before the name of Laila's film was announced, it was already incredibly hot.
A film with a female lead in an action role? Perhaps it was intriguing, considering it was the work of Laila Moran, who bore the moniker "The Witch." Haven't countless people been doubting her before the release of her previous movies? And what was the result? Every time, didn't those doubters eat their words in the end?
This was precisely the scenario Laila hoped to witness. Although Cooper was severely criticizing her, in her eyes, he was unwittingly aiding the publicity for her film.
She used to worry that after his comeback, he might become smarter and make her publicity efforts more challenging. However, within just a few days, he escalated his efforts even further. With such a reliable partner in generating hype, she felt she was quite lucky.
Although she was reluctant, she still had to thank her father for leaving her with such a brainless adversary. If it weren't for the animosity between them clouding Cooper's judgment, where else could she find someone who wouldn't charge her money and could endlessly promote her?