Reporters knew deep down that Laila wouldn't take Leslie Cheung to Hollywood to play the lead role in a movie. The reports published in the media were just to attract more attention.
While they were okay with consuming readers and viewers, speaking about such matters, especially in front of the director herself, would undoubtedly be seen as a joke. Embarrassment was acceptable within their own country, but causing a scene abroad was another matter.
Many people's expressions turned sour after hearing the journalist's question. They seemed to have already envisioned Director Moran laughing at their arrogance and delusional thinking. They could also imagine countless readers and viewers pointing fingers at them, accusing them of lacking common sense.
"Unfortunately, I'm working on a Western fantasy story, and it's not possible to cast an Eastern actor as the lead. However..." Laila deliberately paused, looking down at the reporters below, who held their breath, eagerly waiting for her to continue. "I can assure you that Mr. Leslie will play a crucial role."
With this statement, excitement erupted among the reporters, and Chen Shufen was on the verge of fainting with joy.
Finally, she could put her worries to rest. Since Laila admitted in front of so many reporters that this was happening, it must be a done deal. Cheung was finally going to soar to new heights!
After shaking off the reporters, Laila left amid Chen Shufen's exceptionally radiant smile and her brother's watching eyes. On the way back to the hotel, she was still immersed in the excitement of "brother starring in her own movie." However, she soon noticed that Roy was acting a bit off.
Normally, he would talk to her or crack jokes to pass the time in the car. But now, he leaned against the lowered car window, twisting his head to look outside as if he didn't even know she was sitting beside him.
"Roy, are you jealous?" She quickly thought of the only possibility.
The cold "hmph" in response clearly affirmed her guess.
Laila reached her hands around him from behind. "Ignoring me?"
"Hmph."
Still, his response was a cold hmph.
Who said only women needed to be coaxed? Aren't men the same? Laila chuckled in her heart.
"Roy."
"Not here!"
"Then, what am I holding onto?"
"A ghost!"
"Can ghosts be held?"
"A cunning ghost."
Laila burst into laughter. "What kind of TV shows have you been watching lately?" She knew he was interested in Eastern culture because of her, watching quite a few Eastern movies, and apparently, those with supernatural settings had left a deep impression on him. It seemed like he had embraced Eastern worldviews, saying something like a cunning ghost.
But what exactly had he been watching?
"Do you also care about what I watch?" Roy said sarcastically. "I said I wanted to audition for a role in your movie, and you even had me go through the testing process. Yet, just now, you let him join your movie without any test and let him choose any role he wants!"
Laila placed her head on his back, listening to his steady heartbeat, which gave her an extra sense of security.
"Roy, don't you understand me yet? There's a saying in the East, 'Differentiate between closeness and distance.' It means there is a difference between those close to you and those distant."
"Yeah, so I'm the distant one!" Roy started to brood over it.
Laila sighed, withdrawing her hands from around his chest, forcing him to turn his head and look into her eyes.
"I've admired his movies for a long time. In his films, he gives me the impression of a living, soulful, and genuine character. So, I believe he can handle any role in my movie. But you're different; you're my boyfriend, something the whole world knows. If I don't let you prove your capability to shut others up, do you want everyone to say you got in through the back door every time they see you?"
Roy was well aware of how thoughtful she was in arranging things, or he wouldn't have followed her instructions willingly before. However, seeing someone who had just attempted suicide receiving so much attention from her, while he needed to go through auditions, made him feel psychologically unbalanced.
Maybe it was her fault? Laila started to reflect on whether she had indeed focused too much on "others." However, the fact that this "other" was her "brother" made her think it was okay. Even so, if he felt wronged...
"It's been a hard time for you, too. How about we go around and explore some places in Hong Kong!"
"What do you want to do?" Despite feeling a bit upset, seeing her speaking to him with such a soft tone, Roy's little mood couldn't help but dissipate a bit. The main reason was he couldn't refuse her requests, and thinking about getting angry with her seemed impossible when he looked into her clear blue eyes.
He was truly a pitiful man. He lamented his lack of firm willpower.
This question stumped Laila. At this time, Hong Kong Disneyland hadn't opened yet, and she didn't know where else to go for entertainment. After all, in her past life, she was solely focused on securing sponsorships for her films and had no interest in leisure.
"I don't know where to have fun. How about we ask someone?"
"No way!" Roy believed that this "someone" was very likely that man named Leslie Cheung. He absolutely didn't want to go to any place recommended by him! Wait, should he say he didn't want to give him the chance to get close to Laila?
"How about asking Hu Ze? He's a guide, right?" After thinking for a while, he came up with an idea.
Upon hearing this, Laila realized they still had Hu Ze. Since he could help them pick out someone from the crowd of fans earlier, he must have a good understanding of the place. Asking him wouldn't be a mistake!
"Roy is really clever. Why didn't I think of that?" She rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek, leaving a faint lip print.
"Hmph." Roy still responded with a cold hmph, indicating that he wasn't easily appeased. But if his lips weren't so obviously curled upwards, one might have believed him. Looking at his face, anyone could see how happy he was.
Back at the hotel, they immediately called Hu Ze over.
Surprisingly, he knew the area quite well. Not only did he list various interesting places to visit, but he also recommended some lesser-known but equally good spots, claiming that they were no different from the famous ones.
In his words, Laila and Roy finally learned that the place they went to for lunch today was one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong.
----
Roy: Could it be that the restaurant paid you for advertising?
Hu Ze: (￢_￢) The restaurant has no real-world counterpart; I declare it here.