Since a party was in the offing, it needed to be lively. Bruce saw it as an opportunity to gather everyone who needed to meet. He invited everyone—Rachel, her agent Nancy, and all the higher-ups from Miramax. They, in turn, invited numerous actors, models, and friends. The guest list grew quite long.
However, Gal couldn't make it today as she was tied up with shooting for two new films, "Wonder Woman" and the "Fast & Furious" series. Her schedule was packed, sometimes even requiring overtime work at night, leaving her with little free time.
Starting from six or seven in the evening, guests began to trickle into the villa. In the United States, all sorts of parties are common, and even those who barely know each other would join if interested. Of course, Bruce didn't allow too many unrelated people to come, but the friends invited by his guests alone exceeded his expectations.
"Hey, Bruce, lovely house," Nancy Jacobs complimented, arriving early and looking around with a glass of champagne in hand. "The wine's not bad either, though probably not as fancy as your super mansion in New York."
"You know about that?" Bruce was a bit surprised; after all, such details were nearly gossip, suggesting Nancy Jacobs paid more attention to him than he thought.
Realizing this, she quickly changed the subject. "Miramax folks will be here tonight, but Rachel might not make it due to some extra scenes they need to shoot tonight."
"It seems Rachel's life is quite busy lately," Bruce remarked meaningfully, unsure if Nancy had intentionally kept Rachel away. He didn't mind if Rachel discovered his behind-the-scenes maneuvers; of course, it was always easier to present a fait accompli.
"With your support and my arrangements, Rachel has a good chance," Nancy Jacobs confidently clinked glasses with Bruce.
"Hey, Nancy, there you are!" A woman in a stunning red gown approached, holding a wine glass gracefully.
"Hey, Amanda, darling! Your performance in 'Bloodline' was amazing, I think you might even snag some awards," Nancy warmly embraced the woman and exchanged cheek kisses.
"Amanda, let me introduce you to our host for today," Nancy turned to Bruce, obviously ready to introduce the two.
"Bruce Lee? It would be rude to attend a party without knowing the host," Amanda said with a light laugh, extending her hand for a shake. "By the way, I'm a fan, Mr. Lee."
"Well, then I can only say you've stolen my line, madam," Bruce replied, feigning a shake of his head in dismay, earning a smile from both ladies. "I've always admired beautiful and outstanding artists like you."
"Wow, that's high praise," Nancy feigned surprise, her eyes glinting with amusement as she glanced between Amanda and Bruce. "I guess you two will get along famously. Please excuse me, I see a new friend."
"Nancy is a great person. Working with her must be a pleasure, Ms. Seyfried," Bruce commented, watching Nancy Jacobs walk away. Did this intuitive woman think he was interested in Amanda Seyfried?
"Indeed, Nancy always knows what you need and can find reasonable solutions for anything. I couldn't ask for more. She's more like family, a friend," Amanda said with a satisfied smile, then turned to gaze at the view from the balcony. "The scenery here is absolutely stunning; living here must be a real treat."
In the Los Angeles summer, the sun sets late. From the villa's balcony, you could still see the sun hanging above the horizon, its brilliant twilight painting the sky with golden hues, setting Beverly Hills ablaze with beauty.
"Beautiful sights aren't rare, but they need the right person to appreciate them," Bruce said, his gaze resting on the woman before him. Amanda Seyfried, born in Pennsylvania, started as a child model at 11 and was now a rising Hollywood starlet, perennially gracing the top of various beauty lists.
Amanda wore an off-shoulder, red gown, its layered straps casually draped over her shoulders. Her golden, wavy hair complemented her red lips and fair skin, presenting a stunning beauty.
Her allure was bone-deep, captivating and striking. Her light brown eyes, tinged with green, held a natural freshness akin to a sprite stepping right out of a movie screen, irresistibly drawing one's gaze.
"You're nothing like the mad scientists I imagined," Amanda said, leaning lazily against the railing, her figure fully displayed, her right leg slightly bent in her delicate high heels, adding a playful touch.
"Mad scientists? Like wild hair, scruffy beards, floating eyes, and stuttering speech?" Bruce feigned a shocked expression.
Amanda chuckled at his teasing tone, surprised look, and spot-on description, shaking her head in amusement.
"You're quite entertaining, Mr. Lee. Not that exaggerated, of course, but maybe something like... those new tech moguls, you know, like Facebook," she said, momentarily searching for the right word, her slender eyebrows knitting together adorably.
"Zuckerberg? Well, that's not too bad; I thought you might hold him in higher regard." Bruce feigned relief in an exaggerated manner. "Just kidding. Actually, my first field of study was law, so I'm not too different from the average person, at least in terms of communication. No one's ever thought of me as an oddball."
"Wow, you must be quite the genius to delve into two completely different fields. Mr. Lee, I wasn't just flattering you about being a fan. I've always struggled with my studies since I was young, so I really admire all you scholarly types."
"Just call me Bruce; then I can call you Amanda." Bruce skillfully reversed the formality while maintaining his charm. "The 'not so good' you're talking about probably isn't just average, right?"
"I take back my compliment; you're not good at compliments at all." Amanda glared at him with her beautiful eyes, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her amusement, clearly not minding the banter.
"Amanda? Amanda Seyfried? You're absolutely stunning!" Cai Chengping suddenly appeared, eyes shining as he looked at Amanda. "Good evening, I'm William, Bruce's good friend."
"Pleased to meet you, William," Amanda said, shaking hands with a smile.
"I absolutely loved your performance in 'In Time,' the short hair was stunning. Of course, I don't mean your long hair isn't beautiful, in fact, it's even more lovely…" Cai Chengping, seemingly oblivious to interrupting, wedged himself between Bruce and Amanda, giving Bruce a knowing look and eagerly engaging Amanda in conversation.
"Oh, yes, William is a very handsome, fun, and unique individual. Sorry, I need to go greet some friends over there. You don't mind if I leave for a bit, do you, Amanda?" Ignoring Amanda's slightly surprised expression, Bruce shot her an understanding look and walked off with a hint of a triumphant smile, leaving her slightly annoyed yet amused.