At the Century City shopping center plaza, all eyes were on the stage as the interview was drawing to a close. Brian and Daenerys had already set down the posters in their hands and were intently listening to the questions posed by the reporters on stage. The one who stood up to ask a question was a young female reporter who seemed a bit out of the ordinary to them.
Lily Collins took the microphone from a staff member and stood up to speak, "Matthew, your latest movie 'National Treasure' has faced a lot of criticism. How do you handle the negative comments surrounding it?"
Surprised by the question, Matthew glanced at Lily Collins, noting that the young woman had matured quite a bit. "I tell myself to try not to pay attention to those negative comments. I hardly ever read reviews of my own work," Matthew responded as usual, most of his interview responses being promotional fluff. "Sometimes, some comments can remind you to see things clearly. Every acting opportunity is obtained after certain judgments are made, and you have to bear the consequences no matter what. I've been in this industry for a long time now, and I've gotten quite thick-skinned."
His words echoed through the microphone, spreading far across the Century City shopping plaza and eliciting a wave of good-natured laughter.
"Thank you," Lily Collins politely returned the microphone and sat down, seeing Matthew smile and nod in her direction, she quickly smiled back.
Next, another reporter targeted Charlize Theron, "Miss Theron, may I ask..." he adjusted his glasses and continued, "There have been media reports saying that you and Matthew have been house hunting recently, preparing for marriage. Is that true?"
Charlize Theron took the microphone and responded tersely, "That's not true."
The persistent reporter turned to Matthew, "What about you, Matthew? Is that true?"
Matthew, spotting the TMZ tag on the reporter's neck, said, "It wasn't true before, but now..."
Suddenly, he stood up, approached Charlize Theron without any warning, and knelt on one knee in the most common Western marriage proposal gesture, pulling out a "dove egg" diamond ring from his pocket.
The media section was stunned by his action, not fools to miss the significance, and the dazzling diamond ring was clearly visible from such close proximity.
"Quick! Quick!" a reporter called to his photographer, "Get that shot!"
Another reporter quickly put down his pen and notebook and pulled out his camera phone to frantically capture the scene.
Lily Collins opened her mouth in shock; was Matthew really proposing to Charlize Theron?
A reporter from Yahoo Entertainment snapped a few photos and then ran off, his car parked across from the stage, too hurried to go around, he jumped down the front.
"Let me through! Let me through!"
He squeezed through the crowd, only one thought in mind: to get this explosive news to Yahoo Entertainment first—this was going to be a sensational story across America.
The entire North American media and movie fans, who had long thought the couple belonged together, were now witnessing the much-anticipated proposal.
Below the stage, the large crowd of movie fans, fans, and passersby went silent, all eyes fixated on the pair on stage.
Brian was surprised, his eyes wide open, while Daenerys clutched his arm, watching the scene unfold with happiness and anticipation.
Matthew, still kneeling, loudly proclaimed, "Sally, you are the most dazzling diamond in the world, and I am willing to be your guardian angel!"
Charlize Theron covered her mouth in shock, trembling as she stood up, too moved to speak.
Seeing Charlize Theron's Oscar-worthy display of emotion, Matthew sincerely added, "Sally, your happiness is my greatest pursuit in life, your smile my greatest satisfaction, and your contentment my greatest reward. My dear, will you marry me? Because marrying you would be the greatest blessing of my life."
"Really a proposal..." Daenerys murmured, touching her chest as her heart raced, "So romantic."
Charlize Theron simply covered her mouth, unable to utter a word.
Once again, Matthew asked, "My dear, will you marry me?"
Every camera and recording device in Century City shopping center was aimed at Matthew and Charlize Theron, every reporter capturing the moment with whatever means available.
On the outskirts of the plaza, someone pulled out their phone.
"I have a news tip—Matthew Horner is proposing to Charlize Theron at the Century City shopping center plaza!"
Within half a minute, dozens of similar calls had been made to journalists and paparazzi throughout Los Angeles.
Anyone with a nose for news knew that a sensational story was unfolding!
"Accept it!" Daenerys cried out, seeing Charlize Theron covering her mouth and remaining silent, anxiety pushing her to shout.
Brian also shouted, "Accept it!"
Twenty or so of Matthew's
fans, hearing Brian's cry, also yelled, "Accept it!"
In just a few seconds, the front of Century City shopping center echoed with the chant.
"Accept it!"
"Hurry up and agree!"
"Together! Together..."
Finally, amidst the anticipation of thousands, tears streamed down Charlize Theron's face as she let go of her mouth and told Matthew, "I... I will!"
Matthew immediately stood up, placed the sparkling ring on Charlize Theron's finger, and kissed her.
Initially, sparse applause broke out below the stage, but it quickly grew into a continuous, overwhelming wave.
"Blessings to Matthew!"
Near Brian and Daenerys, Matthew's fans loudly declared.
Correspondingly, supporters of Charlize Theron on the other side also shouted, "Blessings to Sally!"
Unfortunately, compared to Matthew, who took a purely commercial route, Charlize Theron had significantly fewer fans present.
Amid countless blessings, Matthew and Charlize Theron separated, facing the media who seemed on the verge of bursting onto the scene.
Of course, the media event couldn't continue. Azizah Ghosman called the pre-arranged security to quickly escort Matthew and Charlize Theron back to the shopping center's rest room, saying a few words before ending the event.
However, no media reporters were dissatisfied; they had gotten a scoop even more sensational than expected, ensuring that the gossip headlines for the next day and even the following week were secured.
Back at the Century City shopping center, Charlize Theron followed Matthew into his rest room.
"You memorized your lines well," Charlize Theron said.
Matthew shrugged and suggested, "Sally, we should quickly leave here and head straight to the nearest hotel."
Charlize Theron rolled her eyes, "Can you think of anything else?"
Matthew stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Charlize Theron, "Sally, do you know how charming you are when you dress up?"
For some reason, he sometimes felt that Charlize Theron, dressed up, was more attractive than when undressed.
Certainly, being with an Oscar-winning actress felt completely different, almost like conquering Hollywood.
A knock on the door interrupted them, and Matthew let go of Charlize Theron to answer it.
Entering the room were Matthew's agent Helen Herman, Charlize Theron's agent Heidi Shaffer, and the film's producer Azizah Ghosman.
"The effect was very good!" Azizah Ghosman was somewhat excited. "My assistant in the office just called; the proposal photos and news are already up on Yahoo Entertainment, hitting tens of thousands of clicks in moments, and surpassing a hundred thousand in five minutes!"
He decided, "For the next week's promotion, we'll focus on Matthew and Charlize's engagement, contrasting with the movie's Mr. and Mrs. Smith, to intensify the hype."
Turning to Matthew and Charlize Theron, he instructed, "You must make it high-profile, purchase the house before the movie's release." He thought for a moment and added, "Matthew, didn't you say you liked a mansion in Beverly Hills, ready to move in? Can it be arranged before the premiere, and you and Charlize move in?"
Matthew shrugged, "I'm a bit tight on funds."
The mansion was expensive, and he was buying it for personal use; the production team wouldn't cover that expense.
Azizah Ghosman pondered for a moment then said, "My brother is a manager at a bank's loan department; I've spoken to him about easing the mortgage terms."
Matthew considered and agreed, "That's possible."
Helen Herman also concurred, "I will help Matthew resolve the house issue as quickly as possible."
If the movie was a hit, both she and Matthew would benefit directly.
Azizah Ghosman further planned, "In the second week after the movie's release, Matthew and Charlize will hold a grand engagement ceremony."
This had been previously agreed upon, and neither Matthew nor Charlize Theron objected.
If "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" performed well in its opening weekend, the subsequent engagement of Matthew and Charlize Theron could continue to generate buzz, helping to sustain the film's momentum against the upcoming "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith."
The five discussed extensively in the soundproofed rest room, finalizing a detailed plan until nearly noon, when they each departed.
For Matthew and Charlize Theron, the main characters, being swarmed by reporters and paparazzi was just the beginning.
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