Gossip

At this very moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on the conversation between Renly and Chanelle. Around Chanelle, a dozen or so fans had gathered—men and women, each of them showing expressions of incredulity. Although the film festival itself was meant to bridge the gap between actors and fans, allowing them to interact closely and speak freely, in reality, such face-to-face conversations were almost impossible, let alone joking with each other.

It was truly too remarkable.

Involuntarily, everyone's attention shifted towards them—no cheers or screams, just a quiet, unnoticeable shift. Both the journalists and the fans followed suit. Natalie, standing at the center, remained the focal point, but the dispersal and redirection of attention could be sensed.

Tessa Britton stood beside Chanelle, but she was slow to react. At only fifteen years old this year, her sole purpose for attending the Toronto Film Festival was to meet Ryan Gosling.

Two years ago, her sister had casually rented a DVD called "The Notebook". With no expectations, they decided to watch it for a bit. Unexpectedly, Tessa developed a liking for Ryan. Since then, she had been hoping to find an opportunity to get up close and express her admiration to him. Unfortunately, she had never succeeded.

Two days ago, during the Valentine's Day premiere, the crowd was overwhelming. She couldn't even get to the front row and only saw Ryan's back. Not to mention saying hello. This had left her extremely frustrated.

Hearing that Ryan would attend the premiere of a film called "Buried" today, which was an impromptu event that most fans weren't aware of, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Tessa. Unexpectedly, she didn't see Ryan, but she did see Natalie Portman. That was still a gain.

However, who exactly was this man in front of her?

Tessa lifted her head, her critical gaze assessing the tall man before her, only to unexpectedly meet his deep brown eyes. Calm yet profound, they seemed to contain a slow-flowing stream hidden in their depths, amidst which countless stars flowed and danced. This instant heart-pounding experience caused Tessa's heartbeat to abruptly halt.

Right at that moment, the man seemed to notice her appraisal. His broad brow gently lifted, his glinting eyes revealing a touch of curiosity, a trace of assessment, a hint of puzzlement. After a slight pause, a warm smile blossomed on his face. That radiant, sunny expression spread from the depths of his eyes to the corners of his mouth, gradually taking shape.

The world seemed to stop turning in that instant.

Laughter and screams suddenly erupted. Not forceful, but like a shocking thunderbolt in Tessa's ears. She suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling the bustling crowd around her. She was like a paper boat adrift in the waves, struggling for control, yet her gaze still hesitated to leave the man's figure. He turned and left, and that's why the sudden burst of noise had occurred.

Tessa's gaze couldn't help but follow the man as he walked away. Her heartbeat was steady and strong—thump, then another thump—pounding in her ears. A flash of camera lights exploded, engulfing the figure completely.

Unable to resist, she turned her head and cautiously tapped Chanelle, who stood beside her. "Hello, I'm Tessa. Can I ask if the man just now is an actor?"

If anyone else had heard this question, they would have burst into laughter. But it was Chanelle, and she didn't mind at all. She answered with enthusiasm, "An actor? I guess so. Today, he's the lead actor in this movie."

"Today's movie?" Tessa hesitated. She had come solely for Ryan, with no knowledge of the film. "What's his name?"

"Renly Hall."

"Renly, look here! Smile, smile, Renly. Here, here, Mr. Hall"… The repetitive shouts, responding to Tessa's question, drowned out Chanelle's response, becoming the main theme of the red carpet.

At this moment, the journalists finally regained their senses. Even if they had no interest in "Buried" or Renly, they were certain not to miss the rumored affair between Renly and Natalie.

Several days ago, reporters had seen Renly and Natalie together, seemingly preparing to watch a movie together. However, upon being caught by the reporters, they had claimed it was just a coincidental chat. After that, they went their separate ways, with Natalie watching the movie alongside Benjamin, the choreographer of the "Black Swan" crew.

Now it seemed like those were excuses to cover their tracks. Natalie unexpectedly attended the premiere of "Buried". She claimed it was to support a friend, but in the eyes of the reporters, it was obviously more than that. How could the reporters let go of the other main character in the scandal?

Such actions immediately ignited the fans' enthusiasm. Everyone started cheering along, and amidst the screams and cheers, the Toronto Film Festival's warm and welcoming atmosphere was on full display. The premiere scene became exceptionally lively, portraying a scene of prosperity. For an independent film, this was simply inconceivable.

Natalie's smile felt a bit stiff on her cheeks. She had missed the chance to leave. If she turned and left now, all her efforts up to this point would be in vain. Thus, she had to stay. Staying was also a good thing. At least, while Renly dealt with the reporters, she could smooth things over on the spot, attempting to maintain control of the situation.

However, Natalie didn't like this feeling. The gradual loss of focus, combined with an increasingly awkward sense of being forsaken yet unable to express her discomfort, made her feel pushed to the sidelines while standing under the spotlight. It was humiliating.

Natalie's mood couldn't help but become restless, but before losing control, she took a deep breath, regaining her composure. She adjusted her smile, relaxed her muscles, and followed the gazes of the crowd, looking towards Renly as he approached. Courteous and friendly, she took the initiative to show her stance. She knew he wasn't an easy person to deal with; she had to be at the top of her game.

Amidst the collective gaze, Renly and Rodrig finally reached the end of the red carpet and converged with Natalie. This further excited the fans and reporters, and the screams reached their peak at this moment.

Natalie approached with warmth, giving Renly a gracious hug that showcased their friendly intimacy. Renly reciprocated by embracing Natalie in a gentlemanly manner, as though unaware of anything unusual. To onlookers, they appeared to be nothing more than ordinary friends.

All cameras were trained on Natalie and Renly. Unbeknownst to them, Rodrig had been sidelined. Yet, judging by his expression, he seemed to savor this neglect, and his nervousness finally eased a bit.

After releasing the embrace, Renly and Natalie turned towards the reporters, striking poses with smiles. The camera flashes reached their zenith, cascading down like a waterfall. The entire theater entrance was illuminated by bright light, overshadowing even the afternoon sun.

Renly was acutely aware that Natalie's presence was irreversible. It was easy to foresee that no matter how he explained, the media would continue to indirectly allude to the scandal between them. At least today, it was unavoidable. Since Natalie had taken it upon herself to be present, Renly didn't mind capitalizing on her fame until the issue was resolved. This would provide a solid foundation for the publicity of "Buried".

Through her camera lens, Daisy scrutinized the two before her and experienced an inexplicable sense of absurdity: dissonance. It wasn't about mismatch or disparity; rather, there was a discordance in their appearance and aura. Natalie was not dressed in a formal gown today, opting for a less ostentatious attire that displayed her importance. She exuded a touch of sharpness within her fashionable exterior, expressing her intellectuality. For an independent film premiere like "Buried", she easily became the focal point.

But what about Renly? He wore a charcoal gray vertical-striped shirt that lacked a collar, exuding youth and casualness. In comparison to British fashion, he seemed to accentuate French romance and nonchalance. Below, he wore a pair of dark gray casual suit pants, complemented by navy boat shoes. His entire demeanor radiated an artist's disposition, a mix of refinement and casualness. Among his elegance lurked a tinge of decadence, a trace of recklessness, a contradiction of lower-class proletariat and elite nobility, perfectly aligned with the independent film's premiere.

Photographing each individually seemed perfectly fine, but together, they seemed incongruent. Especially Natalie, who appeared overly formal and deliberate, almost aggressive, overshadowing the guests. It wasn't normal—far from it.

Initially, Daisy had thought her feminine intuition was playing tricks on her, but upon carefully observing their expressions, she found it increasingly intriguing. Clearly, these two had communicated beforehand, but were now on different wavelengths. But why?

Screams, camera flashes, cheers, questions, all intermingled, and the scene boiled over like boiling water. At 4:15 PM local time in Toronto, the premiere of "Buried" turned into a black hole in the city, gradually attracting all surrounding light and attention. This was certainly beyond anyone's expectations.

After much effort, the commotion finally subsided. Yet, before Renly could speak, an impatient journalist couldn't hold back and blurted, "Renly, Natalie came specifically to support the movie's premiere today. Are you two dating?"

The cloud of scandal burst wide open.