Chapter 840: Chapter 246: The Curtain Rises “Wait a minute, Vini,” Adrian grabbed her, “Why are you always ? Every time they come, you hardly say a few words before leaving.” “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking, Ed!” Avril shook off his hand and waved her little fist defiantly, “Don’t even think about it. This situation is already the maximum I can tolerate. Don’t try to challenge my bottom line, or you’ll regret it!” Her fierce demeanor made her look quite cute, making both Britney and Christina stick out their tongues and giggle. “What’s wrong? Am I planning something outrageous?” Adrian spread his hands, feigning innocence. “Oh, come on, Ed. If you keep playing dumb, I’ll look down on you even more.” Avril rolled her eyes at him. “Do I really seem like that kind of person to you?” Adrian immediately changed his tone. “Yes, exactly! I would sooner believe a lion could turn vegetarian than believe a playboy would stop chasing women,” Avril answered bluntly, then smirked coldly as she thought of something. “Enough about that. Can you honestly say you haven’t eyed Taylor Swift?!” “Wait a minute, I only spoke to Taylor for a bit. Such an accusation is too severe, isn’t it?” Adrian hurriedly said, “And, if I recall correctly, that little girl Taylor is only…” “Oh, the great Adrian Cowell, have you forgotten how young I was when you came after me?” Avril snapped back, teeth clenched but with a hint of pride, then glanced at Britney and Christina before continuing, “And how old were Britney and Christina when you wooed them.” Hearing this, Britney didn’t mind as her heart was with Adrian, but Christina couldn’t help but cough. Realizing she had crossed a line, Avril stuck out her tongue secretly, snorted skyward, and then dashed away. “Ha, the master gets blocked again by Avril,” Britney snickered as she watched Avril leave, “The master always hits a wall with Avril.” “What, not only are you not angry for the master, but you’re also gloating and teasing. I think I need to teach you a lesson, Bubu.” Adrian pinched her chin and raised his eyebrow. “Sure, sure,” Britney’s eyes sparkled, looking excitedly eager, “Master, punish Bubu hard.” “In that case, why don’t I punish her, Ed?” Christina rolled her eyes and said to Adrian, which made Britney’s expression a bit awkward. The trio of Britney, Christina, and Adrian had long become a norm, and after attending his lascivious and grand seaside parties, their competition mode also changed. Firstly, they no longer wanted to completely trample each other as before. Secondly, the scope of competition and comparison kept expanding. Besides career and popularity, they often competed on who played the trumpet better, who could write more outrageous lyrics, and who could more shamelessly recite them while serving beneath him. Just like Christina often won Grammys, Britney always had the upper hand here. It’s not that Christina didn’t try, but the little pet never allowed anyone to outshine her in front of Adrian. In such a situation, it’s unsurprising why Christina would eagerly want to “punish” Britney, and why Britney’s expression changed. However, although Adrian often enjoyed watching them battle for “honor” on the bed, doing so just as the Grammys ended was clearly not a good idea. So he didn’t give an answer, but instead sat on the sofa and patted his lap, signaling Christina. Christina then sat on his lap with a hint of satisfaction. Britney, although jealous, could only suppress it and sat beside him looking contrite. After all, she had won a Golden Gramophone at the Grammys, even if it was just one compared to her previous three. It was still better than Britney having none. Thus, as per their prior agreement, for a long time, Adrian’s lap belonged to Christina. Nonetheless, the little pet had learned a few tricks over time and immediately clung tightly to Adrian’s arm again, “If the master doesn’t want the plan delayed, I have an idea.” Her smile turned mischievous, “Look, we’re having a party tomorrow to celebrate the Grammys, inviting lots of people, and surely Avril will be among them. So, we could prepare more beer, get Avril drunk, and then, master, you can bring her into our little foursome.” “What a great idea, only a fool like you could think of it,” Christina mocked unceremoniously. “Hey, smarty, why didn’t you think of a good way then?” Britney retorted immediately. Seeing they were about to start their usual bickering, Adrian quickly made a pause gesture: “Alright, ladies, don’t do this—Oh, by the way, Taylor Swift’s been in company training for about a year now. You’ve probably interacted with her too. How do you feel about her?” This successfully diverted their attention, at least Britney showed a curious expression by widening her eyes: “So, does the master want to play with her?” Though her tone seemed nonchalant, there was a hint of tension because maintaining her “most favored” status was essential to her. “Share your impressions of her first.” Adrian smiled but didn’t answer directly. “Okay,” Britney said reluctantly, turning her head to think carefully, “Not bad, she’s articulate, quite pretty, and pretty cute.” “Obviously fine, can’t expect you to notice much,” Christina seized every opportunity, then shared her opinion before Britney could argue: “Interaction once or twice is okay but over time, you’ll find she’s a bit of a spoiled brat, habitually self-centered, rarely considering others’ feelings, though this is masked by good upbringing.” “Is that so?” Adrian smiled and responded noncommittally. “Perhaps… yeah,” Britney hesitated, aligning with Christina this time, “Sometimes… it feels… she indeed speaks with a condescending tone, just not very obvious.” “Got it,” Adrian said as he caressed Christina’s waist, “Let’s talk about your celebration party then—no more talk about Vini.” If it went as Britney suggested, even if Avril wouldn’t break up with him, she would at least ignore him for a long time. The little witch always meant what she said in this aspect. Even though he started early in pursuing her, his relationship with her differed from that with Britney and Christina. Besides, Adrian currently enjoyed this subtle feeling. Thus, if he wanted to lure Avril into a multi-person affair and have her accept it, he would need much more effort. As for Taylor, oh, no worries, Adrian had observed her thoroughly, aware of her famous future self. But for now, following what Christina said, the current Taylor Swift was just a slightly spoiled little girl in the United States. Centered around herself—otherwise, why say not signing her is a loss and she doesn’t need further training—but she also knew who she needed support from to quickly rise to fame. Thus, she behaved well during training and performed quite well. Of course, Adrian didn’t think she could be changed so easily, as Taylor’s situation was different from Britney’s, Christina’s, and Avril’s. But what happens in the future is a matter of the future. If Taylor had sense, there would be nothing to worry about. If she got too full of herself, Anne would have company since Adrian found something interesting while digging into her family background. Alright, let’s put these aside for now. After the Grammy, the Oscars are already just around the corner. Following countless predictions from the media, the moment has finally arrived. On the red carpet, countless handsome men and beautiful women come and go under the flashing lights and cameras of the TV stations. No matter how many times this grand party has been held, it remains glamorous and continues to attract attention. Hollywood’s powerful film industry and star-making ability fully ensure the halo of the Oscars. “You know, Ed, every time I see you, I always feel like I’m getting old, so old that I can barely hold up a camera,” said Spielberg as he walked alongside Adrian amidst the flashing lights. “Sorry, Steven, I never meant to put such pressure on you,” Adrian spread his hands. “No, no, no,” Spielberg waved his hand humorously, “As soon as I see other directors and producers, I immediately gain endless motivation and drive, so there’s no need to apologize or worry.” “Haha, this might be the best compliment I’ve heard,” Adrian also laughed, “To receive such a compliment from you, I’m truly honored.” “Since that’s the case, would you be willing to tell me some information that you couldn’t disclose to the reporters earlier?” Spielberg said in a playful tone, while making a serious face, quite amusing. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” “Nor inform others with a phone?” Adrian asked intentionally. “I didn’t bring a phone,” Spielberg raised both his hands. “Alright then,” Adrian patted his shoulder and pointed to two men in suits under the enormous Oscar statuette, placing a briefcase in front for pictures. “You can ask them, and you’ll know.” Those are the PwC accountants, who each year deliver the manually counted ballots to the awards ceremony venue, becoming an Oscar fixture over time. “Then I shall ask them,” Spielberg looked at him seriously, “I will tell them Adrian sent me to inquire.” “Okay, okay,” Adrian laughed and raised one hand, “What I’m going to say is, it’s a good thing you weren’t nominated this year, so my already decent win rate is even higher.” “That’s a good compliment too,” Spielberg followed with a laugh, “I’ll congratulate you in advance for successfully winning Best Director. You should indeed win another Best Director Oscar statuette.” Indeed, most public opinion believes that Adrian should win another Best Director Oscar statuette, especially since he has been nominated almost every year since the millennium. If the Film Academy doesn’t give him recognition, it would seem unfair. Although sometimes the higher the expectation, the more likely an upset, anyone with insight and judgment can see his likelihood is the highest. If he’s directing a non-realistic piece, it’s almost certain. After all, the Miracle Director identity speaks for itself. Who can mobilize more resources than him for public relations? He’s already a member of the Film Academy, with unparalleled connections and influence. It’s said that Clint Eastwood, nominated for Best Director this year, privately complained that it was too unfair for Adrian to be both a contestant and judge. However, this complaint doesn’t gain much support. Regardless, Adrian has been nominated several times before but always lost to others. Even if it’s by rotation, it’s his turn now. Moreover, Clint Eastwood is also a member of the Film Academy and has considerable connections as well; how qualified is he to speak about Adrian? Of course, Spielberg, the entertainment reporters, Eastwood, they all don’t know that what Adrian wants is definitely not just one Best Director award. Although everyone knows Adrian’s chances of winning are very high, entertainment reporters still persistently question him on the red carpet. After all, speculation is one thing; a Miracle Director’s personal statement is another. Unfortunately, Adrian never gives them the chance, either laughing it off or speaking in a way that the suspense only ends at the very last moment. Despite feeling frustrated, the reporters don’t take it too seriously. Because compared to certain occasions, whether Adrian admits he’s definitely going to win or claims he might not win, the news effect is negligible, like the situation right now. “As the media says, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is an epic fantasy film, inherently at a disadvantage in terms of genre. However, it’s time for the Film Academy to make a change.” Standing at the entrance of the Kodak Theater, Adrian spoke with a smile, surrounded by several women. From left to right, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Catherine Zetajones, Julia Roberts, Kate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Monica Bellucci, Sophie Marceau, Kate Beckinsale, dressed in gowns that completely showcased their different beauty and sexy figures – one-shoulder, thin straps, V-neck, deep V, bright red, sapphire blue, moon white, deep black, lace, semi-transparent, long sleeves, shawls, everything imaginable, providing an eye feast beyond compare. If Gwyneth Paltrow were added, the Miracle Girls would be almost complete. In fact, someone is considering whether to add Liv to the ranks of the Miracle Girls. She almost meets the qualifications, having played a major role in a film directed by Adrian, and seems quite intimate with him. Over the years, although there have been some rumors, either unconfirmed or proven false, moreover… her relationship with Blanchett and Gwyneth has always been good. As for Kate, although there is debate about whether she qualifies as a Miracle Girl, insiders and veteran entertainment reporters all know that the possibility of her having Adrian’s child is over 90%. Thus, seeing such a scene, reporters naturally went crazy clicking shutters, trying their best to take as many photos as possible. Many of the celebrities attending the awards ceremony also glanced at Adrian surrounded by envious and jealous looks. “This is different from what you said at home, Ed.” Nicole raised an eyebrow and whispered in a teasing manner from afar. “Yes, reporters can’t hear here, yet he’s using such words to placate us.” Julia chimed in from the side. “Here, he needs to put on a profound and mysterious pose to indicate keeping a distance from us,” Liv added. “Besides, if he speaks too confidently and ends up losing, it would be embarrassing,” Monica followed. They chattered , united in the moment. Although Kate didn’t partake much, she didn’t object either, and from her slightly upturned lips, it was clear she was quite amused. As if it were you all waiting here for me and asking these questions. Adrian really wanted to complain but couldn’t say it out loud, so he simply smiled and waved his hands: “No matter the speculation, standing here means we can’t know the results, so let’s head inside. In a few hours, everything will be revealed.” Saying this, he led the way into the theater without bringing anyone in or, unlike the December premieres, wrapping an arm around anyone’s waist. The reason the women gathered at the theater entrance, away from reporters but in their line of sight, was to make him pay since he’d “toyed” with them for so long – a small price to pay must be given. One can imagine how tomorrow’s gossip magazines with this image will spark passionate discussions among interested readers. Oh, no need for tomorrow, if one has a laptop with internet access now, checking those gossip websites, Adrian surrounded by Miracle Girls at Kodak Theater’s entrance will surely be featured at the top. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N0veI.Fiɾe.net Luckily, he had already taken notice of those memorable famous gossip sites and discreetly acquired certain control through capital operations. Otherwise, it would undoubtedly be more tumultuous. But even with this precaution, after this Oscars, he’ll inevitably draw attention once again – it must be said, this trick is quite clever. Who came up with it? Nicole? Julia? Or Kate? Oh, perhaps Charli thought of it and told Kate. Fortunately, the other women, Sarah, Kirsten, Scarlett, and others didn’t come. Otherwise… With such thoughts, Adrian entered the hall where the 76th Academy Awards ceremony was about to commence. (To be continued. 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