Beverly Hills.
After seeing off friends and guests, Theron and Stuart Townsend began to clean up the mess.
Remembering Eric's instructions, she spoke, "Stuart, about tonight, the thing where you imitated a gorilla."
"Eric noticed you seemed a bit unhappy, and he asked me to apologize to you."
It was better unsaid; bringing it up instantly ignited the anger Stuart Townsend had suppressed all evening.
He glared at his girlfriend, "So why are you apologizing for him? Why didn't he apologize himself? Is it that hard?"
Theron was still looking down, tidying up, and hadn't noticed he was already angry. She began to explain, "There were so many people there; he's the owner of MGM."
"You know what that means. How could he apologize in public? People like them value their face a lot."
"Yes, Eric Cooper values his face, so my face isn't important, right? My dignity should be trampled underfoot, right?"
"Tell me, did Eric Cooper really ask you to apologize, or did you pretend to be kind and decide it yourself? Are you explaining for him?"
Feeling the sharpness in her boyfriend's tone, Theron finally looked up.
"What's wrong, Stuart? Why do you look angry? Of course Eric asked me; he noticed your feelings, that's why he wanted to apologize."
"Besides, his intentions were good. A male lead in a big production—how many people beg for such an opportunity? You might only encounter such chances a few times in your life."
"And it was just an audition, isn't that what actors are supposed to do? Besides, no one laughed at you. Everyone else just treated it as a game."
"You're too sensitive, Stuart. While self-esteem is important, I don't think this matter has anything to do with self-esteem."
The main reason for their disagreement was that their feelings were completely different.
Stuart Townsend was first annoyed by Eric and his girlfriend's somewhat intimate actions.
Then he was treated like a servant, and Eric deliberately ignored him to embarrass him, often provoking and teasing him with words, seemingly looking down on him.
These behaviors already made Stuart Townsend very uncomfortable, until the ridiculous audition where he suddenly realized he was being played for a fool.
Seriously, who auditions in public? Wouldn't it be distracting? Don't the director and producer need to be present?
All of this was unreasonable; the more he thought about it, the more he felt he was being toyed with.
More importantly, the long-standing dynamic of the woman being stronger than the man, coupled with his stagnant career and criticism from the media and Theron's fans, had long suppressed him.
This prolonged suppression turned into inferiority, and the more inferior he felt, the more his self-esteem would explode.
On Theron's side, her relationship with Eric was already special, and Eric had proactively apologized and even offered to let her boyfriend be the male lead out of respect for her.
How could such behavior be that of a bad person? He was clearly a very good person!
Besides, what was his status, and what was her boyfriend's status? Eric was even willing to condescend to apologize to him; what more did he want?
Although this whole maneuver was a bit manipulative, Theron was currently blinded by love and had long been captivated by Eric, so she didn't realize it.
And seeing his girlfriend still speaking up for the other man, Stuart's anger surged even more.
He took a few steps towards Theron and yelled, "What's wrong with you? Are you my girlfriend? Why are you speaking up for that guy?"
"I'm not speaking up for him; I'm just relaying his apology to you. You've been very sensitive lately, calm down, Stuart," Theron quickly explained.
"Alright, then tell me, you two are always hiding in corners whispering. What exactly are you up to? Is there anything you can't say openly?"
Theron sighed, "So that's what you're bothered by. Eric brought a friend tonight, and this person greatly admires Kate Winslet."
"So he hoped I could help, and I invited Winslet. Do you want me to loudly announce everything?"
"Only that?" Stuart Townsend clearly didn't believe her.
"That's right, only that."
"Oh come on, Theron, do you think you can fool my eyes? Lately, you've been hot and cold with me, no longer as caring as before."
"I'm not a fool; I can feel it, your heart is drifting away from me. What caused your change?"
"It's monster. It started after you took on that role. Eric Cooper is the investor, and everything is clear."
"He was willing to invest because he was interested in you, and you couldn't resist the temptation to aim for an Oscar. Listen to what that guy said to the media."
"This fireworks display wasn't done by me, and I asked your family and some friends, no one admitted it. So the question is, who booked the entire mountain to celebrate your birthday?"
"Such a grand gesture will probably be on the entertainment headlines tomorrow. The MGM tycoon booked Beverly Hills to set off fireworks just to win your smile—how romantic, hahahaha!"
Stuart Townsend roared like a machine gun, his face contorted in rage.
Listening to his furious outburst, Theron suddenly felt a pang of regret. Perhaps she really was wrong, she really had lost herself.
She shouldn't have accepted Eric's dinner invitation from the beginning, and they wouldn't have reached this point with her boyfriend.
She softly said, "Stuart, calm down. I'm very sorry. I've neglected your feelings lately. I'm truly sorry."
"I will never meet Eric Cooper privately again, will that be alright?"
They stared at each other for a moment, Stuart Townsend breathing heavily. "No, if you really want to live well with me, let's move to Irvine. This villa can be kept or sold."
"Refuse the movie inception. I know Eric Cooper will definitely be the director, and you'll be together for at least two months. I cannot allow that to happen."
"And for the movie monster, you can continue to participate in the subsequent promotions, but if Eric Cooper is also involved, then I hope you refuse to attend."
The more he spoke, the tighter Theron's brows furrowed.
"Stuart, what do you take me for? Your subordinate?"
"I've signed a contract, do you understand? What do you think of my career?"
"Or are you trying to completely turn me into a little woman by your side, so that it makes you appear taller?"
"I know what the media says makes you uncomfortable, but I'm already accommodating you. You should accommodate me too, shouldn't you?"
"Also, do you know that breaking a contract means paying a huge sum of money? How will my peers look at me? Will anyone still hire me for movies?"
Feeling increasingly hurt by Theron's counter-questions, Stuart Townsend suddenly picked up a stack of plates and violently smashed them on the floor.
Crash!
Broken ceramic shards scattered everywhere. Theron screamed and recoiled.
"Enough! Is it for money? Because I don't have money, and my career isn't as good as yours, so you think I'm not good enough for you anymore?"
Watching her boyfriend's hysterical behavior, Theron suddenly felt a surge of injustice.
"Stuart, how can you see me like that! Do you think I'm a vain woman?"
"If I were, would I have chosen to be with you in the first place? Do you think there weren't other men pursuing me?"
"For the past year, when I'm with you, I don't even wear high heels anymore. What more do you want from me?"
But Stuart Townsend was no longer listening to what she was saying; instead, he seized on a slip of the tongue and roared, "Wait, shut up!"
"You just said there were other men pursuing you. Eric Cooper, it's that guy, right?"
"How long have you two been hooking up behind my back? How many times have you been to hotels?"
"Sorry! I forgot you don't even need a hotel. Maybe on set? Didn't he guest-direct before?"
"Have you already been played by him?"
While yelling, the man lunged forward, grabbing Theron's shoulders and shaking her violently, his eyes bloodshot like a wild beast.
"Tell me! Tell me! Quickly, tell me!"
"Ah!"
Theron was thrown onto the sofa, and as Stuart Townsend continued to lunge at her, a look of terror appeared in her eyes.
She would never forget this scene; it had replayed in her childhood until her mother pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Just then, a gunshot brought Stuart Townsend to a halt.
"Stop! Get away from her!"
The housemaid, Hunta, was pointing a gun at Stuart Townsend. She had hidden when she realized the two were arguing.
Although she had served Theron for almost ten years, such a scene was not something a maid should participate in.
But she quickly realized the situation was escalating, and the argument had turned into domestic violence.
As a woman, she knew she had to intervene.
Facing the black muzzle of the gun, Stuart Townsend raised his hands in fright. "Hunta, don't shoot, I was just too emotional."
As he spoke, he tried to pull Theron, who instinctively dodged and fled behind Hunta.
"Get out! Leave here immediately!"
"Theron, I was just emotional, I—"
"She told you to get out, didn't you hear?" Hunta said fiercely, holding the gun.
"Alright, alright, I'm leaving now. Let's talk once we've both calmed down."
Seeing him leave, Hunta turned off the safety and comforted Theron, "Poor child, although I shouldn't say it, it seems he's not suitable for you."
Theron sat on the floor, crestfallen, her hands covering her face.
After a long moment, she softly said, "Hunta, you go home first. I want to be alone for a while."
"Okay, I'll leave this with you. Protect yourself!"
Beverly Hills, Cooper Family.
Eric hummed a tune while writing down words on paper.
These words, strung together, became popular songs.
Since he had already formed a record company with Michael, he couldn't just be a hands-off boss. He quickly searched through the melodies in his mind and wrote down the popular songs from his memory.
As someone born in the nineties, his deepest impressions were from the decade after the millennium, roughly twelve or thirteen years.
During this period, Chinese pop music reached its peak, with a large number of excellent singers emerging.
Jay Chou, Xu Song, Shin, Hu Yanbin, Angela Chang, Cyndi Wang, Eason Chan, and many others created numerous well-known and beloved songs.
Unfortunately, after its peak came an infinite descent, and twenty years later, it had declined to an irreparable state.
And also during this period, English songs flooded into China, as if the country's doors had suddenly opened.
Almost every month or two, there would be a hit song spreading through the streets and alleys.
The reason it became less frequent later was largely due to the arrival of the music payment era, where many domestic platforms could no longer get music for free.
And the one who ushered in this era was, of course, the most popular female singer a decade later, the undisputed global diva, Taylor Swift.
Thanks to avenues like hair salons, roller skating rinks, QQ Speed, and Audition, too many young people from that era could sing a few lines or even a full version of these songs at KTV, following the melody and lyrics.
For example, David Beckham's exclusive music, Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You."
There's also Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger," and Jay Chou's hit song "Reverse War," which many people accuse of plagiarism.
The inspiring and uplifting hit song "Be What You Wanna Be," and the ethereal Norwegian hit song "Burning," which Eric often secretly listened to while hiding under his covers.
Avril's explosive hit "Innocence," and also Avril's "Girlfriend," the iconic song from If You Are the One.
Later, when Eric entered society and went to nightclubs, he often heard "Yeah."
"Lonely" from Ghana, and the representative song for lovers reuniting, "Free Loop."
After lovers reunite, they get married, so naturally, they'd listen to Maroon 5's "Sugar."
Just as there are songs symbolizing the reunion of lovers, there are also those depicting the heartbreaking pain of a breakup, like "Just One Last Dance."
After a breakup, it's time for regret and apologies, then singing a song like "Apologize."
After apologizing, everyone should cry on each other's shoulders, then come a duet, "Cry on My Shoulder."
Of course, we can't forget Lady Gaga's iconic hit "Poker Face," and that song "Trouble Is a Friend."
And then there's "See You Again," which became globally popular with the fast and the furious, or rather, the movie benefited from the song, commemorating Paul Walker.
Before singing, Eric always thought he didn't have much stored in his mind.
But when he actually started singing, he realized that those memories seemed to be activated; it turned out he could sing so many classic hit songs.
"Being able to sing" here doesn't mean every word perfectly; he could recall the chorus 100%, but other parts were still a bit fuzzy.
But that didn't matter, because he remembered the melody clearly, he just needed to fill in the lyrics.
So, it was a matter of constantly trying different words until he found ones that rhymed, which was actually a bit like ancient Chinese poetry.
At worst, he could find professionals to refine it; he imagined it could still become a huge hit.
Looking at "Stronger," which he had completed on paper, Eric slapped his head and laughed, "I'm a genius!"
Checking the time, it was already past midnight. He thought about finishing one more song before going to bed, but then his phone screen suddenly lit up.
Ring.
Seeing that it was a call from Theron, Eric answered without hesitation.
"Theron, why are you calling at this hour? Is something wrong?"
In response to his inquiry, there was silence on the other end of the line.
"Theron, are you okay? Why aren't you speaking?"
He waited a while longer, but still no sound, only intermittent breathing.
Eric felt a bit strange and worried. A late-night call with no talking definitely meant something had happened.
Thinking this, he didn't delay any longer, went downstairs, and started changing his clothes.
"Theron, wait a moment, I'll be right over."
This time, Theron finally responded with a soft "Mm."
Beverly Hills isn't actually that big; Eric arrived at his destination ten minutes after starting the car.
He was about to knock, but as soon as his hand touched the door, it opened by itself.
Eric went in, then noticed it was pitch black inside; no lights were on.
Current phones didn't yet have flashlight functions, and Eric didn't know where the light switch was, but the dark environment made him worried, so he hurried inside.
Then he heard creaking and scraping sounds; he clearly stepped on something hard.
Squatting down, Eric finally saw that they were pieces of broken plates.
A bad premonition surfaced in his mind. He quickly stood up, wanting to call out, when he heard low sobs.
Eric's eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, and by the faint moonlight, he vaguely saw a figure sitting in the dark corner of the stairwell.
"Theron, are you there?"
Eric asked as he approached, walking up the stairs. As he got closer, he could finally see more clearly.
He saw a woman curled up alone in the corner, leaning against the wall, her hands wrapped around her legs, her head buried between her knees.
Her golden hair hung down, completely obscuring her face.
Looking at Theron, Eric didn't know what had happened, but he was sure she was very sad at that moment.
Without saying anything, he also leaned against the wall and quietly sat down, simply accompanying her in silence.
In the darkness, only their breathing could be heard.
After who knows how long, Eric suddenly felt a weight on him; Theron had snuggled against his shoulder.
Reaching out to hold her in his arms, Theron also hugged him back. This was the first time she had actively hugged Eric tightly.
"Feeling better? What exactly happened?"
Theron gently shook her head, "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm a bit tired. Can you carry me to the bedroom?"
"Of course."
Without much effort, Eric picked her up in a princess carry. It hadn't been long since "monster" finished filming, and Theron had already slimmed down.
With previous experience, Eric, familiar with the routine, carried Theron to the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed.
Theron's eyes, like jewels, looked at Eric, visible even in the darkness.
"Come up and lie with me for a while. I'm a little scared."
"Scared? Did Stuart Townsend do something? There are shards all over the floor. Did he bully you?"
"Eric, I said it doesn't matter anymore. I don't want to mention a stranger again. To me, he's nothing now."
Saying this, Theron grabbed Eric's hand and pulled him onto the bed, and they lay together.
"Eric, hold me. I feel so sleepy."
"Mm. Good night then."
Kissing Theron on the forehead, Eric held her tightly in his arms, and they slept in their clothes.
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was already high in the sky.
He yawned, then looked down at Theron; she was still asleep.
Eric first smiled; he realized he seemed to have somehow won Theron over, though it was mainly due to several months of effort and groundwork.
Then he frowned again. Although they were already sleeping in the same bed, they were still wearing clothes. How could that count as winning her over?
Body and soul, I want them all!
Suddenly, he thought of that guy, Stuart Townsend.
"Damn it, although I don't know what happened, it must be that kid's doing."
"Theoretically, I should thank you for being an idiot, letting Theron see your true colors and make the right choice."
"But emotionally speaking, you messed with my woman. If I don't teach you a lesson, how will I get by in the future?"
As he pondered, Theron hummed softly, then opened her eyes. Her drowsy look had an adorable sexiness.
"Eric, have you been awake for a long time?"
"Mm, for a while now."
"What were you doing then?"
"Nothing, just watching you."
"Watching me do what?"
"Because you're beautiful."
Theron smiled unconsciously, "Eric, waking up and seeing you, hearing your voice, this feeling is really good."
"By saying that, are you inviting me to stay?" Eric smoothed her messy hair.
"No, it's too messy here. I need to clean it up, otherwise, it won't be comfortable to live in."
Hearing this, Eric's heart stirred, "If you're uncomfortable, how about I take you somewhere nice?"
"Now? But I want to shower first. Smell me, I stink. This feeling is awful."
"Just bear with it for a little while; it won't be too late to shower once we get there."
"What? Wait, where exactly are you taking me? The beach? A bathhouse? A water park?"
Eric rolled out of bed and abruptly picked her up.
Theron gasped, and could only wrap her arms around his neck to ensure her safety, though it wasn't really necessary, as Eric was holding her hips tightly, so she wouldn't fall.
Held in Eric's arms, Theron immediately felt a sense of security.
"Is this what it feels like to have someone to rely on? It allows me not to be a little woman anymore, not to deliberately please others, and to wear the clothes and shoes I like."
"Why did I have to love so humbly? Was I a fool?"
In the car, Theron thought a lot during the short journey. Suddenly, she looked at the handsome and caring man in the driver's seat.
"Eric, why didn't I meet you sooner?"
Eric smiled, "It's not too late now. We're off."
The car started and soon arrived at the tree-lined avenue. The two, disguised, entered an apartment.
Eric had bought three apartments a while ago. One had already been given to Nicole, and this second one would be for Theron, making it convenient for their future dates.
Click!
Opening the door and entering, the place had already been redecorated and arranged into a cozy little home.
"Eric, is this your apartment?"
"No, it's our apartment."
Saying this, Eric took a key from a drawer, opened Theron's hand, and solemnly placed it in her palm.
This time, without hesitation or resistance, Theron decisively put the key into her bag.
"So, from now on, I'm the mistress of this place?"
"Yes, and now I'm going to carry the mistress of this place to shower."
Since their relationship was now confirmed, Theron no longer held back. In just a few moments, they were both openly intimate.
Splash, splash.
The shower turned on, and warm water cascaded over their bodies, adding fuel to their already passionate emotions.
In Eric's heart, if there were a beauty ranking, Theron would absolutely have the qualifications to contend for the world's number one spot.
Her face was like God's graduation masterpiece; every angle was flawless.
Even the most critical person would have to admit that her beauty was captivating, like the finest aged wine, making people linger and become intoxicated.
And looking at the beauty he had pursued for so long, the feeling of conquest instantly filled Eric's heart.
Toot toot toot toot.
The charge had been sounded.
The cavalry charged, and the Italian cannon fired wildly.
Splashes rippled in the Water Cube, and carvings rose and fell above the Bird's Nest.
Gently plucking, slowly twisting, sweeping, and plucking again, first the 'Rainbow Skirts,' then the'Six Mo.'
The thick strings clattered like a sudden downpour, the thin strings whispered like secrets.
Clattering and whispering, interwoven in play, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate.
Warbling orioles glide through the flowers, a gurgling spring struggles beneath the ice.
A silver vase suddenly shatters, water gushes forth, iron cavalry charges, swords and spears clang.
A unique, deep sorrow and hidden resentment arise, at this moment, silence is more eloquent than sound.
The intense battle lasted for nearly two hours before the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased.
Both were exhausted and collapsed on the floor, with only the sound of rushing water filling the surroundings.