Extracting skills from movies

Pete was completely stunned.

He stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

Baszzer reacted quickly, pulling him to squeeze into the gap between the cars:

"Don't linger! Don't respond to anything, get out of here first."

"Pete! You can't abandon the child!"

A woman's shrill scream came from behind.

"Not even a penny of alimony? No way!"

A little boy who looked to be eighty-nine years old took off chasing after him and almost crashed into Pete's car.

Pete hurriedly jumped into the car and slammed the door shut.
He huddled in his seat, barely daring to breathe.

This scene was too intense.

Let alone Pitt, even the most seasoned veterans in Hollywood would be stunned.

As soon as Baszcze got into the driver's seat, he immediately lowered his voice and said:
"Don't believe what they say, treat them all as staged accidents!"

Pete looked completely bewildered:

"But...but what if it really is mine?"

Baszcze rolled his eyes and couldn't help but ask:
"Do you take proper precautions each time?"

Pete paused, then shook his head with a wry smile:

"Many times it's a spur-of-the-moment decision, and we don't have time to think about these things."

"It's over, it's over!"

Baszzer's heart pounded; this was probably the most difficult case of his life.

As soon as the car door closed, reporters swarmed around it, their flashes going off incessantly.

Several "mothers" instantly became the most glamorous people in the room.

KABC's Jodi personally stepped forward, rushing to the front and asking with a smile:

"What's going on here, gentlemen?"

The Latina woman began to sob and cry:
"Pete and I used to be lovers, but then I got pregnant. I was afraid of affecting him, so I went to Moses alone and raised the child by myself."

Now that the children are in school, expenses are increasing.

I couldn't take it anymore, so I had to come to my biological father!

As she spoke, she took out a small trinket from her bag, which had Pitt's autograph on it.

Jody cooperated by showing a touched expression:

"What an amazing motherly love."

After taking the photos, the assistant whispered a report:
“I recognize this thing. It was a gift from Pitt when he filmed ‘The Death of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’. It should be pretty much the same.”

The dark-skinned woman on the other side was not to be outdone, and she vividly recounted her "love story" with Pitt to the camera, with so many details that it was hard to tell if it was true or not.

The security guards finally managed to squeeze in, clearing a path for Pete's car and urging them to leave quickly.

While other reporters were still focused on the "child born out of wedlock," Jody had already thought of a deeper news angle.

In Hollywood, this kind of storyline involving a child claiming to be the father is quite common.

Tobey Maguire, who played Spider-Man, also encountered a similar situation back then, and in the end, he could only settle the matter privately to avoid further trouble.

The key this time isn't whether it's true or false, but how to make the show even more exciting.

Whether it's true or false doesn't matter, what matters most is the buzz!

At this moment, the serpent groveer, slightly disguised, approached with a smile:
Should we withdraw now or not?

Jody came to her senses:
"What are you going for?"

The serpent man offered a reminder:
"Go interview Angelina Jolie, as well as Pitt's ex-girlfriends Gwyneth Paltrow and Juliette Lewis."

Jody slapped her forehead:
"Oh dear, how could I forget about them!"

"Hurry up, we need to get the first scoop!"

.........

That evening, the homepage of KABC Entertainment Channel's website was flooded with two explosive news stories—

One is that Brad Pitt is rumored to have multiple children out of wedlock;
The other one is an interview video with Angelina Jolie, with the title prominently displayed:

"He doesn't even have the most basic sense of responsibility towards his children!"

Julie's tone was calm, but every word she spoke was piercing:

"It's not terrible for a man to make a mistake; what's terrible is that he doesn't even have the courage to admit it."

What disappointed me most about Pete wasn't how he treated me, but his attitude towards the children.

She mentioned that when she gave birth to her biological daughter some time ago, Pitt only came to see her once.

"My adopted sons with pitiful backgrounds, let alone teaching them, the best way they get along is if they don't resort to physical violence."

As a top Hollywood actress, her words immediately caused a huge uproar online.

Following that, Gwyneth Paltrow also gave an interview.

Although her marriage to Pitt is long over, the Oscar-winning actress still spoke to the camera with a tone that betrayed years of suppressed grievances:
"I was engaged to Pitt, but many things are now in the past."

During the divorce, he placed all the blame on me and even told me to tell the public that we separated because of media pressure... I tolerated it all.

She did not directly address the issue of "child born out of wedlock," but simply stated:
"As for whether he has children, you should ask him directly."

These words were perfectly reasonable, but netizens had already imagined a whole drama unfolding in their minds.

Juliet Lewis also spoke up.

She was one of Pitt's earliest girlfriends to be exposed by the media, and she has always been straightforward in her speech:
Why did you break up back then?

The reason is simple.

But no matter what, the children are innocent; they cannot be made victims!

In short, he both cleared himself of any wrongdoing and once again thrust Pitt into the spotlight of public opinion.

Just after Honda and Boucheron announced their lawsuits against Pete for breach of contract,

Those mothers who were "looking for their children's fathers" have also officially taken action.

They hired Angela, the lawyer who had previously represented the female victims, and filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles court.
They also demanded that Pitt pay a series of compensations, including child support, education expenses, and medical expenses.

The one most adept at riding the wave of popularity has to be Pitt's former rumored girlfriend—

Marion Cotillard.

Taking advantage of the heightened public attention, she proactively jumped out:

"I broke up with him because he had designs on my sisters and verbally abused, threatened, and intimidated me. I couldn't take it anymore, so I left."

These words immediately propelled Pitt from "scumbag" to "player".

Public opinion was in an uproar, and Pitt's image completely collapsed.

Under pressure, the Los Angeles Police Department had no choice but to summon him again to assist in the investigation.

Faced with a barrage of lawsuits and a deluge of negative news, Pitt's biggest fear now isn't losing money, but going to jail.

Money can solve many problems, but the prerequisite is that you have money to make money.

Although he has earned a lot of money over the years, most of his assets have turned into real estate, stocks and luxury collections.

The amount of cash that can be readily converted into cash is pitifully small.

Just then, the entertainment company controlled by his ex-wife delayed the distribution of last year's dividends, citing "incomplete financial audit."

Pitt can only follow the old path that Hollywood veterans have all taken – sell his house!
……

In Beverly Hills, Pitt's mansion stands quietly beside Sunset Boulevard.

Sunlight shone on the surface of the pool, creating a sparkling effect.

He walked back into the house from the backyard, carrying a bag, his eyes sweeping over the precious villa with a complicated expression.

He bought this house three years ago for $1500 million.

They later spent another $2200 million on renovations and reconstruction, which was practically equivalent to building a new mansion.

"I think this house is worth 3000 million."

Pete's tone was tinged with reluctance.

Financial advisor Perth, standing nearby, shook his head:
"Right now, we can only list 1200 million."

"What?! Why?" "There's a global economic crisis right now, the real estate market is sluggish, and house prices are falling across the US."

Moreover, this house isn't a necessity; it's a luxury item, making it difficult to sell.

Several luxury homes in the surrounding area, each worth tens of millions, remain vacant with no buyers.

Pete remained silent.

He understood, of course, that it wasn't a question of whether the house was worth it, but rather that he desperately needed cash right now.

Post added:
"Why not not sell this one and try buying property in Manhattan?"

Pete shook his head:

"No, the houses in Manhattan can't be touched."

He was practically a pariah in Los Angeles, and Manhattan was his escape route.

"What about stocks?"

Poster sighed:

"Ruifa Properties? Nobody's willing to take it over now."

With the North American real estate market currently in a bubble, Refco Properties' stock is practically worthless.

Pete sighed, his eyes dimming:
"Hopefully the next owner will treat this house well."

Just then, Post received a phone call, and a hint of joy appeared on his face:
"The agent just contacted a potential buyer and will bring them to see the property soon."

Upon hearing this, Pete shook his head:
"Let's go then."

As soon as the two drove out of the gate, they saw two cars heading their way.

The car in front was a Buick they recognized; it was driven by real estate agent Kirsten.

The car behind was a bright red Mercedes-Benz; it looked unfamiliar, but it had a powerful presence.

Pete peered out the car window and saw a young, pretty girl sitting in the red car. She was simply dressed and had a good demeanor, but he had a strange feeling about her.

Because this girl is of Asian descent.

Kirsten parked the car by the fountain in front of the villa and began his introduction after the girl got out:
"This house was only built seven years ago, and the previous owner lived there for only three years. It's practically brand new inside."

As Cui Yayi listened, she nodded, her eyes sweeping over the mansion before her, already secretly marveling at it.

As she walked up the steps, she was immediately captivated by the view in the front courtyard.

The area is lush with flowers and plants, with trees neatly arranged on both sides. The ground is spacious and flat, and there is also a separate outdoor play area. You can even hold a medium-sized party without feeling crowded.

The house is a three-story villa with an attic, which is both independent and has a sense of unity.

The backyard is even more luxurious, with a garden and swimming pool on one side and a basketball court and helipad on the other.

Compared to this, the place where Du Sheng lives now is like a dilapidated old house in the suburbs.

As Cui Yayi walked, she pondered that at the market price, $1200 million would only buy the land; the interior decoration and facilities would definitely be worth much more.

She couldn't help asking:
"Whose house is this anyway?"

Seeing that she asked directly, Kirsten stopped hiding her intentions:
"It belongs to Brad Pitt."

You know what's been going on with him lately, right?
"I needed the money urgently, otherwise I wouldn't have sold it so cheaply."

Upon hearing this, Cui Yayi immediately understood.

No wonder Du Sheng didn't come in person; this is his "good brother's" house.

She followed Kirsten on a tour of the entire house, and finally spoke:
"Forget about the furniture, just lower the price a bit more, and I can sign the contract right now."

Kirsten quickly made a phone call for instructions, and finally gritted her teeth and managed to lower the price to $1100 million.

These days, with the economic crisis causing a global downturn, there aren't many people who can readily come up with tens of millions in cash.

The next day, Cui Yayi, accompanied by her lawyer, completed all the formalities.

As soon as the money arrived, the house was transferred to Du Sheng.

Before Pitt could even enjoy the money from the house sale, it was used to settle accounts with the victims, led by Caroline.

At this critical juncture, Pitt can only follow the old Hollywood formula.

To avoid being sued, give them some money and sign an agreement to keep them far away from you.

He knew in his heart that if it really came down to a paternity test, it wouldn't be a matter of losing a little money, but a huge financial loss.

Only after resolving these issues related to children born out of wedlock could Pitt and his lawyers free up their time to deal with the breach of contract lawsuits filed by Honda and Boucheron.

Compared to those women, these capitalists are the real problem!

If he loses the lawsuit, Pitt could very well end up on the streets.

In order to hire the best legal team, he had no choice but to continue selling houses.

He sold his luxury apartment in San Francisco at a low price.

The apartment was exquisitely decorated, but he never stayed there for a single day.

With housing prices currently sluggish, companies are eager to liquidate their assets and have no choice but to keep lowering prices.

Du Sheng saw all of this and kept it in mind. He then picked up the phone and whispered a few words to Cui Yayi.

Cui Yayi was both amused and exasperated. If Pete knew, he would probably jump up and down and yell at her.

……

Du Sheng ignored Cui Yayi's real estate transactions and instead took Elizabeth and drove the Ferrari to Sunset Boulevard.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Du Sheng pressed the remote control on the car key, and the automatic door slowly opened.

"This house is huge!"

After getting off the train, Elizabeth couldn't help but sigh:

"It's much more impressive than my sisters'."

Du Sheng smiled and reminded him:

"There's also an indoor swimming pool inside, but some things haven't been purchased yet."

Elizabeth's beautiful eyes lit up:
"Let's go see what we're missing!"

This villa was built seven years ago and is very well maintained; it looks almost brand new.

Du Sheng plans to leave the exterior untouched, but renovate the interior and add some new furniture.

Elizabeth liked it more and more the more she looked at it.

The courtyard is spacious, the building area is large, and it has everything you could want, including an indoor swimming pool, gym, private cinema, and a restaurant that can seat more than 30 people.

"If this house had been sold last year, its price would have at least doubled."

As she watched, she sighed with emotion:
"You really got a freebie this time."

Du Sheng just smiled and didn't say anything.

This wasn't something I got for free; it was practically given to me by a 'good friend.'

At that moment, Pete was sitting on a street corner, looking like an old wolf that had been driven out of its pack, his face full of dejection.

His hair was so greasy it looked like he hadn't washed it in three days, and his blond hair was a messy sight on his forehead, making him look ten years older than he actually was.

Just then, a middle-aged man walked over and greeted him with a smile:
"Pete, it's been a long time."

Pete looked up and saw an old acquaintance—William Oak.

This man used to work at William Studios and was involved in the production of the Sherlock Holmes series. Pitt had dealt with him a few times before.

"I heard you left William Films and started your own company?"

As Pete asked the question, he rubbed his slightly dry face.

"Yes, I now co-found a company called The Asylum, which specializes in independent films."

William Oak sat down and got straight to the point:
"Pete, I'd like to cast you in a movie; you're the perfect lead!"

Pete gave a wry smile:

"Given my current state, you still want me to play the male lead?"

"Of course!"

William Oak took a script out of his bag and handed it over:
"This is our company's biggest investment project, and you're definitely the main character!"

Pitt took the script, opened it, and read...
The cover design is almost identical to the recently popular "Transformers", except that the name has been changed to "Transforming Machine".

…(End of this chapter)