America: Child stars start with The Shining

Chapter 96 The First Meeting with Reagan

This event was much more formal, and the audience consisted of people from all walks of life.

A banner hung at the front of the venue that read, "Protect the voices of the young, protect the future of America."

Several display boards were placed on both sides, with information about child labor protection, working hours for underage actors, educational guarantees, and family guardianship responsibilities.

The audience consisted of representatives from non-profit organizations, lawyers, staff from child welfare departments, and some invited media reporters.

Of course, most of them were supporters arranged by Reagan's team.

Simply put, it was a group he arranged to create a lively atmosphere, to avoid an awkward situation later on.

At the same time, this was also a live television broadcast.

Reagan used almost all of his resources to try and regain momentum through this charity event.

Just then, a staff member approached Charles and politely said, "Mr. Charles, Mr. Reagan would like to see you before the event begins."

Upon hearing this, Ovitz immediately looked at Charles.

Charles closed his speech, stood up, and said, "Let's go."

After preparing for so long, he was finally able to meet the person in question.

Charles followed the staff to the door of a temporary lounge. As soon as the door opened, Charles saw Reagan.

The other person was wearing a dark suit, with his hair neatly combed, and a very typical, relaxing smile on his face.

As expected of a politician who started as an actor, his overall image appears very approachable.

It must be admitted that Reagan was indeed very good at making others like him.

Upon seeing Charles enter, Reagan stood up, smiled, extended his hand to him, and said, "Charles, our Hollywood child star, it's great to finally meet you."

Charles extended his hand and shook hands with him. The two of them were behaving as if they were politicians meeting, making it very formal.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Reagan."

Reagan patted him on the shoulder and said gently, "Don't be nervous today, kid. Just say what you really want to say, and leave the rest to us adults, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Charles felt little emotional; in fact, he almost laughed.

These are just polite words; otherwise, why would we prepare a speech for him in advance?

This is the game of politics.

Reagan knew it was going to be a performance, as did Charles, and the audience members in the theater and those watching on television.

However, what they cared more about was what Reagan could bring them, or rather, what the Republican Party could bring them.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that a small number of people might actually believe the content of the speech to come.

Charles walked out of the lounge and sighed.

An actor becoming president... well, that's not uncommon in later generations.

After all, in this place, it doesn't really matter who is in what position; what really matters is the interest group they represent.

Those are the people who truly determine the future.

Charles shook his head and returned to where he had been. It was relatively safe here, and no reporters would grab him for an interview before the event even started.

Immediately afterwards, the activities outside began.

After being reminded by a staff member once again, Reagan straightened his tie and then walked with Charles towards the entrance of the venue.

Meanwhile, the reporters outside were already prepared.

When the two of them appeared on the scene, the flashbulbs went off almost instantly.

Click!

Charles followed Reagan, maintaining a perfectly composed expression, appearing less reserved.

The gray suit made him look much older than his actual age, creating a peculiar contrast, especially among a group of adults.

Reagan and Shire standing together now look like father and son...

Of course, this was just Charles's wild imagination. If that were really the case, he wouldn't need to go through all the trouble of becoming an actor. Wouldn't it be better to just live off his parents?

Reporters naturally wouldn't miss such a scene.

One is the Elephant Party candidate who is about to challenge for the presidency, a rising star in the political arena.

Another is a child actor who has just won a lawsuit and is making a name for himself in Hollywood.

In addition, today's topic is exactly what these journalists love most.

After the event officially began, several representatives from non-profit organizations took the stage to speak.

They discussed child protection laws, the working conditions of underage actors, and the importance of family guardianship and educational guarantees.

Charles sat in the audience, listening quietly.

He drifted off into thought, suddenly remembering Kubrick's earlier warning: "Charles, once you become truly famous, you'll find that many problems that seem troublesome now will be easily solved. But remember, every gift in this world comes at a price."

Charles couldn't help but sigh. He was increasingly understanding the value of those words. Sure enough, it was Kubrick, the old guy who had spent most of his life in Hollywood, who saw things more clearly.

Reagan helped him resolve the issues with Sinclair Oil Company and the guardianship of minors, and in return, he had to stand up for them in such situations.

Even though he may not have much influence compared to those politicians, the most important thing is still his attitude.

This is how life works in America.

Even if he was just a child star in Hollywood, he couldn't escape blame; he had to learn to adapt to this set of rules for survival.

Of course, this doesn't mean that such occasions are meaningless.

Many things begin in this way, even if it starts as a political performance or as part of a campaign strategy.

Finally, the host called out Ciel's name.

"Next, let's welcome Hollywood child star and one of the most prominent young advocates for the rights of minors, Charles Hamilton!"

A wave of applause erupted, and Charles stood up and walked toward the stage.

As he passed Reagan, Reagan turned slightly to the side and gently patted his arm.

The action was natural, yet it was precisely this action that allowed the reporters in the front row to capture it.

Charles couldn't help but think to himself, "These people really know how to capture the camera."

He walked to the podium and placed the prepared speech on the table.

In the last second before he spoke, he looked at the attentive audience below the stage.

How many of these people are genuinely interested in what he's about to say?

So he smiled and began to read the text aloud.

(Interested readers can join the book club group)