America: Starting with the acquisition of MGM...

Chapter 178 (177. Theron Enters the Net) (Long chapter, I'll be taking a break tomorrow)

Beverly Hills.

After seeing off their friends and guests, Theron and Stuart Townsend began to clean up the mess.

Remembering Eric's instructions, she said, "Stuart, about tonight's incident, you had to imitate a gorilla."

"Eric noticed you seemed unhappy, and he asked me to apologize to you."

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because bringing it up instantly ignited the anger that Stuart Townsend had been suppressing all night.

He stared wide-eyed at his girlfriend: "So why did you apologize for him? Why didn't he apologize verbally? Is that so hard?"

Charlize Theron was busy tidying up and hadn't noticed that he was already angry. She explained, "There are so many people here. He's the owner of MGM."

"You know what that means? How could he possibly apologize in public? People like him value their reputation a lot."

"Yes, Eric Cooper values ​​his own pride, so mine doesn't matter, right? My dignity should be trampled on, right?"

"Tell me, did Eric Cooper ask you to apologize, or did you pretend to be kind and make your own decision? Are you trying to explain him away?"

Sensing that her boyfriend's tone was somewhat aggressive, Theron finally looked up.

"What's wrong, Stuart? Why do you look a little angry? Of course, Eric asked me to apologize because he noticed how you felt."

"Moreover, his intentions were good. The male lead role in a big-budget production is something many people would kill for; such an opportunity might only come a few times in a lifetime."

"Besides, it's just an audition, isn't that what actors are supposed to do? And no one is laughing at you, everyone else is just treating it as a game."

"You're being too sensitive, Stewart. While pride is important, I don't think this has anything to do with pride."

The main reason for the disagreement is that the two people have completely different feelings.

Stuart Townsend was initially annoyed by the somewhat intimate behavior between Eric and his girlfriend.

Then he was treated like a waiter, and Eric deliberately ignored him to embarrass him, and his words were often provocative and mocking, showing that he looked down on him.

These actions had already made Stuart Townsend very uncomfortable, until that ridiculous audition made him suddenly realize that he was being made a fool of.

Where can I find auditions in public? Won't I get distracted? Don't the director and producer need to be present?

All of this seemed illogical, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was a joke.

More importantly, the long-standing imbalance of power between the woman and the man, coupled with his own lack of career progress and the criticism from the media and Charlize Theron's fans, had already made him feel repressed.

This suppression, if prolonged, transforms into inferiority complex, and the more inferior one feels, the more one's self-esteem explodes.

On the other hand, Theron already had a special relationship with Eric, and Eric took the initiative to apologize and even said he was willing to let her play the male lead for her sake.

How can this behavior make someone a bad person? They're clearly a very good person!

Besides, who is he, and who are you? Eric has already condescended to apologize to you, what more do you want?

Although this move was indeed a bit shady, Theron is currently too caught up in the situation to realize it, having been completely bewitched by Eric.

Seeing his girlfriend siding with the other man only fueled Stewart's anger.

He strode up to Theron and yelled, "What's wrong with you? You're my girlfriend! Why are you taking that guy's side?"

"I wasn't speaking up for him, I was just passing on his apology to you. You've been so sensitive lately, calm down, Stewart," Theron quickly explained.

"Okay, then tell me, what are you two up to, always hiding in a corner whispering to each other? What can't you say openly?"

Theron sighed: "So that's what bothers you. Eric brought a friend over tonight, and this guy really admires Kate Winslet."

"So he wanted my help, so I invited Winslet. Did you expect me to make a big fuss about it?"

"Is that all?" Stuart Townsend clearly didn't believe it.

"That's right, that's all I said."

"Come on, Theron. You think you can fool my eyes? Lately, you've been hot and cold towards me, and you're not as caring as you used to be."

"I'm not stupid. I can feel your heart drifting away from me. What caused this change?"

"It's 'Monster,' it started right after you took on the role. Eric Cooper was the investor, everything was clear."

"He was willing to invest because he had his eye on you, and you couldn't resist the temptation to go for the Oscars. Just listen to what that guy said to the media."

"I didn't put on this fireworks show. I've also asked your family and some friends, and no one admitted it. So the question is, who booked the entire mountain to celebrate your birthday?"

"Such a grand gesture will probably make tomorrow's entertainment headlines. The MGM mogul booked out Beverly Hills for fireworks just to make you smile—how romantic! Hahahaha."

Stuart Townsend roared like a machine gun, his face contorted with rage.

Listening to his angry outburst, Theron suddenly felt a pang of regret. Perhaps he really was wrong, perhaps he had truly lost his way.

She shouldn't have accepted Eric's dinner invitation in the first place, and she wouldn't have ended up like this with her boyfriend.

She said softly, "Stuart, calm down. I'm sorry for neglecting your feelings lately. I'm really sorry."

"I promise I will never meet with Eric Cooper in private again, is that alright?"

The two stared at each other for a moment, then Stuart Townsend, panting, said, "No, if you really want to live a good life with me, let's move to Owen. We can keep this villa or sell it."

"I turned down the Inception movie. I knew Eric Cooper would definitely be the director, and you guys would be spending at least two months together. I couldn't allow that to happen."

"And for the movie 'Monster,' you can continue to participate in the follow-up promotions, but if Eric Cooper is also involved, then I hope you will decline to attend."

The more he spoke, the more Charlize Theron frowned.

"Stuart, what do you take me for? Your vassal?"

"I signed a contract, do you understand? How do you see my business?"

"Or do you want to completely turn me into your submissive woman, so that you can appear more imposing?"

"I know those comments in the media made you uncomfortable, but I've already been accommodating you, so you should be accommodating me too."

"And do you know that breaching a contract means paying a huge sum of money? What will my colleagues think of me? Will anyone still hire me to make films?"

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable by Theron's counter-question, Stewart Townsend suddenly grabbed a stack of plates and slammed them to the ground.

Whoosh!

The shattered ceramic pieces were scattered all over the floor, and Theron screamed and backed away in fright.

"Enough! Is it all about money? Because I'm poor, and my career isn't as successful as yours, you think I'm not good enough for you?"

Seeing her boyfriend's hysterical state, Theron suddenly felt a little wronged.

"Stuart, how can you look at me like that! Do you see me as a vain woman?"

"If that were the case, 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, I haven't even worn high heels when I'm with you. What more do you want from me?"

But Stuart Townsend wasn't listening to what she was saying anymore. Instead, he seized on a slip of the tongue and yelled, "Wait, shut up!"

"You just said there are other men pursuing you, Eric Cooper, right?"

"How long have you been cheating on me? How many times have you gone to hotels together?"

"Sorry! I forgot we don't really need a hotel. Maybe the film set will suffice. Didn't he do a cameo as a director before?"

"Has he already used you all over?"

As he roared, the man lunged forward, grabbed Theron's shoulders, and shook him violently, his eyes bloodshot, like a ferocious beast.

Tell me! Tell me! Tell me now!

"ah"

Theron was thrown onto the sofa, and a look of horror appeared in her eyes as she watched Stuart Townsend continue to pounce on her.

She would never forget this scene, which kept replaying in her childhood until her mother pulled the trigger.

boom!

Just then, a gunshot brought Stuart Townsend to a standstill.

"Stop! Get away from her!"

The maid, Henta, pointed a gun at Stuart Townsend, and when she noticed the two arguing, she hid.

Although she had served Theron for almost ten years, this was not a scene that a servant like her should be involved in.

But they soon realized that things were not going well, and the argument had escalated into domestic violence.

As a woman, she knew she had to take action.

Facing the dark muzzle of the gun, Stuart Townsend raised his hands in fear: "Henta, don't shoot, I was just too excited."

He said he wanted to go to La Seron, but the latter instinctively dodged away and ran behind Henta.

"Get out! Get out of here right now!"

"Theron, I was just emotional, I..."

"She told you to get out, didn't you hear me?" Henta said menacingly, holding the gun.

"Okay, okay, I'll leave now. Let's talk again after we've both calmed down."

Seeing the person leave, Henta turned off the safety lock and comforted him, "Poor child, although I shouldn't say this, it seems he's not right for you."

Theron sat dejectedly on the ground, covering his face with his hands.

After a long pause, she said softly, "Henta, you should go home first. I want some peace and quiet."

"Okay, you can keep this. Take care of yourself!"

Beverly Hills, the Cooper family home.

Eric hummed to himself as he wrote words on the paper.

These words, when put together, become popular songs.

Now that he had already established a record company with Michael, he couldn't just sit back and do nothing. He quickly gathered the melodies in his mind and wrote down the popular songs he remembered.

As a post-90s generation, what impressed him most was the ten years after the millennium, or at most twelve or thirteen years.

During this period, Chinese pop music reached its peak, with a large number of outstanding singers emerging.

Jay Chou, Xu Song, Shin, Hu Yanbin, Angela Chang, Cyndi Wang, Eason Chan, and many others have created numerous popular and well-known songs.

Unfortunately, after the peak came an endless decline, and twenty years later, it had fallen to an unbearable level.

During this same period, English songs flooded into the country, as if the country's doors had suddenly been opened.

Almost every one or two months, a hit song will be played on the streets and alleys.

The reason why there were fewer of these music tracks later on was largely due to the arrival of the era of paid music streaming, which made it impossible for many domestic platforms to offer free music.

And the one who ushered in this era was, of course, the most popular female singer more than a decade later, the undisputed global superstar Taylor Swift.

In those days, thanks to hair salons, skating rinks, QQ Speed, Audition Online, and other avenues, many young people could sing a few lines or sing a complete version of the song in a karaoke bar.

For example, Beckham's signature song, Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You".

Similarly, Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" and Zhang Jie's representative work "Against the War" have been accused by many of plagiarism.

The inspirational and motivational anthem "Be What You Wanna Be," and the ethereal Norwegian song "Burning," which Eric often secretly listened to under the covers.

Avril Lavigne's hit song "Innocence" also belongs to Avril Lavigne, as does her iconic entrance song on the dating show "If You Are the One," "Girlfriend."

After Eric entered the workforce and started going to nightclubs, he often heard "Yeah."

"Lonely" is from Ghana, and "Free Loop" is a song representing the reunion of lovers.

After the lovers reunite, they are about to get married, so naturally they have to listen to Maroon 5's "Sugar".

There are songs that symbolize lovers reuniting, and of course, there are also songs that depict the heartbreaking pain of a breakup, such as "Just One Last Dance".

After a breakup, you should regret it, apologize, and then sing "Apologize".

After apologizing, everyone should lean on each other's shoulders and cry, and then sing a duet, "Cry on My Shoulder."

Of course, we can't forget Lady Gaga's signature hit "Poker Face" and "Trouble is a Friend".

There's also "See You Again," a song that commemorates Paul Walker, which came with the global success of "Fast & Furious," or perhaps the movie benefited from the popularity of the song.

You don't know until you sing; Eric always thought he didn't have much in his head.

But when I actually started singing, I realized that those memories seemed to be activated, and I discovered that I could actually sing so many classic hits.

Being able to sing it doesn't mean he can remember every single word. He can remember the climax perfectly, but he still can't recall some of the other parts.

But that's okay, because I remember the melody very well; I just need to add the lyrics.

So, you just keep changing words and trying until you find a rhyming word, which is actually a bit like ancient Chinese poetry.

At worst, I can find a professional to edit it, and it should still go viral.

Looking at the "Stronger" he had completed on the paper, Eric slapped his forehead and laughed out loud: "The genius is me!"

I checked the time; it was past midnight. I was thinking of finding one more song before going to sleep when my phone screen suddenly lit up.

bell.

Upon seeing that it was Theron calling, Eric answered without hesitation.

"Theron, why are you calling at this hour? What's up?"

When asked, the person on the other end of the phone remained silent.

"Theron, are you alright? Why aren't you saying anything?"

After waiting a while longer, there was still no sound, only intermittent breathing could be heard.

Eric was puzzled and worried. Calling in the middle of the night without saying a word meant something must have happened.

With that thought in mind, he didn't delay any longer and went downstairs to change his clothes.

"Theron, wait a moment, I'll be right there."

This time, Theron finally responded with a soft "Mmm".

Beverly Hills isn't actually that big; Eric arrived at his destination ten minutes after starting the car.

I was about to knock on the door, but it opened by itself as soon as I touched it.

Eric went inside and noticed that it was completely dark inside, with no lights on.

Modern mobile phones don't have flashlight functions yet, and Eric didn't know where the light switch was. However, the pitch-black environment made him a little worried, so he hurriedly went inside.

Then I heard a squeaking and rubbing sound, and I clearly stepped on something hard.

Squatting down, Eric then realized that they were pieces of broken plate.

A bad feeling crept into his mind, and he hurriedly stood up to call for help, only to hear low sobs.

Eric's eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, and by the dim moonlight, he could vaguely see a figure sitting in the darkness at the corner of the stairs.

"Theron, are you there?"

Eric asked questions as he approached, and only when he got closer up the stairs could he finally see things more clearly.

A woman was seen curled up alone in a corner, her back against the wall, her hands wrapped around her legs, and her head buried between them.

Her golden hair hung down, completely obscuring her face.

Looking at Theron, Eric knew she must be very sad, even though he didn't know what had happened.

Without saying anything, he leaned against the wall and sat down quietly, keeping the other person company.

In the darkness, only the sound of their breathing could be heard.

After an unknown amount of time, Eric suddenly felt a weight on him; Theron was leaning on his shoulder.

She reached out and hugged him, and Theron hugged him back; this was the first time she had ever hugged Eric so tightly on her own initiative.

"Are you feeling better? What happened?"

Theron gently shook her head: "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm a little tired. Can you carry me to the bedroom?"

"certainly."

Eric easily picked her up in a princess carry. Not long after filming "Monster," Theron had already lost weight.

Having learned from his previous experience, Eric easily carried Theron to the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed.

Theron's eyes looked at Eric like jewels, clear even in the darkness.

"Come up here and lie down with me for a while, I'm a little scared."

"Scared? Did Stuart Townsend do something? There are pieces all over the floor, did he bully you?"

"Eric, I said it doesn't matter anymore. I don't want to mention a stranger anymore. He means nothing to me now."

As she spoke, Theron grabbed Eric's hand and pulled him onto the bed, where the two lay down together.

"Eric, hold me, I feel so sleepy."

"Okay, goodnight."

Eric kissed Theron on the forehead, then held her tightly in his arms, and the two slept fully clothed.

When I opened my eyes again, the sun was already high in the sky.

She yawned and looked down at Theron; she was still half asleep.

Eric smiled at first, realizing that he had somehow managed to win over Theron, mainly thanks to months of hard work and preparation.

Then he frowned. Although they were already in the same bed, they were still wearing clothes. How could that be considered taking her down?

I want both body and soul!

Suddenly, the name Stuart Townsend popped into my head.

"Damn it, I don't know what happened, but it was definitely this kid who did it."

"Theoretically speaking, I should thank you for making a stupid mistake, which allowed Theron to see your true colors and make the right choice."

"But emotionally speaking, if you mess with my woman, I'll teach you a lesson, otherwise how will you ever get ahead in the future?"

While thinking, Theron gave a soft hum, then opened her eyes, her dazed look possessing an adorable sexiness.

"Eric, have you been awake for a long time?"

"Yes, it's been a while."

"Then what are you doing?"

"It's nothing, I'm just looking at you."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you're beautiful."

Theron smiled unconsciously: "Eric, it feels so good to wake up and see you and hear your voice."

"Are you inviting me to stay?" Eric smoothed her messy hair.

"No, this place is too messy. I need to clean it up, otherwise it won't be comfortable to live here."

Upon hearing this, Eric had an idea: "If you're feeling unwell, how about I take you to a nice place?"

"Now? But I want to take a shower first. You can smell how smelly I am. It's really unpleasant."

"Just bear with it a little longer, we can wash up when we get there."

"What? Wait, where are you taking me? The beach? The bathing area? The water park?"

Eric rolled out of bed and suddenly picked her up.

Theron cried out in surprise and could only cling to his neck for safety. Actually, there was no need, because Eric was holding onto her hips tightly, so she couldn't fall.

Held in Eric's arms, Theron felt a sense of peace.

"Is this what it feels like to have someone to rely on? It means I don't have to be a submissive woman anymore, I don't have to deliberately please others, and I can wear the clothes and shoes I like."

"Why must I love so humbly? Am I a fool?"

Once in the car, Theron had a lot on her mind despite the short distance. Suddenly, she looked at the handsome and considerate man in the driver's seat.

"Eric, why didn't I meet you sooner?"

Eric smiled. "It's not too late now, let's go."

The car started and soon arrived at a tree-lined avenue. The two disguised themselves and went into an apartment.

Eric bought three houses recently. He's already given one to Nicole, and he'll give the second one to Theron so they can date more easily in the future.

Click!

Upon entering, you'll find the place has been completely renovated and transformed into a cozy little home.

"Eric, is this your house?"

"No, it's our house."

As he spoke, Eric took a key from the drawer, pried open Theron's hand, and solemnly placed it in his palm.

This time, without hesitation or resistance, Theron decisively put the key into her bag.

"So, from now on, I'll be the lady of the house here?"

"Yes, now I'm going to take its owner to take a bath."

Now that they had established a relationship, Theron no longer held back, and in no time, the two were completely open with each other.

Splash splash splash

The shower was turned on, and the warm water splashed on my body, adding fuel to the already intense emotions.

In Eric's mind, if there were a ranking of beautiful women, Theron would definitely be worthy of being number one in the world.

Her face is like God's graduation masterpiece, flawless from every angle.

Even the most discerning person has to admit that her beauty is captivating, like the finest aged wine, making people linger and become intoxicated by it.

Looking at the beauty he had been pursuing for so long, Eric was instantly filled with a sense of conquest.

Beep beep beep

The bugle call to charge has sounded.

The cavalry company launched a charge, and the Italian cannons unleashed a furious barrage.

Waves ripple in the Water Cube, and carvings rise and fall atop the Bird's Nest.

With gentle touches and slow twists, the first movement is the Rainbow Skirt, the second is the Six Melodies.

The big strings are like a rain, and the small strings are cut like a whisper.

Cut the wrong bullets, and the big beads are falling into the jade plate.

The warbling of orioles glides beneath the flowers, the murmuring of springs flows difficult beneath the ice.

A silver bottle suddenly shatters, water gushing forth; iron cavalry charges forth, swords and spears clashing.

Don't have the sadness and hatred, silence is better than sound.

The fierce battle lasted for nearly two hours before it finally subsided.

Both of them collapsed on the ground, exhausted, with only the rushing water filling the surroundings.

(End of this chapter)