Chapter 338: The Coolest Couple Must Be Together

February in Los Angeles offers a pleasant climate, making it an ideal time for tourism. The area traditionally known as Hollywood is no longer a hub for film studios; it has become a tourist destination. Leveraging the fame of Hollywood movies, attractions like the Walk of Fame draw huge crowds each year.

As the Oscars approach, tourist numbers in Hollywood peak.

Adeline Lewis and Michelle Williams, a couple from the UK who are also avid Hollywood movie fans, were in town.

"This is the Walk of Fame!" Standing on the terrazzo sidewalk, Adeline spotted the golden stars, easily recognizing the names and exclaimed, "Each star represents a superstar!"

Michelle, who was taking her photo, set down the camera and remarked, "That's not necessarily true; I've never heard of the name on this star."

Adeline pouted and retorted, "You always have to say such mood-dampening things!"

She huffed and turned towards the Kodak Theatre, leading the way as Michelle caught up, "The Oscars will be here in less than ten days."

"We won't be here that long; we're heading back to the UK in two days," Michelle said habitually.

Adeline's spirits visibly dropped as they reached near the Kodak Theatre. A large screen on the theater wall was displaying advertisements.

Just as she was about to speak, the roar of engines sounded from the sky. She quickly looked up to see several helicopters approaching, pulling a massive banner. As they flew lower, the message became clear.

Michelle read aloud the banner, "Charlize Theron, please accept my pursuit!" He pointed at the signature, muttering, "Matthew Horner!"

"Who's Matthew Horner?" he asked inadvertently.

"You're so clueless!" Adeline nudged him, reminding, "Scorpion King, Will Turner, Ben Gates..."

"Oh, that guy!" Michelle realized, "Is he pursuing Oscar-winner Charlize Theron?"

The moment he spoke, the advertisement on the screen changed to the same message as the banner's.

"Charlize Theron, please accept my pursuit!"

The name Matthew Horner was still signed at the bottom.

Looking further, Michelle noticed that an electronic billboard in the distance displayed the same message.

Clearly, Matthew Horner was indeed pursuing Charlize Theron and had made a big show of it.

"How romantic!" Stars sparkled in Adeline's eyes, "If someone would do that for me, how wonderful that would be!"

Michelle, not feeling awkward, plainly stated, "It's not about romance, it's about money!" He added somewhat resentfully, "Some people just have too much money to spend!"

Adeline twisted his arm lightly, complaining, "Can't you let me enjoy the moment?"

At that moment, the massive electronic billboards across Hollywood displayed Matthew's declaration of love.

Several helicopters continued to circle over Hollywood, displaying the banner to everyone in the area.

This extravagant show was costly, especially since acquiring so many helicopters for low-altitude flights over Hollywood was not easy after 9/11. Helen Herman and the crew of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" had put in a lot of effort.

As soon as the helicopters arrived over Hollywood, reports emerged online. TMZ's paparazzi were ready and captured images and videos from various locations, posting them online immediately.

Meanwhile, Iliana Boyar filmed a video from the Hollywood Highlands Center, which went viral on TMZ's homepage, sparking widespread gossip.

Matthew waited alone outside a shopping mall for Charlize, who was attending a Dior event, but she never showed.

Under the backdrop of helicopter banners and numerous billboards, his solitary figure appeared particularly desolate.

The show didn't last long; the billboards cleared the message within five minutes, as Hollywood's advertising costs are expensive. Even if covered by the "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" crew, it wasn't sustainable for long.

Eventually, Matthew was interviewed by Iliana Boyar, a supposed journalist.

"We met two years ago and have been great friends ever since," Matthew said to Iliana's camera, his words half-true. "After shooting 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' I got to know Charlize better. She is an amazing woman. Last month, when I went to Germany to sign with Mercedes, Charlize was in Munich. I visited her, and we spent a few days together, having deeper conversations. I realized she is the woman I've been searching for, my goddess!"

After the interview, Matthew and Iliana quickly left the scene before other journalists arrived.

Within ten minutes, this video was on numerous websites.

Frankly, the show was blunt and lacked creativity, but it was very effective and caused a sensation.

Although Charlize Theron did not respond to the media after the Dior event, fans reacted enthusiastically.

Last year, a video of Matthew rescuing Charlize from Stuart Townsend had been dredged up

 by many websites, and most people supported the idea of Matthew and Charlize being together.

Both were high-profile figures—an Oscar-winning actress and a popular star. Their public display of affection was bound to cause a stir.

Many media outlets speculated that Matthew and Charlize were a perfect match.

But Charlize never formally responded.

This gossip gradually faded, but then the "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" crew released the film's first official trailer, focusing on the onscreen chemistry between Matthew and Charlize, portraying a love-hate relationship.

The trailer received a strong response, aired simultaneously on multiple TV stations and websites, and got over fifty thousand hits on Matthew's personal blog in one day.

Of course, the trailer's release inevitably led some to speculate that the previous events were a publicity stunt. However, the crew, Matthew, and Charlize were prepared to counter any criticism.

In an era before social media dominance, the public wasn't very immune to Hollywood's promotional tactics.

In fact, in Matthew's final years, most people were easily swayed by various promotional tactics.

Many fans of Matthew and Charlize felt it was natural for them to be together, producing numerous flattering articles.

TMZ even dedicated a section to predicting when Matthew and Charlize would officially become a couple.

The site listed reasons why Matthew and Charlize must be together.

"The coolest man and woman obviously have to be together! They are destined to boost magazine sales, fulfill global moviegoers' expectations, and keep tabloid journalists busy. They appeared hand in hand in Munich, they should be hand in hand in Los Angeles."

"Life is dull, and Hollywood has been boring lately. In movies, Matthew and Charlize need to save a family; in reality, they need to save the world from boredom. Their simultaneous appearances are like the most thrilling explosions in Hollywood films: over a hundred cameras clicking away, exposing them from different angles and positions, silencing the world, turning all ears into quiet microphones, waiting for any hint of their presence."

"Close-ups, spotlights, rumors, denials, new rounds of rumors, and new denials… After all, they are the coolest man and woman ever."

"We, like Hollywood producers selecting a cast, clearly see the immense box office value behind their pairing, without any doubt, understand that their being together will trigger a certain fate. The 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' trailer proves this—spectacular and explosive!"

"People don't just want to see an action movie; they want to see the sexiest couple flirt. They do it well and realize they can do it better, magnifying the anticipated behind-the-scenes footage into reality."

"Why do audiences always expect on-screen couples to be inseparable in real life? Because they look good. Just look at the photos of Matthew Horner and Charlize Theron; every shot is pleasing to the eye, like a still from a film."

"From the moment Matthew Horner officially began pursuing Charlize Theron, many experts emerged, analyzing their faces, astrological signs, and fortunes. Many friends came forward, reviewing their past, personalities, and details, predicting their future. The plot is ever-changing, each step unimaginable, each twist more bizarre…"

However, this gossip would not really be twisted or bizarre because Matthew and Charlize's public appearance was on the Oscars red carpet.

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