Chapter 11: A New Rivalry
Chapter 11: A New Rivalry
With his back against the haystack, it seemed impossible for Martin to avoid Kiefer Lee's relentless thrust.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Martin made an unexpected move.
He planted one foot on the side of the haystack, barely seeming to exert force, and suddenly soared into the air like a bird. In a graceful arc, he flipped backward, landing effortlessly atop the haystack. From his elevated position, he gazed down at Kiefer.
Before Kiefer could recover from his shock, Martin leaped once again. In mid-air, he thrust his fencing sword three times in rapid succession, each strike landing precisely—on Kiefer's helmet, his chest, and finally, his stomach. Martin landed lightly back on the ground.
"Mike, you're dead!" Martin declared, delivering a line that wasn't in the script but perfectly suited the scene.
As he spoke, Martin twirled his sword in front of him like Zorro, then casually stuck it into the haystack beside him.
Behind his helmet, Kiefer's face flushed red. How had he lost to an amateur?
Seeing Martin's triumphant grin only fueled Kiefer's anger. Overcome with rage, he completely lost his self-control. Without warning, he charged at Martin, sword raised, intent on striking.
"Stop!" Nancy shouted angrily.
But even as she spoke, Martin acted with lightning speed. He plucked the sword from the haystack, deflecting Kiefer's blade with a deft block, twist, and flick. Kiefer's sword spun out of his grasp and flew off to the side.
"Whoa!"
A chorus of gasps and cheers erupted from the watching kids—Martin's move was pure "Zorro."
Many of the boys and girls looked at Martin with admiration and amazement. Being children, their jealousy was fleeting, and witnessing Martin's skill left a lasting impression that would stay with them for years to come.
Clap, clap, clap!
Jessica started clapping, and soon everyone joined in, their applause filling the air.
Nancy walked over quickly, first smiling at Martin. "That was a fantastic performance!"
Then her face hardened as she turned to Kiefer. "You can leave. You've made a foolish mistake."
She turned to the crew. "Go find his guardian."
Kiefer left, dazed and humiliated.
"Director, can we use that footage?" Martin asked. He never called Nancy "Aunt" on set, respecting her wish to keep their relationship professional—a gesture she deeply appreciated.
"Of course we can. That 'fantastic' was no exaggeration." Nancy smiled. "Kiefer's stunt was reckless, but it actually turned out for the best. That scene is going to be a classic."
"Good to hear." Martin smiled, his face radiating with warmth.
"You can take a short break; the next scene will be ready in ten minutes."
Nancy, worried the confrontation might have rattled Martin, gave him time to collect himself.
Martin didn't need it, but he accepted her kindness. "Thanks, Director."
As Martin headed toward the trailer, Jessica gathered her courage and jogged over.
Seeing Jessica's approach, Nancy's face softened with an auntly smile. Her little Martin was growing up, starting to exude a magnetic charm that attracted girls' attention.
The other young actors noticed Jessica's movement. Some rolled their eyes, some scowled, some were envious, and two especially pretty girls muttered "brat" under their breath. Jessica remained oblivious to the judgment of her peers—or, if she did, she didn't care.
Jessica had been in the industry for four years, doing commercials, appearing in the film Camp Nowhere, guest-starring on the popular show The Secret World of Alex Mack, and acting in several indie films.
Last year, she landed the role of Maya in Flipper, a show currently airing, though its ratings were modest.
Although Jessica wasn't well-known to the public, her sweet looks and extensive experience had already made her a recognizable option for casting directors and producers.
Nancy hadn't even needed to interview her; a quick look at her resume was enough to cast her.
As a young "veteran" in show business, Jessica had learned an important lesson—opportunities needed to be pursued, sometimes by any means necessary.
Right now, Martin was a promising "opportunity" in her eyes.
Unlike most young actors, Jessica had already established connections. Her agent had briefed her on Martin's background and advised her to build a good rapport with him on set.
Jessica, however, had plans beyond that.
Girls in their early teens often matured quickly, especially those like Jessica, who had spent four to five years navigating the entertainment world. She'd seen and heard more than most kids her age, and she definitely didn't think like a child anymore.
Martin, younger than her by over two years, was handsome, came from a good family, and was already proving himself—he'd published a book at 11, written a screenplay, and was now starring in its adaptation. Compared to the pudgy, creepy producers and casting directors, Martin seemed like a dream.
Jessica was open-minded about the industry's realities but still had her limits.
"Hey, Martin, could you wait up for a second?"
Martin turned, smiling. "Hey, Jessica."
He'd noticed this girl long ago. She would go on to become a major star, beloved as "Hollywood's sweetheart" and known as the "Chocolate Beauty," particularly admired in China, where her looks were well-regarded.
Though not yet the voluptuous beauty she'd become, Jessica's youthful charm was already evident.
Today, she wore a short-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, her look casual yet lively. Her long brown hair bounced as she jogged up to him, giving her an irresistibly cute appearance.
With a hint of shyness and nervousness that made her seem like a typical young girl, Jessica's mixed-race features added a layer of unique beauty.
For most boys, her charms would've been overwhelming, irresistible.
But Martin was no ordinary boy.
He was a succubus. Only he seduced others; Jessica had no chance of seducing him.
"Is there something you need, Jessica?"
Martin stood still, his gaze warm, and his subtle charm instantly filled the air.
Jessica, taken by his smile, found herself momentarily dazed. It wasn't until Martin asked again that she snapped back to reality, her face reddening genuinely this time. Shyly, she stammered:
"Martin, I… I really like your book, Kung Fu Panda. Could you sign it for me?"
"Of course! But I don't suppose you brought a copy with you?"
Jessica grinned sheepishly. "I did! I hid it so it wouldn't get caught on camera."
She lifted her shirt slightly, revealing a smooth, chocolate-toned waist, and pulled a book tucked into her jeans' waistband.
"Good thing I have a slim waist, or it wouldn't have fit," she joked.
As she withdrew the book, she twisted slightly, playfully showing off her slender figure, which made Martin chuckle to himself.
Nice try, he thought—but a bit immature!
[•———•———•———•]
𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:
• 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮
• 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝
• 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗲
𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟭𝟴𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!
👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
💬 𝘼𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝘼𝙫𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩! 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 $30—𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 10% 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩! 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚: 𝗚𝗢𝗗𝗢𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥.
𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙂𝙋𝙏 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣-𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮, 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨, 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!
👉𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽: 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧/𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥