Chapter 368 - Unexpected Phone Call

"That's right. In his position, you absolutely cannot show weakness in your demeanor. That would only make your adversaries mock you and your subordinates lose confidence. If you want to learn to play such a role, the first thing to pay attention to is your posture and demeanor, including how you stand, how you walk, and what kind of movements you make."

"Next, the second thing to pay attention to is his gaze. Whether a character succeeds or not, the gaze is crucial. If you have a great posture but pair it with a lecherous look, then even if you stand tall and show a powerful aura, you will still be perceived as a lecherous person."

"Hmm," Roy nodded as if he had gained some insight. He felt that these points of attention she mentioned could be applied not only to portraying the old man but also to other roles.

As they were talking, the old man changed into casual clothing and gestured to Quentin, then walked into the study. About half an hour later, Quentin walked out with a composed expression.

Laila watched her mother, who was now eagerly questioning Quentin about what the old man had said and shook her head with a smile. Did she need to ask what had been said? Even though it felt a bit awkward, witnessing her mother behaving like a worried young girl about to get married seemed quite amusing.

Roy had been paying attention to her all along and naturally noticed her smiling and shaking her head. He knew she had already guessed what had happened. This left him feeling a bit frustrated. If she were slow to catch on, she could analyze everything and everyone around her with her intelligence. However, if she were sensitive, what did that say about him?

Perhaps it was because he didn't yet have the qualifications to stand by her side that she hadn't considered him a genuine romantic interest. It was a frustrating realization.

After dinner, aside from carefree Laila and the quiet and obedient Abel, everyone else had their thoughts.

Quentin and the old man, of course, had their own conversation. Janet was curious about what her father had said. Grandma focused her attention on her son-in-law and grandson-in-law while also making sure the young boy ate enough.

After dinner, it was time for Janet to distribute the gifts, and Laila, Roy, and even Abel received many presents.

Of course, these weren't expensive jewelry or luxury items. They were all souvenirs purchased during their world tour, such as quirky wooden carvings and ethnically inspired shawls.

Laila was genuinely interested in these items, so she decided to keep them all. She had thought that this weekend would be a holiday at home without any worries or trivial matters, but a phone call changed everything.

The call was from Jackie Chan. After some pleasantries, he suddenly asked a question, "Laila, do you know about a highly-rated show in the East called the Spring Festival Gala?"

Laila hadn't expected him to ask this question out of the blue, and her heart skipped a beat. Could it be...

"Of course, my grandmother is from the East, and we celebrate the Spring Festival at home. Whenever I have the time, I watch some of that show."

"If, and I mean if, the director of the Spring Festival Gala wants to invite you to participate, would you be interested?" Jackie Chan asked somewhat nervously.

He knew that Laila wasn't an artist, and she was a wealthy heiress worth billions. Inviting her could potentially have some negative repercussions.

Sure enough, Laila suppressed her racing heart and asked in a "calm" tone, "Why me? I'm just a director; I'm not someone who can be liked by the audience, right?" She considered herself a very low-key director. She had only directed a few movies, after all. Though she thought of herself as low-key, she couldn't really hide in the shadows when she was someone who frequently made headlines.

"You're underestimating your influence in the East," Jackie Chan chuckled. "Rush Hour did quite well over there, especially considering you're so young and have already directed several excellent films. Many young people in the East are your fans."

Laila smiled but didn't take his words too seriously. While Rush Hour did perform decently at the box office, it was probably due to the prominence of her name. She was well aware that Eastern fans were more interested in Hollywood celebrities, and when it came to director names, aside from a few top-tier directors, there probably weren't many recognizable ones.

However, if she could participate in the Spring Festival Gala, it would be an opportunity for her, a chance to break into the Eastern entertainment industry. She had a better understanding of future developments than anyone else. When the North American market had reached its limit, the powerful rise of the Eastern country opened up a new gold mine for many in Hollywood.

At first, proud Hollywood was a bit like a shy bride, hesitantly extending a hand for collaboration, allowing some Eastern actors to make brief appearances in their films or creating special versions for the East. But when they realized that Eastern audiences weren't easily fooled, they became more open to cooperation and eagerly devoured this valuable opportunity.

The first person to eat crab would always be pleasantly surprised. She knew that some Hollywood companies had already set their sights on the East, but she had the advantage of being 25% Eastern herself, and she had also directed a Hollywood film with an Eastern lead! These two factors alone would allow her to get closer to the Eastern people.

Moreover, in her heart, Laila was more than willing, even eager, to set foot on that land she missed so much. But she couldn't agree too easily. From her standpoint, there were many things to consider, and she needed to find a good excuse that would allow her to go without it seeming too abrupt.

"I'm just a director, and even if I were to participate in the show, what could I possibly do?" she feigned hesitation and then added with a wry smile, "Do you think I can sing or dance? Or maybe do a cross-talk routine with someone?"

Jackie Chan was amused by her response. "Don't worry; they won't force you to do anything you don't like. You can just stand on stage and say a few words of blessing. Of course, if you want to sing and dance, they would be very welcoming."

With this, his tone relaxed considerably, as he sensed that she wasn't strongly resisting the idea. As long as she didn't resist too much, there was a chance she would agree. Then he could give a positive response to the person who had asked him for help.

Laila "hesitated" for a moment and said, "You know, this is an election year, and I do have a great curiosity about that land. It's just..."

She was speaking the truth. Nobody knew how the newly elected president would steer the relationship between the two countries.