Contract love

Watching Ryan's bewildered expression, Renly stepped forward and patted his shoulder, smiling warmly. "Don't forget, it's at four in the afternoon. If I don't see you on the red carpet, I'll definitely tell the reporters about you and Michelle."

"Buried" wasn't exactly a highly anticipated film. Despite Toronto being the first global stop for its premiere, they didn't receive the highest treatment. The prime screening time at eight in the evening was merely wishful thinking; the showing was scheduled for half past four in the afternoon. The red carpet would start at four, and after the screening, the journalists would rush to the main venue to attend the North American premiere of "The Town" tonight.

Ryan didn't hesitate to give Renly a middle finger, indicating that he was on a date with Michelle. He gritted his teeth and warned, "Make sure you don't mess up the time, or don't blame me."

After seeing Ryan off, Renly headed to the room. After a morning's worth of talking, his throat was parched. "Has the journey been smooth so far?"

"Smooth, but it's just Toronto." Andy tried to find a comfortable spot on the couch, looking left and right. In the end, he picked up a bathrobe and made himself a space. "Your life in Toronto seems quite exciting. In just four days, I feel like I'm falling behind."

"What?" Renly grabbed a bottle of water and took a big gulp. "Ah, you're talking about Ryan? He's a friend I accidentally made. It's quite a long story. I initially thought he was a rigid and uptight guy, but he turned out to be much more interesting than I imagined Canadians to be."

"Of course, Ryan is a part of it, but not the most important part." Andy recalled the significant amount of information from the call he just had and organized his thoughts. "Are you sure there's nothing else bothering you?"

Renly sat down on the nearby couch, paused in his drinking motion, and looked puzzled. He thought for a moment but couldn't come up with anything else. "For the past few days, I've been watching movies."

Andy carefully observed Renly's expression and couldn't help but remind, "Hint: Natalie Portman."

Renly blinked, initially showing an enlightened expression that quickly turned into confusion. "I've crossed paths with her once, but that's about it. She doesn't even know my name."

"Really just that?" Andy had a knowing smile on his face, clearly not buying Renly's explanation.

Renly thought deeply for a moment again, but still came up empty. "Did she say something?"

When he left, he had teased Natalie a bit, but based on the news from the past three days, it hadn't really worked. In fact, the reporters might not have caught the subtlety in his words at all. One reporter had been tailing him for the past three days, and if he hadn't known they were a reporter, he would have thought he was dealing with a stalker. So, Renly couldn't figure out any reason why there would be any connection between Natalie and him.

"She did say something, but what I'm more curious about is what you said to her." This time, Andy genuinely chuckled but didn't drag it out any longer. He revealed the answer, "Her agent called me. Natalie wants to go on a date with you."

Frances Parker was none other than Natalie Portman's agent.

In the face of such sensational news, Renly remained unperturbed, as if he were discussing the affairs of a stranger. This lack of enthusiasm disappointed Andy, who continued to explain, "To be precise, it's a contractual romance." Without waiting for Renly's question, he began to clarify.

"Basically, it means that you'll publicly claim to be in a relationship, and then we'll arrange for some journalists to take photos of your dates. We'll create a schedule for when you'll hold hands, when you'll kiss, when you'll drop her off at home, when you'll spend the night together, and even when you'll break up. Though, behind closed doors, when the reporters aren't watching, you don't actually have to act anymore. During the nights, you're free to do whatever you want, no need for actual intimacy. However, it's still better to create some sparks in public appearances; we don't want to raise suspicions."

Renly's brows slightly furrowed. "Are you saying she's inviting me to engage in a fake romance, but we have to deceive the reporters and the public convincingly?"

"Yes," Andy nodded, confirming, "From September until March next year. That's the preliminary plan. I believe with your acting skills, it shouldn't be an issue. However, if you decide to take the act too far, it's better to let me know in advance to avoid chaos."

So, in life, it all depends on acting skills, is that the message?

"Why me?" Renly wasn't surprised; instead, a slight chuckle escaped his lips.

Andy scrutinized the depth and playfulness in Renly's smile and suddenly realized that Renly seemed to know something. "Exactly, I'm curious too. Why you?" Frances was the most surprised when he received the call.

Generally, to complement the promotion of commercial films, the likelihood of lead actors signing a contract romance is high. From the start of filming until the end of the promotional period, they carefully choreograph the "gradual development of feelings" between the two characters, allowing the media and audiences to feel involved and achieve the best direct promotional effect.

However, in this era of the internet, celebrities' lives are scrutinized under a magnifying glass. The risks of a contractual romance are substantial. It's easy for it to be exposed as fake. Film and PR companies are hesitant to operate such strategies unless the lead actors genuinely ignite sparks, or if the promotional angle of the movie has become stale to a certain extent, then it becomes a backup plan.

But now, Natalie and Renly, two individuals with no connection whatsoever, are suddenly being paired up, and Renly is even a newcomer. In other words, in this contract romance, Renly is the "beneficiary". He's easily recognizable by the audience, and his fame and recognition will skyrocket. Everything reeked of intrigue.

However, Andy didn't place too much importance on this newfound fame. At this stage, Renly was a quintessential actor who relied on his skills. His prowess was the audience's best way to get to know him, rather than getting caught up in tabloids that could easily pigeonhole him as a male ornament.

Andy was even more curious about the reason behind Frances' proposition. Naturally, Frances wasn't willing to reveal more details. He merely inquired if Andy was interested, then dangled the bait, suggesting they could have a more in-depth conversation after the "Buried" screening later today.

"This isn't a question I can answer." Renly found it somewhat absurd and couldn't help but chuckle. "Natalie is currently dating Benjamin Millepiede."

"Benjamin Millepiede?" Andy repeated the name, pondered it for a while, and exclaimed with surprise, "The choreographer from "Black Swan"?"

"Yes," Renly nodded, then briefly recounted their encounter that day.

However, Renly omitted the minor conflict between them. Partly because it wasn't worth making a fuss over, and partly because he believed there was no direct connection. Yet, Andy wasn't willing to let it go easily. He thoroughly questioned every detail, going so far as to dissect their very first moment of meeting. After he had thoroughly examined all the details, he fell into contemplation. "Give me a moment." With that thought, Andy took out his phone, plugged it into the charger, and began dialing a number.

Seeing that there was no business involving him, Renly busied himself, appearing completely unconcerned.

During this round of phone calls, Andy talked for over ninety minutes. The final call was to Frances. They discussed for almost forty minutes, and though they hadn't reached a consensus, they had finally understood the situation's ins and outs. Frances still hadn't fully disclosed the truth, but for Andy, it was sufficient.

Standing up, Andy scanned the area for Renly's figure and finally spotted him on the balcony. Renly was sitting on the balcony, reading a book, and his contented demeanor caused Andy to chuckle. "Even if you're not interested in Natalie Portman, you should at least be getting ready for the afternoon screening. It's your first film and your first time in Toronto, isn't it?"

Renly shrugged. "The first time is forever uncountable. Instead of celebrating every "first time", it's better to treat every time in the future as the first time and truly enjoy it." He looked up and smiled at Andy. "Moreover, there's no way to prepare for the screening, right? Relaxing is the best preparation."

"I can't argue with that." Andy sat down across from Renly. Although he hadn't been present during the actual incident, he could infer that Natalie's current predicament was largely due to Renly having dug a big hole. However, the calm and composed Renly before him now suggested he wasn't someone to be trifled with. This made Andy feel a sense of satisfaction.

"Natalie and Benjamin's relationship can't be exposed; it could affect the Oscar PR after "Black Swan". So, they need a smokescreen. From the current situation, you're the most suitable candidate. Just three days ago, you caused a "scandal", right?" Andy summarized the situation concisely, always wearing a relaxed smile. "For them, it can shift media focus; for us..."

Andy paused briefly, but unfortunately, he still couldn't hook Renly in. He continued, "You can gain enough exposure, which is not only beneficial for "Buried" but also for your fame. So, it's a win-win situation. Of course, they need our help now. We can still negotiate the terms. Maybe we can secure you a good role; after all, it's Toronto, the perfect opportunity. If you agree, this afternoon's screening can be the starting point."

"Are you asking for my opinion?" Renly noticed Andy's pause. "I thought these decisions were made by the agent."

"In that case, if I were to agree, would you be willing to cooperate?" Andy didn't directly answer but responded with a question.

Renly's eyebrow arched slightly, and his smile held a touch of playfulness. "I don't think so."