Unconventional gambit

"Who is he?"

This was the only question echoing in Diana's mind.

This attire, audacious and arrogant, had forsaken the typical red carpet choice of a dress shirt and the formal suits usually favored for formal occasions. Instead, it opted for a holiday-style ensemble, combining a linen casual suit with a polo shirt. Even on the lenient and unconventional red carpet of the Golden Globe Awards, it could be deemed a remarkable highlight.

This attire was exquisite and elegant, every detail revealing the careful selection that had gone into it. From the handmade polo shirt to the light brown leather shoes, from the watch to the sunglasses, it oozed the privilege and elegance of high society. It seemed to convey that even on vacation, even in casualness, the inherent uniqueness effortlessly stood out.

What was even more significant was that this contradictory style—youthful yet introverted, bold yet restrained, unrestrained yet refined, casual yet poised—seemed to be innate in this man. His slender figure, erect posture, and composed gait, along with the unique aura he exuded in his every move, made everything seem naturally fitting.

At this moment, the red carpet was somewhat crowded. Many artists had paused to be interviewed by reporters, visited by television stations. A small number of staff members worked diligently off-camera. People came and went, creating a vivid scene of the Golden Globe Awards.

Yet, amidst all this clamor, the man's serene and elegant presence possessed an unwavering, formidable power, effortlessly drawing gazes toward him.

Diana was no rookie in the field. On the contrary, she had been in the fashion industry for almost six years, witnessing countless grand scenes. She was truly familiar with the maneuvering on the red carpet. Though the actresses might appear calm on the surface, they were constantly using subtle methods behind the scenes, hoping to secure a larger space in the headlines the next day.

Thus, on the red carpet, many artists indeed brought out their full charisma, treating it as a runway to showcase their allure. Often, certain artists would particularly stand out on the red carpet, impressing viewers.

However, the man before her was different. He didn't deliberately flaunt himself, only stepping forward calmly. A courteous yet faint smile graced his lips. He seemed to reduce his own presence to a minimum, with no intention of grabbing attention. Diana couldn't even recognize which designer's work his outfit was.

If Diana wanted to shift her gaze, she could do so at any time. However, that distinctive aura left a profound impression in her mind. After diverting her eyes, she couldn't help but turn her head again. Camera lens, gaze, attention, focus—all irresistibly zoomed in on him.

This made the surrounding artists, vying for attention with their extravagance and postures, seem like circus clowns.

"Heir," the fervent cry rang in Diana's ears once more. Not surging, not scorching, not boiling, but unwavering. Diana couldn't think of a more suitable word to describe this man. "Heir." She unconsciously murmured it herself.

"Who is he?"

Diana repeated this question. When did Hollywood birth such a figure? How was it that the fashion circle seemed unaware of his existence?

Lifting her head, Diana saw the man turn his smile in a certain direction. He courteously adjusted his chin and took a step forward. In response, she hurriedly squeezed her way towards that direction. Fortunately, it wasn't far, just about five steps away.

Diana tapped the arm of the journalist next to her and glanced at the press badge on their chest. Us Weekly. She asked, "Excuse me, who is he?"

Gavin didn't turn his head; he casually answered, "Renly Hall." He continued to press the shutter, capturing this scene as realistically and comprehensively as possible.

"Renly Hall," Diana repeated the name. Although only about a third of the red carpet had unfolded, she was sure that Renly would undoubtedly hold a prominent spot in tonight's "Fashion" red carpet rankings. It wouldn't be surprising even if he claimed the top spot.

Renly's steps reached the area in front of the reporters. Then, she heard the hoarse cries. The volume wasn't high; in the vast expanse of the audience, it even seemed a bit feeble. Yet, they showed no discouragement, swinging their arms in unison, shouting one after another, "Heir."

This reminded Renly of Philip Dunbar, though Philip was always composed and restrained. Imagining Philip imitating cheerleaders waving flags and shouting, he couldn't help but suppress a chuckle.

Hope Bates shouted with all his might, staring as Renly approached. Renly lifted his head, his smile bursting forth like sunlight breaking through ice. The shouts ceased, overwhelmed by excitement and fervor now converted into screams, "Ah, ah, ah!"

Tears suddenly surged, too vehement and forceful to anticipate. Hope had never imagined that he would one day act like a madman, crying and laughing, shouting and hollering at a stranger. But in this moment, as he looked at Renly before him, emotions of gratitude and excitement surged uncontrollably, tears unstoppable.

This wasn't Renly's first time on the red carpet, yet today's felt different. Not only were there cheers from fans on the sidelines, but the atmosphere at the scene also seemed beyond expectation. The intense heat of the lights and the fervent cheers surged from all directions, penetrating his pores, seeping into every corner of his bloodstream, lifting his mood gently upward.

Renly raised his right hand, waving it in the direction of the audience. He recognized those faces—Hope Bates, William Taylor, and Graham Hughes. Spotting familiar faces on the red carpet always brought joy.

However, Renly hadn't expected that this simple wave of his hand would instantly lead to a cacophony from that group of people, causing a bit of chaos.

He had only seen scenes like this on TV and in movies before, yet now it was happening to him in reality. Renly suddenly realized how "idol-like" his recent actions had been. The thought took root in his mind, both absurd and amusing. His smile couldn't help but broaden.

Withdrawn his gaze, Renly looked at Gavin in front of him and another face beside him, somewhat familiar but with a name that escaped him.

"Renly, how does it feel to be nominated for your first Golden Globe Award?" Gavin adeptly initiated the conversation, opening with a standard question.

"Grateful?" The inflection in Renly's tone lifted slightly, carrying a hint of curiosity yet also a touch of jest. This elicited a light chuckle from the journalists. "Honestly, while shooting "Buried", we never expected the work to garner so much attention. I suppose, compared to the joy of the Golden Globe nomination, what the investors need to celebrate more is not suffering losses. Hah."

Finishing his response, Renly even exaggeratedly let out a sigh, appearing as if he had narrowly escaped a fright. The corners of the journalists' mouths couldn't help but curl upward in amusement.

"Why did you choose an independent work that nobody would pay attention to in the first place? If it weren't for the Golden Globe Awards, perhaps many people wouldn't have heard of such a film." Standing nearby, Cornell skillfully posed his question.

Implicitly, Cornell was suggesting that ultimately, Renly had chosen "Buried" with the goal of awards season in mind. His earlier jest had been nothing but hypocritical pleasantries.

Renly, unperturbed, raised an eyebrow and glanced at the press badge on Cornell's chest—Entertainment Weekly. "I think that's the reason why I didn't work for Entertainment Weekly and chose to become an actor instead. We aspire to be part of excellent works, striving to become outstanding actors. What you desire, on the other hand... I'm not quite sure. Why did you come to the Golden Globe Awards today?"

No one had foreseen this rhetorical counter-question, leaving Cornell momentarily taken aback. Renly's sharp irony and playful humor earned laughter from the other journalists nearby, yet Cornell found himself a bit embarrassed.

"Tonight on the red carpet, you look fantastic. Why did you think to choose this outfit? And whose design is it?" Diana seized the opportunity to interject and promptly posed her question.

Renly turned his head, engaging in a conversation with a smile. "George Wilkes." He provided an entirely unfamiliar answer.

Cornell adjusted his breath. Renly had sidestepped his initial question, but he wasn't disheartened. After Renly answered Diana's query, he jumped in before Gavin, raising his voice to ask, "During your time in Toronto..."

Gavin cast his friend a sidelong glance, easily predicting the subsequent question. This earned him a wry smile.

"You were rumored to be involved with Natalie Portman, yet at the time, you denied it. What was the real reason?"

With this question, the surrounding circle of reporters fell silent. Even those not interested in Renly couldn't overlook the mention of Natalie. In recent times, the body double scandal had caused constant waves, and Natalie had avoided direct responses, adopting an attitude of "I'm not afraid of shadows when my heart is upright." Instead, she had relied on "Black Swan" cast members to defend her, confounding the journalists.

If there was a breakthrough to be made from Renly...

"Because it was false." Renly's response was succinct and clear, accompanied by a slightly incredulous expression. Of course, it was fabricated; I naturally had to deny it.

"However, recent rumors suggest that Natalie was actually dating Benjamin at the time, and the so-called rumor was a smokescreen. Yet you firmly denied it..." Cornell wasn't one to give up easily. The other reporters refrained from interfering, allowing him to continue undisturbed. In the end, his words left a lingering implication, punctuated by a pregnant pause.

Renly, however, burst into laughter. "If I'm not mistaken, I didn't appear in the cast of "Black Swan". It seems you've got the wrong person. Or did I perform but suffered from memory loss?"

This quip elicited suppressed chuckles from the journalists. Yet, Cornell didn't join in the laughter, persistently pressing on, "Yet the rumor was related to you. I'm currently inquiring about this matter. What is your response?"