Chapter 74: Will You Marry Me?

Universal Studios, at a street-side café, a piano tune softly playing in the background.

"Sarah, who do you think is more handsome and charming, me or Ryan?" Richard asked with a smile, exuding charm.

Sarah was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. "What are you trying to do? Seduce me?"

"Of course not. I just want you to give an objective assessment of me and Ryan from a third-party perspective," Richard replied with a chuckle.

"Well…" Sarah propped her chin with her finger, scrutinizing him closely. "You and Ryan are two different styles of handsome. You have a sharp, rugged look, a masculine type. Ryan is sunny and cute, the boy-next-door type. It depends on personal preference. Some people would prefer you, some Ryan. It's hard to say who's better."

"Based solely on our looks, who do you think would be more popular and go further in Hollywood?" Richard asked again.

"... It should be you! Your looks are more distinctive, you have a better physique, suitable for action movies. Action stars always have a market," Sarah said.

"Great! Now imagine if a plane crashed and you were stranded on a deserted island. If a man appeared on the beach, would you hope it was me or Ryan?"

"Haha, what kind of question is that?" Sarah laughed, covering her mouth.

"It's a serious question. Do you have an answer?" Richard said, crossing his arms with a smile.

Sarah looked at him and smiled. "It should be you. On a deserted island, the first thing I need to deal with is survival, facing countless dangers and hunger. You're strong and capable. With you by my side, I'd feel safer."

"Great, now let's change the scene. In a big city, if you had to marry a man to survive, and your only choices were me and Ryan, who would you choose?"

"Wow, isn't that a bit too much? With so many people in the world, why can I only choose between you two?" Sarah said, dissatisfied.

"This is exactly the choice you're facing now. One option is to work with me, the other is to support Ryan. I have the ability, ambition, successful methods, and the determination to keep climbing. But what about Ryan? You know him better than I do. Who do you think would benefit your career more and provide more future support?" Richard asked.

"It's you," Sarah said softly.

"Then why not choose to work with me?" Richard spread his hands.

Sarah didn't speak, just quietly looked at his face. "As for your third question, if I had to marry either you or Ryan, I would never choose you."

"Oh, why?" Richard asked, puzzled.

"You're excellent and capable, but you're too ambitious and cunning. I don't have the confidence to control you, so I wouldn't choose you," Sarah said, sighing lightly as she brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.

"Men should be daring and strive forward. Why would you want to control them?" Richard asked.

"You know my background. When I was seven, that man abandoned me and my mother, leaving me with a lack of security since childhood. If I married a man as ambitious as you, I'd be worried you'd abandon me and our children one day to pursue your so-called future and career. Now you understand?" Sarah explained.

"But I wouldn't be like your father. I'd be like my father. Do you know how my father died?" Richard squinted his eyes and smiled faintly. "He was shot to death by enemies, lying on top of my mother and me when he died, his eyes wide open, as if telling me, 'Little Richard, take care of your mom.'"

"Oh…" Sarah covered her open mouth, her long eyelashes wet with tears.

Richard wiped the corner of his eye. "It's all in the past," he said with a light smile, turning to pick a rose from a vase. "So, dear Sarah, will you marry me, wash my clothes, cook for me, bear my children, wash my feet, clean the floor, scrub the toilet..."

"Hmph, you're so annoying, joking at a time like this," Sarah glared at him, her eyes still wet, snatching the rose from his hand.

"Uh, did you just accept my proposal?!" Richard asked in surprise.

"Idiot, you have a girlfriend and you're flirting with me. You're a scumbag too!" Sarah scolded.

"It was just a joke, please don't question my character."

"Pfft, you've only met Rachel twice and dared to kiss her. You've only met me once and you're proposing. Do you think a man like you has any character?" Sarah teased, smiling with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, though I'm a playboy, I'm handsome and strong."

"...Is there a connection between those statements?" Sarah asked, confused.

"Of course, because I'm handsome, strong, and sexy, many women covet me, wanting to claim me. But how could I let you all succeed so easily? So I'll tighten my belt and protect my body, letting none of you have it," Richard declared.

"Ugh, how can you be so shameless!" Sarah laughed, collapsing onto the table.

Richard shrugged. "I'm a scoundrel, remember?"

"Fine, I'll remember you, scoundrel," Sarah said, pointing at him with a smile.

"So, are you willing to work with me?" Richard extended his hand.

Sarah stopped laughing, frowning as she looked at him. "So, you said all this and made me laugh just to convince me to cooperate?"

"Of course, otherwise, what else could it be, love?" Richard replied.

"Hmph!" Sarah glared at him, stood up, and walked out.

"Hey, aren't you going to treat me to a meal?" Richard called out.

Sarah gave him the middle finger without turning back and walked away.

*Sigh* Women!

Richard shook his head, finished the coffee in his cup, and got up to leave.

"Sir, your bill is twenty-five dollars," the waiter reminded him.

Richard froze for a moment. "Didn't she pay?"

"No," the waiter replied with a smile.

"Alright," Richard said, reluctantly pulling out his wallet and counting the bills, feeling a pang of pain. This girl was too much. Not only did she not treat him to a meal, but she also made him pay. When they got to the set, he'd definitely make her pay for this.

After leaving the café, he stretched and decided to explore the area. Just then, his phone buzzed with a text message.

"Do you have time this afternoon? I'll treat you to a drink," Sarah Michelle Gellar asked.

"No, I have a flight booked for the afternoon. How about you treat me when we get to the set?" Richard replied.

"An afternoon flight?! So you were confident you could convince me in one day?"

"Uh, that's right, Sarah. Before I came, I asked around. Everyone said you're a great girl, honest, kind, beautiful, generous, and easy to talk to. So I thought half a day would be enough."

"Jerk, saying all these nice things is useless. I'm telling you, I'm not convinced, and I refuse to work with you!" Sarah was furious.

"Don't be like that, Sarah. It's fine if we didn't meet today. You don't have to be too upset. We'll be working together on the movie. You'll have plenty of chances... to win me over."

"What?!!"

"Okay, just kidding!"

"Richard, you're a scoundrel and a narcissist!!!" Sarah yelled, dialing his number and ranting.

Click. Richard hung up the phone and rubbed his ear.

After wandering around the movie studio, it was two in the afternoon. Time to find someone to mooch a meal from. He took out his phone and called Ms. Theron.

"Hey, Charlize, I'm in Los Angeles," Richard said.

"Really? What are you here for? Trying to con some girl again?" Charlize teased.

"No, it's work-related. Charlize, remember you said you'd treat me to a meal when I came to L.A. Is that right?"

"When did I say that?"

"Last Wednesday, over the phone."

"I was lying. You lied to me, so I lied to you once. Isn't that fair?"

"Are you sure you won't treat me?"

"No, why would I be crazy enough to treat a conman?"

Charlize laughed.

"Charlize, how about I sing you a song?"

"What song? Sing it quickly. If it's good, I'll treat you."

"Alright," Richard said, preparing himself. "I came to your city, but you don't care to feed me. After all this time, you're still so stingy..."

"Haha, Richard, you're the scoundrel and the miser," Charlize said, laughing.

"Okay, fine, if you want to eat, come quickly. I'm at the lower town area of Universal Studios. Call me when you arrive, and I'll have my assistant pick you up."

"You're at the movie studio too? OK, I'll be there right away."

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(End of Chapter)