Chapter 70 – Love Rival

Los Angeles was over a thousand kilometers from New Mexico. Hardy, accompanied by Henry and Matthew, flew to Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico. With the filming base still more than a hundred kilometers away, Hardy instructed Henry to buy a car for their journey to the film and television base.

After visiting Ava, Hardy planned to drive back to Los Angeles. With two drivers, the journey could be completed in a single day.

The car they bought was a Stipunk, the model that Yu Zecheng had promised to give to the station master in the TV series *Latent*. As they drove out of the city, the landscape transitioned to wilderness with rolling mountains in the distance. The climate in New Mexico was dry and hot, with sparse vegetation, leaving the terrain barren and unappealing.

Occasionally, they passed through small villages with square mud houses and exposed wooden beams. The road was nearly empty, with only a few donkey carts indicating the area's rural Mexican influence.

They finally arrived at the filming base, which resembled the Mexican town depicted in the movie. The car drew attention as they pulled up, and someone from the crew recognized Hardy.

"It's Mr. Hardy! Notify Director Nolan immediately!" someone called out.

Before Nolan arrived, a striking figure appeared at the door of a house. Ava Gardner, dressed in a simple Mexican long dress, with her hair rolled up, was still undeniably beautiful. 

"Hadi!" Ava exclaimed, rushing over to Hardy and embracing him.

The nearby crew members smiled at the affectionate greeting, aware of the rumors that Hardy's investment in the film was tied to Ava.

Director Nolan and lead actor Clint Eastwood soon joined them. After exchanging pleasantries, Hardy instructed Henry to bring out the red wine from the car and offer it to the crew, which was met with gratitude.

The filming was progressing well, despite a few minor issues like excessive explosives in an explosion scene, a horse-riding accident, and a minor injury to Eastwood. All were resolved without serious consequences.

"How's Ava performing?" Hardy asked Nolan.

Nolan smiled, "Initially, Miss Ava's acting was a bit stiff, but she's improving under my direction. And of course, her beauty is undeniable."

Nolan then mentioned, "The budget is nearly depleted. We need additional funds to complete the project."

Hardy, accustomed to directors' tendencies to overspend, responded, "How much more do you need?"

"About $100,000," Nolan said, slightly embarrassed.

"That's too much. I'll provide $80,000," Hardy replied, relieved that he had extra funds available.

Nolan accepted the offer, though Hardy warned, "I'm also giving an extra $50,000 as a buffer. If necessary, I might consider changing the director."

With the financial matters settled, Nolan left with Eastwood for the next scene, leaving Hardy and Ava alone.

Ava looked at Hardy with affection, and after a long, passionate kiss, Hardy asked, "How are you finding the filming? Is it different from what you expected?"

"It's tiring but interesting. I don't have many scenes, but I enjoy being here and learning. It's quite different from classroom teaching," Ava replied.

Hardy smiled, "Your song is quite popular now. Are you aware of your fame?"

Ava grinned, "I see reports in the newspapers when we go into town. The song is gaining popularity and even reaching European and American audiences."

As they were about to kiss again, a man's voice interrupted from outside, "Miss Gardner, are you there? I'm here to visit you."

Hardy glanced at Ava, questioning the identity of the intruder. Ava's expression turned angry.

"He's David Walsh, owner of a listed mining company. He came to the area a month ago to investigate copper mines and has been persistent in pursuing me. I've tried to avoid him, but he keeps showing up."

Hardy, unimpressed, took Ava's hand and led her out. They found David Walsh standing outside, dressed in a white suit and holding a bouquet of flowers. Walsh, in his thirties and with a mustache, looked at Hardy with disdain.

"Who are you?" Walsh demanded.

Hardy smiled. "I'm the producer and Ava's boyfriend. Who gave you permission to intrude on our set?"

Walsh was taken aback. He had mistaken the new car parked at the entrance as belonging to Hardy, but the Stipunk was not his style.

"I'm David Walsh, owner of Walsh Mining. I admire Miss Gardner and came to visit. Even if she has a boyfriend, isn't it possible to make new friends?"

David Walsh was a typical playboy, having inherited a mining company with assets exceeding one million dollars. His company was struggling, and he was using his time in New Mexico to pursue Ava Gardner, whom he found enchanting.

Hardy, disgusted by Walsh's arrogance, had no interest in arguing. He instructed Henry and Matthew, "Escort this man out."

Henry and Matthew approached Walsh. David, thinking they were actors with prop guns, was unprepared for what followed.

Matthew drew his revolver and fired, exploding the flowers in Walsh's hand. Startled, Walsh jumped, realizing the gun was real. The crew gasped as Matthew continued to fire, creating a spectacle with his marksmanship.

The gunshots left Walsh's suit with bullet holes, and he was visibly frightened. His pants showed a conspicuous wet stain. With a scream, Walsh stumbled into his car and sped away, narrowly avoiding hitting anything in the empty area.

The crew cheered, impressed by the unexpected display of gunfire. David Walsh's dramatic exit left everyone with a memorable story to tell.