Chapter 161

"Justin, be a gentleman and shut up, okay?!"

Justin didn't know how to respond.

Since childhood, he had performed everywhere and participated in various talent shows, but he had never been one for reading. Whether it was his cognitive abilities, language skills, or even the vocabulary in his brain, he was far outclassed by Martin. For a moment, he stood there frozen.

In the end, host Jon Stewart stepped in to save him.

"It seems that our Mr. Timberlake's show of affection didn't go over too well, but at least it gave us a glimpse of Martin's eloquence. I bet everyone had a good laugh, right?" he said.

Laughter rippled through the audience.

Jon Stewart continued, "Now that Mr. Timberlake has finished entertaining us, let's get back to the awards. Some people are already waiting impatiently. Don't worry, what's not yours is still not yours."

Another round of laughter followed.

As expected from a veteran of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the host's quick wit defused the tension in the room.

The rest of the awards ceremony continued without incident.

The next day, Martin's confrontation with Justin started to trend online.

Almost everyone sided with Martin, criticizing Justin for his inappropriate behavior, which seemed to force others into an uncomfortable situation. Meanwhile, Martin's reputation as a "friend of women" was further solidified. He had once again come to the aid of another girl.

However, things took a strange turn.

On the internet, many female netizens began to target Britney.

"Britney, you're not good enough for Martin. You should go back to Justin Timberlake."

"Britney is just a chubby girl, how could Martin like her?"

"Martin is ours. Britney, please stay away."

As one of North America's most popular trends, Britney Spears' fans were far from passive. They fired back at the criticisms with force.

"Sorry, but even Martin? We don't think he's good enough for Britney."

"Britney is not good enough for Martin. You must be blind."

"Is Martin yours? Then Britney is ours. Stay away from him!"

Britney's rise to fame had been meteoric. Since the release of her debut album Baby One More Time on January 12, 1999, she had captured the hearts of millions. Her hit singles, including the title track, "Sometimes," and "(You Drive Me) Crazy," were all top-charting hits. The album had topped the Billboard 200 in its first week and had eventually been certified 14-times platinum.

She was nominated for "Best New Artist" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" at that year's Grammy Awards, though she didn't win either.

In 1999, Britney held 56 concerts across the United States and Canada, all of which sold out. Her popularity was overwhelming. Many saw her as a successor to Madonna, poised to become the next pop queen of North America.

With such immense fame, Britney had countless fans, but so did Martin.

The argument between female netizens and Britney's supporters had now escalated, with Martin's fans stepping in.

"What does this have to do with Martin? Why are you attacking him?"

"Martin is a thousand times more talented than Britney."

"What makes Britney worthy of Martin? Talent and looks, Martin has it all."

While the internet was buzzing with controversy, Martin took Britney on a private tour of his 2,845-square-meter luxury estate in Beverly Hills.

"Check out this house," Martin said, guiding her through the property. "It's in the prime location of Trousdale Estates, with unobstructed views of the canyon, city, and ocean from every room."

He pointed to an olive tree. "This tree is over 20 years old, a real antique."

"And the pool," he added, showing off the infinity pool. "I designed it myself."

Britney was captivated by the pool, as were Jessica, Dorothy, and Lindsay when they visited. She didn't even notice when Martin took the opportunity to put his arm around her waist.

Well, maybe she did notice, but she was pretending not to!

Britney, known for her work as a singer and dancer, had a toned body with no fat on her abdomen. She was 18 years old, and although some people called her "the chubby girl," it was likely due to the baby fat on her face. With her curvy body and unique, sultry voice, she had a combination of sexy and cute that made her incredibly appealing.

The sun set beneath the horizon as Martin and Britney continued their tour, finally making their way to the master bedroom.

"What a big bed!" Britney exclaimed, amazed by its size.

"The bed's not only big but also incredibly soft," Martin chuckled. "Want to try it?"

Britney fell silent, her skin flushing.

Martin wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her toward the bed. She obediently followed.

What followed could only be described as a romantic and intimate moment.

When it was over, Britney lay in Martin's arms, looking a little nervous. She asked a rather strange question.

"Martin, how do you feel about what just happened?"

Martin was momentarily stunned. "Why do you ask?"

"Because they say that men don't have a good experience with inexperienced women! And this was my first time, so... I don't really understand!" she said shyly.

Martin laughed. "Who told you that?"

"Is it really the experience that matters?" he teased. "What matters is the first time. It's unforgettable."

He smiled and added, "And trust me, I loved every second of it!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

Britney's face lit up with a satisfied smile.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧