Flocking

From the sunset square to the Chinese Theatre, it's just a four-mile distance, and you can reach there by car in fifteen minutes.

The Chinese Theatre, located on Hollywood Boulevard, is one of the most famous theaters in the United States. It was built in 1927 by the circus owner Sid Grauman, who was known as "Mr. Hollywood", due to his great interest in Chinese culture. The theater had a distinctly Chinese style in its appearance. It looks like a huge red Chinese temple, with a giant Eastern dragon coiled at the entrance and two stone lions guarding the gate. Many small dragons adorn the copper roof.

The Chinese Theatre has hosted the Oscars and the handprints and footprints of Hollywood stars in front of the theater have become another attraction on Hollywood Boulevard, apart from the Walk of Fame. Additionally, the Chinese National Theater is also one of the famous venues for Hollywood premieres. Every year, many movies choose to premiere here. Due to its capacity of 2,200 spectators, only large-scale premieres are held here.

"A Few Good Men" had chosen the Chinese Theatre for its premiere, and one could imagine the grandeur of the ceremony.

When Hugo, Uma, and Joseph arrived on Hollywood Boulevard, they could see the surging crowd at the theater entrance, just three hundred yards away. Although it was impossible to count them all, there were at least over three hundred fans present today, surpassing the scale of any premiere Hugo had attended before.

Hugo was initially quite nervous, but when he turned his head, he saw Uma's charming face already tensed up, overflowing with excitement. This was an Uma that Hugo had never seen before. The Uma he knew was a bold woman who would willingly kiss him in front of the media, a daring woman who would fearlessly do whatever she wanted. But this uneasiness and nervousness were so unfamiliar yet so familiar to him.

Hugo chuckled softly and said, "Will the two of us walking the red carpet be like zombies approaching?"

Uma burst into laughter at Hugo's description. It was such a humorous analogy that Uma couldn't help but imagine such a scene in her mind. After laughing, Uma took a deep breath and said, "I've never attended such a large-scale premiere before. My heart is pounding." As she spoke, Uma placed her right hand on her left chest, feeling the strong yet erratic rhythm of her heartbeat.

Uma could count on one hand the number of works she had appeared in so far, and none of them had achieved noteworthy success. Even "Final Analysis", which was released earlier this year, sank without a trace. So, it was natural for Uma to feel nervous in such a situation.

Seeing the slight furrow on Uma's brow, Hugo's own nervousness was alleviated to some extent. He couldn't help but playfully tap Uma's nose with his right index finger and gave her a big smile. "At the last premiere, you directly attacked my lips, and I couldn't see any signs of nervousness from you."

Hugo's teasing made Uma laugh again. "That's different. At least you didn't have a camera with you." In fact, Uma's personality was brave and straightforward. She could remain composed in the face of various grand occasions, and her nervousness was only momentary, quickly adjusting. It was just that today's event was particularly grand, requiring a bit more time.

Now, with Hugo's two consecutive teasing remarks, Uma relaxed further. Uma's eyes looked at Hugo, who was close by, and she slightly parted her lips, saying, "Or maybe we could do it again today, and maybe then I won't be nervous."

Uma's breath, as gentle as a breeze, lightly brushed against Hugo's lips. Her seductive eyes flickered, and then she slowly leaned forward, feeling Hugo's increasingly rapid breath and the growing warmth. Finally, she kissed his tender lips with her own. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as the distance between Hugo and Uma closed little by little. Their eyelids drooped gradually until the warmth of the kiss enveloped them both.

It was just a light kiss, and soon they separated, opening their eyes to look at each other. A beautiful curve formed at the corner of Hugo's mouth. "So, are you still nervous now?"

"If you are by my side." Uma smiled softly, causing Hugo's heartbeat to rise with the curve of her lips. Then it gently subsided. Hugo nodded lightly. "It is my honor to serve a lady."

Joseph, sitting opposite them, shifted his gaze outside the window, pretending not to have seen any of it. The atmosphere in the carriage, which made faces blush and hearts race, was quite influential. Joseph couldn't help but feel that his gaze was misplaced. Fortunately, the destination was reached as they engaged in conversation.

After the car door was opened by security, Hugo was the first to step out of the car. The cheers from the crowd immediately rushed towards him. Amidst the screams, the chants of "Hugo" came one after another. Hugo's gaze finally fell upon the dazzling red carpet in front of him, and then he was drawn to the size of the crowd of over three hundred fans on both sides.

The red carpet extended from the street along the steps to the entrance of the theater. In the middle, there was a platform about half a person's height with railing less than three feet high surrounding it. Both sides were crowded with people, pressing tightly against the railing, expressing their utmost excitement at the lively scene on the platform.

On the platform, there were media reporters squatting on both sides of the red carpet. Roughly estimating, there were at least thirty or more reporters present today, and this scale was not to be underestimated. At the end of the red carpet was the backdrop of "A Few Good Men", where actors like Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore had already arrived and were being interviewed by the media.

Originally, the fans on both sides of the platform were calling out Jack's name, but when the extended Lincoln stopped at the side of the street, more than half of the people shifted their attention: only Hugo hadn't arrived at the scene yet.

Sure enough, when Hugo's figure appeared, the screams immediately gathered all their strength and rushed towards him. The over three hundred fans in front of him, whether real or intentionally arranged by the media, regardless of the scale or enthusiasm, were on a completely different level compared to the scenes Hugo had experienced before. The screaming, mixed with a clangorous sound, rushed towards Hugo like a wave of air, catching him off guard. Before he could react, his ears were filled with a chorus of screams.

Subsequently, the flashes from the reporters crowded in, with flashes flickering here and there, resembling blooming flowers, creating a scene where Hugo's eyes didn't have time to adjust effectively. He felt a momentary darkness before countless points of light drifted in the darkness. This sudden blindness made Hugo feel dizzy and overwhelmed.

This was truly a grand premiere. The fan groups Hugo had encountered before were too small in scale. The impact caused by the over three hundred fans collectively was an unprecedented shock for Hugo. The swelling sensation in his heart and the dizziness in his head made him almost unable to believe it was real.

Once upon a time, the moment he had dreamed of appeared before his eyes today. It didn't matter how many fans were present or how grand the scene was. These people in front of him were cheering for his arrival, excited because of his presence. The colorful scene filled Hugo's chest with excitement, happiness, and joy. He felt as if he was in heaven, surrounded by flowers and applause. The vibrant atmosphere rendered his brain incapable of coherent thoughts.

"Hugo!" a voice came from behind, bringing Hugo back to his senses. It was Uma.

The darkness in his vision gradually receded, leaving only specks of light in the corners of his eyes. The ringing in his ears persisted, but at least the throbbing in his temples subsided, allowing him to hear other sounds.

Hugo looked at Uma, who was still tense. Her emerald eyes looked deeply into his. Uma's left hand held his right arm, its coldness and trembling reminding Hugo of her nervousness, which ironically calmed him down. Today, this place was his domain, the premiere of the movie he starred in. Compared to the small and cautious premiere of "Scent of a Woman," this was a much broader stage, and he would not be stage fright!

Hugo smiled widely at Uma, and within his profound eyes, Uma could see tiny sparks slowly igniting, igniting the nervousness in her heart as well. The corner of Uma's mouth formed a curve mirroring Hugo's smile.

At this moment, cheers and camera flashes poured in together, but magically, Hugo and Uma could only sense each other's presence. Their rhythms quietly merged, as if this was a world belonging only to them.

Then, Hugo looked back at the dazzling red carpet ahead. Holding Uma's arm, he took a step forward. Joseph, standing by the car door, adjusted his tie and followed suit.

Hugo appeared! His handsome and imposing presence shook the entire venue. His casual yet artistic attire left everyone breathless. Reporters hurriedly pressed the shutters on their cameras, while fans expressed their inner excitement. Just as everyone was about to shift their gaze away from the captivating gloves on Hugo's hands, Uma appeared.

Uma stood side by side with Hugo. Her attire exuded the same bold and refreshing aura. Standing next to Hugo, she emitted a sense of perfect harmony. Although both were dressed casually, no one thought it was inappropriate. On the contrary, their carefree and confident demeanor, accentuated by the backdrop of the red carpet, radiated a dazzling brilliance. As the two stood on the red carpet, they exchanged a glance. In that moment, the sparks between them overshadowed all the camera flashes, cheers, and screams, leaving everyone speechless.

People quickly recalled Uma and Hugo's earth-shattering kiss at the premiere of "Final Analysis" earlier this year. And now, the two of them appeared together at the premiere of "A Few Good Men". Could it be that the rumors about them... were true?