America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Walking up the long steps to the Lumiere Hall, Martin saw many members of the jury.

Li Dongcang from South Korea was the first to come over and shake hands with Martin, displaying great enthusiasm.

Martin responded enthusiastically as well.

Bruce whispered a reminder.

Martin turned around, and John Travolta came over. He took two steps forward and shook hands with the veteran star: "Hello, John."

Travolta seemed to be merely greeting as a formality, and said with a smile, "Hubbard, the Sect Hierarch, sends his regards to you."

"Thank you," Martin understood that Hubbard must be the Hierarch of Scientology.

Travolta added, "The Sect Hierarch Hubbard hopes to discuss with you the joint development between Scientology and the Cola Cult in Los Angeles."

On the surface, Martin appeared very interested, "Please send my regards to Hierarch Hubbard. I have many matters regarding the development of religious factions that I would like to consult with him, an experienced senior."

After all, he was a sect leader himself.

Travolta nodded, shook hands with Martin again, and quickly left.

Martin continued to shake hands and exchange a few words with the other jury members.

When it was Shu Qi's turn, he switched to Mandarin: "Miss Shu is my favorite Eastern female artist. I have seen many of Miss Shu's works."

"Your Mandarin is so good; it's really unexpected," Shu Qi shook hands with Martin and then asked, "Have you really seen many of my works?"

Martin nodded, it was indeed true. He had watched films like the Red Light District and Sex and Zen many times over in his past life.

Especially the latter, a masterpiece in the realm of art films.

Naturally, he wouldn't say this: "I also saw 'If You Are the One' last year."

Hearing the Chinese title of the film, Shu Qi was sure that what Martin said was very likely true. Women tend to be more emotional, and her favorable impression of Martin greatly increased.

Moreover, she also remembered something. A friend from the Bartenders' Association headquartered in Harbor City had called her, asking her to pay more attention to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and its lead actor, Martin.

Shu Qi tried asking, "Can we take a photo together?"

"No problem." Martin stood next to her and waved over a photographer brought along by the crew specifically to take pictures of the two.

It had been no easy feat for Shu Qi to become a jury member at Cannes.

After taking the photo, Martin went to find other jury members.

All the films participating in the competition had already completed production, and it was impossible to make many changes to the films themselves, so the struggle for awards naturally shifted from the films themselves to other aspects.

Those who understand the workings of film awards know that the real battlefield lies beyond the screen.

On Shu Qi's end, Louise Mel had already sent out a greeting through the International Bartenders Association.

Martin couldn't be sure if he would win an award, but whether he would win or not, he had to cripple his biggest competitor first.

He believed his biggest competitor to be Quentin's "Inglourious Basterds."

Martin then exchanged a few words with another juror, Italian actress Aisha Akido.

After meeting her in person, Martin realized she was the female lead in "xXx."

This also made him recall some things about Harvey he had seen in his previous life.

Martin hadn't seen jury chair Isabel Yuper, and turned to Bruce, "Have someone influence Aisha Akido in private. I seem to recall hearing somewhere that she is one of Harvey's victims."

Bruce nodded, checked to make sure no one was around, and said in a low voice, "It feels like we're becoming Harvey."

"That's normal, the dragon slayer eventually becomes the dragon himself." Martin considered himself a bastard, but compared to Harvey, he dared say he was a good man.

"We never force women into anything," he said.

Bruce, thinking of the Kardashian sisters, said, "We are the ones being forced by women!"

Martin glanced around and suddenly saw Mene making a photo with Isabel Huppert in a corner of the main entrance platform.

Bruce saw it too and commented, "As expected of Mene, quickly got a photo with the art film goddess."

While Mene was taking a photo with Huppert, he was furiously complaining about the other Isabel, saying that just yesterday on Seaside Boulevard, her face looked like it was cracked open, capable of frightening someone to death.

The seemingly cultured and lofty Huppert, oddly enough, liked listening to these kinds of things.

Moreover, Mene possessed a particular charm and scent that was especially appealing to older women, something Huppert had grown fond of since 2000.

Although their conversation wasn't long, they left a deep impression on each other.

Mene also got Huppert's contact information.

Martin chatted with Huppert for a bit, then entered the Lumiere Hall.

Bruce gave Mene a stealthy thumbs up.

Mene smiled confidently, as if these were just trifles, nothing to make a fuss about.

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival officially opened.

The opening film of this edition was Pixar's "Up."

Although just an animated film, its release caused a sensation, especially the beginning, which was highly praised.

Disney had just digested Pixar Animation Studios, and its influence on Pixar was not too significant for the time being; Pixar's animated films were still a synonym for quality.

In less than a decade, Pixar would be homogenized by Disney.

After watching the opening film and returning to the hotel to take the elevator, Martin ran into Charlize Theron again and overheard her complaining to a companion about starving for many days in a row to walk the red carpet.

As a good neighbor and a true gentleman, Martin invited Charlize to have some late-night snacks together.

Of course, a couple of other crew members were included as well.

Charlize had a good impression of Martin and was planning to go out for a bite herself, so she accepted the offer, "I'll go change first, and we can meet in the lobby afterward?"

Martin replied, "That works."

Both changed into casual clothes and came down to the lobby where about a dozen people went out to a nearby restaurant together.

Martin had already reserved a spot.

The Cannes Film Festival had just started, and it was a crazy time for the media journalists.

From the moment Martin and Charlize left the hotel to the moment they reached the restaurant door, a large group of reporters followed them, snapping photos.

Many of them specifically adjusted their lenses to exclude the likes of David Fincher and Jennifer Lawrence, focusing only on Martin and Charlize walking together.

Just from the camera angle, these two seemed to be going on a late-night date to have snacks alone.

Resourceful entertainment reporters naturally understood market demands and knew what the gossip-hungry public liked, using that knowledge to create news.

Influenced by his partner Jody, Ivan had also become adept in this area.

He and his assistant followed Aisha Akido into an Italian restaurant and deliberately chose a table close to hers.

Aisha ate her late-night snack absentmindedly, pondering the message a middleman had relayed to her.

Harvey wanted her help to push "Inglourious Basterds" for a major award.

Aisha felt somewhat disordered internally.

"I wonder who will be the unlucky one at this edition of the Cannes Film Festival," came a voice speaking American English nearby. Aisha, having tried to break into Hollywood, could understand, "Harvey Weinstein is here, Cannes won't be peaceful. Last year, or the year before, he locked someone in a hotel room all day for an overseas film deal!"

Another person added, "What's that compared to what I saw? A few years back I witnessed him lock up a famous actress in his hotel room."

"Harvey brings his Hollywood tactics to Cannes; plenty of beautiful women are here, and surely there will be some unfortunate souls."

"Others talk about mutual benefits and consensual deals, but it's rare for someone like Harvey to use force."

"He's a big shot, a wealthy man, who can do anything to him?"

As the faint conversation reached her, Aisha remembered a deliberately forgotten event—during the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, she encountered Harvey Weinstein, who lured her to his hotel room with promises of helping her make it in Hollywood...

Aisha always felt it was a setup!

The promises Harvey made to her were never fulfilled, and since she left no evidence and truly wanted to break into Hollywood, she didn't dare offend Harvey and chose to selectively forget the incident.

Aisha knew she couldn't afford to provoke Harvey, and she dared not talk too much about it, considering the whole thing was not exactly glorious on her part.

She put down her cutlery, slowly wiped her mouth clean, just as she had done years ago in that hotel room.

Direct action was definitely out of the question, but she could make a move quietly, behind the scenes.

Aisha was now a jury member, and Harvey's film was vying for important awards.

When leaving the restaurant, Aisha made up her mind and deliberately bought the dessert that Isabel enjoyed, taking it back to the hotel and delivering it to Isabel's room.

Isabel was tough and eager for "The White Ribbon" to win an award, but she knew she needed to be strategic and garner the support of other jurors.

Aisha took the initiative to get closer, and Isabel accepted her kindness.

......

Los Angeles, Beverly Hills. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

Stuart Townsend, idly lounging about, got up in the morning, picked up the newspaper from the doorstep, and went back to read it over breakfast.

Flipping to the entertainment section, he suddenly lost his appetite.

Stuart saw several photos, all featuring Martin Davis with his girlfriend, Charlize.

They left the hotel together, they strolled down the road together, they entered a restaurant together, they left the restaurant together...

Intimate, as though they were a couple.

The headlines on the newspaper were also startling.

"Martin Davis Suspected of Sparking a Romance with Charlize Theron, Showing Up Together at Cannes!"

Stuart completely lost his appetite; those two bastards were cheating behind his back!

He grabbed another newspaper from under the table; in the photos, Martin and Charlize stood by the sea, looking into each other's eyes, their gazes seemingly electric.

"Damned neighbor!" Stuart roared, "Why does my neighbor have to be trash like Martin Davis!"

No one could answer him.

Stuart pulled out his phone, not caring about the time difference, and dialed Charlize's number. When she answered, he accused her, "What have you done? You shameless, crazy woman, how dare you cheat!"

Charlize didn't understand, "What are you raving about!"

Stuart bellowed, "I told you to stay away from Martin Davis! Further away! Don't you understand? You dare to do this to me!"

Trying to keep her composure, Charlize responded, "My relationship with Martin is nothing more than neighbors and work."

Stuart wasn't listening, he warned, "If you don't stay away from that bastard Martin Davis, I'll burn down your house, and the house next to it, Martin Davis' house!"

Left with no other choice, Charlize spoke soothingly, "Wait till I get back, and we'll talk it over."