Chapter 137 -137: Still So Fast
“Alright, everyone, let’s continue; time is tight, we’re almost done!” After ending the discussion with the assistant director, Adrian called for everyone to start working. Typically, he would clap to gather attention, but now someone was clinging to his arm and chest, refusing to let go, so he had to raise his voice.
“Where is Kate, she’s the lead in this scene.” Adrian scanned the actors on set and furrowed his brow, but fortunately, Kate, now dressed in costume, quickly came in from outside.
“Sorry, had some trouble changing,” she hurriedly walked to her position.
“Alright, no worries, but…” Adrian started saying something to her, but suddenly felt a tight grip at his collar, and Emma’s angered voice rang in his ear, “Don’t look at her!”
Although the voice wasn’t loud, the surrounding assistants and the assistant director heard it clearly. Had Adrian not looked so displeased, they might have laughed out loud. Kate, who wasn’t far away, certainly didn’t miss these words, and her expression was just as displeased as Adrian’s, though she pursed her lips and said nothing.
“Behave, don’t make trouble!” Adrian, equally frustrated, knocked on the little girl’s head, then didn’t give her a chance to speak before instructing the assistant director to announce the start.
...
Truth be told, he should have been thanking Emma, for on the day he, taking the opportunity to discuss a film with Neville, had a clandestine meeting with Monica who had purposely come to London. Before coming back, Adrian had meticulously cleaned up all traces, confident nothing would be noticed. Although Monica claimed she would drain him completely, when she fell into deep, exhausted sleep with satisfaction, Adrian felt as though he had only consumed a third of the main course.
Each reborn is unique, with abilities different from ordinary people. An abnormally retentive memory was one, a strong physique another, coupled with experience accumulated over past and present lives as well as the environment and background he possessed, Adrian firmly believed his rebirth was to fulfill his own desires.
Alright, back to the topic, after putting the sleeping Monica on the bed and taking a quick shower in the washroom to clean himself, leaving behind a hastily made card, Adrian rushed back to the film crew’s hotel.
However, as soon as he walked into the hotel lobby, he was met with a hug from Emma, who had just been “released from the cage” again. What frustrated him more was that, after lifting the little one up without saying a word, Emma inexplicably furrowed her brow and sniffed his neck before glaring daggers at Kate, who was approaching.
Just when everyone was bewildered, she started waving her arms at Kate, shouting, “Don’t come any closer!”
This only made the situation more awkward and frustrating. Although the little one had always had a somewhat strained relationship with Kate, she had never exhibited such a demeanor before, especially not in the hotel lobby—thank goodness there were no reporters outside.
Adrian soon understood the reason and was secretly a bit shocked. Could the little one actually smell something off with her nose? How was that possible?! She was too sensitive!
Since Emma could smell it, might Kate also notice something when they met honestly? Although Adrian believed this was because children mostly act on instincts, the younger they are, the more this holds true, he couldn’t take the risk—women’s intuition was hardly less than that of children.
Thus, he took this opportunity to give Kate an apologetic look before carrying the little one back to their room, even though Kate looked at him with eyes full of silent reproach and dissent, even though he himself wanted more of the main course.
Luckily, the little one mistakenly thought the target was Kate, though she probably didn’t understand what was really going on. Back behind the camera, Adrian turned this thought over. After setting Emma down on a chair with a few instructions, he immediately picked up the camera to start filming himself. The entire movie was nearly at its end; it had been going well before and couldn’t fall apart at the final hurdle.
After spending four more days, around late July, “Howards End” finally wrapped up, and due to Adrian’s non-response strategy, the once quiet British media became active again.
“I once again worry about the acting in this movie. Adrian clearly hasn’t focused entirely on the filming, completing all scenes in just over six weeks. Perhaps what occupies his mind more are those violent-style movies, rather than delicately portraying the nuances of this novel,” said a newspaper.
Of course, just like the attitude he had shown during this period, Adrian didn’t respond to this, continuing to go about his business as usual, and his spokesperson likewise continued to suggest waiting for the movie’s release before making judgments.
“They seem to forget that I’ve always filmed movies this quickly,” Adrian privately mocked these media.
After resolving the film crew, giving employees a long vacation, and pacifying Emma, Adrian and Kate returned to Los Angeles together.
“Finally back home, God, I’ve never felt like Los Angeles is so much better than London,” Kate immediately exclaimed as she entered the villa’s living room. Dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans, her curls required for the movie bouncing on her shoulders, she looked like a teenager in her sixteenth or seventeenth year.
“Don’t worry, she just needed to vent a little,” Adrian waved to Mrs. Galen, who had poked her head out thinking something had happened.
“Needed to vent? Do you really believe that?” Kate, tossing her handbag on the sofa, crossed her arms and glared at Adrian.
“I know, being unfairly resented by a child can be very frustrating. You can’t scold them or fight back, and you still have to keep smiling. But Kate, no matter what, Emma is just a two-year-old child. Do you expect a toddler to understand the adult world?” Adrian said, trying to console her with a smile.
“We’ve had this conversation so many times already, Ed, I’m not dumb, I just…” Kate gestured with her hands, suddenly unsure of what to say, then after a pause, she sighed, “Oh, to hell with it, you’re still doing post-production in London, and it looks like my first summer vacation is going to be…”
“Okay, Kate,” Adrian pulled her into his arms, “you know this is a British artistic film, and most of the crew members are from the United Kingdom. Should we make them come to Los Angeles to do post-production? Besides, there’s another movie in talks there. Anyway, we need to think positively. Even during filming, Emma wasn’t clingy every day. And being in London, it’s convenient for us to take a vacation in Europe, right?”
Kate hummed softly, her hands resting on Adrian’s shoulders, but she pursed her lips and said nothing more.
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“How about we think about what to do in the next few days?” Adrian said with a smile, kissing her cheek. “We could rent a little yacht and sail out to sea, you can trust my sailing skills; or we could go to a basketball game, the Lakers and the Bulls have a match coming up, though the struggling Lakers might get thrashed by Jordan’s Bulls; or we could crash Claude’s party and stir up some trouble; of course, we could also throw a party at the villa and invite all your friends and colleagues.”
“That all sounds rather dull,” Kate said, although her smile clearly betrayed her true feelings.
“Is that so?” Adrian scratched his head, suddenly scooping Kate up and then sitting down on the sofa with her, “Why don’t you plan the next few days then?”
“I plan it?” Kate exclaimed, instinctively wrapping her arms around Adrian’s neck, surprised by his suggestion, she forgot to let go and sat across his lap.
“Of course, whatever you want to do is fine, I’ll be at your service like a devoted chauffeur,” Adrian said, bowing slightly, which seemed a bit awkward with Kate in his arms, prompting Kate to giggle.
“There’s just one thing you have to promise me first,” Adrian suddenly added.
“I knew there was a catch, spill it,” Kate rolled her eyes at him.
“At the end of the month, ‘Casper’ premieres, and you’ve got to accompany me,” Adrian said grinningly.
Kate paused, “You really want me to join you at the premiere?”
“Absolutely, it’ll increase your visibility and help with the early publicity for ‘Howards End.’ Besides, Sarah has been missing you,” Adrian said as he pinched her chin.
“Sarah?” Kate couldn’t recall who that was for a moment.
“Oh, Sarah will be heartbroken to know you forgot her. I spoke to her last week, and she asked about you,” Adrian remarked, clicking his tongue.
“Hey, I didn’t say I forgot her, just didn’t remember at the moment,” Kate, annoyed, punched him lightly. “Okay, it’s settled then, I’ll go with you to the premiere at the end of the month!”
After a variety of “in-depth” discussions and exchanges, the initial itinerary Adrian listed was completely vetoed by Kate, and they eventually went to San Francisco. According to Kate, “I remember you once wanted to go to San Francisco with me, but it didn’t work out for some reason, so let’s make up for it this time.”
Since Adrian said he’d be her chauffeur, he naturally wouldn’t object, so he specifically brought out the silver Ferrari convertible, and they drove to San Francisco with sunglasses on, music blaring, and enjoyed a thrilling time before driving back the same way on the day before the month’s end.
On July 31, the family-oriented ‘Casper’, thoroughly promoted by Disney, had its first screening at the Hollywood Chinese Theater.
(To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)