Chapter 253: Chapter 250: Spotlight
After a layover in Atlanta, the flight carrying Jolie headed westward, gradually arriving in eastern California.
The flight attendant came over at this time," "Ma'am, here's the newspaper you asked for."
"Thank you," Jolie nodded slightly, taking a thick stack of American newspapers.
The flight attendant appeared excited," "You are a role model for women."
Jolie revealed a friendly and cordial smile.
Since June, over the course of more than three months, she visited many countries in the Middle East and Africa, giving public speeches under the banners of the United Nations and freedom and democracy, calling out loudly, and even adopting her third child, finally winning the approval of the American public and the media.
After the flight attendant left, Jolie put away her smile, her thoughts suddenly shifting to her teacher.
From the failure of "Alexander the Great" last year until now, she had experienced great ups and downs in life, and Martin was key to her resurgence.
Using the methods taught by Martin, Jolie adapted them with her own understanding, molding herself into a benchmark for America.
She had completed the preliminary transformation from a whore to a Madonna.
At this thought, Jolie felt she, as a student, should pay more tuition to her teacher.
But after experiencing the comings and goings during the shoot in Atlanta, Jolie, with her sharp senses, realized that Louise and Martin definitely did not have a stable boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.
Martin also refused to call Louise or Kelly Gray at that time.
Jolie gradually became numb to it all.
Just being a student and a teacher couldn't satisfy the yawning desire of Madonna-in-the-making Jolie.
Jolie flipped through the newspapers until her movements suddenly slowed down.
She saw a gossip article with a photo of Martin and Blake Lively kissing.
"Martin and Blake, growing together, becoming better people together!"
Seeing the two of them officially dating, Jolie immediately became excited, not even hearing her son calling "mom" next to her.
The boy reached out to pull her, but Jolie gestured to the nanny, who quickly took the child back.
At this moment, she couldn't care about anything else.
Jolie eagerly continued reading.
In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, there was an interview with Martin and Blake.
Blake said that before they began dating, Martin was her idol, her hero, her best friend, and every day spent with Martin felt like the joy of a first meeting.
Martin said Blake was her best companion, someone who could make everything beautiful.
Jolie closed the newspaper, looked out the plane window, and still did not see the buildings of Los Angeles, appearing impatient.
At this moment, she wished she could find a gun, force the pilot to speed up and get to Los Angeles sooner.
The attraction Martin held for Jolie was once again at full strength.
Jolie then thought of the bachelor Pitt, involuntarily shaking her head.
Nearly an hour later, the flight landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport.
Jolie had already contacted the media. When she came out of the gate with her family in tow, numerous media reporters, including those from the Los Angeles Times and People magazine, crowded around her.
After over three months of immersing herself in the aura of being a Madonna, Jolie's social status had risen significantly.
The reformed woman turned Madonna, even garnering widespread support from the American public.
A multitude of reporters directly blocked Jolie at the airport exit.
With airport security maintaining order, Jolie accepted the interview.
After some questions regarding freedom, democracy, and children, Damian, the reporter from People who had arranged it with Jolie, asked loudly," "Why didn't we see Brad Pitt picking you up from the airport? He didn't accompany you to the Middle East and Africa either; is there a problem between you two?"
Jolie spoke earnestly," "I have decided to let go of that relationship and return to being friends with Pitt. Pitt is a good man who loves children and family; we both invested a lot in this relationship."
Sometimes, like when she was doing business with Martin, she would call Pitt," "But this trip to the Middle East and Africa made me realize something, this world isn't just about love, there are many things far more important than love."
Jolie took her newly adopted third child from the nanny," "Like children, like peace, democracy, and freedom! Moving forward, I will devote my limited personal energy more towards charity and advocating for the survival and human rights of refugees around the world!"
She cried out," "Nobody is born a refugee!"
At that moment, everything fell silent. Damian was the first to applaud, and the surrounding reporters clapped in support of Jolie.
"Thank you," Jolie, with her three children, got into the business van sent by the film crew to pick her up.
The others got into the cars behind.
As the vehicle started, Jolie turned to look back at the reporters. Her teacher, Martin, had surely shown her a great road ahead!
She pulled out her phone, found Martin's number, and gave him a call," "I'm back."
Martin's side was a bit chaotic," "Congratulations, you have completed your transformation."
Looking at her three children, Jolie planned to hand them off to the nanny later and said," "I want to come see you."
Martin responded," "It's not very convenient; I'm helping someone with a move."
Jolie immediately guessed," "What? Is Blake Lively moving in with you?"
"She's eighteen, at the age to move out on her own, and she had nowhere else to go," Martin explained. "I had no choice but to take her in."
Jolie, excited, blurted out," "You bought a new place? Is it big? I'll come over, and you find a way to send her out... no, let her stay in the house. Figure out how not to let her disturb us. If she's willing to join, that's fine, too—let's have a threesome!"
Martin, such an honest man, would never act as Cao Zei's accomplice, "Stop fooling around, I'm really fond of her and plan to be completely devoted."
These words only spurred Jolie on further, "Today, you're moving in with her. I won't bother you, but just wait for me."
In Burbank, Martin hung up the phone, placed the mobile on the armrest of the Escalade, and turned to look back. He could roughly make out that at least two cars and three motorcycles were following.
He asked, "Old Cloth, have you notified everyone? Why are there so few paparazzi and entertainment reporters here?"
Bruce turned into an affluent community and said, "Most people are aware that Blake is moving in to live with you. The most valuable photo is of her carrying luggage and entering the house with you. Most are waiting over in the Cody Community."
Martin's phone rang, it was a text from Thomas about Jolie; he read it quickly and said, "Jolie's return will vie for the entertainment headlines, and as the leading man of Wanted Order, I can't let her take all the fun."
Bruce responded, "If she, the leading lady, catches fire, it could draw a lot more viewers to Wanted Order."
Martin nodded, "That would be good for us, too."
In Hollywood, countless cases have proven that as long as the film is of decent quality, a spike in exposure for the lead actors just before its release can effectively boost the box office.
Of course, disgusting scandals are not included in this.
The Escalade stopped in front of a detached villa, Martin got out and made a call, the villa's gate opened, and Blake Lively, accompanied by her brother Eric, came out, dragging a suitcase.
Each of them pulled a large suitcase in their hands.
Martin hurried forward to take the handle of Blake's suitcase, deliberately using his body to block her face as if he didn't want others to sneak a photo.
But this did virtually nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the paparazzi and reporters; the more he tried to block, the more excited they got, pressing the camera shutters again and again.
Martin placed the two suitcases and a backpack in the trunk of the Escalade and said to Blake, "Get in."
Blake gave him a sunny smile and got into the back seat of the car.
Eric, however, blocked the car door.
Martin asked, "Something wrong?"
Eric pointed at Martin and said, "Treat her well, or else I won't let you off."
Martin nodded, "I will."
But Blake didn't care for her brother's threat to Martin and was quite dissatisfied with it, saying, "You'd better go find a place to get in some proper training."
Eric stepped away from the car door.
Martin got into the car and before closing the door invited, "Come over to my place some time."
Eric waved his hand dismissively without saying a word.
The Escalade started up and headed back to Sherman Oaks.
More journalists and paparazzi had joined the tail than when they had arrived.
Blake looked back and said, "This is quite fun. I'm really enjoying it."
Some people can crumble under the pressure when faced with the spotlight.
Others are born to live under its glare.
Blake can be counted among the latter.
When the car entered the Cody Community and stopped in front of Martin's house, the paparazzi and entertainment reporters popped up like secret agents from all over, with their camera lenses uniformly aiming at the Escalade.
Of course, Bruce wouldn't simply drive straight into the house—that would disappoint our reporter friends, wouldn't it?
He and Martin had a strong professional ethic; while ensuring they made their own living, they also took care of the livelihoods of those around them.
Bruce got out first, opening a smaller gate.
Martin and Blake each pulled a suitcase and walked side by side toward the entrance.
Even from a distance, the consistent sound of camera shutters was audible.
The suitcases seemed particularly heavy, and the two didn't walk fast, as if they were walking down the red carpet.
At one point, Martin even stopped to relieve Blake of her backpack, shouldering it himself.
Once again, the paparazzi burst into a frenzy of photography.
In fact, many of them even gave Martin and Blake the thumbs-up for being so accommodating to their photography.
If nothing else, the hero and the beauty officially starting their life of cohabitation was definitely valuable in photographs.
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After a good while, Martin finally took Blake by the hand and they entered the house together.
As the small iron gate closed behind them, many journalists and paparazzi took off in their vehicles.
Some, not quite ready to give up, continued to stake out.
Luckily, the houses in the Cody Community are rather spread out, so they weren't too much of a nuisance to the neighbors for the time being.
Once inside the living room, Blake saw Old Cloth head to the secondary building and asked, "Martin, I can't afford to pay rent staying at your place, what should I do?"
Martin sized up Blake's fit figure, "You're a smart girl. I believe you'll find a way."
Blake beamed brilliantly, "How about once a day as my rent to you, is that okay?"
Martin, such a nice guy, couldn't bring himself to refuse and replied, "That's fine."
Blake blinked her eyes, "Let me pay today's rent first. Otherwise, I can't concentrate on anything else."