Nicholas McClennan was exhilarated, almost unable to contain his excitement; even his hands holding the camera trembled. For any journalist, the scene before him was a once-in-a-career spectacle.
It was like witnessing a couple on the verge of breaking up hurl accusations at each other but today, they were confronting each other face-to-face. The intensity of the scene instantly skyrocketed fifty percent. Or it was like seeing sworn enemies finally clash head-on in a life-or-death battle, where only one could emerge victorious—the thrill doubled instantly. Now, at the Golden Globe celebration after the assault incident, the "defendant" and the "plaintiff" collided head-on, reenacting the events in real time. The verbal duel between Hugo and Anthony was more riveting than any fistfight could ever be.
Nicholas began piecing together the events of the previous night based on Hugo and Anthony's words, and his perception of Hugo shifted further. In fact, it was easy for the other journalists to infer the sequence of events: Anthony had deliberately slandered Hugo, provoking him, which led to Hugo physically attacking Anthony.
Undoubtedly, the one at fault in such an incident was Hugo, because journalists pursuing the so-called "slander" were merely seeking the truth. Hugo could deny it or ignore it, but he could not respond with force. So even after the facts were revealed, Hugo still bore the brunt of the consequences, which emboldened Anthony further. Moreover, Anthony's disheveled, pitiable appearance only garnered sympathy, shocking even his fellow journalists.
Faced with such a deadlock, Hugo launched a bold counterattack. The impulsive reaction he had shown last night had been naïve, immature, even foolish—it was obvious he lacked experience. But today, Hugo was transformed. His direct confrontation with Anthony gradually turned the tables, earning applause from onlookers.
From the moment he appeared, Hugo assumed a posture of sincere apology. The genuineness of his apology immediately conveyed to everyone that he was remorseful, earning him goodwill. First impressions are crucial. Then, facing Anthony's accusations and evasions, Hugo did not panic. Instead, he calmly and methodically dismantled the situation, guiding everyone step by step toward the truth.
As mentioned earlier, even if the facts were known, Hugo was still in the wrong for physically attacking Anthony. But Hugo's intelligence lay in the fact that he did not evade responsibility. He acknowledged his mistake, subtly framed it in the context of alcohol, and then shifted the focus onto Anthony's slander, diverting attention.
Thus, the situation transformed: Hugo hitting someone was wrong—true; but Anthony's malicious slander of Hugo was also wrong—true.
The entire dynamic quietly shifted.
Nicholas almost wanted to applaud Hugo, from being at a loss last night to his composed handling today, showing immense learning ability. Although Hugo still appeared slightly impatient when pursuing the slander issue, revealing minor flaws, Nicholas believed many journalists noticed as well, suggesting Hugo still had room to grow. Nonetheless, the confrontation between Hugo and Anthony was spectacular—a career highlight for the reporters present.
Anthony was no weakling. His ability to manipulate Hugo and Joseph the previous night proved his skill. Today, however, Hugo's calculated yet seemingly effortless counterplay ensnared Anthony, reversing the situation. Still, Anthony had no intention of surrendering. Recognizing Hugo's strategy, he immediately devised a response.
"No! I didn't! I was just trying to verify a rumor with you. I heard about the creation of the song Sunburn and that the Oprah Winfrey Show episode was allegedly prearranged. I just wanted confirmation. Why did you get so angry? Could it… could it all be true?"
Anthony's words, as expected, distorted reality, showing his talent for stoking controversy. Subtly, he also introduced accusations of plagiarism and prearranged programming.
It should be noted that the widespread discussion around the Oprah Winfrey Show wasn't just due to Sunburn's brilliance; Hugo's "seven-step composition" miracle was a critical catalyst. Many suspected the "seven-step composition" was intentionally staged, with Hugo having completed the song beforehand and the show exaggerating its performance for dramatic effect.
Now, Anthony had spun these talking points into "rumors," provoking Hugo, forcing journalists to speculate wildly. Anthony's maneuver was undoubtedly strong.
Joseph immediately thought of how to respond. He had finally calmed down and understood Hugo's reason for confronting Anthony today. One purpose was to force Anthony's schemes into the open, allowing Hugo to counter them directly and mitigate the crisis. The other was to blur the focus: by openly apologizing for the assault, Hugo compelled Anthony to be accountable for his slander.
This strategy only worked through direct confrontation, but it exponentially increased the risk. Yet, "nothing ventured, nothing gained"—the potential reward matched the danger.
Joseph's calm mind raced. At first, he wanted to immediately interject and refute Anthony himself, since Hugo hadn't spoken yet. But he quickly realized that it was far more effective for Hugo to respond directly. Any response coming from Joseph, as Hugo's agent, would lose impact. Joseph had no choice but to trust Hugo and he did.
A single second, usually just a fleeting "tick" of the clock, could be fatal in a high-speed confrontation. Silence could imply agreement, which could be deadly. Hugo, however, remained silent. After spinning through countless thoughts in his head, Joseph finally spoke up, "Are you finally willing to hear Hugo's answer? You claim to be verifying rumors, but Hugo already responded to you yesterday, and you refused to listen. Are you ready to pay attention now?"
Speaking from a neutral, observer-like perspective, Joseph's words had far more weight than if Hugo himself had pleaded, "You won't listen to my explanation." Though Joseph's role as agent slightly diminished the effect, his intervention was still highly effective, leaving Anthony momentarily stunned.
Hugo, prompted by Joseph, snapped back into focus. "Regarding the plagiarism rumors, I already told you yesterday—that accusation is utterly absurd! I expect you to explain yourself. If you have evidence proving I plagiarized, I will accept legal consequences and any outcome. If not, you must apologize for your statements!"
Hugo had been shaken once again by Anthony's ability to twist truth and lie effortlessly. Even during a direct confrontation, Anthony was full of falsehoods—it was hard to believe. But Hugo knew this was not a courtroom, and the journalists were not judges. Anthony's lies were instinctive, his final resort. Awakened by Joseph's prompt, the inexperienced Hugo regained his composure and launched a counterattack.
"Regarding your doubts about the Oprah Winfrey Show, you have the right to question, but the entire production team and everyone present during filming can testify on my behalf. Even if you still refuse to believe, I will not feel ashamed, because I act with integrity and clear conscience. I may not be a creative genius, but I am an honest musician, and I have no doubts about my own abilities!"
Fully back in control, Hugo launched wave after wave of rebuttal, not only clarifying the issues but also preemptively shutting down any further manipulations Anthony might attempt. "So, you better produce evidence to back your claims, or else you are insulting me as a musician. You must apologize for your statements!"
Hugo's insistence on an apology left Anthony speechless. His mind was exhausted; he could only revert to the role of the injured party, wailing, "Ouch… it really hurts…"
Anthony's clumsy theatrics were genuinely laughable to Hugo, but this time Hugo remained vigilant. He bowed once again to Anthony in apology. "I sincerely apologize for impulsively harming your personal well-being—that was entirely my fault, no question." After straightening up, Hugo faced the journalists. "However, regarding Anthony's malicious defamation of my reputation, I also expect an apology. That is only fair!"
Hugo's composed, dignified words impressed the journalists. Many wanted to applaud him, but Anthony's pitiful wailing made it awkward for them to do so openly. Nicholas discreetly gave Hugo a thumbs-up, but Hugo paid no attention.
Hugo had realized that the Los Angeles Times had again tried to twist the story against him. He had hoped his relationship with Nicholas might offer some leniency, but it turned out Nicholas was just an ordinary reporter—relentless in pursuit of news and sensational stories, with no true camaraderie.
Hugo had been naïve to expect a "revolutionary bond" with the press.
Now that the truth about last night's fight had been revealed, Anthony's carefully laid trap had been thwarted before it could take effect. Hugo and Anthony were back on equal footing, and it was up to the journalists to interpret the events: would they side with Anthony or speak up for Hugo?
It was clear: the media was primed, ready to unleash a monumental news storm.
....
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