On a typical weekday morning, a large number of entertainment reporters gathered on Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu. They had previously received news that Matthew Horner and Britney Spears, who had been making headlines recently, were going to make a public clarification about their alleged relationship.
Actually, without the clarification from the parties involved, few of these entertainment reporters truly believed that Matthew Horner, the country bumpkin, was dating Britney Spears. However, none of them would write the truth in the media, because then no one would pay attention.
"If they clarify…"
While waiting in line to enter the restaurant, Elena Boyer overheard two reporters behind her discussing, "Our hype will lose its value."
Another reporter said, "This is the City of Angels, the home of Hollywood. There are celebrities and famous people everywhere. Are we worried about not finding gossip? Besides, if we don't have it, won't we just make it up? Few celebrities will take precious time to sue small fries like us. When they send a lawyer's letter, we'll just apologize in the newspaper. Apologizing doesn't cost money, and we won't lose a limb, so what's there to be afraid of!"
Elena Boyer looked back at the reporter. This colleague truly understood the essence of the entertainment gossip industry.
Upon entering the restaurant, guided by staff, she and the other reporters walked to rows of chairs. Since she arrived relatively early, she specifically found a front-row seat, sat down, and began to adjust her equipment, preparing for the upcoming interview.
Elena Boyer was very curious about Matthew Horner, one of the protagonists of the incident. She had not only met him but had also dealt with him several times; he was a very interesting guy.
Although this scandal was carefully fabricated by her to grab eyeballs and earn manuscript fees, there had to be a suitable event for the fabrication. If there weren't photos of Matthew Horner holding Britney, with Britney looking unusually trusting of him, the published article would have just been a joke.
"This guy has quite a knack," Elena Boyer, a reporter specializing in entertainment, had long heard that Britney had a big celebrity ego, like a hedgehog. "He actually managed to get so familiar with Britney."
In Matthew's private temporary dressing room at the restaurant, Helen Herman was giving her final instructions.
"I'll stand behind you," she told Matthew. "If you encounter a difficult question or one you don't know how to answer, don't speak first. I'll give you advice."
Matthew nodded, "Okay, I'll rely on you for that."
He had no experience dealing with media reporters.
Helen Herman pulled up a chair, sat next to Matthew, and said, "This is what a publicist should do."
Matthew spread his hands, helplessly saying, "I don't have a publicist, do I?"
For him, at his current status and wealth, to hire a public relations manager would be insane.
"You'd better perform well," Helen Herman didn't dwell on this small matter with him; instead, she said, "Don't mess it up. You don't know how long you'll have to wait for your next press conference!"
Matthew was very clear that this press conference was something Helen Herman had fought hard for. It was meant to capitalize on Britney's desire to clarify the rumors, further increasing his exposure and the bit of fame he had gained through Britney.
Speaking of fame, Matthew thought of another matter and asked, "Didn't you say you wanted to use my fame to get me a new job?"
"Hmm." Helen Herman nodded but didn't elaborate.
Matthew had no choice but to continue asking, "How's it going?"
"I've secured an audition opportunity," Helen Herman was like squeezing toothpaste; if Matthew didn't squeeze, she wouldn't speak. "It will be a while."
"Can I know what kind of job it is?" Matthew continued to squeeze.
Helen Herman said appropriately, "A soldier from World War II. We'll talk about the specifics after you finish shooting this music video. Don't get distracted!"
Since she said that, Matthew simply stopped asking, but in his head, he wondered what kind of World War II-related shows there were in this era.
At this moment, a staff member came to notify them. Matthew and Helen Herman left the temporary dressing room and entered the restaurant. After Britney's party also arrived, they all walked into the main hall together.
Many reporters were present, and Matthew felt a bit nervous after sitting down.
"Relax," Helen Herman whispered behind him, "Those are just rumor-mongers. What's there to be afraid of?"
Matthew thought about it and realized that was indeed the case.
He instantly relaxed a lot, and when Britney looked over, he even gave her a smile.
This was not a formal press conference, but a simple press conference to clarify a rumor. The host said a few words and first handed the microphone to Matthew.
After all, he was the male lead of the incident.
Matthew had already memorized the script, and when he spoke, it sounded as natural as delivering lines. "During the MV shoot, Britney was accidentally injured. To get her to medical attention in time, I carried her into the car… Britney and I are cooperative work partners, but we are not dating, much less a couple…"
The content of the script was to clarify this non-existent rumor.
The flashes from the cameras opposite kept going off, never stopping throughout the entire process. Matthew knew that he would likely maintain a certain level of notoriety for a short time.
Unfortunately, this was not the era of social media; actors ultimately had to rely on their work to speak for themselves.
After Matthew finished reciting the script, the microphone was handed to Britney.
"I am currently single and not dating anyone."
Probably from a professional publicist, Britney's lines were relatively low-key. "The rumors from a while ago were all misunderstandings… I also want to thank my fans and media friends for their concern."
Next, there was a short live Q&A session. Britney's agency and record company had already made arrangements in advance. Plus, with both parties clarifying in person, such fabricated rumors would essentially have no more room to survive. The vast majority of reporters asked about the music video, no longer bringing up the so-called gossip.
But some people were not on board, and Elena Boyer was one of them. After all, asking questions according to the organizer's procedure wouldn't get her explosive news.
The microphone finally reached her hand. She stood up and asked, "Britney, are you very familiar with Matthew Horner?"
Matthew had already seen the tall Elena Boyer, and as soon as he saw her stand up, his expression became a bit unnatural. He always felt that nothing good would come of it.
"Yes, I am."
There was no need to deny such a thing. Britney nodded and said, "We are friends."
Her manager behind her felt an urge to bang his head. What was this simple-minded girl thinking?
According to normal procedure, each reporter could only ask one question, but Elena Boyer didn't have such self-awareness. Since no one came to stop her, she continued to ask, "You are friends now, will you date in the future?"
Britney's manager quickly reminded her, "Don't answer."
People like Britney, in most cases, do and say whatever comes to mind.
She seemed not to hear her manager's reminder, first glanced at Matthew, then said, "Who can say for sure about such things."
Britney's thoughts were very simple. Currently, she and Matthew certainly didn't have that kind of intention, but from the very beginning of meeting Matthew, to him repeatedly accompanying her in the hospital to chat and relieve boredom, he had left a very good impression on her. She felt it was not an exaggeration to say they were friends, and how their relationship would develop in the future, she herself didn't know.
So, she gave such an answer.
"Mr. Matthew Horner," Elena Boyer had already noticed a staff member walking towards her. Looking at Matthew, she quickly asked, "Will you date Britney in the future?"
When the reporter asked Britney earlier, Helen Herman had already prepared for her to ask Matthew a similar question. As soon as Elena Boyer asked the question, she whispered behind Matthew, "Say you are good friends."
Matthew, who appeared simple-minded in front of Britney's manager, was not truly simple-minded. He knew that he had no experience in this area, far inferior to a professional manager, and completely followed Helen Herman's words, saying, "Britney and I are good friends."
As he spoke, he also looked at Britney, who seemed to very much agree with Matthew's statement, giving him a sweet smile.
This moment was immediately captured by the reporters' cameras.
Britney, however, didn't care at all. What Matthew said was exactly what she thought. She believed that she and Matthew were rare, very congenial good friends.
The staff member arrived at Elena Boyer's side at this moment. Elena Boyer saw a situation that was marketable enough and did not continue to ask questions, returning the microphone.
Matthew suddenly realized that his earlier thoughts were mistaken. Elena Boyer was not a reporter with conscience and professional ethics at all; she was even more shameless and thick-skinned than all the entertainment reporters present.
Just as he was thinking this, he noticed Elena Boyer looking over and discreetly winking at him, as if greeting him in that way.
Matthew ignored her. The press conference ended, and he followed Helen Herman out of the hall, returning to the private temporary dressing room to prepare for the upcoming shoot.
"That female reporter knows you?" Helen Herman saw Elena Boyer wink and remembered the so-called reporter friend Matthew had mentioned. "is she the entertainment reporter friend you talked about?"
"Well…" Matthew scratched his head, not knowing what to say. "She's not exactly a very good friend."
Helen Herman stared at him and asked, "Did you two discuss her asking that question beforehand?"
Such a question, coupled with Britney's somewhat inappropriate answer, undoubtedly provided reporters with new hype material. Britney's side certainly didn't want this to happen, but it was actually beneficial to Matthew.
"No!" Matthew quickly denied, "No! I didn't even know she would be here today."
"What exactly is going on?" Helen Herman felt that something was amiss and said sternly, "Let me remind you, Matthew Horner! I am your agent, and we need to trust each other!"