At the bustling Magic City International Airport, fans crowded near the arrival gate, holding posters and signs bearing a single name in Chinese—Matthew Horner! They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of a world-class superstar.
In addition to the fans, there was a large presence of security personnel and media reporters.
Standing in a prominent spot across from the exit, Nini patiently waited, ignoring the photographers snapping pictures around her.
"Look, isn't that Nini?"
Some fans recognized her and started chatting excitedly. "Have you seen the trailer? She plays a major supporting role in Fast & Furious 5!"
"She's going to be a huge star once the movie comes out!"
"It's incredible that she got to work with a superstar like Matthew Horner. She's probably the first actor from here to star alongside him."
"Let's go get her autograph."
The next moment, a wave of fans surged toward Nini. She graciously signed autographs, putting on the most genuine and natural smile she'd practiced, looking truly thrilled.
In truth, she was happy and greatly enjoyed the attention. Fame had a powerful allure, even if it was a tempting poison.
After the fans dispersed, a few reporters approached and, from a distance due to the security line, called out, "Ms. Nini, can we ask you a few questions?"
Perhaps feeling a little excited by the fan support, Nini spoke briefly to her assistant, who communicated with the reporters, allowing a few to approach.
"Ms. Nini." The first reporter held a recorder up to her. "Are you here to welcome Matthew Horner?"
Since it was a great publicity angle, Nini didn't deny it and nodded. "Yes, I am." She was quick on her feet. "Matthew actually called me a week ago to let me know he'd be arriving today."
"Oh…" a few people murmured in surprise.
Nini's response had exactly the impact she'd hoped for, sparking imaginations. She was pleased to see the reporters' surprised reactions.
Another reporter asked, "Are you close with Matthew Horner?"
"Very close," Nini replied without hesitation. Realizing this could come off wrong, she quickly added, "We became good friends during filming."
The nuances of language here allowed her words to spark even more speculation.
A female reporter leaned forward. "Ms. Nini, have you decided how you'll host Matthew Horner?"
"Of course." Nini smiled, keeping her plans to herself.
How would someone like Matthew Horner want to be hosted? She certainly wasn't about to tell them. Her thoughts wandered back to their time in Rio de Janeiro. If she gathered some beautiful women and threw a party with Matthew, might that lead to new opportunities?
The only problem was that Fast & Furious 5 hadn't premiered yet, her fame was still limited, and the tens of thousands she'd earned had mostly gone toward PR articles.
Matthew seemed to have high standards for women; the ones he'd been rumored with were all attractive, accomplished, and well-known. She briefly considered recruiting some beautiful actresses but dismissed the idea as too risky.
After all, she had something unique. Locally, she was the only one who'd had any association with Matthew Horner. If she involved other women and lost her chance, it would be a fool's gamble.
No way was she going to risk that!
Once he arrived, she'd stay by his side every night, ensuring no one else could take advantage of the opportunity. Even if he brought in a crowd of supermodels, she'd do whatever it took to remain relevant.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Look! They're here!" The crowd's attention immediately turned to the exit, and the reporters around Nini dispersed, rushing to the arrival area.
Nini moved quickly to the front to position herself so she could approach Matthew the moment he stepped out.
At Matthew's request, the Fast & Furious 5 team, from the director to the main cast, had flown together on a chartered first-class flight from Los Angeles to Magic City.
With the increased box office cut of 25%, enthusiasm among Hollywood production and distribution companies was at an all-time high, Matthew included.
He pushed his luggage cart out first.
"Matthew! Matthew! Matthew…"
The moment he emerged, fans erupted in cheers, calling his name in unison with a precision that suggested rehearsal. Seeing over a thousand fans waiting was a testament to the impact of his previous visit.
Audiences often had simple reasons for admiring an actor, and a Hollywood star speaking fluent Chinese certainly added a strong appeal.
Then Matthew saw Nini. She was at her best age, as beautiful as ever.
Matthew handed his luggage cart to a bodyguard and walked over to give Nini a brief hug. Nini beamed with a radiant smile, knowing that while a simple greeting in the West, here it would carry layers of meaning.
Matthew signed autographs for fans, posed for a few quick photos, and chatted with a group of admirers before stepping away to rest from the long flight. Nini smartly stayed by his side like an attentive interpreter.
Matthew had seen plenty of actors with similar ambitions and recognized Nini's intentions right away, but he didn't mind; he'd always been generous in certain matters.
After all, someone willing to join his gatherings deserved special consideration.
Perhaps he could bring her along to the next Victoria's Secret show, and afterward, invite all the models to join him for a party. Then again, he decided, best to skip it if the crowd included too many women of a certain background.
With the cast all in good spirits and police support, the group eventually left the airport and headed to their hotel.
At the hotel, familiar with past rumors about the cast's dynamics, Nini skipped any pretense and went straight to Matthew's room, where he welcomed her company. Before adjusting to the local time, they spent some time reacquainting themselves.
Switching from Western to Eastern hospitality had its own unique appeal.
Unfortunately, with the Magic City Film Festival underway, there would likely be plenty of paparazzi trailing him. As a high-profile global star, he needed to tread carefully in public.
For now, Nini would do just fine.
It wasn't until midday the following day that Matthew and Nini emerged from his room. With two days left before Fast & Furious 5's premiere, Matthew joined a few obligatory promotional events and asked Nini, a local, to show him around the festival.
Unlike the Kyoto Film Festival, which he'd previously been invited to, Magic City's festival leaned less on political themes and focused more on business, which suited Matthew's tastes.
Over two days at the festival, he met many people in the film industry from the region, which gave him a clearer understanding of the local market.
Many attendees passionately expressed their support for local films, hoping their industry could stay strong amidst Hollywood's growing presence.
Matthew understood this wasn't an exaggeration; many countries and regions worldwide had faced similar situations.
This wasn't just about nationalism. With the recent strategic agreement between the U.S. and China to further open the Chinese market to Hollywood, the most immediate impact was on previously completed "mediocre" films that had aimed to make money in China.
Some had even listed the top 100 poor-quality films from the last two years, concluding that the market's opening would serve as a purge, sparing them from future cinematic disappointments.
Since February of this year, when both sides reached an agreement to open the Chinese film market further, local filmmakers were understandably anxious. Many recognized that Hollywood's "wolf" had indeed arrived.
What would be the impact of this agreement? For audiences, it wasn't much of an issue, as they'd have access to more high-quality films. For theater managers, it meant more revenue.
But for local producers—directors and investors—the changes would be significant.
Audience members certainly wanted to see their country's films succeed. Whenever a local production was well-made, it was praised as a "quality piece."
As someone who'd once been just another fan here, Matthew understood that local audiences were not particularly picky. They genuinely wanted to see their own films held to high standards.
Meanwhile, this year's film festival had drawn numerous celebrities. In addition to Matthew and a few others from Fast & Furious 5, North American attendees included Jessica Chastain, Susan Sarandon, Barry Levinson, and Rupert Murdoch with his wife. Internationally, guests included Gaspar Noé, Paz Vega, and Christopher Hampton.
These individuals, along with Matthew and the other Fast & Furious 5 creators, were scheduled to participate in an international film forum held during the festival.
Out of courtesy, Matthew also extended an invitation to many of them for the Fast & Furious 5 premiere.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]