The midday sun hung brightly in the sky, and the leaves on the roadside trees were still. The sudden heat had almost driven away all pedestrians. There wasn't a single person to be seen around Matthew's residence. Even the paparazzi, who used to occasionally follow him, had stopped bothering him due to Universal Pictures' recent slowdown in promotion and Matthew's uninteresting private life.
Ultimately, Matthew wasn't a true star; he lacked sufficient long-term appeal.
A black sedan turned from North Hollywood, slowly pulling over to the side of the road. After a moment, with no movement around, a blonde girl got out. As soon as she reached the ivy-covered wall, the iron gate opened, and the girl practically lunged inside, tightly embracing the muscular man waiting for her.
The iron gate seemed to have been kicked shut from the inside, closing with a loud clang that shattered the surrounding tranquility.
Inside the high walls, clothes were scattered across the lawn. The girl was pressed tightly against the iron gate by the muscular man, and a monumental battle erupted.
However, the scorching outdoor air made it impossible to stay for long, so the two quickly moved their battle indoors.
"I'm going to die…" Britney lay on the floor, not wanting to move a single finger. Her blue eyes were misty, and a trickle of saliva unconsciously escaped the corner of her mouth, like a lamb awaiting slaughter. "Matthew, are you trying to murder me?"
Matthew lay in an almost identical position on the other side, turning his head to look at Britney. "Darling, don't you like it?" he asked.
Britney's words seemed to be delirious. "I like it, I like it very much, but if we do it again, I'll really die."
Leaning over to kiss her forehead, Matthew pulled a blanket over Britney, then went out to gather their clothes. When he returned with their garments, Britney had already gotten up from the floor and was sitting on the sofa.
Seeing Matthew, Britney pounced on him again, and they shared another passionate kiss until they were almost out of breath before finally separating.
Sitting on the sofa, Britney leaned into Matthew's arms, her small hand continuously caressing his toned upper body. "Matthew, you've lost weight, but your muscles are even firmer," she said.
Matthew deliberately winked at her. "I've been working out. What do you think of the results?"
"Excellent!" Britney finally understood Matthew's gaze for once and said openly, "I love it, it's so good it makes me want to fly."
These words were like a drumbeat, and Matthew stirred again. Britney quickly put some distance between them. "What are you going to do?"
Matthew stood up and said, "I'll get you some water. Coffee or tea?"
"Just plain water," Britney said, standing up wrapped in the blanket. "My shapewear designer reminded me to watch my figure, so I should drink less coffee and similar beverages."
"Okay," Matthew nodded and went to pour water. Britney changed into her clothes and followed him, adding, "I haven't had lunch yet."
Matthew quickly handed the glass of water to Britney, then said, "Why didn't you say so sooner? I'll make you something."
Britney nodded, a hint of excitement in her expression. "Great! I've always wanted to try your cooking."
Matthew put on his clothes and slippers, preparing to go to the dining room. "My cooking skills are just average; I only know how to make Chinese food."
Britney, still a bit dazed, simply said, "As long as it's made by you, I could eat African food."
As they walked towards the kitchen, passing the shelf in the living room, Britney immediately noticed the DV camera Matthew had bought a while ago and picked it up with great interest.
Seeing Britney's interest, Matthew said, "I use it for fun and relaxation in my spare time."
Britney had clearly used a DV camera before.
She quickly turned it on, aimed the lens at Matthew, and excitedly said, "I'm going to film you cooking for me for the first time!"
"Alright!" Matthew turned into the kitchen, then faced the camera and declared, "It's time for the chef's show."
Britney watched Matthew open the refrigerator and curiously asked, "What are you going to make for me? A loving lunch?"
Matthew took eggs and tomatoes out of the refrigerator. "This is my specialty. Darling, I'll feed you some noodles."
"Mhm!" Britney steadied her hand, keeping the camera aimed at Matthew, and asked, "Pasta?"
"Chinese food!" Matthew had no idea how to make Italian food. While cracking eggs, he said, "Tomato and egg noodles."
This dish was quick, convenient, and nutritious.
Matthew cooked skillfully, while Britney filmed with great interest, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere in the kitchen was incredibly warm.
Soon, a steaming bowl of visually appealing, fragrant, and delicious tomato and egg noodles was ready. Matthew instinctively picked up his usual chopsticks, then realized his mistake, put them down, and swapped them for a fork and spoon. With Britney filming all the way, he carried the bowl to the dining room.
"It smells so good…" Britney sat down at the dining table, took a close-up shot of the tomato and egg noodles in front of her, then handed the DV camera to Matthew and said, "Film me too."
Matthew stepped back slightly, filming Britney with a wide shot. Britney must have been truly hungry, as she finished a bowl of noodles in less than five minutes.
"Oh…" She made a victory gesture to the camera, then blew Matthew a kiss. "I feel so much better now. This bowl of noodles is even better than what a Michelin three-star chef makes!"
Matthew knew Britney was deliberately complimenting him and couldn't help but laugh. "Want another bowl?"
"No, thanks," Britney gently shook her head. "I need to diet; I don't want to get fat."
Dieting is common for male and female celebrities in the industry, and Matthew was aware of this. He didn't really diet much himself, but with his level of exercise, he couldn't get fat anyway.
She walked over to Matthew, took the DV camera, and said, "Alright, take me on a tour of your house."
Matthew immediately led the way, taking Britney on a tour inside and outside the house. Since Helen Herman had overreacted before, he simply didn't mention that a murder had occurred there. He estimated that with Britney's carefree personality, she would either not care or be scared away.
After a tour, they returned to the living room, and Matthew asked, "So, what do you think?"
"It's alright," Britney nodded. "Especially the wall outside the yard; it ensures we have a private space."
"Mhm," Matthew nodded slightly. Britney was finally learning to observe and think.
In fact, Matthew could tell that Britney had matured a bit since returning from Nashville this time. Perhaps his constant reminders during their meetings and daily phone calls had actually made a difference.
Britney turned off the DV camera, stretched, and said, "Let's go take a nap."
Matthew picked her up by the waist, and they went into the bedroom together. They didn't do anything else, just held each other and quietly fell asleep.
They slept until nearly three in the afternoon. After a quick wash, Britney asked, "Aren't you going to the gym today?"
"Today's my day off," Matthew said, pulling her into the living room. "Filming starts next Monday, so this weekend is a break."
Britney nodded. "Good thing this shoot is all near Los Angeles, otherwise we'd be separated again."
Hearing her say that, Matthew suddenly remembered something and asked Britney, "Darling, I've moved houses, and the privacy here is excellent. Why don't you move in?"
Britney opened her mouth to agree, but then thought of her own situation. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "Matthew, I want to move in too, but…" She didn't know how to explain it. "But it's not quite right now."
Matthew was somewhat disappointed but didn't take it to heart. He comforted her, "There's no rush. It's not too late when you feel it's the right time."
"Mhm!" Britney's mood was still a bit low. "Don't worry, Matthew. It'll be soon."
Seeing this, Matthew proactively changed the subject and asked, "When is your new album coming out?"
"Next month."
Hearing about the new album, Britney's mood sank further. "Once the new album is released, I'll be running around doing promotions again. I'll probably be flying back and forth between North America and Europe for over eight months, and I might even go to the Far East."
"It's okay," Matthew continued to comfort her. "I'll come see you whenever I have time."
Britney's mood didn't improve, and she said in a low voice, "After finishing promotions, I immediately have to prepare for the next concert tour."
She slumped against Matthew, her eyes seemingly on the verge of tears. "Matthew, my work schedule is already planned out for two years from now…"
Matthew didn't know how to comfort her either. Based on his understanding over the past two years, popular pop stars were all this busy, with almost no personal time.
"It's going to be okay, darling," he said, holding Britney and gently patting her back. "Transportation is advanced now, with international flights everywhere. We can see each other anytime."
Britney nodded vigorously, then reached up to cup Matthew's face and kissed him passionately. The two plunged into battle once more, desperately tearing at each other's clothes, and quickly entered into hand-to-hand combat again.
Time flew by. The sky outside had turned completely dark, and Britney, as usual, didn't stay overnight, leaving before nine o'clock.
After seeing Britney off, Matthew stood in the yard, looking at the stars twinkling in the night sky. He suddenly sighed. If a person wants to shine brightly, they must make sacrifices.
What do Hollywood stars sacrifice? Their private lives? Private space? Private time? Perhaps even more.
He averted his gaze and turned back into the house, tidying up the messy living room. He turned on the TV and VCR, continuing his essential nightly practice of imitation performances.
Since he had embarked on this path, he had to strive to become one of the shining stars.
The weekend passed in a flash. After two days of doting on Britney, Matthew arrived at Warner Bros. Studios on time at the start of the new week to participate in the film's shooting.