Chapter 184: The Decision to Invite

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: The Decision to Invite

After the typhoon passed, Port Royal Bay looked as if it had been washed clean. The sky was a brilliant, translucent blue. The sea surface was calm enough to reflect the shadows of the clouds, and the sea breeze carried the moist, fresh scent of vegetation.

Indoor filming proceeded step by step. Without the interference of storms, the actors’ performances hit their stride. Captain Jack, played by Johnny Depp, became increasingly vivid. There was a newfound resolve in Keira Knightley’s eyes, and Henry Cavill’s action sequences were becoming more fluid.

The footage on the monitor played frame by frame. Assistant Director Jack, holding the progress schedule, reported to Irene, "Director, we’ve already exceeded our quota by two scenes today. At this rate, we’ll be able to catch up on the lost progress by next week."

Irene nodded in response, though her lips didn’t really curve upward. Her gaze drifted from time to time toward her temporary office area, where a calendar schedule sat on the desk. The date of September 11 drew ever closer.

In her past life, she was just an ordinary Chinese student. 9/11 was a bold headline in a newspaper, a passage in a history textbook, something as distant as an event from another world.

But this life was different. She had taken root in Hollywood. She had family she cared about, and close friends like Britney. They were all supposed to be safe and sound, but she, this "intruder" butterfly, had flapped the wings of fate.

Would anyone change their itinerary because of her, like her parents deciding on a whim to travel to New York? Would Britney happen to be near the Twin Towers for her new album promotion?

Fortunately, she had brought Vivian to Port Royal Bay, so she had one less person to worry about. But these thoughts wrapped around her heart like vines. She tossed and turned at night, unable to sleep, constantly dreaming of the scenes from the news and waking up with cold sweat on her palms.

She knew she might be worrying needlessly, but whenever she thought of the "what if," she could not sit still.

After wrapping up for the day, Irene returned to her room, pushed open the window, and the evening breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, rushed in. In the distance, the waves gently lapped against the beach, making a soothing sound.

She sat on a wicker chair, her fingertips gliding across the phone screen. The names in her contact list flashed by one after another. Finally, she dialed the number of her assistant, Vera.

"Vera, do something for me," she said. Her voice carried a hint of urgency she could not quite hide.

"Book two plane tickets for my parents to Saint Vincent Island. Also, contact the agents for Nicholas and Britney, and ask if they have any free time recently. Book the same itinerary for them as well. Tell them I’m inviting them to Port Royal Bay for a relaxing vacation, and I’ll cover all the expenses."

Vera, on the other end of the line, was stunned for a moment before responding,

"Alright, Irene. However, regarding Britney, I heard she is struggling with the tracks for her new album and might not have much time. And your parents—they know you’re rushing to keep up with the filming schedule. Won’t they worry about bothering you if they come?"

Irene had already planned for this and said softly, "Tell my parents that I’m struggling a bit with the film’s direction and have hit quite a few bottlenecks. I want them to come over and help me brainstorm. It’ll be like having them take control of the big picture. They’ll definitely come."

"Tell Nicholas that the sea fishing and seafood at Port Royal Bay are superb, and he promised to come for a cameo. Tell him I’ve already prepared a pirate captain role for him that’s guaranteed to be thrilling and crazy."

"As for Britney, tell her that the natural scenery at Port Royal Bay is exceptional, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, and it might just help her find creative inspiration. Tell her that I can chat with her during filming breaks, which might give her some new ideas."

After hanging up, Irene felt a little more at ease.

Port Royal Bay itself had excellent scenery. Being far from the American mainland, it was full of unpolished natural beauty, without dense high-rises or complex crowds, making it safe enough.

Although the hotel and entertainment facilities here were far less luxurious than in Los Angeles, with no private pools or 24-hour room service, it had the advantage of being quiet and pure. It was exactly the "place to escape the world" she wanted.

She wanted her family and friends to be within reach. Only by seeing them safe and sound could she truly set her mind at ease.

She then remembered her sister, Sophia, and dialed the overseas call.

After the call connected, Sophia’s cheerful voice came through. "Irene! How is the filming going lately? I found an amazing kimono shop in Japan and was just thinking of sending you a set."

Listening to her sister’s voice, Irene suppressed the worry in her heart and said with a smile, "Filming is going quite smoothly. Everything is back on track after the typhoon. Sis, are you getting used to things in Japan? When are you coming back?"

Sophia replied, "The exchange program here doesn’t end until the end of the year, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to return to the United States in the short term. But I’ve already planned it. When I go back at the end of the year, I’ll visit your set. You’ll have to show me just how amazing this pirate movie you’re filming is."

Irene agreed, but felt relieved in her heart. Her sister was in Japan, far away from that disaster, and not returning to the United States in the short term provided an extra layer of security.

She chatted with Sophia about the scenery of Port Royal Bay and the interesting happenings on the set. When she hung up, Sophia was still nagging her to take care of her health and not work too hard.

Over the next two days, the indoor filming continued smoothly, and Vera also brought good news.

As soon as her parents heard that their daughter had hit a "bottleneck," they did not hesitate to agree to the trip. They even said they would leave two days early to help her "keep an eye on things."

Nicholas happened to be bored as well. After talking with Irene before, he wanted to settle down for a bit recently and did not want to just take any movie and lower his reputation. Since there was a place to relax, he agreed without a second thought.

Britney also relented. Her new album had indeed hit a bottleneck, and she was not satisfied with any of the selected tracks. Her agent also advised her to go out and relax, to change environments to find inspiration, so she agreed to come. She would arrive two days later, as she had to finish some work on hand.

That evening, Irene took Johnny Depp, Henry Cavill, Keira Knightley, as well as the assistant director, the director of photography, and a few other core members to an inconspicuous little restaurant by the sea.

The wooden tables and chairs bore the marks of sea breeze erosion, and a few faded nautical maps hung on the walls. The owner was busy in the kitchen, and the air was filled with the aroma of grilled lobster and coconut bread, giving it a distinct, cozy, everyday atmosphere.

Everyone sat around the table. Just after ordering, Johnny Depp raised a glass of iced beer. Looking at Irene’s rarely relaxed brow, he smiled and teased,

"You’ve looked so preoccupied lately. Your brow never seemed to unfurl. Has it finally cleared up from cloudy to sunny today? Is there some good news you’re keeping from us?"

Irene picked up the fruit wine in front of her and took a gentle sip. The sweet taste melted on the tip of her tongue, and a gentle smile rose in her eyes.

"You could say that. In a few days, my family and friends will be coming over. I’ll introduce you to them then, and let them see this reliable band of comrades I have."