Chapter 203: Just Friends

Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Just Friends

ter 203: Just Friends

Henry stood straight, his gaze open and honest, answering with exceptional firmness and without the slightest hesitation:

"No, we are just very good friends and working partners, nothing more."

Shelly raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a light, playful joke: "Just friends? Keira’s conditions are quite good—young, spiritual, with visible acting talent, and she matches your screen presence well. It wouldn’t hurt to develop something."

Henry shook his head gently, an extremely faint but exceptionally serious expression appearing on his face, his voice lowered:

"No, I already have someone I like in my heart."

The moment he said this, his gaze uncontrollably and very lightly flicked toward Irene on the other side of the room.

Irene was tilting her head, discussing subsequent filming plans in a low voice with Jerry, a slight smile on her lips, completely oblivious to the activity over here.

Shelly, who had been staring closely at Henry, followed his momentary gaze and looked precisely at Irene.

In just a second, Shelly understood everything.

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, which then turned into a knowing smile. He raised an eyebrow and didn’t press further, simply withdrawing his gaze inconspicuously as if nothing had happened.

On the other side, Keira’s agent also finished questioning. Keira’s smiling but silent appearance formed a subtle contrast with Henry’s firm and open attitude.

Jerry tapped the table lightly, and the meeting officially began.

Disney’s Head of Promotion and Distribution spoke first, a long list of data appearing on the projector:

"The market now needs young, clean couples with screen presence. Although Pirates of the Caribbean is an adventure film, the romantic subplot is also a significant selling point. The chemistry between you two in the scenes is already strong enough. Moderate binding off-screen would be a win-win for the box office and both of your careers."

Fox’s Head of Marketing immediately added: "We don’t need to force it. We just need moderate exposure—eating together, walking together, natural snapshots of interactions on set. No need to admit it and no need to deny it. Leave a little room for imagination. Audiences love this the most."

After Henry’s agent Shelly learned his actor’s attitude, he returned to a professional and calm demeanor, leaning back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over Henry and Keira, his tone steady:

"As long as it doesn’t affect filming and no excessive negative news appears, we have no problem. Henry needs public recognition now, so we agree to hype the screen couple, but I hope we can stipulate a time limit.

I believe everyone present is incredibly optimistic about the future of Pirates of the Caribbean. I have the same immense confidence in my actor. He will soon enter a rising phase, so there needs to be a limit to hyping the couple. How to hype it and for how long is very important."

Irene raised an eyebrow at this. Didn’t these words indirectly explain that Henry Cavill had no such intentions toward Keira Knightley?

Clearly, Irene could hear the subtext, and others naturally could too, so everyone’s gaze fell on Keira.

Keira sat upright, her fingertips resting quietly on her knees, her face devoid of unnecessary expression, yet she quietly raised her eyes to steal a quick glance at Henry.

Henry had been listening quietly, and now meeting her gaze, his eyes were gentle without any resistance, only nodding slightly as if in acquiescence, or perhaps in total respect for her decision.

Keira’s agent fell silent for a moment before nodding as well, his gaze circling between the two: "We will cooperate with the promotion rhythm. Likewise, I support Shelly Ovitz’s view. Hyping an on-screen couple requires a specific contract."

"Very well, the contract will be drafted by our production side and then sent to you for review. Any special requirements can be noted separately."

As the most experienced filmmaker present, Jerry had seen far more fake couples than real ones. The fact that some feelings hadn’t happened now didn’t mean they wouldn’t in the future, and those that had happened now didn’t mean they would last. As long as it was beneficial for the movie, he would do it. As for the actors’ true thoughts, who cared?

Irene sat at the other end of the long table, watching all of this quietly without taking a stance.

She knew in her heart that Jerry’s move was both fast and precise, all for the sake of the box office.

The slight sense of ambiguity between these two young people was exactly the most natural and touching promotional material.

Jerry looked at Irene, signaling for her to make the final decision.

Irene gently picked up the coconut water on the table, took a sip, and spoke in a calm but decisive tone:

"Then we’ll proceed according to the promotion plan—moderate, natural, and without crossing boundaries. Film the scenes well, protect the people, and secure the buzz. I suggest starting with the behind-the-scenes footage. I’ll film some interactions of the two preparing for scenes then, and you can be naturally a bit more intimate."

Intimate interactions in behind-the-scenes footage are a powerful tool for hyping a couple. Fans seem to believe that contact during filming is the most natural and best reflects the actors’ true feelings—a charming form of self-deception.

Jerry Bruckheimer nodded in agreement.

The light in the wooden cabin fell on the two young faces.

Keira pursed her lips slightly, and Henry looked at her with a gentle gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Half an hour later, the people in the wooden cabin had left one after another, and the sea breeze blew in through the open door, carrying the faint scent of seawater.

When almost everyone had gone, Keira didn’t leave with her agent but instead softly called out to Henry, who was about to stand up.

"Henry, wait a moment, I have something I want to say to you."

Henry stopped, turned around, his expression still gentle and polite: "What is it, Keira?"

Only the two of them remained in the room, the air so quiet that the sound of waves crashing against the shore outside could be heard.

Keira gripped the pen in her hand, her fingertips turning slightly white. She looked up, her gaze direct and open, without any hesitation.

"You should have understood the proposal in the meeting. The promotion team wants us to hype an on-screen couple, and our agents have both agreed." She paused, trying to keep her tone calm.

"I know this is work, but I still want to be clear about what you’re really thinking."

Henry looked at her quietly, without avoiding her gaze.

Keira took a deep breath and continued bluntly: "To be honest, you’re a good person—handsome, serious about acting, and a gentleman to everyone. If I hadn’t set a rule for myself ’not to date people in the industry,’ I might really have been moved."

She gave a self-deprecating laugh, "But me not wanting to look, and being rejected by you, are two different things. I just don’t want to be presumptuous."

These words were spoken candidly, yet they also hid a girl’s most sensitive pride.

Henry was silent for a moment, his eyes showing no evasion, only sincerity.

He softened his voice, his tone incredibly serious: "Keira, I’m very grateful you’re willing to tell me this. You are wonderful—beautiful, talented, and professional. Everyone would like you."

He didn’t beat around the bush and confessed directly: "But I can’t get too close to you, and I won’t take this hype seriously, because I already have someone I like in my heart."

Keira was suddenly startled, a flash of obvious surprise in her eyes.

She had always thought Henry simply didn’t want to be in a relationship or didn’t feel anything for her. After all, she could feel how much he valued his profession as an actor and thought he had his own plans, but she didn’t expect the answer was simply because he already had someone he liked.

"Who is it?" As soon as the question left her mouth, she was stunned herself. She was actually curious enough to blurt it out.