Chapter 206: The Answer

Chapter 206: Chapter 206: The Answer

Keira walked quickly to the door of Henry’s room and knocked without a moment’s hesitation.

A calm "Come in" came from inside, and she pushed the door open to see Henry, shirtless, doing strength training. A thin layer of sweat clung to his forehead, and his well-defined shoulders and back rose and fell slightly with his movements.

Upon seeing her, he simply paused naturally, picked up a towel from the side to wipe away his sweat, showing no signs of awkwardness at all.

Keira got straight to the point, laying out the suspicions that had been lingering in her mind for a long time.

Henry was silent for a moment. He didn’t dodge or try to cover anything up, eventually nodding candidly and confirming all her suspicions.

The air was quiet for a few seconds before Henry suddenly chuckled self-deprecatingly and looked at her, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible unease:

"You don’t think I’m using these feelings to take a shortcut or engage in some kind of ’casting couch’ situation, do you? To outsiders, an actor and a director always look like there’s something fishy going on."

Keira immediately waved her hand, her eyes open and certain: "I watch you on set every day. I know exactly how hard you work and how much effort you put in. You’ve never let personal matters delay filming, nor have you used any improper means to get close to her.

When it comes down to it, you’re just experiencing a clear-headed and restrained unrequited love. It has nothing to do with backroom deals or shortcuts."

Her straightforwardness and understanding made Henry breathe a sigh of relief, and the two began to chat in low voices, the atmosphere light and in sync.

But just then, a sudden, abrupt knock sounded at the door.

The two immediately exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of surprise in the other’s eyes.

Henry straightened his clothes and walked slowly to open the door. Standing outside was actually their agent, Shelly.

Shelly looked up and saw the two in the room, clearly stunned for a moment, before smiling politely: "Did I interrupt you?"

Keira reacted very quickly, standing up immediately and smoothing things over with a natural tone:

"No, no, I just came over to ask Henry about some script matters. We were just finishing up, so I’ll be going now." With that, she walked away quickly, gently closing the door behind her.

The hallway returned to silence. Shelly walked into the room, his gaze filled with a hint of intrigued amusement as he looked at Henry:

"I just saw Keira rushing downstairs. I thought the rumors about you two were true, so I waited a while. Now it seems there really is nothing going on?"

Henry looked calm, not avoiding the question at all, and nodded faintly: "Nothing at all, just colleagues chatting about work."

"Alright then, just make sure you manage that boundary well."

Shelly then took a stack of printed documents and a disc out of his briefcase.

"I won’t beat around the bush. I’m here for two things, both professional." He pushed the materials in front of Henry, his tone steady and orderly. "First, about the promotional behind-the-scenes footage filmed today."

Henry wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat over to listen carefully.

"The producers and the publicity team have just reviewed the footage. The effect is very good—it’s eye-catching and has enough chemistry. The disc is the rough cut. You can watch it, but keep the external narrative consistent with what the crew provides. Talk only about the collaboration and the characters.

Do not speculate or respond to rumors about personal relationships to avoid causing trouble for the Director and Keira. This film has a high level of attention right now, and a single word could be blown out of proportion. If you stay steady, you’re helping reduce the burden on the crew."

Henry nodded: "I understand, I will be careful."

"Very good." Shelly flipped to the next page, which contained a dense shooting schedule.

"Second, the crew is moving to other locations next week to film, which includes quite a few water and action scenes. I’ve already coordinated all the insurance, security, and stunt arrangements for you.

The crew has also arranged action training in advance, as per Irene’s request. You’re a newcomer, and this is your first time filming such a large commercial production. Practice more, communicate more, and don’t try to tough it out alone. If you have any problems, come straight to me, and I’ll coordinate. Safety and your condition are always the top priority."

He paused, his tone carrying the guidance for a newcomer, yet devoid of any unnecessary emotion:

"Irene has high standards for filming, but she only recognizes talent, not gimmicks. I’ve seen you actively rehearsing lines, refining your acting, and doing your homework after wrap time these past few days. Your hard work won’t be in vain. Everyone on set sees it. As long as you maintain this focus and establish your character well, that’s more important than anything else."

Henry listened attentively, his eyes firm: "Thank you, Shelly. I understand. I won’t let the crew down, and I definitely won’t delay filming."

Shelly closed the file, a faint but approving expression appearing on his face: "That’s good. I’ve given you the necessary reminders. The rest is up to you. There’s nothing else, so I won’t disturb your rest. You have an early makeup call tomorrow."

...

After the Golden Globe Awards organizing committee learned that Irene had officially declined the invitation to be an award presenter, a small ripple of turmoil quickly spread internally.

The director in charge of artist relations read the reply email, was stunned for a few seconds, and then rubbed his temples helplessly.

He had seen the temperaments of many creators like Irene—they only had eyes for film, not for socializing or pageantry.

Even when she was just starting to make a name for herself, she had shown such signs. Now that she held a directorial position on a major production, her nature was even more unvarnished. She would never disrupt her own rhythm for the sake of industry pleasantries. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

However, far from being annoyed, he felt a bit of admiration. At the internal meeting, he only said calmly: "She has always been this way. She respects creation above all else. We should just proceed with the backup plan. There’s no need to force it."

In contrast, there were a few old-school committee members who valued pageantry and influence.

Someone put down their pen on the spot, their tone clearly filled with dissatisfaction and disdain:

"Just because she filmed one commercial blockbuster, she dares to directly decline an invitation to the Golden Globe Awards? In past years, countless minor stars have broken their heads trying to get this position.

We even gave her a significant award last year, and look at her—she says she won’t come, so she doesn’t come. She has too little regard for this industry event."

A highly experienced judge even snorted coldly, his tone sharp: "Young directors are the easiest to get carried away, thinking that having box office success gives them the right to ignore the rules. It’s a lack of understanding of the boundaries and decorum within the industry."

In their view, Irene’s refusal was equivalent to not giving the organizers face and was a slight against the authority of the awards ceremony. Some even secretly resolved to "weigh" her importance carefully when it came to the relevant judging phases for the film.

However, there were also a few committee members who truly understood creation and valued talent, and they expressed understanding or even agreement with her actions.

One of them spoke in a calm but weighty tone: "You don’t need to be so critical of her. A director during the filming period is tied to the entire crew. Relocations, scheduling, the actors’ states—you can’t leave for any of these links.

The fact that she is willing to give up exposure and socializing to stay glued to the set shows that she knows where her priorities lie. This kind of reverence for her work is far more precious than walking a red carpet."

These words slightly calmed the dispute in the conference room.

Some agreed, some were dismissive, some were annoyed, and some understood.

Some felt she didn’t know what was good for her, while others admired her clarity and focus.

And all this turmoil was something Irene, far away on the island film set, was completely unaware of and never cared about.

She remained at the monitor, staring at every shot and every ray of light, keeping all the discussions and emotions of the vanity fair completely isolated outside her set.