Chapter 253: Free Publicity

Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Free Publicity

"My god, Irene, it really is you!" Lindsay Lohan was the first to speak excitedly, her voice trembling slightly.

"I absolutely love Mean Girls. Reese’s performance was wonderful, and your directing was even more impressive. I’ve watched it no less than five times! It’s truly an honor to be a guest at your new home!"

Britney smiled and patted her shoulder as she introduced them to Irene.

"Irene, these are some good friends I’ve met recently: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Kim Kardashian. They heard you were having a housewarming party and really wanted to come, so I brought them along. I hope we’re not intruding?"

The blonde-haired, blue-eyed Paris Hilton was dressed in a haute couture gown, looking elegant and proud.

Lindsay Lohan wore an energetic crop top and jeans, looking youthful and bright, her eyes full of excitement.

Kim Kardashian wore a form-fitting dress that accentuated her curves, her smile gentle.

As soon as the three of them appeared, they drew the attention of many guests.

When Irene saw these three, her mind went blank for a second.

She never expected that the friends Britney would bring were these three—figures who would later cause massive waves in social circles. Although they hadn’t reached their peak yet, they were already somewhat famous in celebrity circles.

After snapping out of it, she immediately put on a proper smile and took the initiative to reach out her hand. "Of course not. Thank you for your support. You’re very welcome here."

"Irene, I’m Paris Hilton," Paris said, shaking hands elegantly with a warm tone. "I’ve heard of your talent for a long time—filming so many hit movies at such a young age. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person today and enjoy such a beautiful ocean view. Perhaps I should buy a house around here next time and be your neighbor?"

Irene smiled. "You’re certainly welcome to. The scenery here is indeed unique."

Kim Kardashian also reached out her hand with a gentle smile. "I’m Kim Kardashian. Britney often mentions you, saying you’re the most reliable and thoughtful director she’s ever met. I’ve seen every one of your movies. I really admire your creativity."

The Kardashian of today was far from having the aura she would possess in the future. Standing next to Paris Hilton, she looked like an ordinary girl.

"Thank you for the kind words. Please, make yourselves at home. If you want anything to eat or drink, just ask the staff," Irene replied with a smile. However, her mind was racing, wondering when Britney had gotten mixed up with them.

Paris Hilton’s reputation wasn’t exactly great—smoking, drinking, and a messy love life. Irene had finally managed to steer Britney onto the right path. She couldn’t let them influence her again.

However, speaking of which, these individuals were active members of various entertainment and social circles with vast networks and a curiosity for new things. Their arrival was practically tailor-made for being "seed users" of Facebook.

Britney saw through her thoughts and leaned in to whisper, "The three of them are very popular in social circles, surrounded by celebrity friends, and they love sharing new things. Tell them about Facebook later. They’ll definitely be willing to help promote it."

Irene raised an eyebrow and winked at Britney. "You really do know me best."

Britney squinted and smiled. "Of course. These were carefully selected targets."

At that moment, Shelly walked over with the prepared souvenirs and said to Paris and the other two with a smile,

"Beautiful ladies, these are the souvenirs Irene prepared for everyone. Inside are silk scarves and perfumes from niche brands, as well as a Facebook registration invitation card. The platform is now open to all of America, and registering early can unlock an exclusive blue V badge."

"Facebook? Is it a new social media app?" Paris curiously took the gift bag and looked inside. "I was just worrying about having nowhere to share my daily life. I’ll definitely register later!"

Lindsay Lohan immediately took out her phone. "Can I register now? I want to try it right away! Can I add you as a friend, Irene?"

Kim Kardashian also said with a smile, "Many of my friends are looking for a good social platform. Once I register, I’ll recommend it to them."

Looking at the enthusiastic reactions of the three, Irene felt like she had saved a fortune on advertising fees.

Not long after, a burst of light laughter came from the entrance as Henry Cavill walked in hand-in-hand with Keira Knightley.

Henry was wearing a dark gray casual suit that made his shoulder line look sharp and upright, while Keira wore a light blue gauze dress with her long hair loosely pinned up.

Standing together, they looked like they had stepped right out of a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean.

The guests at the door turned their heads one after another, and someone joked, "A classic golden couple. No wonder people say they fell in love while filming."

Henry subconsciously tightened his grip on Keira’s hand and spoke naturally, "Irene, congratulations on the move." His gaze swept past Keira and landed on Irene’s face, a hint of warmth hidden in his eyes along with an imperceptible touch of nervousness.

"Henry, Keira, welcome!" Irene smiled and went to meet them, first giving Henry a hug. This hug carried the sense of boundaries between old friends, yet it made Henry’s shoulders relax instantly.

He handed over a gift box. "I brought you a set of handmade leather bookmarks with ocean scenery engraved on them. I thought you could use them in your study."

"That’s so thoughtful." Irene took the gift box and turned to Keira. "Long time no see. How is your new drama filming going?"

"It’s going very well, but I often think back to the days we filmed Pirates of the Caribbean together." Keira took Irene’s arm with a bright smile. "I heard you bought a house with an ocean view in Santa Monica. Seeing it today, it’s even more beautiful than I imagined!"

The three of them walked to the viewing platform in the living room. Henry took the initiative to pull out rattan chairs for Irene and Keira, then sat in the chair opposite them, his gaze falling on Irene from time to time.

"Oh, right, Irene," Keira suddenly remembered something and said with a smile,

"Henry has been mentioning you to me lately, saying he really admires your control over films and that he wants to collaborate with you again if there’s a suitable project next time."

Henry knew his friend was trying to give him an assist. His ears turned slightly red as he quickly added, "Yes, your cinematic language is particularly infectious. I’ve always wanted to learn more from you." His gaze was locked onto Irene, filled with expectation yet afraid of being too obvious.

Irene nodded with a smile. "You’re welcome anytime. As long as the release of Pirates of the Caribbean goes well, we’ll be able to collaborate again soon." Her tone was natural and open, completely unaware of the disappointment and joy interwoven in Henry’s eyes.

At that moment, Johnny Depp walked over and made an inviting gesture. "I hate to interrupt your chat, but this piece of music is too wonderful. May I have this dance, Irene?"

Irene smilingly placed her hand in Depp’s. "Of course." After standing up, she said to Henry and Keira, "We’ll talk more later. You two enjoy yourselves."

Henry’s gaze followed Irene as she left. Keira quietly nudged Henry’s arm and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Don’t just watch. Go talk to Irene more. You haven’t seen each other in so long. Hurry up and show her some care."

Henry took a sip of champagne and replied in a low voice, "She’s the star of the night. I’ll wait until tonight is over to talk."