Chapter 314: Looking Forward to Cooperating

Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Looking Forward to Cooperating

Half a month after the Oscar ceremony concluded, the evening breeze in Los Angeles carried a touch of spring chill, yet it was completely dissipated by the sweltering heat inside the Staples Center.

The annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was being held here. The lights were brilliant, the crowd was clamorous, and the air was thick with the scent of perfume and excitement.

Irene was dressed in a simple black velvet suit with a silver sequined camisole underneath.

She had been invited to watch the show. Just as she took her seat in the third row of the audience, she was drowned out by the rising cheers around her. Everyone was anticipating the appearance of the opening guest.

The lights in the audience area suddenly dimmed, leaving only an ambiguous glow emanating from the stage, making it possible to only vaguely see the silhouettes of those nearby in the darkness.

Irene was looking down, straightening her skirt, when she suddenly felt the empty seat beside her being gently occupied, accompanied by a faint scent of cologne.

She instinctively turned her head, looking through the faint light reflected from the stage, and happened to meet a pair of smiling blue eyes.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s lips curled into that iconic smile capable of making countless fans scream. His voice was kept very low, carrying a hint of familiar teasing: "Long time no see, Irene. I didn’t expect to run into you here."

Irene raised her eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.

"Leonardo, it has indeed been a long time," she replied politely, her gaze inadvertently sweeping past the model backstage entrance not far behind him. "Were you invited to watch the show as well?"

"In a way," Leonardo smiled, his gaze drifting tenderly toward the side of the stage. "I’m here to support my girlfriend, Gisele. She has three looks tonight." His tone was natural, and when he mentioned Gisele Bündchen, the doting affection in his eyes was undisguised, completely different from the rumors that the two were having a falling out.

At this moment, the lights on site were flickering, and the intro music had not yet started. The audience area in the darkness became an excellent place for chatting.

Leonardo was the first to bring up the Oscars, his tone full of admiration: "First of all, congratulations. Million Dollar Baby taking Best Picture—that’s incredible." He paused, adding with a hint of regret, "It’s a shame I wasn’t there to witness that historic moment in person. A 22-year-old female producer—the prestige of that is extraordinarily high. All of Hollywood has been talking about you lately."

Irene gave a faint smile. She had received too much praise lately, and the initial excitement had already passed: "Thank you. It was the effort of the whole team."

"But you are undoubtedly the biggest contributor." Leonardo leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "Seriously, Irene, I’ve always wanted to work with you. You’re the most sought-after producer in Hollywood right now. I won’t claim to be the most red-hot leading man, but I at least have some box office draw. If the two of us join forces to make a movie, it would surely explode with attention, don’t you think?"

His proposal came suddenly, but Irene was not surprised.

Hollywood was a vanity fair where interests and talent intertwined. The success of Million Dollar Baby had significantly increased the weight of Echo Pictures, so it was expected that various stars would proactively extend olive branches.

However, she couldn’t help but tease: "I thought you only liked working with Director Martin Scorsese."

The binding between Leonardo and Martin already had a preliminary intention by now.

Starting from Gangs of New York, the two would subsequently collaborate on The Aviator and *The Departed*—three consecutive Oscar-bait films. Their goal couldn’t be clearer.

Unfortunately, in these three collaborations, every work was nominated for an Oscar due to its brilliant content, but Leonardo always missed out on the Oscar statuette. It wasn’t until the final time that Martin Scorsese fulfilled his dream, but Leonardo still ended in regret.

According to the timeline, he should still be immersed in his blind trust in Martin right now. Why would he suddenly think of seeking a collaboration with her?

Irene had a question mark in her mind, but she didn’t point it out.

Leonardo smiled upon hearing this: "Martin is indeed a great director, and it’s my honor to work with him. But a good creator shouldn’t be limited, right?"

He looked at Irene, his eyes sincere. "I really like the characterization in your movies. Whether it’s Maggie in Million Dollar Baby or Toula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, those seemingly ordinary small characters always burst with dazzling light at critical moments. That sense of reality is very moving. Anyway, if there’s a suitable project, we can try working together. I’m looking forward to it."

Irene nodded, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest of her seat.

Leonardo’s acting career had shaped countless classic roles, but her favorite was still Cobb in *Inception*—that complex character struggling between dreams and reality.

Unfortunately, the scale of special effects needed for that movie was too grand, involving the visual presentation of multi-layered dreams and the construction of zero-gravity scenes. Current film technology simply couldn’t support it. She would have to wait at least five or six years for the technology to mature before putting it on the agenda.

"No problem," Irene gave a definite answer with a composed smile. "If there’s a role and script suitable for you, I’ll contact you immediately."

A satisfied smile appeared on Leonardo’s face. Just as he was about to say more, the music on site suddenly became intense, and the spotlight instantly focused on the center of the stage.

Deafening cheers erupted from the audience. The Victoria’s Secret show had officially begun.

The first to appear was the opening guest, Britney Spears.

She was wearing a silver sequined bodysuit paired with black leather boots, her long hair flying as she danced to the high-energy melody of "Toxic."

Her sexy dance moves and highly penetrating voice perfectly matched the gorgeous atmosphere of the Victoria’s Secret show, instantly igniting the passion of the entire venue.

Irene also swayed her body gently to the rhythm, looking at her radiant friend on stage with a genuine smile on her lips.

During a break in the performance, she instinctively glanced at Leonardo beside her.

She saw that when Gisele Bündchen walked onto the runway wearing a feathered wing look, Leonardo immediately straightened his body, his eyes full of pride and love, and he even secretly made a heart gesture toward the stage.

After Gisele saw it, a sweet smile curled onto her lips, and her eyes met his from across the distance, showing perfect chemistry.

Irene muttered to herself: Earlier, her cousin Nicolas was gossiping at the Oscar dinner, saying Leonardo and Gisele were having a falling out because they were too busy with work and were even about to break up. How could they be this sweet after only half a month?

Sure enough, Hollywood gossip is just something to listen to. It shouldn’t be taken seriously.

The lights on the stage shifted as supermodels wearing various types of gorgeous lingerie walked across the runway with confident smiles. Feathered wings, crystal decorations, lace skirts—every look drew bursts of exclamations from the audience.

Leonardo would occasionally exchange a few words with Irene, commenting on the show’s design and the models’ performances. The topic shifted from fashion back to movies, and he again mentioned his desire for a collaboration, his tone full of expectation.

Irene responded casually while watching the show.

Working with Leonardo was indeed a win-win choice. It could both increase the film’s attention and further expand Echo Pictures’ influence.

However, right now, her energy was still focused on the preparation for Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 and the acquisition of the distribution company. She temporarily had no extra time to polish a new script.

"Once I’m done with the projects at hand, we’ll have a good talk," Irene said seriously.

Leonardo smiled and nodded: "I’ll wait for your news."