Chapter 436: News

Chapter 436: Chapter 436: News

Her eighteen years of social education from her past life had deeply ingrained in her an attitude of extreme responsibility and caution toward relationships; love meant staying together for the long haul, giving it her all, understanding one another, and comforting each other, neither starting casually nor ending lightly.

Yet in Hollywood in this lifetime, carpe diem and fast-food romances prevailed everywhere, with everyone pursuing fleeting pleasures and living up to every encounter, and few people willing to settle down to cultivate a long-term, stable intimate relationship.

These two entirely different emotional perceptions and views on romance and marriage constantly pulled at each other and conflicted deep within her heart.

Coupled with the regret of her previous relationship ending abruptly and sloppily without a real conclusion, to this day, she still had not completely figured out the crux of why the two of them broke up, nor could she grasp the true way to get along in an intimate relationship.

She raised her eyes to look toward the central dance floor, where the neon lights fell gently, and countless men and women embraced closely and whispered softly; some were testing the waters ambiguously, while others were tender and lingering—seemingly lively and fulfilling, but actually everyone had their own thoughts and compromises.

Irene watched quietly; how much of this was true sincerity and how much was interest? Sincere, pure, long-lasting, and stable relationships were inherently the most profound and unsolvable subject in the world, and no one had ever been able to easily penetrate it.

After a brief emotional ups and downs, Irene quickly pulled back her thoughts, cast aside the fragmented feelings deep in her heart, returned to a clear and calm state, and devoted herself wholeheartedly to tonight’s networking and socialising.

Just then, her gaze inadvertently swept past a quiet corner on the inner side of the banquet hall, and at a glance, she saw an extremely familiar figure — George Lucas.

In the eyes of others, George Lucas was The Godfather of the industry who created the Star Wars legend, pioneered Hollywood’s special effects industry, and held a trillion-dollar IP territory; he was a high-and-mighty, out-of-reach capitalist tycoon.

But in Irene’s heart, he was never a cold industry senior, but rather a close elder who watched her grow up, protected her as she became an adult, and treated her like a father and daughter.

George had watched her grow from a toddler taking her first steps into the independent and capable film industry helmswoman she was today.

The Coppola Family and the Lucas family had been on friendly terms for generations, and Francis Coppola and George Lucas were also long-time old friends; he had witnessed all her raw greenness and growth, acting as a warm and reliable elder in her life, and their familial bond had long transcended industry interests, being pure and profound.

Without the slightest politeness or estrangement, Irene walked quickly through the crowd, went straight to George’s side, leaned down to gently hug him, her movements intimate and natural, carrying a younger generation’s reliance and warmth toward an elder.

"Godfather, long time no see." Her voice was soft and warm, leaving only pure intimacy.

George Lucas had originally been sitting quietly resting alone, but seeing this, a gentle smile instantly rippled across the bottom of his eyes, and he raised his hand to gently pat her back, his tone full of doting fondness and gratification: "Our little Irene is getting more and more impressive, standing at the pinnacle of all Hollywood so quickly; we are all getting old."

The two sat side by side in a secluded corner, chatting about everyday family matters.

Ever since Francis withdrew from Hollywood, the opportunities for these old friends to meet were not as frequent as before. In the past, Francis could still occasionally be seen coming out to socialise at the end of the year, but now that both daughters had achieved results worthy of pride, he completely washed his hands of these matters.

Looking at the poised and independent Irene standing before him who could hold her own, George’s eyes were filled with emotion; time flies, and the little girl back then who knew nothing and followed behind him had now grown into a top figure capable of controlling a domain of industry and shaking the industry’s landscape.

After a brief warm and casual chat, industry moguls successively stepped forward wanting to converse and make connections. Bound by social obligation, Irene had to temporarily stand up to socialise, taking turns politely greeting various filmmakers and production senior executives to maintain her circle of contacts.

After a bout of busyness, she once again extricated herself to retreat back to the corner, quietly keeping George company.

At this moment, George had unloaded all external halos and fatigue, his tone carrying a sense of release and exhaustion as he slowly uttered his truest thoughts from the bottom of his heart, speaking only to Irene whom he trusted most: "Irene, Godfather is old."

Gazing at the vibrant and lively young filmmakers in the room, his eyes were full of clarity:

"Film and television technology iterates too fast nowadays, and the thinking of young people is broad, bold, and daring to break and establish; my thinking has long solidified and cannot keep up with the rhythm of the new era. The future of Hollywood is ultimately the world of you young people, and I have reached the age where I should let go and retire to enjoy life."

Irene hurriedly and softly consoled him: "You pioneered Hollywood’s special effects era, and the Star Wars IP and Industrial Light & Magic remain unsurpassed to this day; you are forever the foundation and benchmark of the industry."

George shook his head with a smile, interrupting her consolation: "Do not try to persuade me, I figured it out long ago. Your father Francis Coppola saw things most clearly, shedding these floating-cloud trifles early on, staying away from the hustle and bustle of capital games, living like a free crane in the clouds and creating as his heart desires, brewing some wine when nothing is up, living a dashing and cosy life—I have envied him for far too long."

"My only attachment and the only thing I cannot let go of now is Lucasfilm, which I built with my own hands." George’s expression gradually grew solemn, hiding deep helplessness and regret at the bottom of his eyes:

"Among the younger generations of my family, no one has the ability or interest to take over this foundation; either they are mediocre in talent and cannot support the big picture, or they have no heart for the film and television industry. The IP empire I created with half a lifetime of effort and the special effects system I pioneered—if no one inherits them and they eventually dissipate, it will be the greatest regret of my life."

He raised his eyes, his gaze earnest and serious, looking straight at Irene beside him whom he trusted and looked upon most favourably, his eyes full of entrustment and probing.

Irene instantly understood The Godfather’s intent, without the slightest hesitation, her tone resolute and solemn, every word clear: "Godfather, name your price, and I will pour out everything to win Lucasfilm with all my might."

This was not a flustering remark of impulsive flattery; others only saw the top-tier IPs of Lucasfilm, but Irene knew clearly that Industrial Light & Magic alone was worth her winning at all costs.

As the pioneer of the global film and television special effects industry, Industrial Light & Magic held the most cutting-edge special effects technology, core patents, mature teams, and complete processes, serving as the core lifeline of future sci-fi blockbusters and superhero film and television systems.

Capturing it would add wings to her media empire, and the addition of special effects would be an important link in her subsequent commercial empire; if she did not firmly grasp such an opportunity when it was delivered to her doorstep, she would truly be a fool.

What was more, as long as George wanted it, the explosive news that Lucasfilm was about to be sold could instantly spread across Hollywood, and by then she might not necessarily be able to outcompete those true giants.

Looking at the firmness and sincere devotion in her eyes without a shred of utilitarian calculation, only heartfelt empathy, the heavy stone in George’s heart completely dropped to the ground, and he nodded with a face full of gratification, his eyes full of peace of mind.

Just as the two were whispering to discuss subsequent matters, a tall and familiar figure slowly walked over, breaking the quietness of the corner.

Leonardo DiCaprio held a glass of champagne, his figure tall and upright, his brows and eyes handsome, though his brows concealed a trace of unmaskable fatigue and melancholy.

This session, relying on his role as Howard Hughes in "The Aviator," he frontran the Best Actor candidates with explosive acting skills and was also the hottest candidate for Best Actor of the whole event.

Yet only he himself knew that after accompanying the Oscar race several times, he knew the Oscar’s rules of the game inside and out, and with "Ray" in this session, he might be in trouble once again.