*Chapter 416: The Premiere and Emily*

After arriving in the coastal town of Cannes, Link took a brief rest at the hotel before joining director Allen and the main cast to attend the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals.

Since his acquisition of Lionsgate, media worldwide covered the news. At just over 20 years old, he became the owner of Hollywood's eighth-largest production company, which dramatically elevated his status in the film industry.

At the opening ceremony, reporters from various countries surrounded him, asking a series of questions mostly related to the film. They inquired about whether Lionsgate's film style and genre would change under his leadership, if he preferred commercial or art films, and his thoughts on French cinema, as well as potential collaborations.

Gossip reporters even asked if he knew about Marion Cotillard having a child and whether he planned to visit her. Some even brought up rumors that the child was his, asking how he felt about this gossip.

Aside from the media, many filmmakers and distributors approached him for collaborations, including Belgium’s Dardenne brothers, Turkey’s Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Japan’s Takashi Miike, and Chinese director Johnnie To.

After making the rounds, Link returned to his seat to watch the movie as it began.

Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris had a beautiful visual style, capturing both classical and modern Paris, but the plot felt somewhat bland. It followed a modern man dissatisfied with his life, who accidentally gains the ability to travel back in time. Through his journeys, he discovers the pros and cons of the past and ultimately decides to stay in the present.

Those familiar with the "Belle Époque" era of Paris would likely enjoy the film, following the protagonist's travels through historical Paris. However, for those less acquainted with that time period, the only highlight might be Link's looks and acting.

Link himself was surprised by his appearance in the movie—it was almost too handsome, too perfect.

Not only did he have a strikingly handsome face, but he also exuded an artistic, melancholic, and elegant aura, with every gesture possessing a strange beauty. Similar to actors like Sean Penn, Tony Leung, and John Lone, who might look average in real life but appear stunning on screen, Link’s already good looks and upright posture were enhanced tenfold under Allen’s direction.

Throughout the movie, gasps could be heard from the audience, mostly from female fans marveling at how cool and "so sexy" he appeared, comparing him to Adonis, the beautiful figure from Greek mythology. Compliments flooded the theater, making even Link, confident in his appearance, feel a bit embarrassed by the excessive praise.

"Link, you should thank me. Other directors couldn't have filmed you this well," said Woody Allen, expressionless.

Link smiled softly. While he did owe his on-screen appearance to Allen, he felt he owed more thanks to himself.

The original character was supposed to be disheveled, with loose clothing and messy hair, constantly muttering to himself—a character with no charm. However, thanks to Link’s insistence, the character was transformed into a handsome, melancholic, and talented young artist, which became the screen image seen today.

If they had stuck to Allen's original vision, the movie wouldn't have received as much praise upon its release.

"This film might just become one of my representative works," Link thought.

"But don't get too happy just yet," Allen said, "You were called a 'pretty face' in Bridesmaids, and after this movie, you'll only cement that reputation further. You might even become the poster child for 'pretty actors,' taking you even further away from winning an Oscar. I could almost call you the farthest from the Academy Award for Best Actor."

Link pondered this. It was true—he seemed to be moving further from an Oscar win.

Being too handsome, too young, too rich, and too famous all worked against him at the Oscars. Playing a superhero also didn’t help. And as the owner of Hollywood’s eighth-largest studio, it didn’t get any easier. Plus, now he was being labeled as a "pretty face," much like how Leonardo DiCaprio was treated in his younger days.

It seemed like every possible obstacle stood in his way.

"No worries," Link chuckled, "I'm already at the bottom, so the only way from here is up."

Allen glanced at him, the corner of his mouth twitching.

While most people strive to get closer to an Oscar, adding points to their case along the way, Link seemed to be stepping into every pitfall on his way to the award. If anyone could live to a hundred years old and still not win an Oscar, it would be him.

"Oh, Link is so charming."

"Link is perfect for literary films."

"Yes, such a delicate performance."

On-screen, Link was shown walking alone along the Seine at midnight, hands in his pockets. His slightly tousled hair, chiseled side profile, and deep, clear eyes exuded a faint melancholic charm, making many women in the audience call him a "god." Meanwhile, the critics focused on his acting, showering him with praise.

Applause!

As the movie ended, over 3,000 audience members stood to clap, paying tribute to Allen and the film’s cast.

"Link is so handsome! How can someone be this good-looking, rich, and even a world champion? What a perfect man!"

A round-faced Chinese actress stood up in the back row, clapping excitedly.

"Calm down. Don’t act like a fangirl," said Emily Yang, her eyes fixed on Link, standing in the crowd, still shining like the sun. His status, wealth, fame, and appearance were like a drug, irresistibly attractive to women.

At this moment, not just Lilith Zhao next to her, but many female fans and even foreign actresses were staring longingly at Link, with posters and pens at the ready for autographs.

"Emily, I heard you know Link. Is that true?" Lilith Zhao asked, blinking as she tested the waters.

Emily nodded without denying it.

As a shareholder of Dolphin Bay Entertainment, Emily was well aware that its majority stakeholder was Golden Shell Investments, a company that few outside the industry knew was owned by Link himself. He wasn’t just a billionaire and owner of Lionsgate but also a major shareholder in Wanda Cinemas.

"Emily, I want to ask Link for an autograph. Do you think I have a chance?" Lilith Zhao asked, holding up a Link poster.

"You can give it a try," Emily said.

After a moment of hesitation, Lilith summoned her courage and walked forward.

Just after Lilith left, a woman with a voluptuous figure and fair skin approached, smiling warmly. "Emily, will you be meeting with Mr. Baker while you’re here in Cannes?"

Emily immediately felt cautious.

This woman, whose film My Way was also featured at Cannes, hadn’t entered any official competition categories but had attracted media attention with her stunning white dress on the red carpet. Ambitious and well-connected, she was someone to watch out for.

Sensing the question about Link, Emily remained on alert.

---

Harvey’s ability could be considered a kind of talent.

Link didn’t expect Andrew Kramer and the others to be on Harvey’s level, as long as they didn’t buy films that bombed at the box office. Lionsgate made money primarily from its own productions, not from movies it bought.

After seeing Andrew and the others off, Link chatted with a few other filmmakers who approached him. Just as he was taking a break, he received a message from Emily Yang, saying she was also at the festival and wanted to meet him in person to discuss the company’s business, asking if he had time.

Link asked where she was.

Emily said she was about 300 meters in front of him, wearing a white dress.

Link looked around and spotted her in the crowd, then sent her a message to come over.

Emily quickly made her way over, wearing a Saint Laurent dress with her hair down, complete with curtain bangs. Her face seemed a bit more refined compared to last year, probably due to some cosmetic enhancements.

Link shook her hand and invited her to a nearby café to chat.

There were more than 20 theaters at the Festival Palace, showing films non-stop throughout the festival. Between the theaters, there were cafés, restaurants, and smoking lounges for visitors to take breaks.

However, with 400,000 to 500,000 visitors attending the festival to watch free movies, the cafés were often packed.

Link found an empty seat and invited Emily to sit down, asking about her trip to Cannes.

Emily said the movie she starred in, Far Cry, was also screening at Cannes, but unfortunately, it wasn’t in any competition categories. Its international sales were also mediocre. She asked if Link wanted to take a look.

Link said he didn’t have time, but he’d arrange for someone from Lionsgate to check it out later.

Emily thanked him, sipped her coffee, and began reporting on the work of Dolphin Bay Talent Agency.

Currently, Dolphin Bay had 30 staff members, with offices in mainland China and Hong Kong. They had three signed actors—Lilith Zhao and two students from the Shanghai Theater Academy—whom they were placing in various productions to gain experience.

The rest of the report focused on Emily’s personal work.

Last year, she starred in two popular TV shows, Palace and a new version of Water Margin. She also invested in and starred in two movies, Far Cry and Overheard 2.

She had become an A-list celebrity in mainland China, and the company was doing well financially, with profits exceeding three million in the past six months.

Emily mentioned that last year, China’s box office revenue hit 10.1 billion yuan, with 5.7 billion from domestic films and 4.4 billion from foreign films. The market was booming, and investing more in film could yield great returns, but they lacked the funds.

Link asked how big she wanted to go.

Emily said she wanted to build the company into a top-tier film company with a market value in the billions.

Link chuckled and said he’d arrange for someone from Golden Shell to audit Dolphin Bay Talent Agency. If the results were good, he’d consider increasing the investment—last year’s investment was just testing the waters.

“Link, I think I’ve done well. The three-million profit I mentioned is real,” Emily said confidently, but a bit nervously.

“Don’t overthink it. The main focus is on the company’s management. If you want to grow it bigger, you can’t cut corners on the company’s structure. I’ll send a professional manager from the U.S. to guide your team.”

“Really? Thank you,” Emily smiled.

“Hey, Link! You’re here having coffee too,” came a voice from Hollywood actress Kirsten Dunst, who approached holding a coffee cup.

“Hi, Kirsten!”

Link stood up to greet her. Kirsten Dunst had risen to fame a few years ago through the Spider-Man series. This year, she had a full nude scene in Melancholia, which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival.

After chatting briefly, Dunst left with her coffee.

Two minutes later, French actress Mélanie Laurent also stopped by to greet Link. She had starred in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds in 2009 and was the host of this year’s Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony.

Then, other jurors from this year’s festival, including Jude Law and Uma Thurman, also came over to say hello.

Emily sat stiffly on the couch, watching one international star after another greet Link. Seeing how warmly they interacted with him made her feel a little disheartened.

Even though she was a big star herself and looked just as good as they did, she couldn’t seem to match their independent, carefree confidence.

“You should hold your head high. You probably have more fans than they do, and your net worth might not be far off either,” Link said, wiping his hands.

Blushing, Emily straightened her posture, realizing she had unconsciously lowered her head earlier.

“Every woman has her own unique beauty. Bold and assertive is one kind of beauty; reserved and subtle is another. As you admire them, they’re admiring you. You just need to be more confident and show off your beauty.”

“Thank you, I’ll work on that,” Emily smiled gently.

“I have some other things to handle later, so let’s leave it here for today. I might go to mainland China next month; we can talk more then.”

Link stood up.

Reluctantly, Emily nodded, then added, “Lilith is here too—you saw her earlier. She really admires you. Do you want to meet her? I can bring her to see you.”

Link paused, looked at her, and said, “Not for now. I’ve heard from Chris Liu that Lilith has a lot of potential. You should assign her more resources to help her grow. Also, I’ll have someone from Lionsgate reach out to you. Take them to see Far Cry; I’ll arrange for them to buy the North American distribution rights, but the price won’t be high. Make sure the production team is aware.”

“Got it,” Emily replied.

She reluctantly watched him leave.

As he walked away, Emily sank back into her seat with a shrug. She had originally hoped to spend more time with him, but he was too busy. From the moment he arrived at the Festival Palace, people had been constantly coming up to greet him.

Still, she felt satisfied that Link had taken the time to invite her for coffee and chat for a bit.

However, before coming to Cannes, she had hoped that this meeting would help deepen her relationship with Link, maybe even take things to another level, giving her a sense of security. But during their conversation, all they discussed was business. Link didn’t show any personal interest, and she didn’t have the nerve to bring it up herself.

Her disappointment stemmed from this unmet expectation.

“Hey, Mimi!” A voice called out.

Emily turned to see it was Ice Van, whom she had met earlier.

“Ice? You’re having coffee here too?” Emily greeted her.

“Yep, just got here.”

Ice Van brushed her hair back, her expression a bit stiff. She had tried to greet Link earlier and snap a few photos with him, but his bodyguards had blocked her at the door.

It wasn’t just her. A group of French female fans and foreign actresses were all outside, hoping to get close to the new Hollywood mogul.

But none of them had the chance. Meanwhile, Emily got to chat with Link for over ten minutes.

“Mimi, I want to ask you something personal. How’s your relationship with Link?” Ice Van asked.

“Sister Ice, why are you asking?”

“We’re all friends here, just chatting,” Ice Van paused, then smiled. “Link is so handsome and in great shape. Have you two slept together?”

Emily blushed. “Sister Ice, Link and I are just business partners. We were talking about work earlier.”

“Really?”

Ice Van studied her expression, sensing she wasn’t lying, and felt a little disappointed.

She had hoped to use Emily’s connection to Link to get her foot into Hollywood, but it seemed that their relationship was purely professional, which wasn’t close enough or stable enough to be of any help.

Emily could sense Ice Van’s enthusiasm waning and regretted saying what she did.

Everyone knew Link was a playboy. People in the industry had assumed she was one of his girlfriends, which explained why Dolphin Bay Talent Agency received so much support.

Now, telling Ice Van she hadn’t slept with Link might not be a good thing if the word spread.

Emily took a sip of her coffee, glanced at her watch, and mentioned that she had to go meet with the Lionsgate people to discuss the North American distribution rights for Far Cry. She stood up, excused herself, and left.

Ice Van watched her leave, smiled, and continued to sip her coffee slowly.

(End of chapter)