Since this wasn't a film he was starring in, Matthew simply walked the red carpet in front of the theater and soon reached the entrance, politely declining any interviews with the press.
Besides, the press's attention wasn't focused on him. The two leads, Orlando Bloom and Kate Beckinsale, had yet to arrive, but plenty of A-list stars were already present.
Just ahead of Matthew, Rachel Weisz and Arica's sweetheart, Jennifer Aniston, entered the theater. By the ti Matthew reached the entrance himself, the Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow was already in the interview area.
While it was strange to find himself caught between two won with such a tense relationship, Matthew didn't dwell on it and headed straight into the theater, where a mber of the film's crew escorted him to the VIP lounge.
As soon as he walked in, he spotted a familiar face and hurried over.
"Hello, Rachel." Matthew appeared before Rachel Weisz, who was dressed in a red evening gown. She imdiately flashed a brilliant smile. "Hello, Matthew."
Matthew opened his arms and gave Rachel a hug.
"It's only been two years, and you're already a huge star." Rachel stepped back, looking Matthew up and down. "As handso and elegant as ever."
"And you're more beautiful than ever," Matthew returned, never one to be outdone when it ca to complints. "And sexier, too."
Rachel gazed at Matthew, her smile widening. She suddenly lowered her voice and asked, "You don't have any ulterior motives for complinting like that, do you?"
"Why would I?" Matthew said plainly. "We're friends."
He rembered that Rachel had a fiancé, and while fiancés and fiancées were hardly an obstacle for so stars, getting involved with an actress who was already taken was an unnecessary complication.
They changed the subject.
"You've beco so popular so quickly these past two years." Rachel rembered Matthew as just an unknown junior actor in the cast. "You're more famous than I am now."
Matthew remained modest. "Oh, please. It's all just inflated hype."
He chuckled. "Unlike you. You've been working hard on your craft; you're even in the running for an Oscar. Once you win Best Actress, you'll be the real A-lister."
Rachel sighed. "Winning an Oscar isn't as easy as it sounds."
The clicking of heels drew Matthew's attention. He glanced over and saw Jennifer
Aniston walking past, just a few feet away from him and Rachel. He was about to look away when he noticed Gwyneth Paltrow, who had just co through the door, also passing by.
However, upon seeing Jennifer, Gwyneth—that famous princess of the Hollywood scene—flashed a malicious smile and quickened her pace toward her.
Matthew continued talking to Rachel, though his eyes were now tracking Gwyneth.
Soon, Gwyneth caught up to Jennifer and struck up a conversation. He couldn't hear what the two were whispering about, but after a minute, Jennifer shook her head, frowning, and turned to leave.
Perhaps it was just their nature, or maybe it was because Hollywood offered fewer opportunities for won, but feuds between female stars were often far more intense than those between n. It was hardly news when they tore each other apart in public.
"Is that it?" Matthew was ready to look away.
But before he could, Gwyneth, standing behind Jennifer, stuck out her foot.
Jennifer was wearing a long evening gown, and Gwyneth's foot ca down squarely on the hem of her skirt—a beautiful but fragile fabric that trailed along the floor.
Riiip!
Matthew clearly heard the sound of tearing fabric, as did everyone else nearby.
Jennifer's skirt was torn, causing her to lose her balance.
But Jennifer was close to Matthew, and when he saw she was about to fall, he quickly stepped forward and reached out to catch her.
He asked, steadying her in his arms, "Are you all right?"
"Yes, thank you." Jennifer thanked Matthew before leaning on his arm to regain her footing, then she glanced back.
But before she could say a word, Gwyneth spoke up, "Sorry, that was an accident."
Her expression beca a mask of pitiful apology. "It's all my fault!"
The people around them stared at the large, rather unflattering tear in Jennifer's skirt.
Matthew prudently stepped back to where he had been standing before.
"Jane, do you want to take you ho so you can change?" Gwyneth offered, as if she truly hadn't ant to humiliate Jennifer.
Jennifer shot a look at Gwyneth, glanced at the onlookers, took a deep breath, and forced a smile. "It's all right," she replied. "You didn't do it on purpose."
Matthew was a little surprised to hear that. There were no fans or journalists here, only "insiders," and based on how actresses in this circle usually behaved, they should have been tearing each other apart.
Maybe Jennifer was worried about her reputation?
But a reputation was only for outsiders.
If you didn't fight back when soone took a swing at you in a situation like this, you were just inviting them to do it again.
Gwyneth offered a few more words of apology to Aniston and, seeing that she truly didn't seem angry, turned to leave, a smug look she couldn't quite hide on her face.
But she hadn't taken a single step before Jennifer's foot shot out. Gwyneth was also wearing an evening gown, again, floor-length.
Riiip!
Again, the sound of tearing fabric.
"Aah!"
Clearly, Gwyneth hadn't expected the well-behaved Jennifer to suddenly turn on her. Caught off guard, she nearly fell.
Fortunately, she had good balance and only swayed a few tis before steadying herself.
Gwyneth imdiately whipped her head around and glared at Jennifer, who, without waiting for her to speak, put on an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry, Gwen. I accidentally stepped on the hem of your skirt."
Gwyneth raised a finger and pointed it at Jennifer. "You—!"
"It's my fault." Jennifer's tone was oddly familiar, just like Gwyneth's had been earlier. "It's all my fault, Gwyneth. Do you want to take you ho?"
Gwyneth gritted her teeth before spitting out, "No need!"
Not daring to turn her back on Jennifer again, she stalked toward the door and soon disappeared.
Jennifer, however, laughed as she watched her leave, a malicious glint in her eyes. Then she walked over to Matthew. "Thank you."
"You're welco, Ms. Aniston," Matthew replied, looking every bit the gentleman.
"Call Jane," Jennifer added. "If you hadn't helped , I would have made a complete fool of myself."
Matthew answered politely, "It was nothing. Think nothing of it."
He ignored the stares of those around them and lowered his voice slightly. "Jane, you're my idol. I've always loved Friends."
Jennifer wasn't a schoolgirl; she could guess why Matthew was saying such things. She knew he was a very popular star now, and that his declaration was most likely just a polite complint.
"I need to go change my dress." Jennifer politely excused herself, but before leaving, she opened her handbag, took out a card, and said, "If you ever need my help, you can call the number on this."
With that, she gave Matthew a nod and left the VIP lounge.
Matthew glanced at the card, which had only a string of numbers on it, then put it away.
"You're a real hero," Rachel chid in unexpectedly.
Matthew said casually, "Just a reflex."
Rachel didn't buy his explanation. Instead, she looked toward the entrance of the VIP lounge and shook her head. "Is it really worth all that, just for a man?"
Curious, Matthew asked, "Did Jennifer really steal Brad Pitt from Gwyneth?"
"I'm not sure," Rachel replied. "But all signs point to it."
Just then, Rachel asked, "Shall we go watch the movie?"
Before Matthew could answer, the sound of footsteps announced the arrival of the film's cast and crew, led by Stephen Somrs, Orlando Bloom, and Kate Beckinsale.
"I should probably say hello to Stephen first," Matthew said.
He exchanged a few words with Stephen Somrs and then walked over to Orlando.
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