"Hello, Miss Mason. I am a reporter from《FOX Television.》Could you share your thoughts on the title 'Genius Girl'?"
"Miss Mason, I'm Ashley from《ABC.》Can you talk about how you create those scripts?"
"I am Bowen, a reporter from《The Post.》How did you achieve all this, Miss Mason? You're only 12 years old!"
"I am..."
"I am..."
Faced with these suddenly appearing reporters, Angela was taken aback at first. Her good upbringing prevented her surprise from showing on her face, but she was genuinely puzzled.
Why hadn't she seen the media overreact on Saturday and Sunday after the premiere? Why did they suddenly appear now?
When she saw the reporters swarming in front of the school, accompanied by the sound of camera shutters, she could clearly feel their excitement, much like hunting dogs spotting their prey. This was something she had tried to avoid. Although she had told her father when she decided to participate in《The Parent Trap》that even if she couldn't handle such things, it might be a good idea to try, she had never considered appearing in the media.
In her past life, with her thorough understanding of the entertainment media, she knew that she had to keep a low profile. Even when she decided to act in《The Parent Trap》she didn't attend the premiere. She left after the《Hide and Seek》premiere without waiting for interviews - she was grateful to Al and Jodie for the exposure - she only released an EP and asked that her image not be used. Whenever Sparrow brought in endorsement deals, she turned them down. But it seemed her luck had run out.
"Gentlemen and ladies, I must remind you that this is a school. Please do not crowd the area. School is out and your presence is disrupting traffic," Angela said with a smile, raising her hands in a gesture. Although her heart was pounding in her chest, her mind was surprisingly calm.
"Miss Mason, can you confirm that you single-handedly created these works?"
"I think you can ask Mr. Anderson from the Los Angeles Times about that. Of course, you can also ask various movie companies."
"Miss Mason, are you really only 12 years old?"
"There is no doubt about it. In fact, many students at school think I'm only 11."
"Miss Mason, as a 12-year-old child, don't you find it strange to create such works?"
"Sir, why would I find my own works strange?"
"Miss Mason..."
The reporters seemed relentless, bombarding her with a never-ending stream of questions. Just as Angela was about to take a step forward, she realized it was an impossible task. Impatience simmered beneath her calm exterior. She knew she could handle these reporters, but the sight of her friend Lily, sweating and anxious beside her, made her uneasy.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the commotion from the periphery: "Excuse me, gentlemen, please make way!"
A middle-aged man skillfully made his way through the crowd of reporters, clearing a path for Angela. "Sorry, miss, I'm a little late."
"Thank you, Mr. Dick," Angela nodded in relief. Fortunately, the driver had arrived, otherwise, she would have been at a loss. But the reporters were undeterred. They continued to swarm around her, firing a barrage of confusing questions.
One voice even asked, "You were able to write《Hide and Seek》and play the role of the girl so well. Is it related to your family?"
Were these people stupid or just simply foolish? Angela felt a surge of irritation, but fortunately, the school authorities quickly organized security guards who helped disperse the crowd, allowing Angela and her friend to get into the car without a hitch.
"David, can we please hurry?" Angela glanced through the car window at the reporters still snapping pictures and frowned.
"Of course, miss. Please fasten your seat belt," David nodded from the driver's seat and started the car. He accelerated quickly, leaving the reporters behind. Angela finally breathed a sigh of relief and sank back into her seat. She turned her attention to Lily, who looked a little dazed and hadn't fully recovered.
"Lily, are you okay?" Angela asked worriedly, then added apologetically, "I'm really sorry I got you into this. How did these people even find out that I go to school here? The last two days..."
She trailed off, realizing that she didn't need to finish her sentence. She might be clueless at times, but she wasn't naive. The reporters' skills were beyond her expectations, they could easily have uncovered her address and family situation after the premiere. However, Angela had spent a relatively quiet Saturday and Sunday. Despite a few related articles in the newspapers, they mirrored what had been published in the《Los Angeles Times.》
Obviously, her father had a strategy to protect her. Otherwise, Mr. Blake wouldn't have promised in the administration office today that the media wouldn't expose her attendance. But it seemed his assurance had proved ineffective.
"Oh dear, I was so nervous just now," Lily finally regained her composure and patted her chest. "You know, Angela, you seemed completely calm, answering their questions so seamlessly. I really look up to you."
"Well, I was actually pretty nervous myself. I just kept telling myself that they are all potatoes," Angela admitted with a hint of embarrassment, causing Lily to laugh.
"Very well then, David. Let's drop Lily off first, and we should also check if anyone is following us," Angela leaned back in the passenger seat and addressed the driver.
David acknowledged with a nod. "As you wish, Miss!"
...
"Angela Mason, who bears the title of 'Hollywood's Genius Girl', is currently attending the Rosewood Girls' Private High School behind me. This 12-year-old girl just began her middle school career this September, and it's hard to believe that the girl who just graduated from elementary school is the screenwriter of《Sleepless in Seattle》which is currently topping the box office charts. Ms. Nancy Meyers has clearly stated that Miss Mason is the creator, with Ms. Meyers making only minor adjustments... "
"All right, school's out. We will personally seek confirmation from this young lady..."
"Look, there she is. Hmm, she looks very cute... "
"Miss Mason, hi, I'm《ABC》reporter Ashley. Can you tell us about your work on《Sleepless in Seattle》?"
"Miss Mason, we all know that you're only 12 years old. How are you able to write such mature scripts? Miss Mason, there's news that《Sleepless in Seattle》was tailored for Ms. Meg Ryan. Is that true?"
"Miss Mason! Miss Mason!... "
"We apologize to our viewers. Due to the chaotic scene, Miss Mason only answered a few questions before leaving in a hurry. We will continue to follow this story. 《ABC》reporter Ashley Stewart reporting for you!"
With a click, Jared turned off the television and looked at his wife Elena with a shrug. Elena thought for a moment before saying, "Well, every TV station is covering it. It's hard to say which is better. It seems that Chris is very photogenic."
"Just photogenic, Mom?" Angela, sitting on a single sofa, propped her head against the back with both hands and bit her lip, unsure if she was happy or helpless.
"Well, then I must commend you for handling it so gracefully," Elena said with a smile. "That's the honest truth."
"Elena!" Jared's tone became more serious.
"Don't worry Jared, aren't we all behind Chris?" Elena spread her hands.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just not happy about it. These people..." Jared waved his hand, not continuing his sentence.
At that moment, Angela stood up and walked a few steps over to her father. She hugged him gently and said, "It's okay, Dad. I'm grateful for what you've done for me, but there are still some things I have to face on my own, aren't there?"
"Uh... you already found out?" Jared looked slightly embarrassed.
"Do you think your screenwriting daughter would be a fool?" Angela playfully stuck out her tongue.
"But I'm not sure you're really prepared, sweetheart," her father stroked her head affectionately.
"I admit I'm not fully prepared, or maybe not prepared at all. But since things have come to this, running away isn't an option. Even if I tell them that I won't write scripts or make movies in the future, it would only cause an even bigger uproar. So even if I'm not prepared, I still have to face it, right?" Angela looked up at her father with determination. Then she patted his hand and turned to her mother. "Whatever happens, aren't you both behind me?"
Jared was silent for a moment, then looked at his wife. They both saw the smile in each other's eyes. Jared nodded. "All right, so what's your plan for dealing with this?"
"I'm sure some TV stations will contact Uncle Sparrow and ask me to do talk shows. I can choose the ones with the most impact. Then I can also arrange an exclusive interview with print media. Of course, I'll delay these arrangements for a while, until people's curiosity reaches its peak. Then I can release the information all at once. This should temporarily reduce their focus on me," Angela explained her thoughts.
Her father stroked his chin. "Sounds like a good plan, but have you considered..."
He suddenly stopped himself. "Oh, I can't say. You have to think it through yourself!"
"Why?" Angela protested immediately. "Why can't you tell me if there's a problem?"
"Darling, you just said you wanted to face this on your own," her mother said with a smiling expression.
"But..." Angela started to say but then stopped. She looked around, crossed her arms in frustration and said, "Fine, I'll figure it out myself!"
After a moment of thought, she suddenly added, "Oh, Dad, if they find out our address..."
"Don't worry, honey," her mother took over the conversation. "We'll have people clean out the mansion in Beverly Hills and the two houses in Malibu. We can move there anytime if we need to."
"Hello, Miss Mason. I am a reporter from《FOX Television.》Could you share your thoughts on the title 'Genius Girl'?"
"Miss Mason, I'm Ashley from《ABC.》Can you talk about how you create those scripts?"
"I am Bowen, a reporter from《The Post.》How did you achieve all this, Miss Mason? You're only 12 years old!"
"I am..."
"I am..."
Faced with these suddenly appearing reporters, Angela was taken aback at first. Her good upbringing prevented her surprise from showing on her face, but she was genuinely puzzled.
Why hadn't she seen the media overreact on Saturday and Sunday after the premiere? Why did they suddenly appear now?
When she saw the reporters swarming in front of the school, accompanied by the sound of camera shutters, she could clearly feel their excitement, much like hunting dogs spotting their prey. This was something she had tried to avoid. Although she had told her father when she decided to participate in《The Parent Trap》that even if she couldn't handle such things, it might be a good idea to try, she had never considered appearing in the media.
In her past life, with her thorough understanding of the entertainment media, she knew that she had to keep a low profile. Even when she decided to act in《The Parent Trap》she didn't attend the premiere. She left after the《Hide and Seek》premiere without waiting for interviews - she was grateful to Al and Jodie for the exposure - she only released an EP and asked that her image not be used. Whenever Sparrow brought in endorsement deals, she turned them down. But it seemed her luck had run out.
"Gentlemen and ladies, I must remind you that this is a school. Please do not crowd the area. School is out and your presence is disrupting traffic," Angela said with a smile, raising her hands in a gesture. Although her heart was pounding in her chest, her mind was surprisingly calm.
"Miss Mason, can you confirm that you single-handedly created these works?"
"I think you can ask Mr. Anderson from the Los Angeles Times about that. Of course, you can also ask various movie companies."
"Miss Mason, are you really only 12 years old?"
"There is no doubt about it. In fact, many students at school think I'm only 11."
"Miss Mason, as a 12-year-old child, don't you find it strange to create such works?"
"Sir, why would I find my own works strange?"
"Miss Mason..."
The reporters seemed relentless, bombarding her with a never-ending stream of questions. Just as Angela was about to take a step forward, she realized it was an impossible task. Impatience simmered beneath her calm exterior. She knew she could handle these reporters, but the sight of her friend Lily, sweating and anxious beside her, made her uneasy.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the commotion from the periphery: "Excuse me, gentlemen, please make way!"
A middle-aged man skillfully made his way through the crowd of reporters, clearing a path for Angela. "Sorry, miss, I'm a little late."
"Thank you, Mr. Dick," Angela nodded in relief. Fortunately, the driver had arrived, otherwise, she would have been at a loss. But the reporters were undeterred. They continued to swarm around her, firing a barrage of confusing questions.
One voice even asked, "You were able to write《Hide and Seek》and play the role of the girl so well. Is it related to your family?"
Were these people stupid or just simply foolish? Angela felt a surge of irritation, but fortunately, the school authorities quickly organized security guards who helped disperse the crowd, allowing Angela and her friend to get into the car without a hitch.
"David, can we please hurry?" Angela glanced through the car window at the reporters still snapping pictures and frowned.
"Of course, miss. Please fasten your seat belt," David nodded from the driver's seat and started the car. He accelerated quickly, leaving the reporters behind. Angela finally breathed a sigh of relief and sank back into her seat. She turned her attention to Lily, who looked a little dazed and hadn't fully recovered.
"Lily, are you okay?" Angela asked worriedly, then added apologetically, "I'm really sorry I got you into this. How did these people even find out that I go to school here? The last two days..."
She trailed off, realizing that she didn't need to finish her sentence. She might be clueless at times, but she wasn't naive. The reporters' skills were beyond her expectations, they could easily have uncovered her address and family situation after the premiere. However, Angela had spent a relatively quiet Saturday and Sunday. Despite a few related articles in the newspapers, they mirrored what had been published in the《Los Angeles Times.》
Obviously, her father had a strategy to protect her. Otherwise, Mr. Blake wouldn't have promised in the administration office today that the media wouldn't expose her attendance. But it seemed his assurance had proved ineffective.
"Oh dear, I was so nervous just now," Lily finally regained her composure and patted her chest. "You know, Angela, you seemed completely calm, answering their questions so seamlessly. I really look up to you."
"Well, I was actually pretty nervous myself. I just kept telling myself that they are all potatoes," Angela admitted with a hint of embarrassment, causing Lily to laugh.
"Very well then, David. Let's drop Lily off first, and we should also check if anyone is following us," Angela leaned back in the passenger seat and addressed the driver.
David acknowledged with a nod. "As you wish, Miss!"
...
"Angela Mason, who bears the title of 'Hollywood's Genius Girl', is currently attending the Rosewood Girls' Private High School behind me. This 12-year-old girl just began her middle school career this September, and it's hard to believe that the girl who just graduated from elementary school is the screenwriter of《Sleepless in Seattle》which is currently topping the box office charts. Ms. Nancy Meyers has clearly stated that Miss Mason is the creator, with Ms. Meyers making only minor adjustments... "
"All right, school's out. We will personally seek confirmation from this young lady..."
"Look, there she is. Hmm, she looks very cute... "
"Miss Mason, hi, I'm《ABC》reporter Ashley. Can you tell us about your work on《Sleepless in Seattle》?"
"Miss Mason, we all know that you're only 12 years old. How are you able to write such mature scripts? Miss Mason, there's news that《Sleepless in Seattle》was tailored for Ms. Meg Ryan. Is that true?"
"Miss Mason! Miss Mason!... "
"We apologize to our viewers. Due to the chaotic scene, Miss Mason only answered a few questions before leaving in a hurry. We will continue to follow this story. 《ABC》reporter Ashley Stewart reporting for you!"
With a click, Jared turned off the television and looked at his wife Elena with a shrug. Elena thought for a moment before saying, "Well, every TV station is covering it. It's hard to say which is better. It seems that Chris is very photogenic."
"Just photogenic, Mom?" Angela, sitting on a single sofa, propped her head against the back with both hands and bit her lip, unsure if she was happy or helpless.
"Well, then I must commend you for handling it so gracefully," Elena said with a smile. "That's the honest truth."
"Elena!" Jared's tone became more serious.
"Don't worry Jared, aren't we all behind Chris?" Elena spread her hands.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just not happy about it. These people..." Jared waved his hand, not continuing his sentence.
At that moment, Angela stood up and walked a few steps over to her father. She hugged him gently and said, "It's okay, Dad. I'm grateful for what you've done for me, but there are still some things I have to face on my own, aren't there?"
"Uh... you already found out?" Jared looked slightly embarrassed.
"Do you think your screenwriting daughter would be a fool?" Angela playfully stuck out her tongue.
"But I'm not sure you're really prepared, sweetheart," her father stroked her head affectionately.
"I admit I'm not fully prepared, or maybe not prepared at all. But since things have come to this, running away isn't an option. Even if I tell them that I won't write scripts or make movies in the future, it would only cause an even bigger uproar. So even if I'm not prepared, I still have to face it, right?" Angela looked up at her father with determination. Then she patted his hand and turned to her mother. "Whatever happens, aren't you both behind me?"
Jared was silent for a moment, then looked at his wife. They both saw the smile in each other's eyes. Jared nodded. "All right, so what's your plan for dealing with this?"
"I'm sure some TV stations will contact Uncle Sparrow and ask me to do talk shows. I can choose the ones with the most impact. Then I can also arrange an exclusive interview with print media. Of course, I'll delay these arrangements for a while, until people's curiosity reaches its peak. Then I can release the information all at once. This should temporarily reduce their focus on me," Angela explained her thoughts.
Her father stroked his chin. "Sounds like a good plan, but have you considered..."
He suddenly stopped himself. "Oh, I can't say. You have to think it through yourself!"
"Why?" Angela protested immediately. "Why can't you tell me if there's a problem?"
"Darling, you just said you wanted to face this on your own," her mother said with a smiling expression.
"But..." Angela started to say but then stopped. She looked around, crossed her arms in frustration and said, "Fine, I'll figure it out myself!"
After a moment of thought, she suddenly added, "Oh, Dad, if they find out our address..."
"Don't worry, honey," her mother took over the conversation. "We'll have people clean out the mansion in Beverly Hills and the two houses in Malibu. We can move there anytime if we need to."
