The richest actor in Hollywood.

The sun rose from the Pacific coast, piercing through the forested mountains and falling on an ivy-covered wall. The sunlight entered through the window, illuminating a somewhat messy bedroom.

The bathroom door opened, and Matthew came out after washing up. He found his clothes on the floor, put them on, and tidied up a bit. Looking at the clock on the wall, he realized he had woken up later than usual. For someone who was accustomed to an early morning run, this was unusual.

It wasn't entirely his fault, as he had exerted a lot of energy last night and almost drowned in the surging waves...

Last night was definitely a stormy one!

After quickly tidying up the bedroom, Matthew noticed a photo of Alexandra Daddario on the wall. He felt a bit conflicted; he enjoyed the feeling of surfing.

It was a battle between man and nature, a display of skill. Only by standing on the waves could one truly appreciate the thrill and vitality. This surfing experience gave him a novel feeling. Without hard work, there's no success; without hardship, there's no glory; without setbacks, there's no brilliance. Only by putting in the effort can one receive the deserved rewards.

Although he claimed last night wasn't all for Alexandra Daddario, the elaborate trap he set for Brad Pitt clearly impressed her.

Could this be considered a hero's wrath for a beauty?

He stood in the bedroom, staring at Alexandra Daddario's photo for a while, recalling the turbulent night.

Surfing allowed him to forget his worries, letting him experience the joy of battling the waves. That's why so many people around the world seek the perfect surfing spot every day, just to chase the waves.

Perhaps what people seek is not just the momentary rush of the waves, but also the beautiful destination.

So, he thought that having a brief romantic relationship with Alexandra Daddario wouldn't be bad.

Matthew wouldn't deny that Alexandra Daddario attracted him with her figure, her face, her hips, and her legs...

He opened the bedroom door, walked through the living room, and followed the sound to the dining room. He was greeted by Alexandra Daddario's smile as she set the table and made coffee.

"Hi, Anna." Matthew leaned against the dining room door, looking at her.

"Hi, Matthew." Alexandra Daddario looked at him with her captivating ice-blue eyes.

She poured two cups of coffee, took off her apron, revealing a tight T-shirt underneath. The waves caused by a superstorm were nothing compared to the ones Matthew battled last night. Knowing everything was real, he walked over and gave Alexandra Daddario a long kiss.

"I want a special breakfast," he said, wanting to experience the suffocating thrill of the waves again.

Alexandra Daddario wrapped her arms around his neck without any hint of refusal.

It wasn't until after noon that Matthew received calls from Helen Herman and Bella Anderson, and then he and Alexandra Daddario left the ivy-covered house together.

When they walked out holding hands, at least twenty paparazzi were frantically taking photos nearby.

Matthew, as usual, didn't try to avoid them, and Alexandra Daddario was also very calm.

Alexandra Daddario didn't overthink it. At twenty years old, she had plenty of time and opportunities to enjoy a romantic experience.

Who could predict the future? Look at those couples in the industry who were seriously dating—how many actually stayed together? Few even managed to maintain a relationship for several years.

Since there was no need to overthink, she decided to follow her feelings. Perhaps her time with Matthew would be short, or it could be long.

Relationships between men and women were always unpredictable.

Last night, she saw Matthew's fascination with her, knowing it stemmed from physical attraction. She might be able to sustain this fascination for a long time.

Alexandra Daddario wasn't stupid and knew Matthew well enough to understand that this was a luxury. She had heard from Amanda about Matthew's bizarre theory of trees and forests.

Getting into the car amidst a flurry of flashlights, she couldn't help but shake her head. Why think so much? It's better to enjoy life while young.

Matthew closed the car door and told the driver, "To Angel Agency." Then he raised the partition, looked at Alexandra Daddario, and asked, "What are you thinking, Anna?"

Alexandra Daddario pointed out the window. "These paparazzi couldn't have been waiting since last night, right?"

Matthew looked back. "Probably." He reminded her, "You should be careful these days. They'll likely focus on you. Most paparazzi are decent, but some can be quite intrusive. How about I have a few bodyguards follow you for a while?"

"No need," Alexandra Daddario politely declined.

"Today's paparazzi are crazier than a few years ago." Matthew was very concerned about her and suddenly suggested, "Anna, why don't you temporarily move to Horner Estate?"

Alexandra Daddario gently shook her head. Seeing Matthew's sincere expression, she thought for a moment and said, "Can I think about it?"

Matthew wasn't a tyrant, just suggesting, "Of course."

Then he took out his phone and called David Ellison, briefly explaining his thoughts from last night.

"That sounds interesting, Matthew." David Ellison's excitement was evident through the phone. "Count me in. I love this kind of scheme! Don't worry, I'll fully support you. Let's have dinner tonight and discuss it in detail."

"Sure," Matthew agreed and hung up.

Alexandra Daddario curiously asked, "Are you really going after Brad Pitt?"

Matthew gently patted her hand and exaggeratedly said, "Even if it's for you, I'll make sure he suffers."

Although she knew he was joking, as someone like Matthew wouldn't go to such lengths solely for her, Alexandra Daddario was still pleased.

She could sense that Matthew was serious about her.

Matthew first dropped Alexandra Daddario off at Warner Bros. Studios, where "I Am Legend" was in post-production, and she had some scenes to dub.

Then he went to Angel Agency, where Helen Herman and Bella Anderson were already waiting in the office.

To his surprise, Helen Herman's first question was, "Did you stay at Anna's last night?"

"Yeah," Matthew sat down.

"I usually don't interfere with your personal life," Helen said seriously. "But I want to remind you, regardless of what happens between you and Anna, be mindful of your approach. Anna and Amanda have been close friends since childhood. Don't let this affect Amanda."

Matthew understood, "I know what to do."

Alexandra Daddario had said this morning that they were just living in the moment.

Frankly speaking, her attitude was very mature. If they were suitable, they'd stay together; if not, they'd part ways.

This was also why he was willing to invite her to Horner Estate.

Helen then got to the main point. "This morning, Lana Wachowski gave a joint interview to several media outlets. The interview is already online and will be in the papers tomorrow. She publicly stated that you're very interested in playing the lead in 'Cloud Atlas.'"

Matthew could see Lana Wachowski's intention, "She wants to use my fame to create buzz?"

"Yes," Helen said. "Someone from Warner Bros. called to ask. I told them you are interested, but it's just preliminary discussions."

She paused and continued, "The Wachowskis are using you to hype up 'Cloud Atlas.'"

"The more they hype it, the more it benefits our plan." Matthew thought for a moment and said, "Helen, go along with them. Let the media know I'm interested."

Helen nodded lightly, "I know what to do." She asked, "What about David?"

Matthew smiled, "David will cooperate with us."

Someone like David Ellison wouldn't feel any guilt about messing with Brad Pitt.

"Bella, what about your side?" Matthew asked.

"I've looked into it carefully," Bella Anderson replied. "Jennifer Aniston is pulling out of Plan B. The transaction will be completed within two to three months, with Aniston's shares being taken over by Brad Pitt. Pitt wants to maintain his status as the largest shareholder."

"Two to three months…" Matthew nodded. "That's plenty of time."

Helen added, "The Wachowskis' project is still in its early stages. If they can start pre-production in half a year, that would be considered fast. If they can't secure enough funding, it might be years before there's any progress."

Matthew knew she was right. Many major Hollywood projects take years to prepare. Some, like "Superman Returns," spent five or six years just in pre-production.

"We'll keep digging the pit and see if Brad Pitt jumps in," Matthew decided.

Even if Brad Pitt didn't fall for it, he wouldn't lose anything. At most, he'd have made a lot of empty promises and then ended talks with the Wachowskis.

From what he remembered, the Wachowskis would only stray further from Hollywood's mainstream. Ending talks wouldn't matter much.

Helen, having read the script, could guess Matthew's hidden thoughts, just as Matthew could guess hers. So she said, "I'll go with you to meet David, creating an air of determination."

She and Matthew had always focused on commercial films. She had managed each of Matthew's successes, learning from firsthand experience. As Matthew said, deliberately pursuing depth and philosophical reflection in commercial films usually led to failure.

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