Global Hit (3)

As November rolled in, the domestic box office for Bad Contract crossed the $300 million mark. Combined with its international earnings, the total surpassed $800 million. It was a certified, colossal blockbuster. With a new milestone etched into Hollywood history, media outlets of all kinds began churning out articles.

Until now, Sion Lee had merely been one of many rising stars on the cusp of entering the elite tier. Given his breathtaking looks and the acting talent displayed in his recent films, some had praised him as an actor who would rewrite Hollywood history in the near future. However, there was one glaring issue: his youth.

He was only twenty-five, having just passed his birthday this year. To many, the name Sion Lee still conjured up images of a Teen Heartthrob and his past rebellious antics. He hadn't climbed the ladder the traditional way, building a career step-by-step from the bottom; instead, he was an actor who had landed leading roles from the very beginning based solely on his face.

Because of this, many in the industry felt that building a massive franchise around him was a bit premature. While he had certainly demonstrated his acting prowess recently, they argued that he still needed more industry experience before being entrusted with a major franchise.

Yet, in the face of those doubts, Bad Contract shattered the $300 million mark at the box office. Warner Bros., one of Hollywood's leading major studios, had struck absolute gold.

Consequently, veteran industry insiders who had been in Hollywood for decades wanted nothing more than to bring the soaring Sion Lee down a peg. The recent wave of critical reviews targeting his acting ability had stemmed precisely from that sentiment.

Amidst this, Sion Lee had left a rather blunt remark during a subsequent magazine interview:

"I mean, is $300 million a joke to them? It seems the public doesn't think so."

It was a direct retort, showing he couldn't care less about the critics who kept churning out articles bashing his acting. In truth, Sion had never slacked off on his acting just because it was an action movie, and he felt the current backlash was nothing more than petty nitpicking.

Thus, Sion proved his worth through cold, hard numbers. To celebrate the $300 million milestone and officially announce the production of Bad Contract 2, Warner Bros. hosted a grand Thanksgiving party.

From the high-ranking executives of Warner Bros. and key figures in the film's production, to A-list actors brought in to elevate the event's prestige, representatives from rival major studios, and finally, external press. The guest list made it clear that the studio intended to turn this celebration into a declaration of dominance.

As the guest of honor, Sion had to endure an endless stream of people eager to talk to him.

Well, at the end of the day, this is all part of the job.

Just as he was taking a breather, exhausted after talking non-stop for hours—

"Sion. They want you ready."

Susan Hopkins, the actress ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who had solidly supported him as a CIA operator in the film, approached. At thirty-four, she was a stunning actress with a sharp, chin-length blonde bob. Given the film's setup, they hadn't shared many scenes together, but thanks to Sion's natural charm, they had quickly become comfortable enough to trade playful banter after only a few encounters.

"Already? ...But why are you the one delivering the message, Susan?"

"I just wanted an excuse to talk to you. We haven't said a word to each other all day."

"Ah, you've been incredibly busy too, right? Man, this is what happens when a movie you're in rakes in hundreds of millions."

"Hehe, go get it over with and come back down. Everyone is waiting."

"What am I even going to do up there? Just show off my pretty face while the suits do all the talking."

"Well, everyone is practically dying to see that exact pretty face."

He wore a sleek, open-collared suit without a tie, his hair neatly swept back with a touch of pomade. He had only dressed up slightly more than usual, yet his appearance—now at its absolute peak of youthful brilliance—stood out peerlessly even in a room crowded with Hollywood's finest.

Buoyed by Susan's encouragement, Sion downed a glass of champagne, slipped his hands into his pockets, and walked toward the front of the venue, nodding to the staff preparing the presentation.

Terry Semel, the co-chairman and CEO of Warner Bros., stepped up first, raising his microphone to address the crowd.

"And in the days to come, Sion Lee will continue to take the global stage by storm!"

A wave of enthusiastic cheers and applause erupted.

Unlike conventional action blockbusters, Bad Contract was set across diverse cultural backdrops, with its crowning glory being the raw action delivered by Alex Riley, played by the hottest actor of the moment, Sion Lee. Those two elements alone guaranteed a franchise that could be milked indefinitely. Knowing this better than anyone, Terry couldn't suppress the ecstatic grin spreading across his face.

Watching him, executives from rival studios gritted their teeth in envy.

God, I'm so jealous.

Who could have predicted this?

Sion Lee really did rewrite the entire playbook.

Soon, the microphone was handed over to the man of the hour, Sion Lee, who had joined him on stage. He shot Terry a look that clearly asked, What am I even supposed to say? But as Terry kept nudging him, Sion let out a subtle, mock sigh and began to speak.

...Of course, even that sigh was a thoroughly calculated move.

"As long as the people want ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it, I will gladly keep signing these... Bad Contracts."

The clever play on the movie's title drew a burst of laughter from the crowd. Having smoothly defused the tension, Sion stepped down from the stage, only for someone else to approach him. The moment Sion recognized the face, he quickly suppressed his surprise. Dropping his professional PR persona, he deliberately adopted a relaxed, casual posture.

In contrast to Sion's slightly cocky demeanor, the man standing before him flashed a brilliant, perfectly aligned smile—the undisputed king of Hollywood.

"Man, that was a killer punchline! Do you write those lines down beforehand?"

It was Tom Cruise.

"Of course. I sit down with a pen and paper before bed to brainstorm."

"Hahaha!"

Tom let out a hearty, booming laugh and extended his hand.

"Tom. Tom Cruise."

"Sion Lee."

As the two shook hands and smiled at each other, the surrounding guests pricked up their ears while trying desperately to look nonchalant. It was a meeting between the reigning king of Hollywood and the young star everyone believed would inevitably succeed him. It was, without a doubt, a historic moment, and the entire atmosphere of the party subtly began to shift, centering around these two titans of the industry—just as a movie set naturally revolves around its leads.

Tom possessed the quintessential "classic leading man" personality. He was bright, cheerful, and seemed entirely devoid of any dark shadows.

"I've been keeping an eye on your work, but I never expected it would take us this long to finally meet. The first time I heard about you was back when I was shooting A Few Good Men with Jack. He couldn't stop singing your praises."

"Ah, that must have been when I was filming Fragments of You."

"Oh, spot on! Haha! I absolutely loved that movie! You were incredible!"

Tom stepped closer, casually throwing an arm around Sion's shoulder. Sion felt a sudden, phantom itch break out across his skin at the sensation of an unfamiliar, staggeringly handsome man touching him. The faint, pleasant scent of Jo Malone cologne only made him dislike it more.

"Can we talk for a moment?"

At that exact moment, someone grabbed Tom's hand and pulled it away.

...To do that to Tom Cruise?

A massive shadow loomed over Sion's back. Wondering who on earth it could be, Sion turned around and froze in sheer disbelief. Standing there was Arnold Schwarzenegger, a mountain of a man built like an ancient hero, staring at Sion's shoulders with deep interest.

He spoke in his signature, thick Austrian accent.

"Good back. You must have worked very hard to build dat in such a short time."

The undisputed GOAT of bodybuilding and a man who had reached the absolute pinnacle of Hollywood stardom. Such a legend had taken an interest in Sion and approached him. On his left was Tom Cruise. On his right was Arnold Schwarzenegger. ...And the problem didn't stop there.

"Wow, this is quite a scene, isn't it?"

Jim Carrey, his fellow CK Agency labelmate, bounced over with a bright, welcoming grin.

"..."

...Sion thought to himself, What in the world is happening right now?

It felt like he was witnessing a literal clash of titans. And the fact that he was being treated like some precious princess in the middle of it was both deeply flattering and incredibly unsettling.

...If he stayed like this, he felt as though some repressed, complex feminine energy deep inside him might be forcibly dragged to the surface.

"Splendid! Everyone has gathered around the man of the hour!"

"...Jim, you don't have to try so hard."

Sion gently chided Jim, who seemed to view this sudden gathering as a "stage" and was already slipping into his famously exaggerated physical comedy. At Sion's words, Jim immediately dropped the act. Like a plant suddenly deprived of sunlight, his manic energy vanished, and he casually took a step back, quietly observing Arnold and Tom.

"Mmm, dey say fitness is a talent, but you truly have a great frame. Broad, square shoulders with just de right amount of muscle. You could easily pass for a top sports model. Yet, you still look incredibly agile. I am quite jealous."

Sion felt a brief flash of pride at Arnold's evaluation of his physique, but it quickly shriveled away. He had pushed his body to its absolute limits to build this frame, but the man standing before him was the ultimate GOAT of bodybuilding. Even though Arnold was past his prime, the sheer volume of his muscles was on an entirely different level. Sion couldn't bring himself to argue.

"Haha! Come on, guys, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠give me a break! I have something really important to say to Sion right now!"

And there was the "classic leading man," still playfully winking from the side.

...Sion thought, I wish all of you would just get lost.

One was the icon of manic depression, one was the ultimate muscle master, and the last was a lunatic with clear, sparkling eyes. Surrounded by this bizarre combination, the "regressed failure" inside him—the one responsible for his inner gloom—felt like it was about to wake up.

...Honestly, I could probably make a superhero movie with this lineup later.

The fact that he could look at this mind-boggling situation and think of something like that made him wonder if he was actually the craziest one here.

"Well, I also happen to have a few tings to say about muscles."

"...Sion, let's do yoga together sometime. I feel like I'd gain some deep insights doing it with you."

"No, no, no, this is a party! We should be talking business!"

They all spoke as if they had come with a specific agenda, but the only one with a genuine "purpose" was Tom. The other two had either just wanted to join in on the fun, or, in Jim's case, simply wanted to help out his fellow agency mate who looked a bit overwhelmed.

Surrounded by three of Hollywood's absolute top-tier actors, Sion maintained his composure. He calmly scanned the reactions of the crowd before finally speaking.

"This is fun."

There were about fifty people gathered in the venue, and every single one of them was staring at him. Reporters had already pulled out their pens and notebooks, leaning in to catch every word, while a few Warner Bros. staff members hovered anxiously, wondering if they should step in and break it up. However, those who knew Sion well—especially executives like Terry Semel—simply smiled and waited to see how he would handle it. They were waiting for the moment Sion would turn this massive spark into a blazing fire.

"The ultimate leading man, the king of comedy, and the action icon. And we even have a 'multi-entertainer' over there."

He was referring to Will Smith, who was currently showcasing his talents across acting, comedy, music, and talk shows.

"Hollywood is a funny place. Just when you think you've accomplished something, you look up and see a sky still crowded with stars. But you know what?"

Sion smirked and raised his champagne glass. He looked exactly like the actor who, in the future Sion had once lost, would succeed Tom Cruise as Hollywood's new undisputed king, raising a glass in The Great Gatsby.

"By the end of the year, all of you are going to have to chase after me."

Sion's bold declaration was instantly picked up by the press and swept across the nation. The hierarchy of modern Hollywood's leading men was structured around the towering, absolute superstar that was Tom Cruise, with various other stars of different magnitudes shining in their respective domains. There were Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will Smith, Jim Carrey, and Mel Gibson, alongside the likes of Bruce Willis, Nicolas Cage, and Harrison Ford, who fluctuated around similar tiers depending on their latest hits.

And now, despite his young age, Sion was beginning to be evaluated as a peer to those very giants. He was the young "Prince" poised to succeed the "King," a star who actively leveraged his versatile acting range to cultivate the image of a "Broken Prince" for his franchise. Accordingly, the box office success of Bad Contract was peerless, even in the blockbuster-heavy year of 1997.

However, after crossing the $300 million mark, the initial feverish excitement slowly began to cool. The public, assuming Sion's "end of the year" remark was merely a tease for more Bad Contract news, naturally reacted with a collective shrug, finding it a bit anticlimactic. Meanwhile, industry insiders who were privy to behind-the-scenes developments viewed the situation with far more gravity.

Something massive is definitely coming, but...

Will it really be okay? I can't help but worry...

James Cameron's Titanic was rumored to have a staggering production budget of $200 million. It featured a dual lead system with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, flanked by Sion Lee, who was currently at the absolute peak of his popularity. Everyone agreed that if the budget hadn't been so astronomical, the film would have been a guaranteed success. But a $200 million budget was a figure virtually unprecedented in cinema history. When factoring in marketing costs, many worried that no matter how much money Sion had raked in with Bad Contract, his overall profitability for the year might end up barely breaking even.

With these anxious whispers swirling around Sion's bold "end of the year" promise, all eyes naturally turned to the fate of Titanic.

"That punk is going to get a massive reality check this time."

"There's a limit to how arrogant you can be. I get that he's playing up a persona ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for his image, but he went too far."

"Seriously, who releases a historical romance period piece in an era overflowing with blockbusters? Sure, James Cameron directed it, so it'll be well-made, but the general audience is too simple-minded to appreciate that kind of film. In the end, they only consume light comedies or mindless action flicks where things blow up."

Critics, already thoroughly irritated by Sion Lee's cocky attitude, were sharpening their knives, eagerly waiting to write the most scathing columns of their careers the moment Titanic hit theaters. Backed by its massive investment, the highly anticipated film launched with an unprecedented advertising blitz.

...And it was here that a single, crucial divergence from Sion's past life occurred.

In his past life, Titanic had opened to relatively mediocre numbers in its first week, keeping studio executives awake at night with anxiety. But this time, things were different.

Just as Kate Winslet had feared, the audience's eyes were locked entirely onto the two men.

December 19, 1997. Two of the most breathtakingly handsome actors in the entire history of Hollywood embarked on a journey aboard a colossal ship destined to sink. The feast of acting they displayed as they vied for the heart of one woman swept the audience away, dragging them deep into the romance of a bygone era.

The result was not a tragic sinking, but an unprecedented, monumental box office triumph.