Charity Gala (2)
Christmas charity galas were always treated as heavyweight events at the end of the year. There were two main reasons for this. First, tax write-offs. Second, the American cultural sentiment that placed a high value on "philanthropy."
For public figures like actors, whose public image was their lifeblood, attending these year-end charity galas occupied a significant portion of their annual schedule. Which party they attended and how much they donated—all of it was ultimately a calculated effort to build networks and craft their public persona.
Among them, the event hosted by Michael Jackson's Heal the World Foundation was practically the Academy Awards of charity galas. Even if scheduling conflicts or political reasons prevented every single seat from being filled by A-list stars, it remained one of the most prestigious parties of the year.
And why wouldn't it be? It's held at Neverland Ranch, after all. Michael Jackson's private estate was a sanctuary so exclusive that adults rarely secured an invitation unless they were children at heart. This year's charity gala, hosted on those very grounds, concluded its cocktail reception at eight o'clock in the evening, signaling the start of the official program.
"Thank you all for coming tonight. What a wonderful evening!" The host stepped up to offer a brief greeting, followed by a welcoming address from the foundation's president. It was a textbook speech, expressing hope that the funds raised today would bring light to those in need. Sion, quietly sipping his martini as he listened, thought the president was quite an eloquent speaker, fitting for someone leading such an organization.
Established to protect children and spread messages of peace and non-violence, the foundation truly embodied the spirit of its name: Heal the World.
Of course, that's not all there is to it. Sion kept a practiced smile on his face even as he drank his martini. And he was by no means the only one doing so. That was simply the nature of show business. Since anything that could be put on display was treated as a business asset, he could feel the gears turning in the minds of many gathered here at this very moment.
How much should they donate to yield the most optimal return? Who should they talk to in order to extract valuable information? While everyone maintained a warm, friendly facade and laughed amiably, their minds were busy plotting. In the midst of this, Lawrence Gordon, an executive at Castle Rock Entertainment, slipped over to Sion's side and struck up a conversation.
"Are you enjoying the party?"
"Ah, Mrs. Gordon. Of course. The cocktails are absolutely wonderful."
"I hear Michael Jackson will give a speech after dinner, and then the main auction will begin. What's your game plan for tonight, champion?"
"Nothing in particular. I plan to just stay quiet and head home."
"Hmm...?" Lawrence tilted her head in surprise. Given Sion's reputation in Hollywood, it wouldn't have been at all surprising if he dominated the room with witty banter or took the stage to unleash his signature, bratty star power. She couldn't help but wonder if he had some other devious scheme up his sleeve.
Similarly, the many eyes watching Sion from around the room felt a touch bewildered.
Hmm, he's surprisingly quiet. Was my information wrong?
If he's that gentle, I'd actually like to go over and strike up a conversation first.
Didn't he rank first in the 'Sexiest Young Star' poll earlier this month?
Surprisingly, this demeanor—completely contrary to his wild reputation and media portrayal—was earning him major bonus points. Unlike the other young actors who bustled around trying to network and introduce themselves, Sion merely conversed with the hosts before retreating to a quiet corner to sip his cocktail.
Every single move was calculated. Because I'm an actor. While his bratty antics had previously given him a highly maneuverable position, he couldn't rely on that forever. No actor in Hollywood survived by clinging to a single image. It might work for someone with an irreplaceable niche like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but a public "showman" required pacing—knowing when to inflate the hype and when to let it deflate.
My collaboration with Michael built up too much of a squeaky-clean image. Even if the general public didn't consciously notice, actors had to subtly project their film personas into reality. The reverse scenario made this easy to understand: an actor who caused a scandal might take a period of self-reflection and then return in a movie playing a highly diligent, self-sacrificing character.
Maintaining a subdued image, even briefly, will help the movie's box office. He had crafted a slightly gentle, well-behaved image that still retained a hint of his past edge. When his character in the movie—who shared a similar vibe—suddenly transformed into an absolute villain, the audience would experience a jarring cognitive dissonance between reality and film, drawing them far deeper into the story.
In the midst of his thoughts, a man who had taken an interest in him approached. "Mr. Lee. I didn't expect to greet you in a place like this."
"Ah, hello, Mr. Semel."
"Oh, my. I'm honored you remember my name."
Terry Semel. Co-chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. To Sion, who was currently filming a movie under their banner, he was a "higher-up" with whom he shared a delicate connection. He was also the man who had made the final call to oust Tim Burton from directing the sequels to Batman and Batman Returns.
I heard he's currently pouring all his energy into developing the next Batman sequel. Which meant he wasn't particularly favorable toward Pain Walker, the film Sion was currently shooting. No businessman liked it when their own company produced a "product" that directly challenged their decisions.
"So, how is the filming going?"
"We're having a lot of fun, probably because the budget is being spent so generously. It really makes me think, 'As expected of Warner Bros.' Since this is my first time working on a project of this scale, I'm highly anticipating the final result."
"Haha, that's thanks to the growing number of investors who trusted and invested solely in the name 'Sion Lee.' I certainly hope... it yields a return worthy of that investment. Unlike Returns, this one is strictly targeted at adults."
It was a highly loaded statement. A thinly veiled jab, packed with the implication: Just how much demand could there possibly be for an R-rated superhero movie? Fully understanding the underlying malice, Sion threw Terry a playful wink.
"I heard the third Batman film starts shooting next year as well? I'll have to do my best to make sure our movie doesn't drag it down. Since they're both superhero films carrying the Warner Bros. name, we should keep the positive momentum going."
"..." Honestly, Terry couldn't help but be a little surprised by that response. At an age when a young actor's ego would normally be inflating and making them arrogant, Sion had defused a provocation from someone of his stature with such grace.
Did they say he was only twenty-one? He found himself seeing Sion in a slightly new light. Yet, at the same time, another thought crossed his mind: He's a bit tamer than the rumors suggested.
In truth, that was the general consensus regarding "today's" Sion Lee. He was gentle and elegant. That charm was captivating. However, these were people who had spent decades wielding capital in Hollywood, witnessing the greatest beauties and handsomest men of the century with their own eyes. Simply being angelic wasn't enough of a hook. No, they actually preferred devils—devils who guaranteed dopamine and ratings. And to survive in this industry, even an angel had to play the devil.
Hmm, he's grown up too much.He's gotten a bit boring. I wanted some excitement. Throughout dinner, as Sion sat at his table speaking only polite, proper words, people increasingly thought along those lines. It was an ironic situation: they felt he had an image that made him easy to work with, but they found it slightly disappointing for that very reason. However, that perception shattered the instant dinner concluded and the official auction began.
"Hello, everyone. Thank you all for coming. ...Oh, look over there. My friend Sion is here too. Hi, Sion! Let's catch up properly later. You have to tell me how you've been doing lately, okay?"
Michael Jackson. The "King of Pop" and the master of Neverland Ranch. And he had just stepped up to personally call out a single man.
What is this? Why all of a sudden?
Just because they filmed one broadcast together, they're this close?
...It wasn't just a show? Michael Jackson actually likes Sion?
For those who didn't know the story of the two playing with children's toys together, engaging in deep discussions about art, and seeing each other for who they truly were in a far-off land, it was nothing short of astonishing. Michael sat down with a childlike smile. Sion, maintaining his gentle expression, responded with a brief nod. The crowd looked back and forth between Michael in his flashy jacket and Sion in his neat attire. Amidst it all, Sion simply sat in silence, smiling.
But internally, he felt the pressure. Why on earth did he have to mention my name up there? I was trying to have a quiet night. Though he grumbled inwardly, Sion felt a wave of relief that it was already December and no scandalous allegations had broken out.
Afterward, the auction proceeded in a lively atmosphere as personal items were introduced one by one. It was the end of the year, right before Christmas. A distinct sense of relief—that they had made it through another year safely—dominated the venue.
"Our next item... belongs to perhaps the most beautiful and youngest star in this room!"
Applause and cheers erupted. The item brought onto the stage was revealed to the dramatic roll of the brass band's drums. Upon seeing it, Sion's expression stiffened subtly.
"We present a cherished item from actress Elena Asimov! It is the blood-stained teddy bear keychain used as a prop in the movie Deadly Summer Camp! It comes with Elena Asimov's autograph and a certificate of authenticity proving its screen-used status! The starting bid is... wait, what?"
The auctioneer's face froze completely.
"Three... three hundred thousand dollars...?"
Normally, the bidding for these keepsakes started low, with guests playfully competing and raising the price in a lighthearted atmosphere. But because someone had entered a bid of $300,000 before the auction even began, no one else could participate. No matter how you looked at it, $300,000 for a prop from a movie like Deadly Summer Camp was absurdly excessive.
Whispers rippled through the crowd. "...Who on earth put in three hundred thousand before it even started?"
Sion spotted the King of Pop sitting in the distance, pumping his fists and mouthing, "Yes! Yes!" like Peter Pan welcoming a guest to Neverland. Clearly, he had genuinely enjoyed that movie.
Why did it have to be from the movie I consider the absolute worst performance of my entire career... While Sion alone stood with a stiffened face, the auction continued, with various items coming and going in a jovial atmosphere. Soon, the auction reached its climax. A staff member approached Sion and whispered in his ear.
"Mr. Lee, please get ready."
Since Sion hadn't put up a physical item, he was invited directly onto the stage.
"And now, our final item of the night belongs to the hottest, youngest star in Hollywood today!"
"Just two years ago, no one could have imagined him standing in this room. But today, he has leaped far beyond a mere teen heartthrob, rising as a star who has captured the hearts of the entire nation. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sion Lee!"
Amidst the trifecta of applause, cheers, and the brass band's fanfare, Sion elegantly adjusted his tie as he walked up to the stage. A few who knew his true colors, like Elena, snickered, but most of the guests in the room found the subtle shift in his demeanor utterly baffling.
This is what you call pacing. Sion, pretending to be a well-behaved gentleman for the sake of his movie's success, stepped up to the microphone and introduced himself.
"Hello, everyone. It feels a bit silly to call this a 'cherished item,' but what I'm putting up for auction tonight is... myself, Sion Lee. I am offering a private dinner with me, along with an exclusive opportunity to visit the set of the movie I am currently filming. Oh, and there is one more thing included, though it didn't make it into the official catalog."
Sion delivered a playful wink, teasing the crowd to pique their curiosity. The guests watched with amusement, intrigued by the young star's confidence even in a setting like this.
"This is a truly unique opportunity to secure a private moment with Sion Lee, a star whose trajectory is only going up! We will start the bidding at fifty thousand dollars!"
The auctioneer did his best to hype it up. Normally, "items" of this nature went for somewhere between $50,000 and $150,000. This was partly to prevent the charity auction from overheating, and partly because bidding on a "relationship" was a delicate matter—some who wanted to bid, like certain actresses with a personal interest in Sion, hesitated to raise their paddles.
After a brief moment of silence, someone raised their paddle to enter the bid.
"Ah, the gentleman over there... Jack Nicholson has entered a bid of fifty thousand dollars!"
"..." Sion locked eyes with the legendary actor, who sat looking dashing in his tuxedo with a mischievous grin. For a split second, Sion almost broke character.
He looks like he wants to tease me to death. Still, Sion knew Jack was participating to drive up the price and boost his profile. Realizing he had truly become a beloved junior colleague to a living legend, Sion felt a complex swirl of emotions—pride, self-esteem, and a touch of embarrassment.
Meanwhile, many in the crowd were stunned by Jack's unhesitating bid. Jack Nicholson is interested in bidding for a 'private meeting' with him?There were rumors that he adored Sion, but still...
But it didn't stop there. The next bidder raised her paddle. This time, it was the television powerhouse, Olga Asimov.
"We have sixty thousand. ...Wait! A double?! Just like that, we are at one hundred thousand dollars...!"
Olga raised the double paddle next to her, signaling her intent to double the current bid. As if waiting for this exact moment, another man raised his double paddle. It was Michael Jackson.
"Two... two hundred thousand! The price is skyrocketing in the blink of an eye!"
Titans of film, television, and music—each an undisputed giant in their respective fields—were clashing to buy a dinner with Sion Lee. Those who had initially dismissed Sion's ambiguous "item" watched with wide eyes as Jack Nicholson raised his paddle again to bid $210,000.
Thus began a three-way war between Jack Nicholson, Olga Asimov, and Michael Jackson. What is going on? Why is everyone so obsessed with Sion Lee?Is he really an actor of that caliber? He didn't seem like it...Hmm, does he possess some extraordinary charm behind closed doors?Well, his stock has certainly been shooting through the roof lately.
As several others who harbored a lingering interest joined the fray, the auction for "Sion Lee himself" instantly descended into utter chaos.
"Two hundred and twenty thousand! Two hundred and thirty thousand! ...Three hundred thousand! And now... oh...!"
The auctioneer, who had intended to wrap things up to prevent the atmosphere from overheating, had no choice but to fan the flames when the host of the charity gala himself, Michael Jackson, raised his double paddle at $300,000.
"Six hundred thousand! Oh my goodness! We have set a new record for the highest bid of the night...!"
Yet, even after that, paddles continued to rise. Amidst the mounting chaos, Sion spotted Terry Semel—the man who had just been subtly provoking him earlier—among the active bidders.
...No, seriously, I just wanted to go home without causing any trouble tonight. The phrase a superstar is a superstar even when standing still suddenly flashed through Sion's mind.