1648-1650

Chapter 1648: Crisis of Exposure 

Ha, hahaha... 

Applause. Laughter. Cheers. Screams. A wild surge of emotion, bordering on madness. The Chief Theater swayed like a small boat tossed in a tsunami—everything spinning wildly out of control. 

Of course, it was Anson. Even when facing off against a top-tier talk show host, he never lost his edge. At this moment, he effortlessly had the entire room in the palm of his hand— 

Controlling the scene with a flip of the wrist. That’s true star power. 

The host, Hector Elizondo, wasn’t the least bit flustered. A smile flickered in his eyes. 

Hector was only guest-hosting tonight. He’s an actor—the one who played the queen’s butler and bodyguard Joe in The Princess Diaries. He’s one of director Garry Marshall’s favorites, having also appeared in Pretty Woman years ago. Now, he was playing another standout role in The Princess Diaries. 

Tonight, at the movie’s premiere, this seasoned actor—who's spent decades on TV—took on the host role, keeping the crowd and the energy in perfect sync. 

Watching Anson from the stage, Hector couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic. It had only been three years since Anson went from nobody to A-list star. For someone like Hector, who’s been navigating Hollywood for over 20 years, it was impressive. 

But to be honest, Hector thought Anson was already a star back when they first filmed The Princess Diaries. He already had the presence, the charisma—an aura far beyond his years and experience. 

Even now, as Anson cracked jokes, Hector stayed cool, eyes twinkling as he prepared to toss a witty comeback—when suddenly, a scream from the crowd cut him off. 

Amid the buzzing chaos came a trembling, piercing cry that sliced right through the noise. 

“Anson! I love you! I love youuuuuuuuuu!!” 

Like a thunderclap out of nowhere, the scream carried a sobbing tone at the end—no one needed to see her face to picture the tears of joy streaming down it. 

So vivid. So real. 

Boom. Hahaha! 

The audience erupted—laughter, screams, wild applause. 

Every eye turned to Anson, including Anne’s, who looked on with amusement and mischief. 

Anson let out a helpless laugh and gave a small shrug. “Too bad. If that was a proposal, I might’ve said yes.” 

The playful, regretful tone caught everyone off guard for a second— 

One... two... 

Boom! 

The energy exploded like a volcano, a shockwave of enthusiasm rippling through the crowd like a mushroom cloud rising over the Chief Theater. 

Madness. Absolute madness. 

Even Hector stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with surprise before he finally cracked and burst into laughter. 

He tried to regain control, tried to continue the interview and get back to the premiere’s original flow—but the waves of laughter and cheers kept crashing over him, leaving him like a tiny boat in a raging sea, struggling to stay upright. 

Then Hector noticed the sly glint in Anson’s eyes. Turning slightly with a teasing smile, he found his voice in the chaos. “So, was all of this part of your plan?” 

Anson gave a mysterious grin. “Shh. My agent says that’s classified.” 

Laughter roared again. 

Anson looked back toward where the scream had come from and said, “Run! Go on, run! Don’t worry, the deal’s done. Your payment’s on the way.” 

The audience was in stitches, laughing non-stop. 

With both hands behind his back, Anson patiently waited for the noise to settle a bit. Once the crowd calmed, he turned back to Hector with a more serious, slightly awkward expression. 

“No, of course not.” Anson looked sincere. “Honestly, I regret it.” 

“Tonight is supposed to belong to Garry, to Anne, and to all of you. I’m just a guest. The plan was for me to slip in quietly, enjoy the premiere as just another audience member, then leave quietly, leaving only a cool silhouette behind—like Zorro.” 

“But obviously…” 

He didn’t finish the sentence—but he didn’t need to. With his arms open wide, the audience got the message. Whistles echoed up and down the red carpet. 

Hector raised an eyebrow. “You do know that Zorro’s one of the loudest guys on the planet, right?” 

Haha! Hahaha! 

Anson froze, his whole body stiffening like a robot. He slowly turned toward the audience, then slowly turned back to Hector. “Did I… just blow my cover?” 

Pffft. 

Bob couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing— 

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Who could resist a guy like Anson? 

As the crowd roared in excitement, Hector felt a wave of joy himself. This kind of back-and-forth? This was what made nights like this so fun. 

Then Hector caught sight of Anne, her smile brighter than ever. “Anne, so… did you know about tonight’s surprise?” 

Caught off guard, still floating in her happy haze, Anne didn’t expect to be the center of attention. Instinctively, she blurted out the truth: “No, I had no idea.” 

One hundred percent honest. 

She looked up at Anson, her eyes shimmering with emotion. Her lips curled into a soft smile. “Clearly, I was just as surprised as everyone else here. This gentleman kept the secret very well.” 

Hector chuckled. “No wonder you looked so shocked when he walked in—you rushed to greet him right away.” 

The vibe suddenly shifted— 

Anne could feel the heat of a thousand stares landing on her all at once. It felt like they were burning through her skin. 

For a second, she wasn’t sure if she was just overthinking things... or if her reaction had really given something away. 

What if… 

Just a hypothetical—but what if news broke that Anson and Anne were actually dating? Given how red-hot Anson’s career was right now, that kind of headline would explode across North America. From that moment on, peace and privacy would be gone. That sweet, simple feeling of liking someone might not have room to grow anymore. 

Worse, the tabloids would turn it into their defining label, reducing all their work and talent into mere gossip fodder. All anyone would talk about was their rumored romance. Acting, performances, future projects—none of it would matter anymore. Both Anson and Anne would be trapped in the stereotype of being nothing but pretty faces. 

Anson... 

He’d finally managed to break out of that shallow “eye candy” label, finally earning recognition for his talent. But just one wrong step... and he might get dragged right back down again. 

It couldn’t get worse. 

Thoughts raced through Anne’s head like a stampede, chaotic and unstoppable, all blurring into one another. 

She was panicking. 

At that moment, Anne realized just how green and inexperienced she still was. In Hollywood, she was still a rookie—completely unprepared for a situation like this. From the moment Anson appeared tonight, her brain had gone off track, her emotions took over, and everything changed. 

So now what? 

Chapter 1649: With Dignity and Grace 

What now? 

In front of so many people, under countless watchful eyes—how should they respond? 

Almost instinctively, Anne’s shoulders and neck tensed up. She knew she wanted to glance at Anson, to meet his eyes and find some silent reassurance. But she was too afraid to get caught, forcing herself to stay still, to keep her head forward and her eyes locked on Hector as she frantically searched for something—anything—to say in response. 

What she forgot, though, was that sometimes trying too hard to hide something only makes it more obvious. 

Hector looked slightly surprised. 

Honestly, he’d only been joking. After all, he was on the same team as the Princess Diaries cast. If Anne and Anson really were dating, there’s no way he’d bring it up—why would he sabotage his own movie? 

Think about it: the sequel has Anne and Chris Pine paired up. If the real-life buzz was about the original stars, wouldn’t that tank the momentum for Princess Diaries 2? 

That’s why Hector didn’t suspect a thing. He’d just been teasing, trying to show the world how close and fun the cast was. 

And yet… 

He couldn’t help but look at Anne a little more closely. 

Just then— 

“‘Welcome’? Are you sure about that?” 

Anson’s voice rang out, lighthearted and playful with a trace of sarcastic humor. 

“I thought it sounded more like an interrogation. Clearly, Mia wasn’t happy that Michael chose to chase his dreams instead of staying with her. Seems to me, she still hasn’t let go.” 

Anne snapped, “Hey!” 

Finally—thanks to Anson’s perfectly timed interruption—Anne snapped out of her daze and reflexively punched his arm. 

Anson winced, clutching his arm and holding his breath in mock pain, looking exactly like Michael walking off the movie screen and into real life. 

Any doubt, any hint of suspicion, dissolved in an instant. 

Anson turned to Hector with a grin. “Although, clearly, we’re still a little out of sync. That performance didn’t land quite right.” 

He shrugged dramatically. “If people keep calling us ‘just pretty faces,’ I might have to admit they’re right and go back to brushing up on my acting.” 

Ha! Hahaha! 

His self-deprecating joke was perfect. It instantly reignited the crowd’s energy, wiping away any lingering confusion and lighting the red carpet on fire with cheers and whistles. 

Half-joking, half-honest, it cleverly signaled to everyone: This was all just an act. Don’t read too much into it. 

Of course, reporters and netizens were free to “analyze” the moment to their hearts’ content and spin it into rumors. That’s exactly what the team wanted. 

It was the perfect kind of attention-grabbing buzz to promote Princess Diaries 2. 

And if the media wanted to do Disney a favor and make it a headline? Anson and Anne were happy to be the center of attention for a while. 

Dignified, open, and unflinching—their poised response instantly shifted the narrative. What started as a potentially awkward moment turned into gossip-worthy fun, all thanks to one clever pivot. 

Reality and fiction blurred just enough to make people wonder. 

Even Hector couldn’t help but glance at Anne again out of the corner of his eye. Wait—was all of that really an act? 

After a brief pause, Hector turned back to Anne and couldn’t resist asking, “So… seeing Anson show up unexpectedly—you were happy about that, right?” 

Anne was back in the spotlight. 

Only this time, Anson didn’t step in to rescue her. On the contrary, he joined Hector, watching her with amused curiosity. 

His expression seemed to say: Yeah, I’d like to hear the answer too. 

Anne was still nervous, still flustered. She’d never been in a situation like this before. And trying to come up with a coherent response in just a few seconds was no easy task. 

But thanks to Anson’s playful cover, she managed to find her footing—barely. Especially with the way he was looking at her. She couldn’t help herself— 

She rolled her eyes. 

Yep. Right there, in front of everyone, in front of a thousand cameras, Anne gave Anson a full-on eye roll. Totally unladylike. Totally Mia. 

“Yes. Happy. Very happy,” Anne said, adopting her best professional voice. “So honored. So touched.” 

Then she flashed a big, exaggerated smile. “We really need to thank Anson for this little surprise appearance. It practically guarantees tomorrow’s tabloid headlines.” 

HA! 

Hector burst out laughing and did a dramatic spin toward the packed crowd at the entrance of the El Capitan Theatre. 

“Though… I’m not sure everyone is thrilled about this little twist.” 

Chris Pine, somewhere nearby: You could just say my name, you know… 

But before the moment could get awkward again, Anson smoothly chimed in, “Well, we can’t please everyone, right?” 

BOOM—laughter. 

The crowd exploded. Cheers, whistles, screams. 

No one had expected the true climax of the Princess Diaries 2 premiere red carpet to arrive now. 

“Anson!” 

“Anson!” 

“Anson!” 

They chanted his name, louder and louder, totally eating it up. 

Even if most people didn’t pick up on the subtle tension between Anson and Anne, everyone could feel the rivalry between Anson and Chris Pine. 

Two leading men. One princess. 

It was your classic love triangle—Hollywood style. 

Hector wasn’t about to let the moment go to waste. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he asked: 

“Okay, Anne, let’s be real. Who would you choose—Anson Wood or Chris Pine?” 

WHOAAAAA! The crowd went nuts. Cheers and shouts rolled through the theater like waves at a music festival. 

Anne’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard, staring at Hector in open-mouthed shock. 

Seriously?! 

Off to the side, Anson cleared his throat. Not loud enough. He coughed again—this time with dramatic flair—squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin as if to say: Ahem. I’m still right here, you know. 

The whole crowd burst out laughing. 

Anson’s little gesture was a gentle nudge—a reminder to Anne of the effort he’d put in just by showing up. If you don’t pick me, you’re kind of breaking my heart here. 

And in doing so, he bought Anne a little more time—and helped tone down the tension. 

Whatever people might’ve read into the moment, it had now been totally transformed into part of the film’s marketing spectacle. Even if romance rumors did pop up later, most people would see it for what it was: smart Disney promo. 

Brilliant. 

Effortless. Calm. In control. What could’ve been a PR nightmare had just been turned into a win—thanks to Anson. 

In Hollywood, these situations come up all the time. And yet, time after time, actors and producers find ways to mess them up—making everything worse with one misstep. 

That’s why publicists exist. 

Inside the industry, PR reps are just as powerful as agents—sometimes even more. Their job is to manage optics, not emotions. And no one outside the biz really understands just how hard that is. 

But Anson? 

Faced with a live, high-pressure moment, he didn’t deflect. He didn’t panic. He handled it head-on, cool as ever—and completely turned the tables. 

No wonder Hector gave him another long look. 

Chapter 1650: The Devoted Second Male Lead 

How is a superstar truly born? 

Standing before them, Anson was showing them exactly how—graceful and wise in every gesture, he controlled the atmosphere without ever seeming to try. 

Ector couldn't help glancing over at Anson. 

But at that very moment, the crowd exploded. 

A wave of murmuring surged through the red carpet like boiling water, impossible to contain. Following the direction of the crowd’s gaze, Ector turned and saw Chris Pine walking out, visibly nervous and awkward. 

He looked shy. He looked tense. 

At this point in time, Chris Pine was still a complete nobody, a D-list actor barely surviving in the industry, even considering giving up acting altogether. 

His opportunity in The Princess Diaries 2 was the turning point in his life. 

Now, finally stepping into the spotlight, Chris had been completely unprepared to be shoved into the whirlwind of gossip, standing side-by-side with Anson, the top of Hollywood’s elite. Naturally, he was the most nervous of all—none of this was in the plan for the premiere. 

His knees wobbled slightly. 

Chris had to take a deep breath and force himself to pull it together, straighten his back, and walk back onto the red carpet through the thunderous cheers, joining Anson and Anne. 

“Hey...” Chris nodded awkwardly, not sure what to do next— 

Should he introduce himself? Offer a handshake? But weren’t they kind of, maybe, possibly, rivals? Would that be inappropriate? 

His mind was spinning, and even as he stepped in front of Anson, he still hadn’t figured it out. So after a simple greeting... he completely froze. 

Something felt off. 

Then there was Anson—composed, calm, and in control. He offered Chris a polite smile, nodded, stepped forward, and extended his hand. 

Flustered, Chris quickly reached out and completed the handshake. 

“Michael,” Anson said. 

Chris: ???? 

Already nervous and overwhelmed, Anson’s unexpected move totally threw him. Chris stammered, “Chris... oh, Nicholas. No, I mean...” 

In The Princess Diaries 2, Chris plays a character named Nicholas, but right now, he had no idea how to introduce himself. 

Before he could even finish, Anson’s eyes flashed with a subtle smile. Without waiting, he let go of the handshake and stepped back. 

Chris: ... 

Defeated. 

Even though nothing dramatic happened, Chris couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d just lost, and it felt awful. 

Reason kicked in, reminding him: That’s Anson Wood. The entire world was watching him—forget Chris, even Tom Cruise or Will Smith couldn’t steal the spotlight from Anson. There was no competition. They weren’t even in the same league. 

And yet—his fighting spirit flared to life. 

Chris took the initiative: “Anne, just a reminder—our movie is a family-friendly comedy, and of course, the story ends with a classic Disney fairytale ending.” 

In other words: In the movie, Mia chooses Nicholas, and Michael is old news. 

While speaking, he snuck a glance at Anson from the corner of his eye. 

But Anson stood there, looking completely unbothered—elegant, handsome, composed. He didn’t look like some awkward band geek at all. He looked more like the actual Prince from The Princess Diaries 2. 

Damn it. 

Chris was growing increasingly frustrated. 

Anne, after the brief chaos, had regained her composure and showed off her quick wit. Sure, she’d never dealt with something like this before, but that didn’t mean she was going to just be led around. 

In a flash, Anne turned to Chris and let out a soft sigh. 

“Oh, dear Chris, don’t be nervous. How could I ever forget what we went through together?” 

Then she paused— Turned to Ector— “Nicholas. Of course I’d choose Nicholas.” 

A crisp, on-brand Princess Diaries 2 moment. 

Chris played along, puffing out his chest, doing everything he could to look like a leading man next to Anson, who was taller and seemed unshakably cool. 

The contrast was stark—Anson remained motionless, unbothered, totally confident. 

Anne began chatting casually about behind-the-scenes moments during the filming of The Princess Diaries 2. After two years of media training, she was a master of PR talk—easily steering the conversation back to the theme of the premiere. 

Back on track—but missing the previous energy and excitement. 

Sensing this, Anne made a bold shift. 

“But if this were real life... I’d choose Anson.” 

Boom. The crowd erupted. Whistles, gasps, and cheers exploded instantly. 

Chris blinked—Wait, what?? 

Anne’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she realized that trying to avoid the topic would just make it worse. Better to face it head-on. 

“The Princess Diaries is a special film to me,” Anne said. “It was my first lead role. And Anson was absolutely an incredible partner. He made it possible for me to get through it. Those memories are still vivid even now.” 

Ector nodded thoughtfully. “Firsts... are always irreplaceable.” 

Then, with zero warning, Anson joined the conversation: 

“I’m not surprised Anne picked me. I’m not the kind of person you can easily forget. Whether you love me or hate me—no one can resist me.” 

So arrogant. So smug. So self-absorbed. 

And yet—no one could argue with it. 

AAAHHHH!!! Screams exploded across the red carpet. 

Surrounded by the uproar, Anson remained perfectly calm, standing tall like all of this was completely normal. 

And strangely, if it was Anson, no one seemed to mind the arrogance. 

Anne stared at him, speechless, wanting to argue—but their eyes met, and she couldn’t help it. Her lips curled into a smile, her eyes lighting up. 

She quickly looked down, her heart pounding. She turned to Ector, raising her hands with a smile: 

“Who could possibly say no to Anson Wood?” 

OHHHH!! The crowd roared even louder. Whistles and cheers echoed across the carpet. 

Anne turned to Chris again. “Sorry.” 

Chris: ???? 

He was already miserable—and now Anne apologized? That somehow made it worse. 

And just then, Anson walked over, patted Chris on the shoulder, gave him a fist-bump of encouragement, and looked at him with sincere, supportive eyes. 

Chris: What the hell is happening?? 

As realization set in, Chris noticed Ector, Anne, and even the fans looking at him with sympathetic eyes—as if he was the heartbroken second lead in a rom-com. 

The main guy gets the girl. The second guy gets the tears. 

But— 

“I’m the damn male lead, okay!!” 

(End of Chapter)