Laila knew exactly what she was doing. Other than Roy, her family, and the island staff, no one else knew the exact location of the shoot. But once people heard it was a private island, their imaginations immediately filled in the blanks—an idyllic paradise, the perfect place for a vacation.
That assumption wasn't wrong, per se. But clearly, few had stopped to think—if it were just an average billionaire's private island, how could it possibly support the infrastructure for hundreds of people to eat, sleep, and live?
Golden Isle was different. It had originally been developed by American Express Company as a luxurious venue to maintain strong relationships with high-level clients and influential figures. Calling it "lavish" would be an understatement. Laila had secured filming rights to the island due to her past conflict with Al Nadeem. What had once felt like an annoying ordeal now seemed more like a blessing in disguise. That foolish prince might very well have been her lucky star.
But for American Express Company, renting out the island wasn't a loss at all. On the contrary, Laila's filming activities significantly boosted the island's prestige and value. The mere mention of Pirates of the Caribbean and its dreamlike golden shores with jelly-clear waters would spark fantasies of a magical journey in almost anyone's mind.
Unfortunately, those fantasies were out of reach for most. The island was privately owned and didn't admit ordinary tourists. But for the wealthy elite—especially those with business ties to American Express Company—it was a different story. For them, a vacation on the island was entirely within reach. This unexpected promotional boost even led to a notable surge in American Express's business for a time.
So when Laila asked to use the island again, American Express agreed immediately—and even provided a generous amount of support staff and essential services like electricity and fresh water.
They handled the housing; as for food, Laila had to arrange for a dedicated procurement team. Fortunately, there were nearby islands that could regularly ferry over fresh fruits and vegetables by boat. That was how things had been done during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean, and now they were seasoned pros at it.
As the plane landed, the VFX artists and crew—already entranced by the island's view from above—practically lost their minds the moment they set foot on the ground, running and cheering like kids let loose in a candy store.
The sky was breathtaking—crystal clear and boundless. The air was filled with the mingled scent of plants and ocean breeze. A single deep breath made them feel like their souls had been cleansed.
Laila left the euphoric group to the island's service staff. These professionals had plenty of experience handling adults acting like overexcited children.
She had deliberately arrived two days early, just to give everyone time to unwind and shake off their exhaustion. That way, when it came time to work, they'd be at their very best. For The Avengers, the VFX and post-production were key. For Silence, the filming itself was paramount. If both teams were operating at peak condition, what quality issues could there possibly be?
Of course, if anyone got too carried away by the island's beauty and failed to deliver the results she wanted, she had no problem sending them back. She was confident that returning to a lonely, boring office desk would help them quickly rediscover their "best state."
Zhang Guorong arrived on the third day, after the crew had already settled in. Unfortunately, it started drizzling just as his plane landed. On islands like this, rain came quickly and left just as fast. And after a rain, the skies became even more dazzlingly clear. So when that man stepped onto the island with a brilliant blue sky behind him, Laila—who rarely lost her composure—found herself completely mesmerized.
In that moment, she felt as if this stunningly elegant man had stepped straight out of an ancient painting, untouched by the harsh erosion of time. Where it left others with wrinkles and wear, on him it seemed to leave only grace and beauty.
Perhaps he was too perfect—that's why the heavens had taken him so soon in another life?
A light cough from beside her jolted her out of her trance.
Laila turned her head and saw Roy raising a not-so-pleased eyebrow at her.
Being caught openly swooning over another man did not sit well with someone who had been voted World's Sexiest Man several years running.
Laila's cheeks turned crimson. She refused to admit anything and quickly deflected: "The sky is really beautiful today."
Roy flicked her forehead with his finger. "We'll talk about this tonight."
For once, little Eli had been taken by Claire to visit Janet—meaning he had all evening free for a "proper conversation" with her.
"…"
What could Laila even say to that?
Unlike some top-tier celebrities, Zhang Guorong didn't travel with an entourage. Just his manager and a young assistant accompanied him.
Laila went over to greet them. "Long trip, huh? I'll take you to your accommodations right away."
"Not really. The plane was very comfortable," Zhang replied warmly.
It truly hadn't been exhausting at all. A private jet was on a completely different level from commercial flights. A bit of fun, a nap or two—and before they knew it, they had arrived.
As Laila led them to the car, she explained, "I've arranged a Mediterranean-style villa for you. But if it doesn't suit your tastes, feel free to switch to another style."
Before Zhang could reply, his assistant gasped in surprise. "There are multiple housing styles on an island like this?"
Laila chuckled. "Of course. I'm sure you'll love it here. We've got places in just about every style from around the world. Though, since I brought a lot of people this time, some might already be occupied."
The assistant hadn't even realized she'd blurted out what she was thinking—and now she'd received a direct response from a world-famous Hollywood director. Her young face turned beet red in embarrassment. She quickly mumbled a thank-you in a voice as tiny as a mosquito's and shrank into herself, too shy to speak further.
Her manager gave her an amused and lightly reproachful glance, but no one else minded. Outside of work, Laila was a very easygoing person. She didn't mind answering a curious girl's innocent question.
"Director Moran," said Chen Shufen, unable to hold back her curiosity, "I heard you even brought your entire VFX team along this time?"
She had seen similar reports in domestic media but still couldn't wrap her head around Laila's approach. This wasn't a few thousand, or even ten thousand—it was tens of millions of U.S. dollars! Converted to Eastern currency, that was an astronomical sum. Other filmmakers were doing everything possible to cut costs, and here she was, blowing a budget that could've made several domestic films—just like that!
"Yes, everyone's here," Laila answered without hesitation. "After all, a good mood leads to better productivity, don't you think?"
Really?
Chen Shufen forced a polite chuckle. She wanted so badly to tell this foreigner, "There's an old Eastern proverb: 'Indulgence leads to loss of ambition.'"
So much for being an expert in the East—clearly, she still didn't understand it like a true native would.