The next morning, Laila was woken up by the tiny, squirming bundle in her arms.
Roy had left early for something, and before he left, he'd placed Eli next to her in bed — just in case the little one woke up and got scared without seeing anyone.
Maybe it was because she was too tired, or maybe it was because the warm, squishy little body in her arms was just too cozy — either way, Laila slept straight through until after 9 a.m., only to be pulled from her dreams by a series of strange little movements on her chest.
When she opened her eyes, she found that Eli's little feet were kicking against her chest, and the head she thought had been nestled against her was now burrowing out from under the blanket. All she could see was a wiggling little lump moving around.
"How did your head and feet switch places?" Laila laughed and gently repositioned him, pulling him back into her arms to keep him from wriggling off again.
"Lazy."
Little Eli hit her with a single word — and paired it with the cold, serious expression of a pint-sized CEO, successfully banishing any lingering traces of Laila's sleepiness.
"Oh? Looks like you've got some serious misunderstandings about your dear mother," Laila said, grinning mischievously as she squished his cheeks between her hands. His skin was as smooth and soft as a peeled boiled egg — just like all those over-the-top descriptions used for flawless beauties — and she couldn't help but feel tempted to take a playful bite.
"You dare call me lazy? Has your father never told you who's really in charge around here?" She pulled a mock-threatening face.
Mini CEO Eli let out a cool "hmph," his voice muffled by her hands. "Daddy!"
Oh-ho! This little guy!
Laila was tempted to squeeze those adorable cheeks a little harder — they felt too good to resist. But when she saw how red his little face was turning, she couldn't bear to.
She let go and instead gave his nose a playful twist. "Daddy listens to me. So who's really in charge, huh? And after saying that… do you still want your favorite pudding?"
"Daddy!" Eli remained firm in his stance.
Laila poked him in the forehead. "I don't know who filled your head with this nonsense, but Mommy is clearly the one in charge here, got it?"
Eli, still with his serious little face, flopped backwards from the poke, but didn't cry or fuss. He sat right back up and met her gaze with eyes exactly like hers — crystal clear and unwavering — then said loudly and firmly: "Daddy!"
Laila couldn't help but laugh out of sheer frustration. "Alright, fine. Since you say it's Daddy, then we'll wait for him to come home and let him tell you who's really the boss around here!"
Eli snorted again and stopped responding to his mother. Instead, he climbed out of bed and rummaged through his toy box, then came back waving something in front of Laila's face: "Daddy! Awesome! Captain!"
Laila looked — and immediately burst out laughing. It was a Pirates of the Caribbean toy, and Roy was, of course, the actor who played the Captain.
"Okay, okay. You win, you're too smart for me. What's the point of arguing with a little rascal like you?" She huffed, just a bit proud and a lot pouty. As far as she was concerned, everyone knew who really ran the household. Hmph!
She was just about to pick up her son and head downstairs for breakfast when her phone suddenly rang.
"Hello, Director Moran." Chen Shufen's slightly nervous voice came through the line.
"Hello!" Laila, of course, knew who she was.
But the moment Chen Shufen finished explaining her purpose, Laila suddenly remembered: Right! They'd originally agreed to coordinate publicity after the trailer dropped. How could she have forgotten?
"Yes, I know about that," Laila said quickly. "But don't you think having the public uncover it themselves generates more attention than an official announcement would?" She couldn't afford to leave "Gege" with a bad impression, so even in her rush, she managed to come up with a half-decent explanation.
And in fairness, it really was a convincing one.
If the information had been released through official channels, audiences would've simply gone, "Oh, so it's him. Why him?" But when fans discover a "hidden secret" on their own, the excitement and sense of accomplishment they feel would pull them in deeper, driving them to keep digging for more clues.
Why choose an East Asian actor? What about him impressed Laila? What kind of role would he be playing in the movie? What sparks would fly between him and Roy as the film's two male leads?
These questions would instantly take hold of the public's imagination — and with that, organic buzz would start to spread. That kind of free publicity was often more powerful than any marketing dollars could buy.
Chen Shufen clearly bought into the explanation. She nodded in realization. "You're right — that's definitely more effective. So, what now? Are we still holding off on promotion?"
"Let Mr. Cheung do a few interviews or talk shows if possible," Laila said. "As for the promotional strategy, I'll have someone get in touch with your team so we can coordinate further."
"Understood. I'll line up a few good-quality programs first, and we'll wait for your team's instructions for the rest."
Laila smiled. "Alright. Thank you for your hard work."
"No, no — not at all! It's what we're here for," Chen Shufen said happily. Honestly, even if Laila had been cold and arrogant, she'd still have taken it with a smile. "Director Moran… do you think our Kwok-wung has a chance at winning some awards this time?"
She didn't dare say Oscar aloud. Yes, East Asians had won a few trophies over the years, but never for acting. She hadn't seen the final cut of the film yet, but she knew the script well.
And from her decades of experience, that script definitely had award potential. Laila's directing ability was undeniable, and the production team was filled with some of the best professionals in Hollywood.
In theory, there should be a solid chance of winning something. Even if the major awards remained elusive, surely they could pick up a few of the lesser-known ones. And even those would be a dazzling achievement back in East Asia.
The only thing that made her uneasy — the one real threat — was Roy Jixing, the film's other male lead.
He was the youngest Oscar-winning Best Actor in history, with a long list of acclaimed performances. His acting, connections, and fanbase were impeccable. Most importantly, he was white.
If the judges had to choose between Roy and Kwok-wung, would they really give the award to an Asian man?
The thought made Chen Shufen's earlier joy suddenly dim.
She could've accepted it before, when such things felt completely out of reach. But now, standing so close to the trophy — close enough to see it but not touch it — the frustration was unbearable.
Laila didn't answer right away.
Not because she didn't know the answer — but because that answer wasn't something she wanted to say out loud.