After the premiere, a black Mercedes-Benz sped away from the back entrance of the Chieftain Stone Theater, racing toward Beverly Hills. It entered the gates of the Horner estate and drove straight to the villa. As soon as the car stopped, before the bodyguard in the front seat could even get out, the rear door was pushed open from the inside.
Matthew got out and immediately carried Emma Roberts from the car without saying a word. Once inside the villa, he simply slung her over his shoulder.
Having already gotten into Matthew's car, Emma Roberts didn't mind playing along, urging him, "Hurry up! I'm hot on the outside but freezing inside. If you don't hurry, I'm going to freeze solid!"
Matthew quickly crossed the living room, climbed the stairs to the second floor, and kicked open the bedroom door. "Darling, warming up takes a little time."
Clinging to him, Emma Roberts added, "Don't put me down. I don't want to touch the ground—I'm cold! Hold me the whole time."
"As you wish, my Emma," Matthew replied instantly.
When someone feels cold inside, what should be done? Many would use warm words to bring back their warmth, but in Matthew's view, actions always spoke louder than words!
To combat the chill within, intense, heated, and passionate movements were the solution.
While a prolonged battle with a horde of fierce Victoria's Secret angels might leave him feeling worn out, making Emma Roberts heat up inside was no challenge.
This was an act of warmth, a noble mission to melt another's coldness with his own fire—truly embodying the great spirit of humanism.
At the moment he felt Emma's warmth return, Matthew couldn't help but feel a strange sense of nobility. As the one giving warmth, he thought of himself as a man of greatness—pure, moral, free from base desires, and beneficial to others.
When Emma Roberts finally broke free from the icy grip, trembling with excitement and shouting in delight, Matthew felt that life had never been more meaningful.
The most precious thing a person has is life, and everyone only gets one. His life should be spent in such a way that, when he looks back, he won't regret wasting time or feel ashamed for achieving nothing. At the end of his life, he would be able to say: "My entire life and energy were dedicated to the most magnificent cause in the world—working for the lumberjack team."
One should live life to the fullest, enjoying the pleasures of wealth and beautiful women because unexpected illnesses or tragic accidents could end one's life at any moment.
And to save as many beautiful actresses and models from the harshness of hunger and cold, his mission of lumberjacking must never stop!
That night, Matthew's passion melted away Emma Roberts' coldness entirely. The next morning, seeing her still warm and radiant, he reflected once more—staying true to his principles had been the right decision all along.
Think about it—driven by the dream of engaging in the world's most magnificent cause, he had plunged headfirst into Hollywood. For decades, he remained steadfast in his ideals, rescuing one beautiful woman after another from the icy grip of cold, bringing them warmth. What could be more reflective of a great humanistic spirit than that?
Hollywood really should give him an award!
"I heard you're working on some new film projects?"
Before leaving, Emma Roberts mentioned, "Don't forget me if there's a suitable role."
Matthew opened the car door for her and said, "Don't worry, how could I forget you?"
In high spirits, Emma smiled and said, "Call me if you need anything."
Matthew lightly stroked her cheek. "If you ever feel cold again, you know where to find me."
"I will," Emma said as she slipped into the car, waving at Matthew. "Goodbye, Matthew."
"Goodbye, Emma," he replied, closing the door and watching her car drive away from the Horner estate.
As Emma sat in the Mercedes on her way home, gazing at the grand houses of Beverly Hills passing by, a faint smile never left her face. She seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
Before the premiere, the endless promotional events had left her incredibly busy and under a lot of pressure. But last night's intense "warming up" session had released all of that tension.
Matthew Horner really was a master at bringing warmth, she thought.
Stretching contentedly, Emma felt a bit tired from the previous night, but her spirits were high.
For someone like her, who was seeking the perfect, intense experience to relieve stress, Matthew Horner was nothing short of a gift from heaven.
When she got home, Emma didn't plan to rest. Instead, she opened her laptop to check the reception of Inception after its premiere.
This was another reason for her good mood. Ever since Warner Bros. had held internal screenings and a few test showings for the media and audiences, Inception had received nothing but positive feedback.
Christopher Nolan and Matthew Horner had garnered the most praise, and because of her rumored relationship with Matthew, Emma Roberts, as the film's nominal second lead but actual female lead, had also been warmly received by fans and the media.
This was Emma Roberts' first time playing a major role in a mainstream Hollywood production. Her aunt, Julia Roberts, had pulled all the strings she could to secure this role, knowing that a film starring Matthew Horner meant the greatest chance for success.
With a successful film under her belt, it would be much easier for Emma to land other major roles, and even secure leading roles in major blockbusters.
Having a successful film was essential for any actor to rise to stardom.
With a comprehensive marketing plan, excellent distribution strategy, a talented cast and director, and a film of high quality, Inception had all the hallmarks of a blockbuster hit.
Since the premiere had already taken place, reviews and ratings had been released, and Emma Roberts found countless comments online.
"When Inception ends and the lights come up, you'll sit there staring at the screen, trying to process what just happened. There's no guide for the complex world this film takes you through—it's one of the most brilliant intellectual thrill rides in history."
Emma, feeling like a newly minted star, eagerly devoured these accolades from fans.
Although most of the praise belonged to Matthew Horner and Christopher Nolan, Emma, as a key part of the film, felt she could share in the glory.
"Inception has surpassed many classic sci-fi films. It's not like 99% of other movies. The less you know about Inception going in, the better. The film cleverly blurs the line between dreams and reality. As the summer's biggest blockbuster, Inception will become a masterpiece."
Fans clearly loved the movie.
"Inception is not one of those weird art films. If you're looking for intelligence combined with entertainment, this is the one. Dreams are one of life's great adventures—whether joyful or terrifying, they're gifts from our subconscious, and this movie offers a unique experience that no one else can provide."
However, there were also some negative reviews.
"I'd love to tell you how bad Inception was, but it's such a mess that describing its flaws properly would be too hard."
Emma frowned for a moment at this, but then recalled something Matthew had said, and gradually she felt at ease.
Why do independent films and commercially successful movies always have such big differences in ratings? The extent of marketing and the audience reach are undoubtedly important factors. Independent films tend to attract viewers who already appreciate that genre, whereas wide-reaching commercial films bring in a broader audience, including those who don't particularly enjoy the genre. These people are far less likely to give a commercial film a high rating.
Looking at some film rating websites, it's easy to see that independent films usually have far fewer ratings compared to commercial films.
Given a similar level of quality, fewer ratings almost always result in higher scores for a film.
Emma knew that those expecting a David Lynch-style mystery film, hoping for a super-intellectual movie, were likely to be disappointed by Inception. It was not a film that tested the viewer's IQ.
"This isn't depth; it's just sickness and chaos on the screen. Inception should be called 'Self-Deception'—it's a two-and-a-half-hour ride in a worn-out old car that countless people have already driven."
Though there were some negative voices, they were only a small part of the overall discussion. On the internet, Inception had sparked a huge reaction from the majority of fans.
Emma then called Matthew and got a report on the premiere's statistics.
According to Warner Bros.' market research department, 794 ordinary viewers had rated Inception after the screening, with an average score of 9.6. Nearly 82% of the audience had given the film a perfect score.
Additionally, both the professional media and notoriously picky critics were full of praise, offering unanimous acclaim.
Emma couldn't help but recall Christopher Nolan's previous film and wondered if Inception might replicate the same strong box office run that The Dark Knight had enjoyed.
In her experience, both Matthew and Christopher Nolan had immense market appeal.
For a big commercial production, critical scores weren't the most important thing—the real key was the box office.
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