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Kevin, having somewhat understood the reason for Annie's call, exhaled, "I think I know what's going on. Don't worry, I'll have the PR department handle this later. After I hold a press conference with Kimiko tomorrow, everything will be fine."
"Hold a press conference? What are you planning to tell the media?"
"I'll say that Kimiko is a daughter my parents adopted previously, making her my sister. When the time comes, you can explain it with me, and all the rumors will fall apart on their own."
Kimiko couldn't be kept hidden forever. Since her identity wasn't an issue with Edgar, and Kevin had also created a government-recognized identity for Kimiko, there would come a day when Kimiko would stand before the public.
The reason was simple: Kevin and Annie were both public figures. Under the close 'surveillance' of various media outlets and paparazzi, Kimiko couldn't be hidden for long.
So Kevin had long prepared the appropriate explanations, along with relevant identity documents, and had even drafted a specific script.
The storm incident was merely a catalyst, at most accelerating a part of Kevin's plan, and wouldn't cause too much trouble.
"So you've thought it all through, then I'm relieved… By the way, where are you and Kimiko now?"
"Us? We're about to go to an amusement park."
"? Where did you say you're going?"
"An amusement park, what's wrong?"
Kevin's thoughtless reply plunged the other end of the phone into silence.
The silence was a bit long; nearly a minute passed without a sound from the other side.
Just as Kevin was wondering if something had happened on her end and was about to ask, Annie's voice came through the phone again: "...Give me the address."
"What do you want the address for? Are you coming over?"
"Stop with the nonsense, give me the address!"
"Don't you have another interview later?"
"It's just a normal interview, skipping it is fine. Or are you saying you don't want me to come over?"
"…"
He understood.
Hearing the faint hint of jealousy emanating from the phone, even Kevin, a straight man whose brain didn't twist, could tell what Annie was thinking.
She definitely got jealous hearing that Kevin and Kimiko were going to an amusement park together, which is why she demanded to come along.
Scratching his head, Kevin turned to look at Kimiko, who was tilting her head in confusion, unsure what was happening, and sighed helplessly: "I get it. I'll send you the address in a bit, but it's best if you come after your interview. I'll wait for you and Kimiko at the amusement park."
Her interview was about to start. Skipping a pre-scheduled interview would affect Annie's future career and also incur a breach of contract fee.
Therefore, the interview should continue if possible. As for other activities, Kevin could use his authority to reschedule them.
For today, he would just relax with Annie at the amusement park.
After all, since Kevin and Annie officially started dating, they hadn't really gone on a date like a couple.
…
There are many amusement parks in New York. Kevin wasn't very familiar with most of them, only with some water-themed parks.
Following the principle of proximity, Kevin took Kimiko to the nearest water-themed park.
It felt a bit embarrassing to mention.
This theme park was where The Deep had previously endorsed. Even before entering the park, The Deep's image could be seen on the billboards outside the amusement park.
To be honest, that image was a bit silly, as it was The Deep's endorsement image from before Kevin's transmigration.
However, Kimiko seemed very happy looking at it.
She happily pointed at The Deep on the sign above, then pointed at Kevin, her hands flying around as if making hand seals, asking: 'Is this your park? If you bring me here to play, can I play everything? The kind that doesn't cost money?'
"No… this isn't my property, I just endorsed it. As for whether it costs money… you don't need to worry about that, just play to your heart's content."
In parks that Kevin had endorsed, Kevin only needed to make a call to the park manager, and basically, the rest of their visit would be free, and they would even enjoy the privilege of not having to queue.
However, calling the park manager would mean revealing his itinerary to them. If the manager tried to use Kevin's celebrity effect for something, then today's amusement park trip could basically be declared over.
Kevin wasn't here to work today, so after much thought, it was better to be an ordinary visitor.
This would also allow Kimiko to enjoy the fun of the water park as an ordinary person.
Buying tickets and entering, Kevin and Kimiko didn't attract any attention and successfully entered the park.
While waiting for Annie, Kevin first chose a long-duration attraction, the Water Movie Theater, and took Kimiko inside to watch short films promoting the park and talking about the characteristics of some aquatic animals.
After watching these, Kevin received a call from Annie.
She had already arrived at the park entrance.
Kevin glanced at the time; less than an hour had passed since their last call ended. Had her interview really finished so quickly?
Or… had Annie skipped her interview?
With doubts, Kevin and Kimiko went to the entrance to meet Annie.
Kimiko didn't think much when she saw Annie arrive; she was the first to run up and hug Annie.
Kevin walked over with a smile and asked, "The interview… is it over?"
"It was just a recorded interview; a quick recording was enough. Alright, where do we go next?"
Annie said to Kevin in a seemingly casual manner.
But from the small details on her, Annie was not as casual as she appeared.
There were slight beads of sweat on her, her makeup was carefully touched up, and her blood flow was very fast, suggesting she had run over.
At least, she had run the distance from the parking spot to the park entrance.
Noticing the slight beads of sweat on Annie's forehead, Kevin helplessly offered a tissue and wiped Annie's forehead: "…You didn't have to rush over so quickly. I don't have any other intentions with Kimiko."
"I know, I didn't think too much… Let's go, what should we play first?"
Annie changed the subject somewhat unnaturally, actively took Kimiko's hand, and led her deeper into the park.
Seeing this, Kevin didn't continue to chatter and spoil their fun. He followed behind the two, acting as their escort.
Although Annie also came with Kevin, the protagonists today were not Annie and Kevin, but Kimiko.
Neither of them had any particular favorite attractions; they only played whatever Kimiko wanted to play.
Midway, Kevin also asked Annie if she had any favorite attractions, but Annie said this was fine.
She didn't seem to particularly like the rides here; she just wanted to be with Kevin.
"You really were jealous, weren't you?"
Sitting side by side at the aquatic animal show, Kevin asked Annie with a hint of amusement.
Annie rolled her eyes at Kevin: "Did you always speak so… straightforwardly? Can't you be a bit more subtle?"
"I think our current relationship doesn't require us to be particularly subtle?"
"What if I say I wasn't?"
"…Annie, I think it's better to be honest… Alright, alright, if you say you weren't, you weren't, stop glaring at me."
Kevin originally wanted to tease her, but in the end, he changed his tune under Annie's merciless glare, admitting defeat and softening up.
Kevin deliberately raised his hands in surrender. Annie glared at him for a long time, then finally couldn't hold back her laughter and said, "I wasn't jealous, I just thought that you hadn't taken me to an amusement park in so long, so I was a little… uncomfortable."
That was jealousy.
Kevin muttered inwardly.
But Kevin chose not to expose Annie's little thoughts this time, as Annie being jealous proved that she genuinely liked him.
And putting himself in her shoes, if Annie had a younger brother, and she went to a sea park or theme park with him without telling Kevin, Kevin would also feel uncomfortable.
This might be the possessiveness couples have for each other.
Therefore, Annie's reaction was understandable.
Sitting side by side with Annie, neither of them spoke afterward, quietly watching the performance below.
But after a while, as various marine creatures entered the stage, Kevin suddenly had an idea and smiled at Annie, saying, "Sit tight here, and turn on the live stream."
"Hmm? Turn on the live stream? Where are you going?"
"A surprise for you, and a surprise for our fans."
Kevin winked at Annie, then left the audience seats.
Annie watched Kevin's retreating figure and observed where he was going.
She blinked, and in a daze, seemed to guess what Kevin was about to do. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards. Listening to Kevin, she took out her phone from her pocket and opened their joint live stream.
The live stream Annie opened now was exclusively for Annie and Kevin as a couple.
The 'Starsea' live stream.
This was the name Kevin had Annie change it to after returning from the Marvel World.
After all, the previous 'Seastar' live stream did sound a bit… funny. This time, when Kevin went to the Marvel World and saw the starry sea, he simply changed the name to 'Starsea'.
Meaning, the goal is the starry sea.
When Annie opened the live stream, viewers who were already waiting instantly flooded in. Then, with system notifications, many more viewers continuously entered the live stream. In just over a minute, the number of people had already risen to tens of thousands.
'Oh! It's Starlight!!'
'Starlight! I saw news that The Deep had an affair? Is that true?'
'Where is Starlight now? Looks like some water theme park?'
As soon as the viewers poured in, they started asking the questions everyone was concerned about, which was the news from today: whether The Deep had an affair.
Annie didn't directly answer the viewers' questions but instead pointed the camera at the stage: "Don't ask so many questions for now, let's watch the performance today."
'Performance?'
'What performance? What's so good about a water park performance?'
'A trainer is coming on stage… Wait, isn't that trainer The Deep?!'
'Oh my god! It really is The Deep!!!'
On the performance stage below the audience seats, surrounded by aquatic animals, a trainer dressed in a simple suit walked to the front of the stage.
And when they saw his appearance, not only did the viewers in the live stream erupt, but even the audience present, after a brief moment of silence, burst into a tsunami of cheers.
"The Deep!!!"
"Oh my god, I'm not dreaming, am I?! I can actually see The Deep here?"
"Is it a COS? No, it's him in person! Oh my god… today's ticket price was definitely worth it…"
They bought a regular entrance ticket and a ride ticket, but ended up being able to see a member of The Seven, The Deep, who is currently at the peak of his popularity, personally perform for everyone.
The ticket was absolutely worth it!
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