The sun climbed above the horizon, casting out a myriad of brilliant rays. Bright light streamed through the car window, falling on the sleeping face of Clark Phillips. He immediately woke with a start, instinctively grabbing the camera hanging around his neck and pointing it at the iron gate on the ivy-covered wall. Only then did he realize the gate was still tightly shut, as if no one had come out.
He checked his watch, wiped his face, and, feeling a bit more awake, got out of the car and stretched. He looked around and saw that most of his dozen or so colleagues were also awake, their faces etched with disappointment. They had waited all night but hadn't gotten any valuable news.
"Matthew Horner is too quiet, isn't he?"
Someone walked over, took a few photos of the tightly shut iron gate with their camera, and complained, "At a time like this, shouldn't he be celebrating wildly? Finding a dozen pretty, sexy girls and throwing a wild party? Then we'd have something to photograph!"
Clark Phillips turned and glanced at him, saying, "Don't forget, he has a girlfriend, Keira Knightley."
The man then said, "I haven't seen Matthew Horner spend the night with her either. Could it be that he still hasn't sealed the deal?"
"I think…" Clark Phillips nodded and said, "That's a possibility."
"It's an embarrassment to us American men!" The man looked quite indignant. "Are British girls that prissy?"
Just as he said this, the tightly shut iron gate suddenly opened. Including the two of them, all the paparazzi raised their cameras and immediately started taking pictures.
Pulling open the iron gate, dressed in sports gear and carrying two trash bags, Matthew stepped out of his house. He glanced at the paparazzi who had been waiting all night, then walked directly across the road, turned left, and walked a short distance. He threw the trash into the respective bins and then, wearing headphones, started jogging forward.
Paparazzi differ from reporters; they primarily follow and photograph, and they didn't harass Matthew. Most paparazzi and Hollywood celebrities also share an unspoken understanding; they are a peculiar pair who essentially need each other.
Seeing Matthew start his morning run, some of the paparazzi followed him. Clark Phillips didn't go; he had followed him the previous two days and Matthew Horner was simply going for a morning run, which wouldn't yield any valuable news.
He opened the car's trunk, took out a specially made long metal pole, then put on rubber gloves. He went to the trash can where Matthew had just discarded his trash, used the long metal pole to open the trash bag, and began sifting through the numerous items.
A colleague walked over, carrying similar equipment, and searched the trash bag in the nearby hazardous waste bin.
Clark Phillips searched for a long time but couldn't find anything valuable like condoms or condom wrappers. He then gave up and looked at his colleague, who shook his head, apparently having found no useful clues either.
However, they still had no intention of chasing after him. Matthew Horner, that guy, had an abnormally good physique. If they relied solely on their two legs, they would quickly be left behind.
Matthew ran a loop along the secluded forest path. Looking back, the paparazzi following him were all far behind. He pulled out his phone, turned off Shania Donn's energetic song, and dialed Keira Knightley's number.
Then, he adjusted the position of his headphones slightly, bringing the microphone closer to his mouth.
Keira Knightley quickly answered, asking, "What are you doing? All I hear is wind."
Matthew slowed his pace slightly and said, "Morning run." He asked, "Are you ready? is your luggage packed? Should I pick you up after breakfast?"
Keira Knightley on the other end of the phone seemed a little hesitant. After a moment of silence, she said, "Let's make it after lunch. I haven't packed my luggage yet."
"That works too." Matthew had no objection. "I'll pick you up after noon."
He specifically instructed, "Dress nicely. There will probably be a lot of paparazzi and reporters. Don't let me overshadow you."
Keira Knightley didn't respond to his comment, asking,
"is my room ready?"
Matthew turned onto another road and started running back, saying, "Don't worry, Keira! Didn't I show you pictures of the room?"
"I'll be staying at your place for a long time…" Keira Knightley clearly didn't trust Matthew. "What about the security door I mentioned?"
Matthew said confidently, "This isn't my house; the landlord didn't agree to install it."
After a few more words with Keira Knightley, he hung up the phone and quickly ran back home.
Clark Phillips had just finished a box of takeout and was leaning against his car, bored, smoking, occasionally looking up at the ivy-covered wall not far away. The high wall blocked his view, dividing inside and outside into two worlds; he couldn't see anything inside from the outside.
Moreover, this house was a single-story design. Although it had an attic, there were no balconies or terraces, which reduced opportunities for candid photos.
Many Hollywood celebrities, after drinking too much or getting high on drugs, like to show off on their balconies… It seemed Matthew Horner had specifically chosen such a unique house to protect his privacy at home.
He had been following Matthew Horner since the release of "Pirates of the Caribbean" and found that the women Matthew Horner interacted with most were Helen Herman and Keira Knightley.
The former was his agent; Hollywood stars and agents wouldn't be foolish enough to get involved. The latter was his girlfriend, and it seemed they hadn't gotten involved yet.
The sun climbed higher and higher. Probably because they couldn't capture any valuable pictures, Clark Phillips noticed a few colleagues leaving one after another. However, more people arrived. Matthew Horner was a popular star right now, and "Pirates of the Caribbean" was still a hit. His every move could become news.
"Hannah…" Clark Phillips saw a female paparazzo he knew and asked, "Weren't you following Schwarzenegger? Why are you here?"
The female paparazzo named Hannah came to the car and said, "'Terminator 3' didn't do well at the box office and lacked enough attention. Arnold Schwarzenegger is outdated."
She continued, "You waited here all night?" Seeing Clark Phillips nod, she said, "You might not have seen it, but on this week's IMDB Most Popular Stars list, Matthew Horner climbed to second place, second only to Johnny Depp!"
"Second place?" Clark Phillips was a little surprised.
IMDB is a website where many movie fans gather, and its influence is growing. Even if a star has a new film released, making it into the top five of the Most Popular list is a remarkable achievement. Matthew Horner jumping to the second spot thanks to "Pirates of the Caribbean" proves how much attention and love he is currently receiving from movie fans.
The decision to continue waiting here was also correct.
Otherwise, it would be to follow Johnny Depp, but the problem is that Johnny Depp has been famous for many years and lacks enough freshness for the media and readers.
A suddenly popular newcomer like Matthew Horner is more newsworthy.
Hannah seemed to have a good relationship with Clark Phillips and then said, "A newspaper has offered a five-figure reward for newsworthy photos of Matthew Horner that have blockbuster potential."
Clark Phillips shook his head, "I've been following him for days and haven't found any valuable news."
Hannah seemed to understand and said, "Let's wait a bit longer. I have a source that Matthew Horner is a very energetic athlete. Such a person can't endure loneliness for long, so I expect a hot topic to emerge soon."
"Let's hope so."
Clark Phillips chatted with Hannah while patiently waiting. Patience is an essential quality for paparazzi. Following a celebrity might yield no results for a week, but no one can say when a super-valuable piece of news will appear.
The sun gradually moved overhead. Due to it being close to noon and the long, boring wait, most of the paparazzi had gone to find a place to eat. Clark Phillips and Hannah, however, continued to wait there. Just as the two were discussing where to have lunch, the tightly shut gate opposite suddenly opened. Matthew Horner came out and directly got into his BMW parked in the roadside parking spot, driving towards Interstate 5.
Clark Phillips didn't even think; he immediately got into his car. Hannah pulled open the passenger door and also got in.
"If we get anything valuable…" Clark Phillips said while driving, "the reward is split fifty-fifty."
Hannah immediately agreed, "No problem!"
Clark Phillips drove very fast, quickly catching up with the black BMW SUV. He followed it through Burbank, then left Interstate 5, heading west through West Hollywood, gradually approaching Beverly Hills.
"I remember Keira Knightley staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, right?" Hannah asked, uncertain.
"That's right!" Clark Phillips had a hint of excitement in his voice. "Matthew Horner is definitely going to see Keira Knightley."
He squinted, "They haven't seen each other for a long time, have they…?"
Hannah said, "I know a waiter at the Four Seasons Hotel, so I should be able to get in. Let's try to get in and get some firsthand photos!"
"Good!" Clark Phillips fully agreed.
For a five-figure reward, it was entirely worth the risk. Moreover, a hotel is not private property, and the risk was much lower compared to trespassing into a private residence.
Sure enough, the black BMW SUV ahead soon arrived near the Four Seasons Hotel, drove directly into the hotel's private lane, and stopped in front of the hotel.
"He's not going into the hotel, is he?" Clark Phillips was a little disappointed.
The hotel door was then opened by the doorman, and a tall, thin girl with a suitcase and a bag walked out. Hannah recognized her at once, "That's Keira Knightley!"
The two parked their car, took out their cameras, and snapped pictures repeatedly. Matthew Horner got out of the car, took Keira Knightley's luggage, and put it in the car. After Keira Knightley got into the passenger seat, Matthew Horner started the car and drove off, heading back the way they came.
"Where are they going?" Hannah asked while photographing the car. "Are they going to the airport?"
Clark Phillips started his car and followed, saying, "No! This isn't the way to the international airport!"
The black BMW was returning exactly the way it came. Once they were out of Beverly Hills, Clark Phillips and Hannah exchanged glances, reaching the same conclusion—they were heading back to the residential area north of Burbank!