**Chapter 195: Cutting Through Thorns**

Lucifer had arrived, stepping over blood and corpses, fighting his way up from hell. Though positioned at a low point, with his chin held high, he looked up at the gods standing above, cutting through thorns and obstacles as he ascended.

Unstoppable.

The noise and clamor at the entrance of the grand hall continued to surge wildly, but the observant could notice that the sounds were gradually subsiding. Silently, all attention was being drawn in one direction.

Step. Step. Step.

Anson's pace wasn't hurried; he walked forward at an unhurried, steady pace. He didn't wave to the fans lining the red carpet, nor did he pause for the media on the left. But his deliberate steps naturally exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

His aura slowly accumulated, gradually releasing an unstoppable energy.

Bit by bit, more and more eyes were drawn to him, unable to resist marveling at the sight.

And then, excitement—

Without a doubt, Brad Pitt was currently the hottest man in America. Although he hadn't exploded at the box office like Tom Cruise or Leonardo DiCaprio, the consecutive successes of "Fight Club" and "Se7en" had brought him into the public eye, and his sexy, handsome image had become iconic.

Moreover, his image as a loving husband who openly doted on Jennifer had propelled him to new heights. Otherwise, *People* magazine wouldn't have broken their rule to bestow the same honor on Brad Pitt for a second time—this was irrefutable proof.

In internet slang, "fans of his looks and personality are all shipping the couple," leading to a massive surge in popularity.

Now, a new face had appeared.

If it were just any random face, no matter how handsome or good-looking, it wouldn't matter—after all, beauty is subjective. But the key was that this unfamiliar face made an entrance with a subversive, groundbreaking fashion image. The combination of good looks and a distinctive aura created a powerful impact. Even those who might not find the style appealing couldn't help but notice the shift in the atmosphere.

To put it extremely, it was like the "Sharp Brother" suddenly walking the red carpet—whether or not you liked his looks, you couldn't help but glance over.

So.

All eyes were on him.

And with it, a rush of excitement, anticipating a face-off between "Lucifer" and Brad. This was shaping up to be an annual celebration for those who adored good looks, reminiscent of the legendary Brad Pitt vs. Tom Cruise showdown in "Interview with the Vampire." But this time, the man before them seemed far more dangerous than Tom Cruise.

Closer.

Even closer.

As the footsteps drew nearer, the journalists gradually noticed what was happening. Although they missed the initial moments and didn't capture the first shots like Nicholas did, their professional instincts quickly kicked in.

Click.

They pressed the shutter.

Click, click, click...

In an instant, the flashbulbs exploded like a silver waterfall, cascading down. Even if they didn't understand what was happening, they started taking pictures first, so the entire scene was once again engulfed in a roar of camera clicks.

Brad and Jennifer were oblivious.

They hadn't noticed the commotion, completely immersed in their newlywed bliss. Especially Jennifer, whose eyes and mind were entirely focused on Brad. Nestled in her husband's arms, she looked up, gazing adoringly at him.

Brad wasn't far behind either. Though he was answering interview questions, his hands held his wife tightly, as if they were inseparable.

The sound of shutters?

They had become so accustomed to the constant noise of camera shutters that they didn't think much of it. Who knew what image the reporters had seen that they deemed worth capturing? For Brad and Jennifer, this was just a normal occurrence—what might seem like ordinary actions to them could be a newsworthy moment for the press. There was no need to be surprised.

However, the red carpet host, Kate Baker, had noticed something.

She hesitated.

As a seasoned red carpet host, Kate had been through countless events and wouldn't easily lose her composure. Her hesitation now was because, although Brad and Jennifer remained the focus, the interview with them had already lasted five minutes. Should she switch the focus?

And because of Anson?

Kate knew who Anson was, and after a moment of surprise and admiration, she recognized this young man.

Originally, Anson was scheduled to be part of the first half of the interviews, and Kate was willing to do Eve a small favor by letting Anson have a moment in the spotlight on ABC's national broadcast.

But now the situation is different. The unexpected appearance of Brad and Jennifer has completely disrupted the plan. It would be difficult for Kate to take a risk for Anson now—

ABC Television certainly doesn't want to lose the focus on Brad and Jennifer.

A moment of hesitation, a bit of a tug-of-war.

At this moment, Kate saw Anson approaching without any hesitation.

He's coming?

Is he really coming?

Kate immediately realized that this was a rare opportunity. She could kill two birds with one stone: satisfy the network's demands while also completing Eve's task.

Seizing the right moment, Kate tactfully paused her questioning, leaving an opening. Before Brad and Jennifer could react, Anson slipped in perfectly, seamlessly entering the camera shot—

A perfect collaboration.

Kate nodded slightly in approval. There was no prior communication, but Anson was quick to catch on.

"Jennifer! Brad!"

Anson greeted them proactively. Slightly different from his usual image, Anson didn't flash his typical broad smile but instead offered a perfectly measured smile and a nod—a polite yet reserved gesture, maintaining a gentlemanly distance.

Brad's back muscles tensed.

Jennifer, who had her arms around Brad, noticed it immediately. Although she was also somewhat surprised, she remained calm and subtly soothed Brad, flashing a bright smile as she turned to give Anson a warm hug.

Setting other issues aside, Anson had been a guest star on "Friends," and tonight he was representing "Friends" at the event. Jennifer absolutely couldn't let things fall apart.

Not only that, she needed to appear friendly.

Jennifer was experienced in handling such situations, and in a split second, she composed herself and turned around naturally.

She froze.

Jennifer was also very, very surprised—

Is that... Anson?

She could hardly recognize him.

So shocked and surprised, Jennifer momentarily paused, disrupting the words and actions she had prepared. Anson seized this brief opening.

With a courteous and gentlemanly embrace, Anson hugged Jennifer lightly, then quickly released her and stepped back, nodding at Brad.

"Hey, Brad, congratulations on the wedding."

Whether Brad liked it or not, he had to put on a friendly demeanor—

Otherwise, the tabloids would start digging. Why wasn't their relationship good?

That would open Pandora's box, and Brad didn't want anyone opening it.

Anson could sense Brad's wariness and Jennifer's astonishment. The atmosphere was slightly tense, but Anson remained calm, his smile growing wider.

"It's clear you've gotten an even tan. Looks like someone just enjoyed a relaxing vacation."

He didn't specifically mention the honeymoon, but his words clearly hinted at it, a light-hearted tease that subtly indicated their close personal relationship.

In an instant, Anson took the upper hand, setting the tone for the conversation—

Without missing a beat.

Kate also noticed this and smiled, "Haha, it seems you two have a pretty good relationship in private."

Brad: Not amused.

End of Chapter 1.