**Chapter 510: Thirty Miles**

Los Angeles, one of the largest cities in North America, spans an area of 500 square miles (about 1,300 square kilometers). However, the truly bustling and active city center—

Especially Hollywood.

—is just a tiny portion.

Thirty miles, approximately forty-eight kilometers, is the area where paparazzi are most active. Within this range, they can cover all the entertainment hotspots, constantly feeding the world's insatiable appetite for gossip.

In the summer of 2002, a website called TMZ quietly launched. Initially, no one knew what the name stood for, but it was later realized that it referred to the "thirty-mile zone," marking the first official gossip site in the world.

In an era when print media was still thriving and traditional media remained dominant, TMZ was undoubtedly at the forefront of change.

Especially for the younger generation, who embraced TMZ's arrival with open arms, without any reservations.

Coincidentally, TMZ's first news story featured the most popular figure among teenagers at the time—

Anson.

Clearly, the first encounter between paparazzi and the online world proved to be a match made in heaven. The vast ocean of online information became the perfect breeding ground for gossip to spread widely, and within a few days, TMZ had already made a name for itself.

"Anson, who has disappeared from the public eye, has actually been hiding in…"

At the time, clickbait headlines hadn't yet emerged, and people were not yet trapped in an era of fragmented information. The habit of clicking on a headline and reading the full article was still prevalent, so there was no need to use sensational titles to grab attention. However, Harry vaguely sensed the secret to attracting traffic, leaving a small hook even in the less dramatic headlines.

At this moment, the summer movie season was in full swing. "Spider-Man" continued to break records, and Anson was undoubtedly the hottest topic in North America. According to past trends, his private life should have been plastered all over the gossip magazines, but strangely, the tabloids were unusually quiet this time, sparking curiosity among the public.

Then, TMZ provided the answer—

Just in time!

At first, internet users didn't pay much attention. They might have just glanced at the news and realized that Anson had been in Los Angeles all along and was spotted near Sound City. His somewhat rugged and dashing appearance sparked endless discussion:

"Oh my gosh, Anson looks so cool!"

"Hormones are off the charts!"

"Fashion really is all about the face—he looks good no matter what."

"Stubbled Anson! I'm here for it!"

"The good-boy Anson has a bad-boy vibe too. He's got range."

Admiration, praise, and fangirling.

That's all there was to it; very few people paid attention to where the news came from.

But gradually, internet users started to notice something odd.

Harry was both smart and cunning, splitting one news story into several parts.

First, he revealed that Anson had been seen near Sound City. Then, he reported that Anson might have visited Sound City to check on a project. Later, he suggested that Anson might be recording at Sound City.

Next, Harry shared that Anson was temporarily living near Sound City, followed by sightings of Lily, Connor, and Miles, and speculation that the band seen on "The Tonight Show" might be working on a new album.

Soon after, there were reports of a possible record company deal, rumors of different labels reaching out to Anson, and finally, news that the band had signed with Warner Records.

One story after another.

What started as a simple news item was transformed into a serialized drama under Harry's manipulation, complete with suspenseful elements—

Irresistible!

At this point, internet users started to notice that TMZ was something special. While others were still fumbling in the dark trying to find Anson, TMZ was consistently ahead of the game with exclusive scoops.

And that's not all!

In addition to Anson's news, TMZ was also regularly updating the public on the daily lives of "Bennifer," the year's most annoying and/or hottest couple. Their mundane activities were a magnet for traffic, like a serialized novel with constant updates.

In just under a month, TMZ had gained a modest reputation.

The first to take notice of TMZ were other paparazzi, whose sharp instincts picked up on the site's activity. However, their reactions varied.

Some dismissed it, still believing that traditional media were more reliable buyers. Others scoffed, thinking the site was just a gimmick. Some were calculating, using TMZ as an information index to track their own exclusive stories.

But there were a few who, like Harry and Colin, refused to be bound by traditional media like "Entertainment Weekly" and believed the online world had much greater potential.

So, they cautiously began experimenting—

Some news was updated on TMZ for free; some was traded with TMZ in exchange for other news; some was still sold to traditional print media.

Gradually, TMZ became more active and attracted brand sponsors.

When brands started advertising on the site, TMZ officially hit its stride.

It wasn't until then that traditional media began to take the site seriously.

In reality, traditional media were just as well-informed and only slightly slower to notice TMZ than other paparazzi. But like all conservative forces throughout history, they initially ignored, dismissed, and scorned the new.

To them, a small-time site like TMZ didn't seem like a serious threat.

However, the internet revealed its speed and power.

TMZ grew faster than anyone expected, finally forcing some traditional print media to acknowledge its existence.

When Harry received a call from "Entertainment Weekly," he was keeping a close eye on Connor smoking outside Sound City. Miles and Lily were nearby, but there was no sign of Anson, which made Harry a bit wary.

Naturally, he wasn't paying much attention to the call.

On the other end of the line, someone asked how Harry had obtained the details of the band's contract with Warner Records and how reliable the information was.

Harry didn't really care, "Are you looking to reprint it or buy it exclusively?"

"Huh?" The person on the other end hadn't expected such a response.

Harry repeated himself, then explained, "It's still available for exclusive purchase, for $100,000; but 'Us Weekly' is also considering making an offer. I'm not sure if waiting will change things."

"If someone buys the exclusive rights, then you won't have to ask us for permission to reprint it."

"However, even if you buy it exclusively, TMZ reserves the right to update the story twenty-four hours later."

The positions of buyer and seller were quietly shifting.

On the other end, "Entertainment Weekly" was caught off guard. This new world was so unfamiliar that they didn't even know how to react.

But Harry didn't have time to continue the conversation. He felt that Anson's disappearance… was strange, and his instincts were setting off alarms.