#655 Six Hundred and Twenty-Seven Hand-to-Hand Combat

"So, you mean, I'm a good talk show actor?"

A simple retort to defend himself, but it suddenly put Jie in a dilemma. Renly's quick response caught him off guard. While the title of "The King of Talk Shows" might be a bit exaggerated—likely disputed by many hosts—it was nonetheless fitting.

"Of course, you're an excellent talk show actor," Jie acknowledged. "Last time, when you and Alan clashed, I was willing to concede."

Renly had taken a step back but turned the situation to his advantage, dissolving Jie's attempt at offense while earning loud whistles from the audience. This wasn't a debate competition; it was a talk show. The core purpose was to create sparks through debate. Clearly, Jie had done just that.

"However," Jie continued, "I always thought you were a better actor. Actually, I haven't seen your latest work, but my wife, Mavis, is a bit interested. I turned down her suggestion."

Renly didn't respond verbally but simply smirked, his lips curling into a slight grin, his chin subtly nodding in agreement.

Jie was about to carry on, but seeing Renly's approving expression, his words faltered. He raised an eyebrow and asked playfully, "Are you giving me approval now?"

"Yes, why not?" Renly answered with nonchalance, leaving the audience a bit confused. Was he here to promote the movie? Or was he subtly undermining it? "I mean, it's a romance film, but not everyone likes romance movies. Not everyone loves Titanic. Every couple has to decide what genre they want to watch when they go on a date. It's a dilemma."

There was honesty in his words, laced with just a touch of sarcasm.

Jie chuckled and asked, "Then, what movie would you choose when you're on a date?"

"It's not a movie I starred in," Renly shot back without hesitation, leaving the crowd stunned for a moment before they erupted in laughter. His answer was unbeatable.

Jie lifted his chin, grinning as he looked at Renly. "So, you're not the type to name your masculinity?"

This was a typical American joke, used to describe arrogant, narcissistic men who give names to their male parts. Celebrities like John Mayer, who famously named his manhood "David Duke," were often the subject of such humor.

Though Renly came from a noble family, he was no stranger to such jokes. But instead of responding directly, he tossed the question back at Jie. "Listen to you—are you that type?" he asked, his gaze playful. The audience broke into laughter at Jie's expense.

Jay, seated behind the desk like a news anchor, shifted uncomfortably under Renly's stare. But he didn't give up easily, chuckling, "It seems you're well-versed in this." The subtext implied that Renly and John Mayer might share a similar reputation, but Jay quickly added, "I won't ask, though, I understand." He raised his hands in mock surrender, signaling he was uninterested.

The laughter in the room grew louder.

Renly remained unruffled, his expression serious. "What were we talking about again?" His question, tinged with humor, subtly pointed out that Jie had steered the conversation into this tangent. It wasn't so easy to clear things up.

Jie quickly regained his composure, adopting a more serious expression as he replied, "Mavis wants to watch your latest movie, but I turned her down. Not because of the subject matter, but because I saw the trailer."

Renly's eyebrows raised in surprise, clearly intrigued. He didn't ask, but his expression conveyed the question: "What was wrong with the trailer?"

Jie, understanding the unspoken question, explained, "Yes, I watched the trailer. In fact, I still watch trailers sometimes. Though today is our first meeting, we seem to have a good understanding." The conversation, despite its humor, felt easy-going and natural.

"After seeing this trailer, I decided I didn't want to watch the movie," Jie continued. "Not because it was bad—quite the opposite. It was so good that it was too painful. It's a heartbreaking feeling." He paused thoughtfully. "I don't want to see myself crying in a movie theater. It feels... unmanly."

The comedic emphasis on "unmanly" sparked laughter, as the audience felt the contrast between the serious tone and the joke.

"Renly, is this a sad movie?" Jie turned the focus back to him.

"What kind of person watches a movie reflects the kind of story they see," Renly replied mockingly. "For me, it's a comedy." His response provoked laughter from the audience.

Jie raised an eyebrow. "I was expecting you to tell me it's an action movie full of male hormones." He glanced at Renly's lower body, an obvious callback to their earlier joke about "manhood."

Renly clearly understood the reference but deflected with a cheeky twist, "Did you just try to flirt with me?" His playful remark left the audience roaring with laughter. Jie was momentarily stunned before smiling and shaking his head.

Despite the joking back and forth, Renly maintained an edge, gaining the upper hand in this playful exchange.

"I'm serious," Jie said, bringing the conversation back to the movie. "That trailer was a heartbreak warning. Especially the soundtrack—it made you want to cry without letting you. Mavis wanted to go to the theater because of it, but I refused."

Renly smirked, playing for time by touching his chin thoughtfully. The audience was briefly puzzled, unsure why this question seemed so difficult.

After a moment of silence, Renly finally spoke. "Actually, that wasn't our official trailer." He smiled, revealing his amusement. "If I'm not mistaken, that was a fan-made edit."

Boom!

The revelation stunned everyone, including Jie.

Renly confirmed with a grin, "Before the movie's official release, we made seven trailers—one before Sundance, another after we won awards, and several others after Toronto and Valentine's Day. But that trailer? It wasn't one of ours. Fans must have pieced it together from the different ones."

The audience buzzed with surprise, and even Jie was left momentarily