Chapter 1239, "Special Treatment"

Special Treatment

"Welcome to Oscar night."

The car slowly came to a stop, and although the Sunset Tower Hotel seemed to be hundreds of yards away, the parking lot outside had already turned into a sea of luxury vehicles. It was like a game of "train guessing," sitting in the car and "guessing luxury cars," which could be a fun pastime in itself.

Before getting out, and without even needing to, "Vanity Fair" had already crafted that intoxicating atmosphere of wealth and dreams, creating a world where life and death seem to be intertwined. It made one feel as if they were standing outside a besieged city, imagining what might be inside—the perfect glimpse that satisfied the fantasies of all the onlookers.

Tonight, Renly's car was a humble Bentley, its sleek azure blue body gleaming in the night. Yet, it was completely lost among the countless luxury vehicles, making it almost invisible.

A staff member at the front of the car waved his hand, signaling another staff member to approach. With a bright smile, the new staff member greeted the driver, "Please leave the car with our staff; we will park it for you. Your driver also has a designated rest area."

Following the instructions, the group exited the car.

Nathan's eyes displayed curiosity as he took in the surrounding scene. His unease was palpable as he struggled to find the right words. Andy, standing next to him, lightly patted his shoulder. "This is the first step in the class differential treatment. While everyone says class doesn't exist, tonight's party will make you feel, in every detail, that privilege—thanks to class—really is real."

The parking permits had different colors, each signifying different levels of service, a clear demonstration of the class distinctions present within "Vanity Fair." Renly's parking permit, it seemed, was of the highest tier.

Soon after, a golf cart arrived, and the group was ushered toward the entrance of the Sunset Tower Hotel via a special traffic-controlled entrance.

Along the way, it was clear that some people drove straight into the parking lot, while others parked and walked long distances to reach the entrance. A few even stopped at the photo area, still quite a distance from the venue, highlighting that arriving by taxi to a party like this wasn't uncommon.

From a distance, two rows of security guards in black suits could be seen standing at the entrance of the Sunset Tower Hotel, extending along the west and east sides, creating a vast red carpet area. Fans had gathered in the controlled areas, cheering and shouting with uncontainable excitement.

The golf cart rolled smoothly onto the red carpet, delivering Renly and his party with minimal effort.

As Renly buttoned his suit, he noticed the cheers and screams nearby. He smiled, waved to the crowd, and immediately sparked a wave of excitement. The Oscar red carpet had always been a place of restraint, but here, it felt like the madness had taken over.

Renly didn't step forward. Although the presence of the enthusiastic fans had faded somewhat, he soon realized that any rash movement could easily trigger stampedes or push accidents. For safety, caution was key.

He turned to Roy, asking, "Can I go over and say hello to them?"

Roy shook his head, offering a prudent piece of advice. "It's best not to. This isn't an official organization, and things can get chaotic. Just standing here and greeting them is enough." Oscar night's real stars were the guests attending the party, not the reporters or the fans. The focus, Roy explained, was different.

Renly nodded in agreement and, understanding Roy's point, gave one last nod in the fans' direction. As he did, he noticed a fan holding up a camera, trying to take a picture. Renly paused and gestured for the fan to turn off the flash before giving a thumbs-up and asking loudly, "Is this alright?"

The simple gesture sent the crowd into a frenzy. The fan, overwhelmed, could only nod and give a thumbs-up in return, covering their mouth in excitement as the surrounding screams grew louder.

Renly chuckled softly, nodding a third time before finally making his way toward the entrance.

The photo and interview areas at the entrance were already packed, with more than 40 reporters crowded into a small space. Although the number seemed small, the limited parking at the Sunset Tower Hotel had created congestion. The top-tier reporters had all been invited inside, while those on the outside mostly reported on official news. The backstage workings of Vanity Fair, however, were often left untouched.

In the tight space, even though the reporters were standing close, the stifling atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

Renly paused for a moment, while Andy, Roy, and Nathan continued onward to the door.

Tonight, the reporters' questions were all predictable—thoughts on Daniel Day-Lewis's career, Jennifer Lawrence's win, supporting women at awards shows, what it was like attending Oscar night for the first time, and more. The repetitive nature of the questions reflected the lack of fresh topics, mainly because Renly had been absent from the public eye, staying focused on his work. Additionally, there were fewer highlights to discuss.

Despite the fact that Renly's debut appearance at the Oscars night party was significant, for journalists, the real focus remained on the attendees themselves.

Renly handled the reporters with grace, smiling and saying, "I still have a party to attend, so, in order to avoid being late, I must take my leave."

With that, he made a light-hearted joke and left the photo and interview areas. For Renly, tonight wasn't about being the focus of the Oscars; in fact, his role felt somewhat easier.

Climbing the steps, Renly saw that Andy and the others were still waiting by the door, unable to enter. The staff had stopped them, and Renly shot a curious glance their way. A staff member, standing near them in a suit and leather shoes, greeted him with a stiff smile. "Good evening, Mr. Hall."

"Good evening," Renly replied courteously.

"I know they have invitations from you, Mr. Hall, but for security reasons, we must still confirm the identity of all guests. Please bear with us," the staff member said, his voice tinged with nervousness and awkwardness.

Renly nodded understandingly, "No problem."

In the movie How to Betray Your Family, an actor enters the Oscar night party by holding a pig, pretending to be a high-ranking VIP and avoiding showing an invitation letter. It's a humorous take on the lengths people go to in order to enter the exclusive event.

Since then, Vanity Fair had implemented stricter security checks. While this could be seen as a privilege—no entry without an invitation—some considered it an insult to Hollywood's stars.

In Hollywood, a face is a person's most important passport, and it's unimaginable for anyone in the industry not to recognize icons like Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts. Being stopped at the door without an invitation would be humiliating, and such a situation could easily spark trouble.

Therefore, every year, security at the Oscar night entrance must be extremely careful to avoid any mishaps.

Even though Renly was widely recognized, the staff still had to ask for his invitation. To their surprise, Renly didn't show any anxiety or pride. He fully cooperated, provided the names of his entourage, and confirmed the list on the computer, swiftly passing through the security check.

As Renly and his group entered the Sunset Tower Hotel, the staff exchanged looks, surprised by his composure. One staff member sighed, "No wonder he's considered noble."

Just before Renly arrived, Vin Diesel had entered the venue, complaining about security protocols. He seemed frustrated that the staff couldn't immediately identify him, continuing to grumble as he walked away.