Chapter 319: Link's Girlfriends and Everyone Else

[Chapter 319: Link's Girlfriends and Everyone Else]

"Link, what took you so long?"

Link had arranged to meet Quentin and the others at the Covell Bar in the afternoon. However, he got tied up at the party, making him half an hour late. Upon seeing him, Quentin was visibly displeased, teasing that now that he had money, he had developed quite the attitude, even arriving late to gatherings.

Link offered his apologies and promised he would arrive on time next time.

"It's okay, Link. Even if you had gotten here early, you'd have just been listening to Quentin's ramblings. I should have just come half an hour late with you," Madonna said, playfully linking her arm through his.

Quentin glared at Madonna, feeling frustrated. He had been telling jokes to lighten the mood, hoping to leave her with an impression of his humor. He was shocked that after all his effort, he was only labeled as a blabbermouth.

Link noticed Quentin's sour expression and joked, "Quentin talks just like his movie lines -- full of irrelevant stuff. But sometimes, those words carry profound philosophical insights and critiques of reality. If you listen closely, you might actually learn something."

"Now you're being smart!" Quentin smirked, giving Link an approving look.

Madonna burst out laughing, leaning against Link's shoulder. "Link, you're too funny! The purpose of our gathering is to chat and have fun, not to ponder profound thoughts. If we wanted that, we could just read philosophy books or watch an art film. Listening to him requires brainpower -- that's too exhausting and unnecessary. But I know you said that to comfort Quentin, not wanting him to feel out of place. You really are a thoughtful guy; it's great how you always consider everyone's feelings. That's a rare quality in men."

Quentin's expression slowly darkened; his long face seemed even longer now. He shot a frustrated look at Link, realizing that while he had been playing the joker without being recognized for it, Link's single line got him tagged as "thoughtful." It felt infuriating.

"Come on, Quentin, it's just a casual gathering. Joking around is normal! Why are you so serious? You're ruining the vibe," Robert Rodriguez chimed in.

Quentin turned to Robert, burning with anger. He had been cracking jokes to keep things lively, and now, with Link's arrival, he was suddenly the mood killer? Was that even fair?

"Fine! I'll just leave then!" Quentin huffed, standing up in frustration.

"You're being too petty! Getting mad just because of a few jokes? If you keep this up, who's going to want to joke around with you in the future?" Madonna quipped, smirking.

Quentin's face twitched in irritation. He took a few deep breaths, plopping back down on the sofa, his crestfallen demeanor making everyone laugh.

Link shook his head and glanced over at Quentin. "How's your movie coming along?"

"Already finished shooting! It won't be long before it's out. I'm miles ahead of you this time," Quentin replied with a sniff.

"Why don't you two compare box office numbers?" Madonna suggested, grinning.

Quentin's eyes rolled at the thought, his mood plummeting further.

Link chuckled, "Batman Forever is a commercial film, with a big budget and an established franchise. Comparing it to a more artistic flick isn't fair to Quentin."

"Link, you're so considerate! It's clear why so many girls adore you. Not only are you successful in your career, but you also take such good care of everyone around you. Who wouldn't want a thoughtful boyfriend like you?" Madonna snuggled closer to Link, her admiration evident.

Quentin squinted, confusion etched on his face as he glanced at Robert, Steven, and Richard. "I don't get why it's common knowledge that comparing box office grosses between commercial movies and art films isn't fair. How is that considerate to say? Is that even praiseworthy?"

"I don't care!" Madonna shot back, rolling her eyes.

Quentin let out a scoff and crossed his legs. "I really don't understand you women. There are so many good men out there, yet you all seem to go for Link, the bad boy. Why? Are you just into self-destruction? Or is there something more intriguing about being with a bad guy?"

Madonna continued with a smile, "Quentin, you're 32. If you've only had one girlfriend throughout your life, people would see you as either devoted or lacking charm. With two to four, they might think you have bad luck in love. If you hit five to eight, people would assume you're fickle or hard to deal with. But once you've been through over ten girlfriends, you're suddenly seen as charming and attractive."

"I've been dating since middle school, and my girlfriend count has already passed double digits," Quentin said, swinging his leg self-importantly.

Madonna laughed, "When a guy has rumors swirling about him with dozens of women or juggles several girlfriends at once, he's like a mystery to those women -- a beautifully wrapped storybook, a sparkling gem, a legendary feast. Who wouldn't love a guy like that? That's who Link is."

Quentin rolled his eyes and shouted at Link, "Did you hear that? She wants you!"

Link shook his head, feeling exasperated.

Sometimes, during these gatherings with Quentin and the others, he hoped to discuss work and share experiences related to directing, mutually benefiting from the exchange. But every time he tried to bring the conversation back to something serious, they always diverted it into unrelated topics.

...

"Hey, Link! You're drinking here too?"

Just then, Bruce Willis and his wife, Demi Moore, along with Sharon Stone, came over to greet him.

Link stood up to respond and, at Bruce's request, stepped aside for a quick chat.

Demi and Sharon expressed their apologies directly to him, noting the media frenzy stirred up earlier in January by the seven major media groups and CAA regarding some negative press about him.

Both women admitted that the comments they had made against him were arranged by CAA and apologized sincerely, stating they would retract their statements in future media appearances, hoping for his forgiveness.

Link shrugged it off, realizing the incident had occurred long ago and hadn't impacted him significantly. Besides, he and Bruce were on good terms, so Bruce would ensure Demi and Sharon wouldn't be too uncomfortable. As long as they didn't pull any stunts like that again, he wouldn't hold a grudge.

"Link, thank you! You're such a gentleman and extremely gracious. If I had the chance, I would definitely fall for you," Sharon said, her gaze full of admiration.

Link smiled and thanked her for the compliment, then chatted with Bruce about movies. Last year, they couldn't collaborate on The Sixth Sense, but there would surely be more opportunities in the future.

...

After saying goodbye to Bruce and the others, Link returned to his booth and continued listening to the others chat.

"Link, is Sharon Stone one of your girls?" Quentin poked at him, stroking his chin.

"Clearly not! If she were, she wouldn't have come with Bruce, and she wouldn't be looking at Link that way. You really don't understand women," Madonna interjected for Link.

"It's not my fault for misunderstanding. It's just that Link's had so many girls in the industry that it caught my attention. Over twenty of them have been exposed by the media, and I'm sure there are plenty more behind the scenes -- just the tip of the iceberg, you know?

Did you all know that because Link has too many girlfriends, many movie companies now ask a specific question during auditions: 'Are you Link's girlfriend?' If they're affiliated with him, saying yes could actually help them get the role. But if they're from a rival studio, it's a different story altogether."

Quentin added with a grin, "They even say Hollywood actresses fall into two categories: those who are Link's girlfriends and everyone else. Apparently, the numbers in both categories are quite close."

Quentin laughed broadly, shamelessly poking fun at Link.

"I'm in the first category! I think many women would love to be in that group," Madonna laughed, wrapping her arm around Link.

"So you two are already intimate? That was fast!" Quentin said, squinting at the two of them.

"You really don't understand women. A woman's heart belongs to whoever she gives it to; getting intimate is just building on that connection," Madonna grinned.

Quentin grimaced, casting an envious glare at Link. They both came from humble beginnings, yet now Link's account was overflowing with cash, and his mansion was filled with beautiful women. Now even Madonna was wrapped around him. It felt infuriating.

Link shook his head and took a sip of beer. "The post-production for The Sixth Sense is done. We're holding an internal screening at the company tomorrow. If you're interested, come by and give your feedback."

"Sounds good, Link! Can I come?" Madonna asked eagerly.

"Of course! You're more than welcome," Link said with a grin.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.