Cassius opened the car door. The cool night breeze rushed in, dispersing the heavy, lingering scent of intimacy in the air.
He stepped out and looked back at Kat.
She sat in the dim interior of her car, her clothes disheveled and her blonde hair messy. She looked like a girl who had just returned from a grand adventure.
"Drive safe," Cassius said.
"You too~" Kat's voice was soft and husky.
The car door closed, and the black SUV remained stationary for a moment.
Cassius walked to his own car, got in, but didn't start the engine immediately.
He leaned back against the seat. His body still held the residual excitement and fatigue of the evening, but his mind was unusually calm.
The [Rhythm] Halo seemed to have been verified in a rather peculiar way during this "practical combat."
It turned out that mastering rhythm didn't just make acting more moving or negotiations more efficient; it also made "learning foreign languages" much more enjoyable.
He smiled, started the car, and drove out of the parking lot.
In the rearview mirror, Kat's headlights flickered on as she slowly drove off in the opposite direction.
Cassius got home right at midnight.
At that exact moment, the seven-day [Halo Trial Card] expired.
Lying in bed, Cassius clearly felt that keen, almost supernatural perception of the world's rhythm recede like a tide.
It was like the "post-coital clarity" state—a sudden loss of interest in everything.
The world returned to its original state.
Without the halo's enhancement, he felt like he had suddenly dropped from high-definition Dolby Vision back to a standard definition cable channel.
It wasn't bad, per se, but the drop in quality was palpable.
"It's hard to go back to economy after flying first class," Cassius sighed.
He tried to adjust his mindset and return to normal.
However, the desire to level up his attributes as quickly as possible, to unlock more permanent abilities or even new features, reached a peak at this moment.
It was better to rely on yourself than to wait for luck to fall from the sky.
If he could max out all his attributes, would he become something like the protagonist in Lucy?
Cassius was filled with anticipation.
---
The opportunity came quickly.
With the main cast of Green Lantern finalized, pre-production entered its final stage.
In accordance with Hollywood tradition, a grand kickoff ceremony and press conference were essential.
This wasn't just to announce the project to the media and the public; it was the first formal collective appearance of the main cast and crew, a crucial occasion for building team morale.
As the lead, Cassius naturally received the formal invitation and schedule from Warner Bros. well in advance.
The location was a massive soundstage at the Burbank lot, temporarily transformed into a press stage that blended futuristic sci-fi aesthetics with Eastern elements.
The background was a giant concept poster featuring the movie logo and the starring lineup.
Rob was even more nervous than Cassius.
A day in advance, he dragged Cassius to try on the custom-made outfit for the event.
It was a well-tailored charcoal gray suit with subtle dark green pinstripes.
Solemn yet distinctive, echoing the Green Lantern theme.
"Bro, today is the first time you're facing the global media as the lead of a DC superhero movie. You have to bring the aura!"
Rob's "mother hen" personality surfaced again as he repeatedly checked Cassius's tie and cuffs.
"I got it!"
Cassius looked at himself in the mirror.
No halo, but his Level 3 base attributes were still there.
Combined with the optimized appearance from the [Heartthrob Enhancer] and the steadiness he had tempered over the recent period, the man in the mirror had clear eyes and a tall, straight posture, radiating a polished confidence.
On the day of the kickoff ceremony, the venue was packed with media. Long lenses and short lenses were everywhere, and camera flashes created a sea of light.
Warner executives, producers, and director Martin Campbell took turns speaking on stage, introducing the project's vision.
When it came time to introduce the lead actors, the atmosphere reached its first climax.
"Next, let us welcome our fearless Green Lantern, Cassius!"
The host's voice boomed through the speakers.
Cassius walked steadily out from backstage and stepped onto the platform.
Instantly!
All lenses locked onto him.
The sound of shutters clicking was incessant, like heavy rain.
Standing under the spotlight, facing the dark mass of media and the flashing lights, Cassius felt surprisingly calm.
He nodded slightly, flashed a perfect smile, and waved.
His movements were fluid and natural, demonstrating the demeanor of a leading man without any stage fright or excessive arrogance.
Cassius heard faint discussions and gasps of admiration from the floor.
Many reporters in the media zone whispered while snapping photos: "He looks in great shape!"
"He doesn't have the vibe of someone carrying a blockbuster for the first time."
"He's even more handsome than in the photos!"
[Aura Experience +3]
A blue attribute orb dropped from his own body.
Cassius absorbed it without batting an eye.
He felt his confidence surge even higher.
Next was the introduction of the other main actors.
First up was Gina Carano, playing the supporting role of Sierra Jordan.
The former MMA champion wore a sharp black pantsuit and high heels, striding onto the stage.
She was tall and fit, with short hair that gave her a dashing look. Her entire being radiated a powerful "don't mess with me" aura.
Standing next to Cassius, she didn't lose out in height. The mixture of her tough military temperament and her own presence was very eye-catching.
"I'm thrilled to join this imaginative project!"
Gina's voice was low and powerful. "Sierra is a tough but dutiful warrior. I look forward to presenting the combat training on Oa to everyone alongside Cassius."
As she spoke, she turned to Cassius and extended her hand.
Cassius shook it, feeling the strength in her grip and the rough calluses on her palm.
"Looking forward to your guidance, Instructor," Cassius smiled.
The moment they shook hands, a purple attribute orb popped out of Gina:
[Resilient Will & Physique +9]
Cassius was secretly delighted and absorbed it immediately!
A warm current filled with power rushed into his body. It didn't just strengthen his [Body Language] experience; it seemed to solidify his mental state as well.
This was a high-quality orb!
As expected of a real fighter!
Gina seemed to sense the strength in Cassius's body as well. She gave him a second look during the handshake, a flash of imperceptible surprise and approval in her eyes.
The favorability rating above her head jumped from an initial 40 to 50.
Then came the highlight everyone was waiting for!
Keira Knightley, playing the female lead, Lindsey Shaw.
When Keira walked onto the stage in a simple yet perfectly cut ivory dress, the room erupted with even more shutter clicks and low gasps of amazement.
She looked thinner than on screen, but her bone structure was exquisite. Her long blonde hair was pulled up into an elegant bun, revealing a slender neck.
Her beauty carried a British classicism and coolness, yet her eyes were bright and her smile appropriate—a contradictory charm of distance and warmth.
"Hello everyone, I'm Keira Knightley."
Her voice was crisp, carrying that unique British accent. "Lindsey Shaw is a journalist full of curiosity, courage, and a sense of justice. I'm very happy to explore this character and work with Cassius and all the outstanding team members."
Her gaze fell on Cassius as she smiled and nodded politely and professionally.
Cassius returned the smile.
The moment their eyes met, Cassius could feel the curiosity in Keira Knightley's gaze.
She didn't have Gina's outward toughness, but her core was equally stable, perhaps even more elusive.
Just then, a golden glowing attribute orb emerged from Keira, floating gently toward Cassius:
[Classical Elegance & Lens Presence +12]
Whoa!
A big one right off the bat!
And such high quality!
Cassius absorbed it instantly.
A completely different sensation washed over him.
It was a subtle perception of posture, angles, and lighting—an instinctive understanding of how to naturally radiate attraction in front of a lens.
For an actor, the value of this attribute orb might be more precious than simple physical buffs!
And the value was a whopping 12 points!
The moment he absorbed it, Cassius felt his standing posture become slightly more upright and relaxed. Facing the cameras and Keira's gaze, he became even more composed.
Keira seemed to vaguely sense the change in Cassius, and the curiosity in her eyes deepened.
The favorability rating above her head quietly rose from 45 to 55.
During the subsequent media Q&A session, questions rained down like cannonballs, naturally focusing on Cassius and the two actresses.
"Is there pressure working with a star of Keira Knightley's caliber for the first time?"
Cassius replied, "Pressure is motivation. Keira is a distinguished actress worthy of respect. I believe our collaboration will spark interesting chemistry, bringing real and moving power to the relationship between Lindsey and Cassius."
The answer was appropriate, showing respect while demonstrating confidence.
When asked about Gina Carano, Cassius switched styles: "Acting with Gina, I have to mentally prepare myself to get beat up. But Instructor Sierra's strictness is key to the character's growth. I'm really looking forward to it!"
The humorous answer drew laughter and cleverly diffused any sensitive issues regarding gender confrontation.
Gina laughed at Cassius's straightforward answer and playfully made a "I'm going to drill you hard" gesture.
The entire kickoff ceremony ended in an enthusiastic and orderly atmosphere.
At the reception that followed, the cast and crew had a chance to interact more relaxedly.
Cassius moved through the crowd, talking with Director Martin, producers, Warner execs, and other key actors and crew members.
Attribute orbs dropped one after another:
[Lens Composition Sensitivity +5]
[Visualization Ability +6]
[Crisis PR Rhetoric +4]
Different people dropped different orbs.
Although individual values weren't high, the variety was vast, and they added up!
Cassius gained subtler insights into various aspects of film production, and his comprehensive attribute experience rose steadily.
---
The next morning, before Cassius was even awake, Rob called.
"Bro! Did you secretly bribe the media yesterday?"
Cassius, dazed and confused, was baffled by Rob's abrupt question.
Bribe?
With what money?
Before Cassius could answer, Rob continued, excitement evident in his voice: "No! Even money couldn't buy this effect! It exploded! It totally exploded!"
"What exploded?"
Cassius's head was still spinning.
Did the Motherland send an ICBM to America?
Did I come all this way for nothing?
" The heat! The discussions! All the data related to you has seen explosive growth!"
Cassius sighed in relief.
He really thought World War III had started.
Rob spoke at a rapid-fire pace: "Warner's PR department just synced the data with me. The online discussion volume related to the kickoff ceremony yesterday is 40% higher than their highest initial estimate!"
"You're in three of the top five Twitter trends:"
#GreenLanternRise
#Cassius
#KeiraKnightleyGreenLantern
"The clip of you walking out onto the stage has been edited into countless versions on Instagram. The combined views are about to break 100 million!"
Cassius finally realized what was happening.
Rob was talking about the kickoff ceremony.
He hadn't expected the effect to be this exaggerated.
"It can't be that big of a deal, right? It was just a kickoff."
"What do you mean 'just a kickoff'?!"
Rob sounded like he wanted to smack him. "This is a critical step in the DC reboot! It's the first time you, Cassius, appeared as the absolute center!"
Rob, with summaries like that, you should run for office.
"You've been at the center of topics recently with The Ellen Show and the academic scandal!"
"Add to that a star of Keira Knightley's level joining a superhero movie for the first time, plus Gina Carano's hardcore image... this configuration creates its own buzz!"
Without waiting for Cassius to react, Rob continued reporting the good news: "The people in Warner's marketing department are grinning so hard their mouths are crooked. They said this saved them at least a few million in advertising costs!"
"Greg Silverman just emailed me. He couldn't hide his satisfaction between the lines. Your performance exceeded everyone's expectations!"
This was indeed good news.
In Hollywood, especially for a blockbuster like this, a lead actor's public image and box office appeal were hard currency.
High initial heat meant audience expectations were raised, and it meant his weight in the eyes of the producers would increase.
Sure enough!
That afternoon, Cassius received an email from Director Martin Campbell.
He invited Cassius to the Warner Post-Production Center tomorrow to review preliminary concept designs and storyboard animatics, and to discuss adjustments to the protagonist's state in several key scenes.
Usually, lead actors wouldn't be involved this deeply in core creative meetings so early, especially with a veteran director like Martin.
This undoubtedly showed Martin's regard for Cassius and his recognition that Cassius was not just an actor, but a co-creator of the Green Lantern concept.
---
The next day, Cassius arrived at the Warner Post-Production Center on time.
This was the first core creative meeting since the kickoff ceremony.
Director Martin Campbell was clearly in a good mood.
He pointed to the suit sketches that the concept design team had adjusted based on Cassius's image.
They had incorporated a cut more suited to an Eastern physique and some streamlined patterns into the classic Green Lantern elements.
"Cass, your image and temperament gave the design team a lot of new inspiration. Keep this state up; we need you to wear the soul into what's on these blueprints!"
Cassius nodded in agreement.
He could feel the appreciation in Director Martin's eyes.
The favorability rating above Martin's head slowly rose from 75 to 77.
"Cass, the media feedback and initial heat from the kickoff gave us a lot of confidence. It proves that standing our ground against the opposition was the right move!"
Warner Vice President Greg Silverman walked into the conference room.
As soon as he sat down, he expressed his appreciation for Cassius.
His words were meant for Cassius, but also for the other producers at the table.
"It was Mr. Greg and Director Martin who were willing to take the risk and give me the chance. The heat was created by everyone together!"
Greg smiled and didn't say more, but the satisfaction in his eyes was unconcealed.
[Greg Silverman Favorability +2, Current Favorability: 82]
For a businessman like him, favorability was linked more to the project's probability of success.
Cassius's current performance was undoubtedly increasing that probability.
The most obvious change was in COO Richard Smith, who had held the strongest opposing opinion before.
This executive, known for being conservative and data-driven, saw his tense expression soften considerably after seeing the heat data that far exceeded expectations and the high percentage of positive public opinion in the internal briefing.
When he bumped into Cassius in the hallway, he even stopped voluntarily and nodded: "Cass, good start. Keep working hard and convert that attention into box office numbers!"
His tone still wasn't exactly affectionate, but at least the scrutiny and coldness from before were gone.
The favorability rating above his head rose from 60 to 65.
For someone like Richard, this was already a significant attitude shift!
Cassius didn't let the change in their attitudes go to his head.
Hollywood is very realistic.
Today's heat can lift you to the heavens, but tomorrow's box office failure can smash you to pieces.
The friendship of capitalists is worthless!
Their current goodwill was based on the value and expectations he brought. To maintain or even improve it, he had to rely on his subsequent performance and the final box office results!