Hollywood: The Greatest Showman - Chapter 304: Dodging the Paparazzi

Chapter 304: Dodging the Paparazzi

Everything was fine before the paparazzi found them.

The couple’s matching Hawaiian floral shirts served as the perfect disguise for Renly and Scarlett. They blended in as honeymooners, moving with the flow of tourists towards the Polynesian Cultural Center, enjoying Hawaii’s attractions like any other newlywed couple on a vacation.

Located on the northwest side of Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center is one of Hawaii’s most famous tourist destinations. A winding artificial lake cleverly divides the center into seven natural zones, each representing a different cultural village. The buildings in each village have preserved the style and traditions from hundreds of years ago.

This is a specially developed tourist attraction, heavily commercialized, where only tourists visit. For locals, it holds no value and is less appealing than sunbathing on Waikiki Beach. Scarlett used to think the same, but in today’s special situation, the tourist attraction became the best cover.

Hidden in plain sight, they looked like just another pair of ordinary tourists, enjoying the beautiful Hawaiian atmosphere without drawing any unnecessary attention. This allowed Scarlett to temporarily let go of the worries and thoughts that had been troubling her, and she genuinely immersed herself in the joyful atmosphere of the cultural village.

Hawaii no longer seemed to be just a synonym for beaches and surfing. The rich, diverse culture gave it vivid, vibrant colors, bringing it to life.

So, when Scarlett saw a Tahitian girl in a grass skirt passionately teaching the Tamure dance, she couldn’t help but want to join. But she hesitated, afraid that being too conspicuous might draw unnecessary attention and expose their whereabouts.

Renly seemed to catch onto her excitement and stepped forward, extending an invitation.

“Are you sure?” Scarlett stared at Renly in disbelief, glancing around at the other tourists with a worried look in her eyes. “What if we get recognized?”

Renly, however, heard the eager anticipation in Scarlett’s words. He spread his hands and said, “Are you really going to let those lousy paparazzi ruin your vacation? You know they’re everywhere. Even if you went to the South Pole, they’d still find you.”

Scarlett laughed, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Well, if you don’t care, why should I?” After all, if the paparazzi did catch them, it would be more troublesome for Renly than for her.

Renly gracefully extended his right hand while tucking his left behind him and tilted his upper body slightly in a gentlemanly manner. Scarlett couldn’t help but smile at his chivalrous gesture, finding his Hawaiian shirt especially amusing. She curtsied politely in response, displaying her ladylike manners, before taking Renly’s hand. Together, they stepped onto the dance floor.

Under the guidance of the Tahitian girl, they began learning the authentic native dance. Scarlett was so focused on the dance that she didn’t notice anyone else around. A smile crept across her face, and even the setting sun seemed to dim in comparison. Just like Renly said, even if they were discovered, so what? In this moment of dancing, nothing else seemed to matter.

As Scarlett moved her arms and feet in rhythm, she glanced over at Renly, who was intently learning the steps. She couldn’t help but call out, “Thank you.” It was a heartfelt thank you. What started as a plan to use Renly to escape the paparazzi had unexpectedly turned into a delightful afternoon.

Renly leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I think we should go now.” With that, he grabbed Scarlett’s hand and they quickly dashed off in the opposite direction, leaving the dance floor and the tourist area behind. Scarlett only had time to look back once before she saw a figure rapidly approaching.

The crowd of dancing people became a natural barrier, repeatedly interrupting the figure’s advance, slowing him down. Under the flickering torchlight, his face was clearly filled with frustration and anxiety.

It was the same paparazzo from the afternoon!

Yet seeing him again didn’t dampen Scarlett’s good mood. Instead, she burst out laughing. “Jesus Christ, he’s like gum stuck to our shoes. How do you think he found us?”

“Let me guess, Facebook?” Renly joked as they ran, making Scarlett laugh even harder.

They raced across the wooden bridge, their footsteps echoing off the planks. They weaved through the palm tree-lined path, the sound of a waterfall thundering in their ears. They ran past the calm artificial lake, leaving Tahiti behind and entering another cultural realm… the surreal shift in scenery was dizzying, and even their steps felt lighter.

“What do we do now?” Scarlett asked as they slowed down slightly, glancing back. There was no sign of the paparazzi, but she knew he was on their trail and would catch up eventually.

Renly raised his chin, pointing towards a nearby group of performers. The women held flower wreaths, swaying their hips gracefully in grass skirts, while the men, armed and armored, were portraying the valiant leaders of the islands. “We could always join the performance team until that guy stops chasing us and starts watching the show.”

Scarlett laughed out loud. “I’d recommend you for that performance instead.”

Following her gaze, Renly saw a muscular young man applying coconut oil to his bare chest, which was covered in tribal tattoos. The flickering firelight made his figure look especially imposing as he prepared for the evening show.

Scarlett had intended to tease Renly, but when she looked up, she saw Renly’s calm and unreadable expression, the same mysterious look he had earlier at the ABC store. She felt flustered instead.

Flustered and embarrassed, she playfully raised her fist and threatened, “Do you believe I’ll strip you right here?”

“I believe you, but we’d better find another place to do it,” Renly replied. His response caught Scarlett off guard, but before she could react, he grabbed her hand and took off running again. She managed only a brief glance back before she saw that persistent figure – was it possible the paparazzo had planted a tracker on them?

They ran across bridges, past the artificial lake, and through the crowds of tourists, dashing forward. Suddenly, Renly stopped and ducked behind a fake mountain, pulling Scarlett with him. A large group of tourists was passing by, and their mixed movements made it impossible for anyone to see clearly. It was the perfect moment to shake off the paparazzo.

Scarlett quickly followed suit, hiding behind the fake mountain. Fortunately, although the space behind the rock was narrow, it was more than enough for one person to pass through, and the length of the rock was substantial – about ten steps long. It was an ideal hiding place. They could easily stay hidden for ten or twenty minutes.

Scarlett motioned for Renly to move further in, away from the side of the fake mountain, to avoid being seen.

Renly nodded and took a few steps back.

By now, the sky was gradually darkening. The sun lingered near the horizon, not yet fully set, while torches were being lit in the corners of the cultural village. The lights were slowly coming on, but behind the fake mountain, the light was dim. The uneven stones beneath Renly’s feet made him look down to avoid tripping.

“Bang.”

Renly’s back collided with something warm. Startled, he spun around, only to hear a small yelp of surprise. The yelp was quickly muffled as the other person covered their mouth, stifling the sound. Clearly, they hadn’t expected to encounter anyone behind the fake mountain either.

“What’s wrong?” Scarlett, sensing Renly’s sudden movement, stopped as well and whispered nervously.

Renly’s first thought was that they’d run into the paparazzo named Elliot, but the other person’s hasty attempt to suppress their yelp reassured him somewhat. If it were Elliot, he wouldn’t bother with silence; he’d start snapping pictures right away.

“Who are you?” Before Renly could respond, the other person spoke first, demanding an answer.

Renly thought the voice sounded familiar but couldn’t quite place it. It was either someone he didn’t know well or a voice that blended in with the crowd. “Who are you?” Scarlett asked, equally taken aback by the unexpected encounter.

In the faint light, Renly could make out a vague outline of the person’s face, and the image slowly became clearer in his mind. But before he could say anything, the person in front of him, growing impatient, pulled out a lighter.

Click, click – after two tries, the flame lit up. In the reddish glow, the darkness around them receded like a tide, revealing the faces of the two people standing in the middle.

Renly’s suspicions were confirmed, though questions still swirled in his mind. The person in front of him was equally shocked, standing there frozen in place.

“Leonardo?” Scarlett’s confused voice came from behind Renly.

“Scarlett?” Leonardo DiCaprio replied, just as bewildered. “What are you doing here?”

“There’s someone coming,” a voice from behind Leonardo called out. He quickly extinguished the lighter. But before the flame went out, Renly caught a glimpse of the face behind him – it was Blake Lively!