“I’m now one of the hottest stars in the entertainment industry, brand deals coming in nonstop. And you… what do you even have to show for yourself?”

I clenched my fists, holding back my fury, and said word by word:

“You’re this eager to cut ties with me?”

“Emily, have you forgotten what you once promised me? You said that no matter whether you became famous or not, you would never—”

Before I could finish, she cut me off with a single contemptuous word: “Childish.”

The line went dead, replaced by the busy signal.

“You’d better watch your mouth, punk. You know what you should and shouldn’t say, don’t you?”

The same man who had shoved me glared at me viciously.

I slowly lifted my head and met his gaze.

“From that tone, are you threatening me?”

He looked at me with disgust and snorted.

“Is there anyone else here besides you?”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If those fans find out you’re pestering Miss Emily, you might not even know how you’ll end up dead.”

I stood frozen on the spot.

Not long ago, I had just cracked the perpetual motion project—a feat not quite equal to Einstein or Oppenheimer, but still unprecedented in human history.

Would I really be afraid of a mere actress?

“Sir, let me correct you on something,” I said calmly.

“I have zero interest in your little fan-circle antics. But as for Miss Emily, she’d better not try riding on my fame.”

The man in black instantly flared up.

“You little punk, you’ve got some nerve, huh?”

After cursing at me a few more times, he still seemed unsatisfied, so he rolled up his sleeves and lunged at me again.

Fortunately, I had trained in self-defense since childhood. The man swung several punches, but couldn’t even graze the hem of my jacket. Frustrated, he grew more furious.

“You brat, try dodging one more time and see what happens!”

“Don’t think I won’t call Miss Emily right now!”

Despite his repeated provocation, I didn’t fight back—I just kept dodging.

It wasn’t because I couldn’t win. The airport was crowded, and I couldn’t afford to expose my identity just yet.

Besides, I was carrying confidential documents in my bag—files critical to the future of America’s technological development.

After a brief pause, the man swung another punch at me.

At that critical moment, a sharp voice rang out from behind.

“Stop!”

A tall young woman strode toward us, surrounded by bodyguards.