A nation’s progress and strength have never come from entertainment, but from the scientists who work in obscurity and devote themselves silently.
Emily noticed my sudden silence and assumed she had struck a nerve. Her eyes gleamed with contempt.
“Daniel, stop spacing out. Just name your price.”
“Money, property—I can give you all of it. But I have one condition…”
I looked at her with interest.
“And what condition is that?”
A sly glint flickered in Emily’s eyes.
“You are not allowed to reveal anything about us to anyone.”
I stared at her coldly, my voice flat and devoid of emotion.
“And if I refuse?”
“Refuse?”
Her face darkened immediately.
“If you refuse, you might not walk out of this airport today.”
By then, crowds of fans had gathered around.
“Hey, old man up front, move it! Don’t block our Emily!”
“Yeah, seriously! How rude can you be, squeezing into the same lane as her?”
“Look at his shady face—he’s probably some paparazzi. Protect our sweet Emily!”
The louder the crowd grew, the more triumphant Emily looked.
She had clearly gotten used to being pampered during her years of stardom. Judging by her behavior, not just an airport lane—even an entire film crew would likely revolve around her.
Still, Emily wasn’t foolish. To maintain her spotless image, she knew how to play her cards.
Glancing around, she waved her assistant aside, then put on a warm smile and addressed the crowd.
“Everyone, it’s a misunderstanding. This gentleman is also one of my fans.”
“It’s just… he got a little overzealous. He insisted on pulling me aside for an autograph, otherwise he wouldn’t let me go.”
Her words instantly inflamed her die-hard fans.
“Our Emily is so kind! Even when dealing with a crazy fan, she still defends him. I’m touched to tears!”
“She’s exhausted herself, and yet she still sympathizes with stalkers. We really picked the right idol!”
“Emily is so kindhearted! I’ll follow her forever!”
Hearing this nonsense, I could only shake my head in resignation. Without explaining, I turned to leave.
But my indifference only made the star even more displeased.
Feeling ignored, Emily stirred up her fans again.
“Alright, everyone, please calm down and listen to me.”
“Much as I’d love to sign autographs, this gentleman bumped into me just now, and I’m feeling a little dizzy…”
Before she could finish, her assistant quickly chimed in: