America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Sunday afternoon, the setting sun drowned in the skyscraper jungle of Manhattan.

Countless paparazzi gathered at the entrance of Club 54 of New York, continually snapping pictures with their cameras while waiting for more high-profile People to arrive.

They had received the news that Taylor Swift and her friends would appear at the bar of Club 54 tonight.

At last night's concert, many had taken photos of Martin Davis entering the hotel with Taylor Swift and her close friends.

Even knowing this was a deliberate leak from the other party, the paparazzi still flocked here.

A van stopped at the entrance of Club 54.

As the door opened, Carly Kloss got out first, followed by Taylor Swift, and finally Martin and Blake Lively.

A flash of cameras lit up the scene.

A reporter shouted loudly, "Martin, are you dating both of them at the same time?"

Privately, it might not matter, but they still wanted to save face, with Taylor, Carly, and Blake all turning their gazes toward Martin.

Martin responded, "Do you think that's possible? We are just friends."

The bar's security had already come over to keep the reporters at bay, allowing the four to enter.

This was Taylor's routine activity, appearing in public the day after a concert to keep up the exposure and the buzz.

No doubt, bringing Martin along made for an even better effect.

As the four entered the bar, Martin suddenly saw a familiar figure ahead. He took a second look and realized it was Gisele Bundchen.

They were too far apart, so he didn't greet her.

Entering a booth, Martin ordered some drinks and pulled out his cellphone to make a call: "We are here, when will you arrive?"

On the other end, Leonardo said, "Ten minutes."

Martin didn't miss a chance to jab at him, "You come to New York for an event, ask me out for a drink, and then you're late. That's really poor form!"

Leonardo responded, "You brought female company, I had to bring mine too; women take time to get ready."

Martin hung up the phone, signaled to Carly and Blake across the table, and said, "You two come over here, we'll sit together. Leo and his date will be here soon."

Carly and Blake giggled and shuffled over to join Martin and Taylor for drinks.

After finishing a drink, Leonardo arrived with his date, who was a bit special—a Black woman.

Martin was slightly surprised but didn't show it.

Leonardo introduced her to everyone, "This is Rihanna…"

"We know each other," Taylor shook hands with Rihanna.

Being in the entertainment industry, even if they didn't know each other personally, they knew who each other was.

Martin ordered more drinks and some snacks to pair, clinked glasses with Leonardo, and asked directly, "Are you two dating?"

Leonardo replied, "Of course, Rihanna and I fell in love at first sight."

Martin was a bit taken aback but quickly realized it made sense since among Leonardo's official girlfriends was Naomi Campbell.

Rihanna then leaned in for a passionate kiss with Leonardo, seemingly proving that they were deeply in love.

Not to be outdone, Taylor immediately hugged Martin and gave him a deep kiss.

Carly Kloss and Blake Lively joined in too.

One man with three blonde beauties—this scene delivered a heavy blow to Leonardo.

"That's enough!" Leonardo protested, "Being so open in a place like this, be careful it gets out."

Martin asked, "Are you and Rihanna going to spread it around?"

Rihanna, with one hand around Leonardo's neck and the other playfully drawing on his chest, said, "I won't."

What could Leonardo say? He shook his head, lifted his glass, and said, "You really are a person to be envied, you bastard!"

Yet, Rihanna was looking at Taylor, saying, "Actually, I am quite jealous of you."

Martin interrupted her, clinking glasses with everyone, "To this delightful night."

After another drink, Martin mainly focused on the topic of Leonardo and Rihanna's love at first sight.

Actually, there was nothing special; they had met at a party not long ago, took a liking to each other, and ended up together.

The most classic case of "love at first sight" in the entertainment industry.

If Martin remembered correctly, Rihanna changed partners even faster than Leonardo did.

The topic quickly shifted to movies.

"How's your learning on the directorial side going?" Leonardo, as a close friend, knew about Martin's next steps, "When can we see a movie directed by you?"

Taylor was surprised, "Martin, you're becoming a director?"

Blake Lively decided to steal some spotlight, "Actually, I am the lead actress."

Leonardo began setting a trap for Martin, "Aren't you afraid it will be a disaster acting in a film by a new director? If the film flops, the lead actor suffers greatly."

"I'm never worried, Martin is the best in the world." Blake Lively intentionally gathered opinions from Taylor and Carly, "Don't you think I'm right?"

Taylor smiled meaningfully, "Of course, Martin is the best; I can personally vouch for that."

Suddenly, Leonardo realized that compared to Martin, he seemed likely to be caught up in both quantity and quality.

At that moment, Rihanna asked, "Actor and director, that's quite challenging."

Leonardo nodded, "It's not rare in Hollywood, many people shift from acting to directing, like George Clooney, Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, and so on... Speaking of which, both Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood have won the Oscar for Best Director, yet they never received the Best Actor in their original roles."

He turned to Martin, "You aren't secretly hoping for an Oscar for Best Director, are you?"

"Do you think I could win the Oscar for Best Director?" Martin had entertained the thought but knew his talent was moderate, "Directing is much harder than acting."

Blake Lively interrupted, "Has anyone in Hollywood ever won both the Best Actor and Best Director awards?"

Martin remembered for a moment, looking at Leonardo, "I don't think so."

"I can't clearly recall the past," Leonardo pondered, "In the last thirty years, the closest to achieving this were Clint Eastwood, Roberto Benigni, Mel Gibson... He doesn't count though; 'Braveheart' got him Best Director but he didn't get a nomination for Best Actor."

He had been chasing Oscars for over a decade and was quite familiar with the not-so-distant Oscar history, "Roberto Benigni got nominations for both Best Director and Best Actor for 'Life is Beautiful', but only won one. As for Eastwood, I won't elaborate, his career is legendary."

Martin wasn't about to fall into his trap and said, "What are you trying to do with all this? Make me swear here that I have to bring home a Best Director Oscar?"

Leonardo banged the table, "Man, aspire for something, will you!"

Hearing this, Martin actually began to entertain the idea of bringing home an Oscar for Best Director.

But Leonardo's next words let him know this rascal was just waiting to see him fail, "Martin, you're goddamn Leonardo DiCaprio's best pal and a member of the Trio of Scoundrels, not just a fool who knows nothing but enjoying life!"

He stared at Martin, frowning, glaring, and roaring in quick succession, "You have a mission to set a new record for Hollywood and the Oscars!"

Martin didn't buy this at all; instead, he said, "Leo, remember you won Best Actor before me; why don't you create that new record yourself?"

"This..." Caught off guard that Martin didn't fall into the trap and instead tried to push him into it, Leonardo smiled wryly, "I'm too busy all the time."

At that moment, Rihanna raised her glass to ease the situation for Leonardo, "A toast to everyone."

They clinked glasses and drank again.

But Rihanna didn't understand the Trio of Scoundrels' chaotic style.

Martin caught Leonardo and pushed hard, "Buddy, Jack has three Oscars, I have two, what about you?"

He held up one finger, "One! Just one! I'm embarrassed to answer when people ask that century-old question! It feels shameful!"

Leonardo darkened, "That's not a century-old question; it's a problem you've contrived with your nonsense!"

Martin looked around, "You all know about the century-old question with Hollywood's Trio and the Oscars, right?"

Blake Lively immediately jumped in to help Martin, "Of course, it's spread all over Hollywood, saying someone has been dragging the trio down…"

Taylor also spoke up, "I've heard about it too."

Carly Kloss nodded, "It's all over the fashion industry."

Rihanna shrugged, looking at Leonardo, "I've heard it many times too, so dear, I can't help you!"

With Martin's help, Leonardo got his Best Actor award earlier than in his previous life.

Martin didn't plan to let him off and not continue chasing Oscars, he said, "Leo, keep pursuing the Oscars! Don't drag me and Jack down!"

Martin subtly nudged the three ladies at his feet.

Taylor, Carly, and Blake all focused their gazes on Leonardo.

Because of the ripple effect, Rihanna also stared intently at Leonardo.

Leonardo, failing to set a trap, was about to speak, but realizing he knew Martin too well, he swallowed his words.

Martin raised his glass, signaling to Leonardo.

Seeing Martin smug, Leonardo pondered for a moment and proposed, "How about this, Martin, let's have an internal competition."

Not waiting for Martin to refuse, he quickly said, "I'll win another Best Actor, but you must get Best Director, whoever wins first, and at every occasion, the winner can mock the loser, and the loser cannot retort."

Martin shook his head, "That's not fair, why don't we both aim for Best Actor? See who gets the second Best Actor first."

Leonardo insisted, "Because I don't have as many lousy tricks as you do, nor do I chase awards like you; this comparison is fair."

He provoked on purpose, "Don't you like fighting a fair and square battle?"

Martin asked, "Leo, do you really want to settle this fair and square?"

"Absolutely!" Leonardo felt he was back in control, even if he had fallen into a trap, he had managed to pull Martin down with him to be buried alive.

Martin chuckled coldly, "Know why I win every fair and square battle? Because I ethically obliterate my competitors before the fight."

With no competitors, the victory was indeed fair and square.

The six of them laughed and drank two bottles of wine.

Martin, the rascal drunk, wouldn't let Leonardo, who wanted to set traps, have an easy time. Taking advantage of Rihanna going to the restroom, he said, "Leo, I just saw Gisele Bundchen."