Chapter 340 - 338: Seeing Gideon Hale Again

Cece Desire was exceptionally forward and friendly from the start. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought the two shared some deep private connection.

But in reality, they had virtually no personal relationship, which was limited to greeting each other when they met at events like this.

Gideon Hale maintained an elegant and polite smile. "Of course, that would be great. You have tens of millions of fans online, so if you’re willing to help promote it, the results would certainly be fantastic. Thank you!"

Hearing Gideon Hale personally affirm her value, Cece Desire was secretly pleased. "Oh, Gideon, you don’t have to be so formal. I’m a fan of the original novel and one of your fans, so I was already looking forward to this show. In my heart, you’re the perfect choice for the male lead. Even though this is a female-led drama, I feel that with you as the male lead, your performance definitely won’t be overshadowed by the female lead’s."

Gideon Hale knew better than to take such words to heart.

But Cece Desire’s admiration for him was genuine. So, after a round of compliments, she blinked coyly and said, "Gideon, can we get a picture together? We’ve already met a few times, but we’ve never had the chance to take one! Just think of it as granting a small wish for a fan?"

Although Gideon Hale felt a bit reluctant, he didn’t turn her down, saying only, "How about we wait until the event is over and take one with everyone?"

Because events like this always had a group photo session at the end, with professional photographers to take their pictures.

"Oh, come on, that’s too formal. Let’s just use my phone to take one, okay? It’ll be quick," Cece Desire wheedled, not taking no for an answer.

’A photo taken on a phone would look much more intimate.’

Gideon Hale nodded with some resignation.

Seeing this, Cece Desire beamed and turned to look for her assistant, who was holding her phone. But at that moment, her assistant was nowhere to be found.

Gideon Hale, however, had been keeping an eye on Cecilia out of the corner of his eye. When he noticed her suddenly stand up, he grew anxious, worried she might be leaving. So, paying no mind to Cece Desire, he strode quickly in Cecilia’s direction.

"Hey? Gideon—!"

Cece Desire looked baffled. Seeing Gideon walk off without a backward glance, she stomped her foot in frustration.

Cecilia wasn’t leaving, however. A light above her was glaring, so she had just stood up to switch to the other side of Blair.

Before she could sit down, however, Gideon Hale was already standing before her, a wine glass in hand and a sophisticated air about him. "Hi. We meet again."

Cecilia turned her head to look at him. For some reason, the scene of their first meeting flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but want to smile.

She teased, "You don’t think I’m a stalker fan who snuck into this event for you, do you?"

Her comment made Gideon Hale look embarrassed, but then it occurred to him that she remembered the details of their first meeting, and that made him a little happy.

"Aren’t you?" Gideon Hale joked back, which made Cecilia chuckle.

Blair sat to one side, tilting her head up and watching the two of them with a puzzled frown.

Then she heard Gideon Hale add, "But we always run into each other in the most unexpected places—the film set in Starwood, and this event today."

"And a hotel room!"

Blair: "?!?!"

She surreptitiously perked up her ears.

Gideon Hale’s handsome face flushed. "What? Are you still holding a grudge?"

Cecilia raised an eyebrow. "Of course. The aggrieved party was my mom. Don’t I have a right to hold a grudge?"

"In that case, let me formally apologize to you again. I am genuinely sorry for my rudeness toward your mother that day. I’m sorry."

Gideon Hale spoke from the heart. That incident had actually affected him for a long time afterward. Perhaps Cecilia was part of the reason, but he also genuinely felt that his actions at the time had been highly inappropriate.

Seeing him so serious, even more heartfelt than his apology that day, Cecilia couldn’t help but smile. "I’m just kidding. It happened so long ago. Any anger I might have felt at the time is long gone."

’The man in front of me is an A-list superstar. If his fans found out about this, wouldn’t they eat me alive?’

"I’m just glad you’re not angry anymore."

For a moment, their eyes met, and the atmosphere became a little strange.

Cecilia then remembered that Blair was still there and quickly spoke up, "This is my best friend, Blair Golding."

One second, Blair was still straining her ears, hoping to catch some gossip about Cecilia and the celebrity to sell to Estelle later. The next second, Cecilia had pulled her right in front of the star.

Gideon Hale was so famous that even Blair, who didn’t follow celebrities at all, could put a name to his face.

So after Gideon Hale politely extended his hand and said, "Hello," Blair blurted out, "I know you, you’re Gid... Gide... Gide..."

"Hale," Gideon Hale prompted softly, seeing her struggle.

Blair nodded eagerly. "Right, right! Hale Gideon!"

Cecilia: "Gideon Hale!"

Blair: "Right, right! Gideon Hale!"

They shook hands, and Blair was so embarrassed her toes curled inside her high heels.

Cecilia, holding back a laugh, explained from the side, "Please don’t mind her. My best friend pays zero attention to the entertainment industry. The fact that she even knows both parts of your name is a miracle, which just proves you’re really famous!"

Gideon Hale didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "So I should be happy about that?"

"Of course!"

Blair nudged Cecilia with her elbow, silently begging her to just shut up.

Just then, Cece Desire, having found her assistant and gotten her phone back, came running over. Utterly ignoring that Gideon Hale was chatting with Cecilia, she moved in close and pulled on his arm, "Gideon, I found my phone! Let’s get that picture!"

As she spoke, she shot a hostile look at Cecilia and Blair from the corner of her eye. While pulling on Gideon Hale’s arm, she also took a few noticeable steps back, as if intentionally creating distance from them.

When Gideon Hale processed what was happening, he subtly pulled his arm from her grasp and shot an embarrassed look at Cecilia. But Cecilia, seeing that someone had come for him, didn’t think much of it and just pulled Blair back down to their seats to continue eating.

He felt a pang of disappointment.

"Gideon, look at the camera!"

Gideon turned his head at her words, just as Cece Desire, who already had her lips puckered up towards his face, pressed the shutter button. A photo was captured—him looking at the camera, and her looking at him with her lips pursed in a slight pout.

Although she hadn’t actually kissed his cheek, the photo still looked excessively intimate.

Seeing the result, Gideon Hale quickly said, "Cece, this is a bit too intimate..."

"Is it? It’s just a pose for the photo. I strike it so often I’m probably just used to it. Do you mind, Gideon?"

Gideon Hale’s expression darkened. ’Of course I mind!’