Chapter 447: What is a genius?

Nia Okoro watched the lively audience from backstage, unable to help but grin, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

The fact that the film’s lead actor no longer refused to participate in this promotional tour was, for her as the new publicity director at Summit Entertainment, absolutely good news.

Before this, many of the problems she had been agonizing over were no longer problems at all.

Just look at this boisterous audience!

Please, by comparison, the performance of lead actress Kristen Stewart on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* not long ago—though she really didn't want to use this word, it truly was—a disaster.

"It’s fantastic, truly wonderful." Nia Okoro turned her head, as if the minor argument from before had never happened, and said to the red-haired woman standing beside her, "I can’t even believe there was no rehearsal."

Allison didn't even twitch an eyebrow, saying flatly, "Did you not look into this before taking the job?"

*Fuck you.* Nia cursed in her heart, but piled a smile onto her face: "Of course, of course I did. But seeing it on TV versus experiencing it in person, you know, those are two different things, right?"

"No, they are the same thing. For a professional, the data says everything; that you aren't willing to believe it only shows your vision is too narrow, and you cannot understand what a genius is."

Nia suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Yes, you’re right."

Then, she cast her gaze back toward the live monitor backstage.

She saw that at the recording site, the audience's reaction was not extinguished by someone's cold remarks like her own mood had been, but was instead cheering in wave after wave.

Jimmy Kimmel let out his goose-like laugh once again and said, "I don't think Obama is going to pay us much."

Chen Nuo reacted extremely quickly, immediately saying, "Maybe in other places. But in Hollywood? No, Jimmy, don't try to fool me, you're all in on it together."

Jimmy Kimmel’s audience area had about 200 seats, all filled with pre-registered and screened live audience members; Chen Nuo looked over and saw that these people were now in high spirits, laughing until they were leaning back and forth.

Chen Nuo was quite satisfied.

As expected, for this kind of late-night show, you have to take the initiative to attack, be a bit spicy and a bit excessive; it doesn't matter if you touch on sensitive topics like politics, race, or countries. On the contrary, if you are reserved, constrained, and lack a sense of humor, answering only when asked, that is the real problem.

Come to think of it, this was his first time on this most popular late-night talk show in North America. During the promotional period for *Inception* before, it had all been arranged, but at the last moment, he chose to strike and did not participate.

This time, he wanted to take this opportunity to verify a question in his heart.

Thus, after the laughter died down, he said to the audience with a straight face: "You guys seem to really think we would do that. No, we wouldn't. Just now, I was only joking; that I would turn into a vampire and kidnap you, it was all a joke. Really. This sentence is not a joke."

"Hahahaha..." Chen Nuo’s tongue-twister-like bit made the laughter that had just subsided ring out in the audience again and again.

Jimmy Kimmel smiled.

The voice of the director came through the earpiece, "Very good, Jimmy, keep this rhythm, let him improvise. The ratings are still rising; Americans like him, probably even more than they like you."

Jimmy Kimmel maintained his smile.

He was actually not an interview-style host; his specialty lay in satirical monologues, political commentary, and deadpan humor, rather than being like Jimmy Fallon, who could bond with any guest through Q&A or gimmicks to create a relaxed and funny atmosphere.

Therefore, whenever he encountered a guest who lacked a sense of humor and was serious, the ratings for that episode would drop significantly.

Conversely, like now, he was in his element.

Although the time was too tight and there was no time for rehearsal, both sides had communicated the framework of the show in advance.

He knew what Chen Nuo was going to do at this moment.

In fact, when the other party proposed this idea, he immediately felt that it had the same effect as the street interviews their show had done in the past. He figured the show's old viewers would all think it was an intentional arrangement by their production team and would never guess it was the guest's idea.

But regardless, being interesting, spicy, and having a bit of substance and depth after the laughter, and being able to generate buzz and discussion, was the secret to his show's enduring popularity.

He was happy to see it happen.

Afterward, Chen Nuo asked naturally: "Does anyone here have plans to travel to China? Anyone? Raise your hand."

About less than 10% of the audience in the seats raised their hands.

Chen Nuo shrugged and said: "Alright. I can only say, have some time to go out and walk around, guys; the world is not just 51 states, really."

"Hahahaha!" This time it wasn't just laughter; amidst Chen Nuo's blatant mockery, there were also quite a few screams and applause, once again verifying Chen Nuo's judgment: the loyal fans of late-night shows had a good appetite and could stomach any bit.

Seeing that Chen Nuo had finished his question, Jimmy Kimmel waited for the laughter to die down before pulling a foam board from under the table. On it was an enlarged printed photo—it was none other than the photo of Chen Nuo covering his face while attending Shu Chang's birthday party not long ago.

The camera lens gave the photo a big close-up at the right time, making not only the live audience but also many viewers in front of their TVs burst into laughter again.

What the hell is this?

In this era, Leonardo DiCaprio hadn't gone crazy yet. For Americans, this kind of getup from Chen Nuo was also the first time they had seen it.

"Can you explain this? What were you doing in China?" Jimmy Kimmel asked while laughing.

Chen Nuo asked with a look of surprise: "You guys actually went to look at Chinese social media?"

"Yes. So can you explain it?"

"Actually, it's nothing. I just ran into some paparazzi, and they were snapping away at me. It just so happened that I had transformed that night, so I couldn't let them see my face."

"So you mean, under the clothes, you have fangs?"

"Not only fangs, but I also turned into a white person."

"Hahahaha, so you were afraid of being discovered?"

"Yes, that's right. I was afraid others would think I also owed money."

It was definitely a stand-up comedy-level call-back, winning another round of uproarious laughter. And this time, it was the credit of the script written by the show's writers. As for Chen Nuo, he was just relying on his decent acting skills to perform smoothly and deliver the lines.

But the audience didn't know that.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Susan was rolling on the sofa with laughter. If this had been a few months ago, it would have been absolutely impossible. Because even though it was the weekend, at this time, her mother, Karen Wilson, would definitely have forced her to go to bed.

But times were different now; Karen just glanced at her faintly and said nothing.

Susan laughed enough, sat up, and said: "Chen is really too interesting. Have you ever seen a man more humorous than him? No, right? Right? Mom, let's go see *Twilight 4* together this weekend, how about it?"

Karen shook her head: "Forget it, you should go with Aurore."

"Please, Mom, why?"

"This kind of movie is only suitable for little girls like you."

"No, this time it's different. You really should watch the trailer, Mom. That director is really not ordinary."

"Hehe, we'll see when I have time."

"Alright." Susan agreed, and then her attention was drawn back to the TV, because after the opening's probing, the topic finally turned to the reason many teenage viewers were staying up late tonight, and they began to discuss the movie that was about to be released in a few days.

On the TV screen, Jimmy Kimmel said: "Let's talk about the movie. This is your last time filming *Twilight*, right? I heard that many people cried when you wrapped up this time. Is that true?"

Chen Nuo nodded: "It's true."

Jimmy Kimmel said: "Do you think they were reluctant to part with you, or reluctant to part with *Twilight*?"

Chen Nuo said: "I think they were reluctant to part with the money."

"Giggle." Jimmy Kimmel let out the goose sound again. There was no script for the interview segment; he was genuinely amused.

Chen Nuo also smiled and continued: "This is a point I especially wanted to clarify today: it was *Twilight* that allowed everyone involved to make money, not just me. So when it ended, everyone was sad."

Speaking of this, he became a little more serious: "Of course, it was also because in this process, we all really enjoyed it. Bill Condon is a very special director, and working with him was very pleasant."

Jimmy Kimmel continued: "I heard there's a wedding in this movie, and a honeymoon, and many scenes that have never appeared before. Is that so?"

"Yes."

"I heard that wedding was beautiful. How did it feel to walk down the red carpet in a tuxedo?"

"Very exciting. That feeling is like experiencing an important moment in your life in advance."

"I've seen Kristen Stewart's interview, and she said when she walked down the red carpet and saw you standing at the end, she felt like she was dreaming. Do you have a similar feeling?"

Chen Nuo smiled: "Of course."

"I also heard her say you guys had a honeymoon, and you even made love in the movie."

"Please, Jimmy, can you be a bit more refined?"

"Uh..." Jimmy looked up and pretended to think for a moment, "Then... shall we say 'sex'? Ahahaha, how about that?"

Chen Nuo smiled a bit shyly and said: "That's fine."

"She also said the scenes between you two this time were quite explicit. I'm curious, just how explicit is it? To what extent did you film? Who was the one... pushing the process?"

Chen Nuo smiled: "It definitely didn't reach the extent you imagine."

"Hahahaha!" The whole audience burst into laughter.

After all, dirty jokes were the most popular form of humor, and in this regard, Chen Nuo was an old hand.

"But it can indeed satisfy some of your curiosity, for example, you can see from it—how Chinese and Western cultures blend. No one pushed it, it just happened so naturally. It's magical. Maybe this is because there is actually no difference between people; regardless of skin color, language cannot be an obstacle to mutual integration. Anyone who opposes this point, I feel, is looking down on me..."

"Hahahahahaha—" Chen Nuo said with a smile: "What are you laughing at? I'm really talking about culture, not anything else. You don't have to worry about it being awkward to watch with your parents or children. I promise... if you see a sea appear on the screen, hurry up and go to the bathroom, and everything will be fine."

Jimmy Kimmel asked with a smile: "Chen, are you sure this time it's PG-13 rated, not R-rated?"

"I'm sure it's PG-13." Chen Nuo suddenly put on a mysterious look, pretending to cover his mouth and whispering: "I'll tell you quietly, we bribed the people on the rating committee."

"Is that so? How much did it cost?"

Chen Nuo shrugged with an innocent face: "I don't know, did you forget? I'm Chinese. How could they possibly tell me about this kind of thing?"

"Hahahahahaha—!"

The whole audience roared with laughter, and applause and laughter rose one after another.

Jimmy Kimmel was laughing until he was leaning back and forth, especially when the excited voice from the director's room came through his earpiece: "The ratings have soared again, it's already the second-best result of the year." His smile immediately grew even wider.

However, the 9-plus-minute interview segment was already coming to an end at this point; it should be impossible to break the record for this year.

"Finally, we will play a short clip of *Twilight 4: Breaking Dawn* in advance." Jimmy Kimmel said with a smile: "Chen, do you know which part we are going to play?"

"It's definitely not the part you just mentioned. That part is absolutely impossible to show you for free."

Jimmy Kimmel truly felt at this moment that interviewing this guest was a pleasing and pleasant thing.

A guest who could catch every punchline and even throw back jokes to drive the rhythm was simply rare and hard to find. His performance at the Oscars last year was definitely no accident.

He watched every expressive face in the audience. As a host who had been hosting this show for nine years, he knew very well when the audience was laughing out of politeness and when it was from the heart.

And now, it was obvious—everyone was truly attracted by this Chinese man's humor, amused by his words and reactions, and the smiles on their faces were not artificial; it was genuine engagement.

"Then let's take a look, is it really the part you said? Please watch—" Jimmy Kimmel made a guiding gesture with a smile.

The stage lights dimmed slightly, and the audience held their breath in anticipation.

The TV screen in Susan's home lit up, broadcasting the clip that was about to be released.

In the frame, a face appeared that was incomparably handsome and possessed a pair of golden eyes. He was wearing a white shirt with two buttons undone at the collar, revealing sturdy collarbones and chest muscles that were faintly visible.

He looked a bit exhausted, yet even more sexy.

At this moment, Karen Wilson couldn't help but blink.

He was standing in a bedroom of a wooden house bathed in soft light, looking back at Kristen Stewart as she walked out of the bathroom, his eyes filled with confusion as he asked with a smile, "Can you tell me what happened? I've noticed you've been acting strange since the wedding. What's wrong?"

Kristen walked to the mirror, lifted her top, and examined her flat stomach, "I think... I might be pregnant. Do you think that's possible?"

The camera immediately cut to Chen Nuo's face; his first reaction was as if he had been struck, the smile on his face instantly fading away.

Then, his brow didn't furrow immediately, but instead trembled hesitantly, as if he had only just grasped the weight of her words after a brief blank moment, and the corners of his mouth twitched along with it.

After that, he quickly calmed down.

In just two or three seconds, his entire face went through layers of changes from confusion and disbelief to acceptance.

And just at the moment he spoke, the camera instantly cut back to the studio.

Amidst the screams, cheers, and applause from the audience, Jimmy Kimmel smiled and picked up the conversation, "Although it's free, I still think it's wonderful. I have to say, I'm ready to pay to see the paid clips."

"Hahahaha."

The audience was laughing, and Chen Nuo was also smiling.

Susan, in front of the TV, cursed directly, "Fuck!"

Karen Wilson frowned, "Susan!"

"Sorry, Mom, I just wanted to see what happens next..." Susan stammered, then said excitedly, "Mom, I didn't lie to you, did I? Did you see? Isn't this Chen different from how he used to be?"

"Nothing different," Karen Wilson said flatly.

"How is that possible!"

"Shut up, Susan. Don't make a fuss. Either watch TV or go to sleep."

"...Hmph."

The program in the studio officially entered its final segment.

Jimmy Kimmel took a box from under the table and said with a smile, "Currently, Twilight has produced some related merchandise..." As he spoke, he turned the box toward Chen Nuo, "Chen, have you seen this?"

Chen Nuo looked at the little plastic toys in the box.

There were T-shirts with "Edward" written on them, portraits with close-up photos of him and Kristen, diamond rings, vampire teeth, and a red vampire swaddled infant.

In short, they were all very crudely made trinkets.

This was the latest money-grabbing trick from Lionsgate chairman Rob Friedman, and also the reason why Allison and that black female publicity director had argued before the show.

Chen Nuo was, of course, on Allison's side and had absolutely no intention of hawking these cheap goods. He smiled and said, "I haven't seen them. They probably aren't made in China."

"Hahahahahaha—"

It was hard to count how many times it had been tonight, but another burst of laughter erupted from the audience.

Jimmy Kimmel laughed while saying, "Chen, you're impressive today. I'd bet there are definitely more people who want to travel to China now. Guys, raise your hands if you've changed your minds."

This time, almost everyone in the audience raised their hands in unison.

Chen Nuo looked around, suddenly smiled, and said, "Those who raised their hands, remember to post your boarding passes under my Facebook account, and I will reimburse your round-trip airfare."

"Wow!!"

The audience members who had raised their hands were instantly stunned.

This sentence was definitely not in the prior communication. The surprise on Jimmy Kimmel's face was no longer acted; his eyes widened a bit, and he said incredulously, "Chen, are you serious?"

Chen Nuo still replied with a smile, "Yes, I'm serious. For you 200 audience members here, please have your production team provide a list. If they really go to China for travel, I will reimburse all their airfare. Note: Economy class."

No one laughed at this final little joke of his.

Because after he finished the first half, the entire studio completely exploded.

Who said Americans don't like to take advantage of small gains?

The most enthusiastic cheers and applause since the show began pushed the atmosphere on set to a climax.

Not just on set, but countless viewers in front of their TVs—like Susan—screamed and jumped off their sofas.

At the same time, the ratings for the ABC television station soared at this moment.

Amidst the ear-piercing cheers and whistles, Chen Nuo waved to the audience and said with a smile, "Thank you for your enthusiastic response all night. Consider this a small compensation for you enduring my bad jokes. I hope you have a pleasant trip to China."

Jimmy Kimmel reacted at this moment to the shouting in his earpiece.

When the director's words and the cheers from the control room reached his ears, he immediately understood that even if Chen Nuo didn't pay later, the Jimmy Kimmel Show could afford it just based on these current ratings.

This was absolutely a genius-level live reaction! This small amount of money, just a few hundred thousand dollars, had achieved an effect that could not be measured by mere hundreds of thousands of dollars!

"Thank you, thank you for your generosity." Jimmy Kimmel stood up and applauded vigorously.

Chen Nuo stood up as well, smiling and bowing to all sides, silently mouthing "thank you."

Afterward, Jimmy Kimmel said loudly again, "Besides the airfare provided by Chen, there is more good news for the LA audience—tomorrow morning at nine, I will host the handprint ceremony for *Twilight: Breaking Dawn* on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not only will Chen be there, but Kristen Stewart and werewolf Taylor Lautner will also attend! Let us witness this glorious moment together!"

After finishing, he turned to Chen Nuo and said, "It's great to see you, Chen, and congratulations on everything you've achieved in this movie."

Amidst the frantic screaming and applause filling the room, he turned back to the camera and shouted with all his might, "Ladies and gentlemen—Chen Nuo! *Twilight 4: Breaking Dawn (Part 1)*, starring him, will be released in major theaters across the US in five days! Goodbye, see you tomorrow—!!!"

Because the volume on set was too loud, he had to shout like this, otherwise, even the microphone wouldn't be able to pick up the sound clearly.

Subsequently, the camera rose and turned to the live band, the *Jimmy Kimmel Show* logo appeared on the screen, and the program smoothly entered the late-night commercial break.

Beside the monitor backstage, Nia Okoro was still a bit dazed.

What was going on?

Chen Nuo's final impromptu remark was not only not in the script, but not in any contingency plan either. No rehearsal, no notification, no prior discussion—it just popped out like that, completely beyond her expectations.

Round-trip airfare for two hundred audience members to China and back was not a small sum. It must be hundreds of thousands of dollars, right? Just like that, he said he'd pay it? Is this the demeanor of a so-called Hollywood superstar and the youngest Chinese-American billionaire in the US?

"See that? Understand now? What's called a genius? This is it." A cold voice that sounded very unpleasant came over, bringing Nia back to her senses.

But before she could speak, she heard the voice add in a detached and conceited tone, "You guys pay for this money."

PS:

Back on the recommendation list after a long time.

Asking for a wave of monthly votes to make my homepage ranking look better.

Thank you.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival. Have you eaten zongzi?

(End of chapter)