King of Hollywood
Chapter 475 - 196 Two Matters

Chapter 475: Chapter 196 Two Matters

According to psychologists, sex addiction is a psychological disorder that arises from excessive stress or other factors. This concept had its beginnings in 1976, but it wasn’t until 1987 that a precise definition surfaced. Just a decade has passed since then, and if nothing unexpected happens, it might become a marginal term, possibly gaining wider social acceptance only after another ten years or more.

However, if we talk about this term becoming widely known unexpectedly, well, Clinton played an instrumental role. Although the unlucky president hasn’t yet faced the Lewinsky scandal, it won’t be long now. The plaintiff’s attorney in a sexual harassment case involving Clinton has already begun to investigate evidence of his womanizing. It’s only a matter of time before it blows up.

Strictly speaking, sex addiction can’t really be proven—it’s at most a preference, like someone enjoying reading, playing chess, or chatting online. The same goes for a playboy’s fondness for chasing beautiful women. It’s simply an attempt to describe and regulate human desire with rigid rules, worth exaggerating, yet simultaneously ridiculous.

However, the Lewinsky scandal did bring the term into the limelight. Whether Clinton played a role in this, one can’t say, but it’s undeniable that the term gave him a suitable excuse, even a justifiable explanation in front of Hilary. So, whether or not sex addiction is credible was set aside. That’s the celebrity effect.

That’s why Adrian would say that all the men in the world who have strayed should thank him. After they err, they can earnestly tell their partners, "It’s not that I wanted to do this, I just couldn’t control myself. I should see a psychologist." Countless potentially shattered homes have been salvaged as a result, and countless psychologists have found livelihood. Isn’t that a great service?

Alright, broadly speaking, whether it’s reading books or drinking tea, these daily activities can become addicting over time, though not severely so. Anyone with a bit of self-control can manage their urges, especially Adrian. Although his actions often appear reckless and careless, they are actually thought out. From the moment he set his goals, he maintained composure and steadily progressed. Otherwise, even with Claude’s help, how could he possibly create the beginnings of an empire in just a few short years, and collect his conquests one by one?

"In any case, it’s meaningless, merely medical evidence for some people’s excuses. But, regardless, I am still grateful for everything you’ve done for me," Adrian whispered as he kissed Charlize on the cheek.

The term sex addiction is still obscure, and Charlize’s inquiry suggests she had perused quite a few books. That alone was enough to earn Adrian’s acknowledgment.

"Utter nonsense," Charlize retorted, seemingly unconvinced, before crawling out of Adrian’s arms and leaving the room without mentioning the term again.

With her by his side, and the group expanding, Adrian kept abreast of the tabloids’ gossip, allowing them latitude as long as they didn’t cross the line. At least they got one thing right—he and Nicole were indeed heating things up. Adrian once said that when a woman keeps lowering her limits before you, eventually she’ll have no limits at all.

Since Nicole had made her choice, whether willingly or seduced and coerced by Adrian, she had let herself go, and her responses were particularly passionate. Oh, passionate is not the right word—how should it be put? Each time in bed, she fought as if in a battle, determined to defeat Adrian, as if her very life depended on it.

Adrian, for his part, welcomed this. Whether it was Monica and Julia, or Gwyneth and Blanchett together, he handled them with ease, let alone Nicole by herself. So, Adrian fully enjoyed her body, and by the end, he would leave her limp as clay. Of course, he never forgot to pay that 1 US dollar "prostitution fee," and Nicole accepted it each time without hesitation, as if challenging him. Quite amusing.

Now, setting aside those affairs and the gossip, the newly released "L.A. Confidential" garnered positive reviews but saw modest box office returns, earning 8 million dollars across 1000 theaters in its opening week—a respectable performance. This matched the assessment of the assistant manager, who had predicted that nostalgics would be the main audience, and that the film would struggle during the competitive Christmas season.

For his accurate foresight, Adrian rewarded and encouraged the assistant. Talent is always crucial. As for the box office of "L.A. Confidential," as long as it broke even, that was enough. After all, the film’s primary purpose was never about the box office.

By late January, another eye-catching event occurred. During the annual Super Bowl’s halftime show, a fashion show was held on the field. But this show was different from any other—there were no peculiar outfits, only a variety of lingerie styles, and the tantalizing lingerie models!

As one might imagine, when these models, flaunting their curves in seductive lingerie, walked out, many men’s pulses raced. ABC, which held the broadcasting rights for the Super Bowl, aired the entire event, and numerous websites streamed it live online. And thus, people quickly remembered the bold lingerie brand: Victoria’s Secret!

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events in the United States, consistently drawing high viewership ratings. Holding the broadcasting rights guarantees profit, with countless advertisers vying for a spot to run their ads, spending millions for mere seconds. Many actors and singers are also eager to make an appearance, knowing that just being seen can significantly boost their popularity—Madonna and Michael Jackson included.

Hence, it’s evident how much Victoria’s Secret benefited—its models’ presence even overshadowed the following performances and became the most talked-about topic of the Super Bowl. In a few days, sales doubled, and the brand’s reputation was enhanced. Becoming a high-end brand seemed imminent.

"I have to admit, you always see one step ahead of others." After getting the specific situation from Victoria’s Secret, Claude called Adrian over and opened a bottle of champagne in the office.

"So, spending a lot of money to fight for broadcasting rights is worth it," Adrian said, raising his glass. "Now, you don’t oppose going after more broadcasting rights, do you?"

"I have never opposed it; I just believe in seizing the right moment, after all, it rotates," Claude said with a sly smile.

As I mentioned earlier, NFL events and the Super Bowl are among the few programs that only make money and never lose, especially the Super Bowl, which is almost a must-watch program for Americans. The Super Bowl was originally broadcast exclusively by NBC, but monopoly behavior is naturally unpopular. Therefore, as the Super Bowl’s viewership continued to rise, the other three television networks also got involved. Ultimately, like the fragmented NFL broadcasting rights, the Super Bowl also became a rotating broadcast among the four major wireless broadcast companies.

However, even so, it still requires money talks. The higher the price offered, the easier it is to obtain more broadcasting rights. As always, NBC and CBS hold the lion’s share, as these two of the Four Major Broadcast Companies have the most substantial capital; then comes FOX, with ABC at the end. Unfortunately, for most of the time from the mid-1980s to the present, ABC has been operating at a loss. If it weren’t for the favorable initial agreement, they might not have gotten any seasons at all.

This situation improved after AC Media acquired them. With the injection of new capital and the broadcast of several well-rated programs, ABC finally caught its breath and then used this opportunity to secure the early 1998 Super Bowl broadcast rights they were almost about to lose. Just at this time, negotiations for a new round of NFL event broadcasting rights started again, and Adrian suggested taking the opportunity to invest heavily to secure the broadcasting rights for at least ten seasons of the Super Bowl.

Although Claude was not very fond of football, he was clear about the impact of the Super Bowl. At first, he was a bit hesitant, thinking that ten seasons might be a bit too many and ABC had just emerged from hardship. However, after seeing the tremendous effect of the Victoria’s Secret walk during the Super Bowl, he made up his mind.

"With this platform, we can arrange for the singers or actors we want to promote under our label to perform to gain popularity, just like Victoria’s Secret did," Adrian said after downing his champagne.

"Is that so?" Claude responded noncommittally with a smile that seemed to see through Adrian’s thoughts, while Adrian shrugged indifferently.

"I do have an idea, Ed," Claude suddenly changed the subject. "Perhaps we should also consider buying two or three sports teams."

"Oh?" Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any suggestions?"

Generally, American conglomerates buy a few sports teams to dabble in. For example, TBS originally owned two hockey teams and one basketball team, but AC Media sold them off after taking over. They only kept the basketball team in honor of Ted Turner, though Turner still felt dejected for quite a while.

There are many sports in the United States, and their popularity varies. Football is the most beloved, as seen by the extremely high viewership of the Super Bowl. Baseball is next, followed by basketball, and then hockey, etc. Jordan managed to make basketball briefly surpass baseball as the second most popular event through his personal charm before he retired. Although he has since come back to play, he can no longer change the overall situation.

In essence, owning a popular team in a well-liked sport also has its status. It’s not much different from the competition among nouveau riche, except it’s wrapped in many splendid exteriors and thus appears distinct and superior to others. So, undoubtedly, Claude’s goal was one of the NFL teams.

"There are several considerations, but not now," Claude said with a smile. "I know your plans; don’t be nervous."

Adrian smiled and said nothing. The last piece of the puzzle had not yet fallen into place, and discussing these matters seemed premature. Besides, even after the final piece is in place, it only means that the foundation is firmly laid. To make the Empire look more splendid and truly live up to its name, continued effort is necessary. Of course, it won’t take too long—just two or three years will suffice.

"What about you, Ed? What suggestions do you have?" Claude suddenly asked.

"Me?" Adrian raised an eyebrow. To be honest, he wasn’t very interested in the NFL, but speaking of teams.

"I would really like to buy the Lakers, but I don’t know how to deal with that old guy, Jerry Buss," he said, spreading his hands.

"Why the Lakers?" Claude asked with interest.

"Because they’re a Los Angeles team," Adrian lied without batting an eye.

"The Clippers are too."

"Not like the Lakers, and besides, Jerry Buss and Donald Sterling are friends—okay, if you’re really willing to grant my wish, Claude, then find a way to deal with Buss."

The topic was dropped there, and though selling the Lakers from Buss wasn’t particularly difficult, it was by no means easy. Just like Claude’s idea to buy a football team, we’d talk about it when the last piece of the puzzle was in place.

At the end of January ’98, aside from Victoria’s Secret’s stunning fashion show at the Super Bowl, something else happened. For many people, it wasn’t an important event, but for Adrian and those involved, it was memorable. Britney’s debut album was released, and the lead single began to climb the charts. The song was called "Baby One More Time."

"Hey, how are you listeners doing, I’m your faithful Warden Jackson! Oh, every time I say my own name I can’t help but complain, why did my father name me Warden instead of Michael, I would have been so proud, you know MJ once told me, I was just a little worse than him when singing ’Beat It’..."

As the voice came from the radio, one of the girls waiting in front couldn’t help but complain, "Damn, this guy sure can ramble."

Perhaps hearing her complaint, the radio host quickly changed the topic: "Alright, alright, let’s get to the main topic before the producer in front of me goes crazy, he’ll kill me if I don’t. So, the first piece we’re recommending today is from a newcomer, a sixteen-year-old girl’s debut single. It’s lively and cute, full of energy with a hint of sweetness, and has a strong sense of rhythm, perfect for young people. Now, let’s listen to Britney Spears’ ’Baby One More Time’!"

As the upbeat rhythm started playing, the girls waiting around immediately began cheering, especially the girl in the center.

"How about that, this is my new song! I can hardly wait to find out where it’ll place when the Billboard chart comes out." Britney proudly boasted to her friends, and they all looked at her with eyes filled with envy or jealousy.

"It should be at least in the top 20," one girl speculated after thinking for a while, "The music video is great too, Britney looks so pretty."

"Who knows, maybe it could even get into the top ten," another girl offered a different opinion.

From the radio, Britney’s slightly husky yet sweet voice carried through. It was undeniable - her tone was very tasty and likable. Soon, the girls began humming along, and Britney looked even more pleased.

Soon, the song ended, and the radio host’s playful voice rang out again: "Oh, that was absolutely lovely, a sweet and magnetic voice that captivates the imagination. Okay, I’ve decided, I have to invite her to be a guest on my next show. I want to know what kind of sweet and cute girl she is. If you also want to know, then pray dear producers agree to my request!"

"Wow, Britney’s going to be on Warden Jackson’s radio show."

"He actually wants to know what kind of sweet and cute girl you are, I’m so jealous, Britney."

A bunch of girls started to tease her, crowding around and jostling Britney.

"Alright, didn’t he say it depended on the producers’ approval?" Britney said, even though her chin was lifted high and her prideful expression did not fade one bit.

But she quickly remembered something and shouted, then started to pack up in a rush, seemingly preparing to leave.

"What happened?" a girl asked.

"I almost forgot, I have to meet with the art director at the record company this afternoon to discuss something. Sorry, I can’t stay with you girls," Britney said apologetically, then hurried down the stairs without stopping.

"Mom, I’m going out for a bit, I might be back late." She ran through several rooms before finding her mother in the corner of the kitchen, and to her surprise, her father was there too.

"What’s up, dear?" Lynn asked her daughter.

Britney repeated her previous statement.

"I’ll take you there," Jamie Spears said at that moment.

"No need, Dad, I can just take a taxi there. It’s not a big deal. If it’s quick, I’ll be back soon, but if it takes a while, I might be back later in the evening," Britney refused.

"Hey, Britney, can we come with?" The other girls also ran down from upstairs.

"Oh no, I have things to discuss with the art director today. If you want to visit, I can apply for you. If the company agrees, you can go anytime." As Britney’s voice became distant, the girls quickly left the kitchen, and the two adults returned their gazes.

"You should go with her, Jamie," Lynn said, dissatisfied.

"Don’t worry, she’s not a child. If I went with her, she would only resent it," Jamie shrugged indifferently.

"But..." Lynn seemed to want to say something else, but she closed her mouth after uttering two words.

"Are you worried she might get a boyfriend?" Jamie joked.

"Maybe it’s just my imagination." Lynn didn’t deny it and sighed with a frown, "I just feel like recently..."

"Alright, let’s not worry about that now, let’s see how the results turn out, it might not be much," Jamie said in a light-hearted manner, yet excitement flashed in his eyes betraying his thoughts.

"Anyway, just keep an eye out," Lynn said, not saying much else, "If Britney really becomes a big star..."

"I know what to do," Jamie immediately said, "This could be our family’s opportunity!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)