Ghost

Last year's Gone with the Wind not only made Vivien Leigh, newly arrived in Hollywood, a household name, but also earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. This year's Waterloo Bridge pushed her fame to even greater heights, making her one of Hollywood's hottest stars.

Vivien Leigh's appearance at the Stark Expo instantly set the entire venue ablaze. Listening to the endless screams around him—especially Little Monroe's particularly piercing shrieks in his arms—Zhang Xuan could not help but sigh. Fans were this fanatical in every era.

Vivien Leigh merely showed herself onstage before quickly disappearing backstage. The audience below was deeply dissatisfied and vented their resentment on Howard Stark, who appeared right after her. No matter how eloquently Howard Stark spoke, not a single person bought it. They all shouted and cursed for him to get off the stage.

Watching Howard Stark's embarrassed expression onstage, Zhang Xuan could not help feeling a little sorry for the future Iron Man's father. In truth, Zhang Xuan was very interested in what Howard had introduced. He realized that aside from Hollywood, he might have another way to make money.

"After meeting Vivien Leigh, I'll go talk to him." Zhang Xuan looked at the utterly awkward Howard onstage, then decided to find Vivien Leigh first. "Come on, Little Monroe. Let's go find the big star, Vivien Leigh!" Of all the stars of this era, Zhang Xuan only liked Audrey Hepburn. He felt nothing for the others, so he spoke far more casually.

The moment Little Monroe heard Zhang Xuan's words, she knew her brother was about to use magic again. She was thrilled—far more excited than she was about meeting Vivien Leigh.

Zhang Xuan did not know where Vivien Leigh was, so he had to search one place at a time. Fortunately, the backstage area was not that large, and he quickly found her room.

After setting Little Monroe down from his arms and straightening his clothes, Zhang Xuan walked to the door and knocked softly.

"Who is it?" A voice as clear as a spring bell rang out from inside the room.

"Hello, Miss Vivien Leigh. My name is Alex Zhang, and I have something I'd like to ask your help with." While knocking, Zhang Xuan had already made up his mind. Of the three movies, he had ruled out the other two and kept only one.

After Zhang Xuan finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment before the door opened. Vivien Leigh poked her head out, looked Zhang Xuan up and down, and asked doubtfully, "What is it?"

"It's like this. I have a story, and I hope Miss Vivien Leigh would be willing to hear it." Zhang Xuan put on what he thought was a very gentle smile.

Vivien Leigh hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Come in."

"Thank you for trusting me so much, Miss Vivien Leigh." Zhang Xuan had not expected it to be so easy, and he felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"You don't look like a bad person." Vivien Leigh led Zhang Xuan into the room. Hearing his words, she turned back and smiled at him.

Was that an indirect good-guy card? Zhang Xuan had no strength left to complain.

"All right, I'd better tell the story." Zhang Xuan sighed inwardly and began. "Miss Vivien Leigh, I hope you like this story."

"Sam and his fiancée Molly moved into a beautiful apartment that their friend Carl had helped them trade for. Sam, a young bank clerk, and his fiancée Molly were deeply in love and preparing for their wedding. One night, while returning from the theater, they were robbed by a thug. Sam was shot and killed during the struggle, and Molly was devastated. Sam became a ghost and soon discovered that Carl, his friend, had been the mastermind behind his death. To steal a huge sum of money from the bank, Carl wanted the password Sam knew, and he began pursuing Molly."

"Sam gradually learned how to use his power. He often lingered around Molly, protecting her at all times, but he could not communicate with her. To stop Carl, he found Oda, a medium who could communicate with ghosts, and contacted Molly through her."

"At first, Molly did not believe it, but the truth eventually made her feel Sam's presence. However, the two people who loved each other so deeply could not touch or speak to one another directly. To protect Molly and punish the murderer, Sam took revenge on Carl. He recovered the huge sum Carl had stolen and made several of Carl's men receive their just deserts. A furious Carl tried to hurt Molly, but Oda and Sam arrived in time. Faced with a ghost filled with hatred, Carl finally brought about his own destruction."

"Having fulfilled his wish, Sam was greeted by an Angel and was about to go to heaven... Before disappearing, Molly finally saw Sam take physical form, and the two embraced tightly. In the end, with a heart full of reluctance and love for Molly, Sam returned to God's embrace."

"Brother, let Sam stay, okay?" Little Monroe clutched Zhang Xuan's arm, her eyes slightly red as she spoke through a sob.

Zhang Xuan reached out to wipe away the tears at the corner of Little Monroe's eyes. He chuckled softly and said gently, "Monroe, it's only a story."

"Then Sam still has to stay!" Little Monroe insisted tearfully.

"Mr. Alex, this is a deeply moving story. I like it very much. Thank you!" Vivien Leigh lightly wiped away her tears with a finger, taking a deep breath to calm the stirrings in her heart.

"Miss Vivien Leigh, what do you think would happen if this story were put on the big screen?" Seeing Vivien Leigh's expression, Zhang Xuan knew that half his task was already done. He asked confidently.

"You want to make it into a movie?" Vivien Leigh suddenly understood.

"Why not? Isn't an undying love what everyone hopes for?"

"What do you want to do?" Vivien Leigh loved the story, and she knew it would definitely make a good movie if brought to the big screen. She could not help wanting to play Molly.

"Sell the story to you, and what happens afterward is up to you!" It was not that Zhang Xuan was generous or did not want to make it himself. He simply did not have that ability. Besides, he knew nothing about Hollywood. Charging in rashly could easily leave him battered and bloodied. Selling the story was much more convenient.

"No, I won't buy it." Vivien Leigh pondered for a moment, then shook her head and refused.

"Why?" Zhang Xuan was baffled. He had not even named a price, yet Vivien Leigh had refused outright. This was not going according to the usual script. Was she trying to bargain? But judging by Vivien Leigh's expression, she truly did not seem to want to buy it.

"Selling it to me would be a waste. I can introduce you to someone who will give you a satisfactory price." Vivien Leigh smiled and named someone. "Victor Fleming."

"Who is that?" Zhang Xuan knew very few people in this era, so the question slipped out instinctively.

"The director of Gone with the Wind. He is a great poet. He will like this story and pay the appropriate price for it." Vivien Leigh was not angered by Zhang Xuan's question. After all, how many people paid attention to who directed a movie?

"All right, then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Vivien Leigh." Zhang Xuan had not expected selling a story to be so troublesome. He could not help thinking of Howard Stark outside. Perhaps dealing with him would be easier.

"By the way, Mr. Alex, does this story have a name?"

"Ghost!"