Chapter 2 Lobbyist From Grandfather

• In the side streets of Hartley City, a black Bentley was driving along at a leisurely pace, while a Toyota sedan followed it sneakily, maintaining a certain distance but always trailing closely behind.
• However, as they waited at a traffic light, the black Bentley suddenly disappeared without a trace. The Toyota sedan, taken aback for a moment, quickly hit the gas in pursuit, driving around the area for another half an hour without even catching a glimpse of the Bentley's taillights.
• Five paparazzi, frustrated and angry, got out of the car: "We lost him again. Joshua Walker must be smart. We've been following him for half a year and haven't gotten a single piece of dirt!"
• It was because of Joshua Walker's mythical long-standing popularity that they were determined to dig up some major dirt. This time, almost all the key members of their company were sent out, only to be played again and again, not to mention the frustration, but their pride was also hurt.
• One bald man was much calmer: "Alright, Joshua Walker has been in the industry for six or seven years without any scandals. Even if someone tries to stir up trouble, it gets cleared up quickly. In such cases, either the person really does live a clean life, or their background is unimaginably powerful, or it could be both. It's not embarrassing if we can't dig anything up."
• At the age of nineteen, Joshua Walker landed his first role in a war movie as a deranged villain, a character that should have been universally despised.
• Yet he skyrocketed to fame on his stunning looks and extraordinary acting skills, achieving overnight success as if he had dropped a thunderbolt into the entertainment industry.
• After that, although he didn't take on many projects, each of his films was renowned for its high quality and high ratings. He became the epitome of high-quality films, managing to stay at the peak of fame in the ever-changing entertainment industry.
• Despite frequent rumors of his arrogance and disregard for others, he is still worshiped by countless fans as an idol.
• He asked again, "Did you get any photos? Even a few photos would be enough to report back."
• Others passed the camera to him.
• The Bentley window was half lowered, and in the photos, Joshua Walker's hair was slightly long and curly, casual and carefree, resembling a noble from the Middle Ages.
• With the car window half lowered, only his eyebrows and eyes were visible. His eyebrows were deeply carved, and his eyes slanted upwards at the corners, luxurious and dazzling, exuding a proud and dazzling beauty.
• The bald man, having been exposed to his beauty for so long, was subtly turning into a fan, and he couldn't help but comment, "This guy sure knows how to charm girls..."
• As the bald man flipped through the photos, he saw one where Joshua Walker's dark eyes casually glanced towards the camera, exuding a sense of oppression that was clearly transmitted through the screen.
• The bald man shuddered involuntarily: "Alright, let's head back. We'll switch to another recently."
• As the daylight grew stronger, the black Bentley navigated through the winding streets of Hartley, finally coming to a stop at an unassuming courtyard entrance.
• Joshua Walker parked the car just in time before two ladies dressed in tailored maid outfits emerged. They dared not look at him directly and led him towards the courtyard, speaking softly, "Mr. Walker, Mr. Anderson is waiting for you in VIP Room 9. Please follow me."
• Joshua Walker followed them inside, where James Anderson had been waiting at the door for some time. Seeing Joshua Walker, he waved and complained with a grin, "Made me wait for half an hour. Your status is really getting out of hand. Where have you been? Busy with filming again?"
• Joshua Walker was born rebellious. He had a falling out with his father and ran off to Manchester to study drama and acting.
• During his studies, he even managed to land a role in a film, and to everyone's surprise, he actually succeeded. This success allowed him to break free from the Walker family, and using his acting earnings, he established his own company.
• With a keen eye and a shrewd approach to business, he has now risen to a position that seems unshakable.
• The Walker family has a traditional ethos and was extremely dissatisfied with his choice to be in the spotlight as an actor. They even tried to use their connections in the industry to stop him, but failed. This only goes to show the extent of his abilities.
• However, as things progressed, his grandfather, Benjamin Walker's health was deteriorating, and Joshua Walker gradually reconciled with his family.
• He is slowly starting to take over the family business and plans to merge his own company with it. His interest in acting has also waned, and he is preparing to retire from the entertainment industry after completing his current film commitments.
• However, it's not common to see someone like Joshua Walker in a rich and powerful family who makes money in the entertainment industry. His friends often tease him about his star status.
• In the face of mockery, Joshua Walker sneered: "Sorry, I have a big ego and don't accept personal questions. If you have any questions, please contact my agent three days in advance for an appointment."
• James Anderson: "..."
• Joshua Walker walked into the room and sat down, rather roughly pulling at his collar, leaning back, and impatiently said: "Stop beating around the bush, what's your business with me?"
• James Anderson's playful expression stiffened. He had planned to joke around a bit before getting to the point, but seeing Joshua Walker's straightforward question, he dared not delay, lest he really turn around and leave.
• He cleared his throat: "You know, recently your family has been worried about finding a partner for you. Your father and stepmother introduced you to four or five well-bred ladies, but you didn't like any of them. So, your grandfather had to step in and find a suitable match for you. When do you plan to go on a blind date?"
• He paused before remembering: "Oh, right, the girl's name is Amanda Moore, the daughter of the famous director Joseph Evans and the actress Brittany Moore in the industry. You should know them, right?"
• Benjamin Walker was really pleased with Amanda Moore and was eager for her to meet Joshua Walker. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked him, a younger generation, to intervene.
• "Of course I know them." Joshua Walker mocked with a lift of his lips. "Let me show you something fun."
• He opened Google and searched for 'Joseph Evans', then handed the phone to James Anderson. The news following the name 'Joseph Evans' was far from flattering—['Famous Director Joseph Evans Loses Investment, Owes Millions to Bank'], ['Joseph Evans, Brittany Moore Debtors'], ['Joseph Evans's Daughter'].
• Joshua Walker clicked his tongue in disdain, his face full of contempt: "He's been in debt for a few years, and it just kept growing with interest. He couldn't handle it anymore and started looking for solutions a few months ago. Yesterday, this matter suddenly spread online."
• He pulled the corner of his mouth, coldly snorted: "The Moore family's older generation and my grandfather are old acquaintances. He used this connection to get in touch with my grandfather, taking advantage of my grandfather's confused state due to illness. I don't know what he said, but later, my grandfather kept urging me to meet Joseph Evans' daughter. With Joseph Evans' behavior, his daughter..."
• James Anderson sighed: "She's here for money."
• If Joseph Evans could climb onto the Walker family tree, not only would he no longer have to worry about his debts, but he would also have wealth and prosperity for the rest of his life. So, he rushed to influence the bedridden Benjamin Walker, shamelessly trying to marry his daughter into the family.
• James Anderson really hadn't expected Joseph Evans and Amanda Moore to be of such a character, but remembering the instructions from his family elders, he still took out a photo and continued to act as an unscrupulous matchmaker with a forced smile: "Anyway, it's just a blind date to get to know each other. It's not like you have to marry her right away. Look, the girl is so beautiful."
• Indeed, Amanda Moore in the photo was stunning. She was dressed in a simple T-shirt, and even through the raw camera, her features were exquisitely flawless, especially her eyes, which were full of life and charm. Her delicate and fragile figure was truly pitiable, making it hard not to forgive her for any wrongs she might have committed.
• This face, coupled with the actions of her family, made it difficult not to suspect her of being cunning and manipulative.
• To be honest, James Anderson's heart had skipped a beat when he first saw the photo. No wonder she had the confidence to climb the social ladder. He couldn't help but comment: "She looks pretty innocent, huh."
• Joshua Walker took a quick glance and seemed to recall an unpleasant memory, furrowing his brows tightly. "Why does it have to be this kind of look again?"
• James Anderson suddenly remembered that when Joshua Walker had just debuted at the age of eighteen or nineteen, a female star with a similar innocent appearance had tried to seduce him and, when unsuccessful, had accused him of molestation. His prospects and reputation were almost ruined as a result. It took a great effort to find footage from a blind spot in surveillance to clear his name, and since then, he had developed PTSD towards such innocent-looking beauties.
• James Anderson's matchmaker endeavor suffered another setback.
• "Anyway, it's just a meeting. You have nothing to lose. This girl is so beautiful, I'm even tempted. Your grandfather is still in the hospital, and he won't be able to rest easy without this meeting." He started babbling and blurted out, "How about you act shamelessly in front of her during the meeting to sabotage it? You're good at that."
• Joshua Walker: "..."
• His expression shifted, suddenly showing a thoughtful look.
• James Anderson was very familiar with his expression and widened his eyes in disbelief. "You're not serious about acting shamelessly, are you? How will you explain to your grandfather if this deal falls through?"
• Joshua Walker, with his legs crossed, casually said, "I knew you were tempted by her. You're pushing me to sabotage this blind date. It's a great idea, isn't it?"
• James Anderson was about to curse, but upon reflection, he realized that this plan might actually be the most reliable option. His task was simply to persuade Joshua Walker to go on the blind date, and if Joshua ruined it, they could get rid of Joseph Evans's tangle. They could just say they weren't compatible, which would also serve as an explanation to their grandfather.
• He thought for a moment and urged, "Then add her on WhatsApp first."
• After much nagging from James Anderson, Joshua Walker finally opened WhatsApp, and sure enough, there was a red notification on the contacts.
• He opened it and saw that the person's username was 'Recalling Youth', with a blue sky as their avatar, which was popular among the middle-aged and elderly.
• Joshua Walker: "what?"