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At 7:00 a.m. on January 8, 1976, Suning had just finished his morning meeting in his Santa Monica office when Lisa, the public relations director, rushed in with a thick stack of newspapers.

"Boss, something happened!"

"What's the rush?" Suning was looking at the latest progress report on the Motorola project.

"Your story with Emily Clark has been featured on the front page of The Hollywood Reporter!" Lisa slammed the newspaper on the table.

The headline is eye-catching: "Tech upstart and Golden Globe-nominated actress in a hot romance! Exclusive reveal of Lemon Technology boss Suning's secret dates with Emily Clark!"

The accompanying photos are three: one is a picture of Suning and Emily talking in a corner at the Lemon 6 launch dinner last October; another is a picture of the two leaving the parking lot of the Beverly Hills Hotel together and getting into the same car; and the third is a picture of Emily coming out of Suning's villa the next morning.

"Where did these photos come from?" Su Ning frowned.

“It must have been taken by reporters at the dinner party, in the parking lot and at the villa entrance… probably by paparazzi lying in wait.” Lisa’s face was grim. “Now all the media in the US are following this story.”

As soon as he finished speaking, all three telephones on the table rang at the same time.

One is a media hotline, one is the company's external communication line, and the other is Suning's personal phone line.

Lisa answered the media hotline: "Lemon Technology PR Department... We're sorry, we cannot comment on our boss's private matters... No, we will not arrange interviews..."

The private phone was still ringing. Suning glanced at the number; it was Emily.

He answered the call.

"Sue, did you see the news?" Emily's voice sounded a little nervous, but not entirely panicked.

"I'm looking at it now," Su Ning said. "What do you think?"

“My agent was woken up by a phone call at five in the morning,” Emily said. “There are twelve reporters and three TV broadcast vans blocking my door right now. The production company just called me to ask if I could use this opportunity to promote the new movie.”

"what do you say?"

“I said I needed to discuss it with my ‘friend’,” Emily paused. “Sue, this is an opportunity. For both of us.”

Su Ning understood what she meant.

"You want to go public?"

“Not completely public, but we can…keep it vague.” Emily had clearly thought it through. “We won’t admit to the relationship, but we won’t deny it either. We’ll attend some events together and let the media take pictures. That way, your company will get exposure, and my new movie will get free publicity—a win-win situation.”

"You've thought of everything very thoroughly," Su Ning said.

“To make it in Hollywood, you have to think things through,” Emily laughed. “And to be honest, Sue, you’re the most suitable ‘rumored partner’ I’ve ever met. Young, rich, single, with social standing, and exceptionally strong in bed. Having a rumored relationship with you will only enhance my worth, not diminish it.”

This is a very straightforward statement, but it is sincere.

“I need to think about it,” Su Ning said.

"Of course. But I suggest you decide as soon as possible, because the whole of America is speculating about our relationship. The longer you drag it out, the more outrageous the stories the media will come up with."

After hanging up the phone, Lisa had just finished dealing with a group of reporters.

"Boss, what do we do now? Deny or admit it?"

"We won't respond for now," Suning said. "Let's find out who took the photos and which media outlet broke the news first."

"Yes! Boss."

……

Two hours later, the situation got worse.

NBC's morning news ran this gossip: "A crossover romance between the tech world and Hollywood? Lemon Technology founder Suning and actress Emily Clarke were photographed leaving in the same car late at night..."

ABC's entertainment news went even further: "It is reported that Emily Clark is the first woman to be photographed freely entering and leaving Suning's Beverly Hills mansion. Previously, Suning had always been known as a workaholic with almost no scandals..."

CBS even did a special feature: "The Emotional World of Tech Elites - A Look at the Female Celebrities Who Have Been Around Suning."

The report listed seven or eight names, all of whom were Hollywood actresses and models who had interacted with Suning on various occasions over the past few years. However, the final conclusion was: "...but these were all brief encounters. Only Emily Clark was photographed leaving Suning's residence, which is the first time there is substantial evidence."

In the office, Su Ning watched TV, her face expressionless.

John, the head of intelligence, came in.

"Boss, we've found out. The photos were taken by paparazzi from The Hollywood Reporter. They've been following Emily for almost a month. They originally wanted to photograph her affair with the director, but they ended up photographing you instead."

"For a month?" Su Ning frowned. "She didn't know?"

“She probably knew, but didn’t care,” John said. “Being followed by paparazzi is the norm in Hollywood. And… I suspect she might have deliberately left something out.”

"What do you mean?"

“According to our intelligence, Emily’s new movie is coming out next month, and the production company is short on budget and lacks publicity funds,” John analyzed. “Breaking the news about you now can save at least a million dollars in publicity costs.”

"So she might have taken advantage of this exposure?"

"Probably."

Just then, the second phone call came in.

This time it's Suning's adoptive mother, Mrs. Gan.

"Suning, is what they said on TV true? You're dating a female celebrity?" Mrs. Gan's voice was a mix of joy and worry.

"Mom, that's just something the media wrote."

“But the photos are real! That girl came out of your house… Su Ning, if you’re serious about dating, Mom will support you. But female celebrities… Mom is a little worried, that circle is complicated.”

"I know, Mom. I'll handle it."

"Oh, by the way, your brother Fores also called to ask. He remembers Emily, saying he saw her on TV and that she's very pretty." Mrs. Gan changed the subject. "If you're serious, why don't you bring her home to show your mother?"

"We'll see, Mom. I've been really busy lately."

I had just hung up on my mother when the third call came in—it was Galvin, the chairman of Motorola.

"Su, congratulations!" Galvin teased. "You're on the front page."

"It made you laugh."

“I’m not laughing at you, this is a good thing,” Galvin said seriously. “Did you know that Motorola’s stock price rose by 2% today? Just because the news about our cooperation was brought up again. That’s how the media works; one news story can drive all related topics.”

"What do you think I should do?"

“I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity,” Galvin said shrewdly. “Dating a female celebrity will make Lemon Technology’s image more ‘human’ and closer to the public. Right now, your company is too tech-savvy, and ordinary consumers feel distant from it. Having a Hollywood girlfriend can bridge that gap.”

"But wouldn't that seem unprofessional?"

“A 32-year-old billionaire dating a beautiful actress, that’s legendary, not unprofessional,” Galvin laughed. “Take my advice, respond appropriately, but maintain an air of mystery. The media loves to speculate. Give them a little clue, and they can give you free publicity for months.”

"Okay! Maybe you're right."

……

At 10 a.m., Suning convened a meeting with its core team.

In the meeting room, everyone had a different expression.

Lisa, the PR director, was very anxious: "Boss, we already have 27 media outlets requesting interviews, and three TV stations want to schedule exclusive interviews. We need a unified public statement."

Marketing Director Jack was excited: "This is not a bad thing! Today, searches for Lemon computers have surged by 300%, and many media outlets are mentioning the new features of the Lemon 6 when reporting on the relationship. This is free advertising! Moreover, sales of our Lemon 5 and 4 models have also skyrocketed, and our factories are applying to postpone the discontinuation of the 4 model."

"Yes, because we are innovating so quickly, the old production lines should continue to be located elsewhere. In the future, we will maintain the simultaneous production of three models of Lemon computers."

"But this will inevitably cause our costs to skyrocket."

“We can consider contract manufacturing! We can support manufacturers controlled by our Lemon Technology and look for underdeveloped, low-cost regions.”

"clear."

General Counsel Robert cautiously said, "Boss, we still need to get back to the rumors. We need to be careful. If you're not really dating, this kind of hype could constitute false advertising and carry legal risks."

"So we need to decide," Su Ning said, looking at everyone. "To admit it, to deny it, or to leave it ambiguous?"

Everyone expressed their opinions.

Jack insisted, “Boss, what a great marketing opportunity this is! Just think, a love story between a tech genius and a Hollywood star—this could be made into a movie! It would be a huge boost to the brand image.”

Lisa worried, "But what if we break up later? It would be a blow to the company's image."

Robert said, "From a legal perspective, I suggest neither admitting nor denying it, just saying 'it's a private matter.' That's the safest approach."

David Fleming, who had been silent until now, spoke up: "Boss, to be honest, you should start dating. You're thirty-two, working every day, you should have some life of your own."

Everyone turned to look at David.

“I’m serious,” David explained with a wry smile. “How many days did you work last year? Three hundred and forty days? If you keep going like this, what’s the point of a big company if you ruin your health?”

The conference room was quiet.

Su Ning thought for a moment and said, "Lisa, please issue a short statement in my personal capacity. It should say: Thank you for your concern. Ms. Clark and I are good friends, and we are currently focused on our respective careers. I cannot discuss personal matters in detail. Please pay more attention to Lemon Technology's new products."

“This is a way to keep things vague,” Lisa noted. “Then,” Suning continued, “we’ll contact Emily’s agent and arrange for us to attend a charity gala together next week. Let the media take pictures, but don’t say anything.”

"Is this... giving the media clues to guess?" Jack's eyes lit up.

“Yes.” Su Ning nodded. “Since we can’t avoid it, let’s make use of it.”

……

In the afternoon, Emily's side issued a statement first.

Her agency's statement was cleverly worded: "Ms. Emily Clarke is currently focused on filming and promoting her new film, 'Midnight in Paris.' She is a good friend of Mr. Sue and thanks everyone for their concern, but please respect her privacy."

But then, Emily gave a phone interview to People magazine.

The reporter asked, "Ms. Clark, what is your relationship with Mr. Gan?"

Emily replied, “Sue is a wonderful friend, very intelligent and charming. We haven’t known each other for long, but we get along very well.”

"Just friends?"

“That’s true for now,” Emily smiled. “Who knows what the future holds?”

Will you attend his company's press conference?

"If I have time, of course. I'm very interested in technology."

The media went even crazier after this interview was published.

"We're friends now"—that means we might not be in the future!

"Interested in technology"—this means she'll be at Lemon Tech's events!

The perfect public relations statement neither admitted anything nor failed to leave room for interpretation.

In the evening, Emily called Suning.

"Did you see my interview?" she asked casually.

"I saw it, and that was a very clever answer."

“The salesperson taught me those lines,” Emily confessed. “Sue, I’ve accepted to the charity gala next week. I’ve already chosen the dress—a silver gown that will go perfectly with your black suit.”

"You've thought of everything."

“It’s work,” Emily said. “In Hollywood, dating is part of the job. Especially dating someone like you.”

“You said before that I was a suitable ‘rumored partner’.”

“I still think so.” Emily paused. “But to be honest, Sue, it’s much more comfortable to have a rumored relationship with you than with those producers. At least you’re really young, really handsome, and really rich.”

Suning smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment."

"You're welcome. See you next week? By the way, how about we have dinner together before the banquet? Maybe we can get the paparazzi to take another set of photos?"

"can."

……

In the following days, the entire American media was buzzing about this news.

Time magazine published a comparative report: "The love lives of tech giants - Bill Gates focused on his career, Steve Jobs was maverick, while Suning chose Hollywood."

BusinessWeek offered a unique perspective: "After the relationship was exposed, searches for Lemon Technology's brand increased by 500%, which is expected to drive sales up by more than 10% in the next quarter."

Entertainment media are even more gossipy.

Vanity Fair unearthed all of Emily Clarke's ex-boyfriends, analyzing them one by one: "From directors to actors, and then to tech tycoons, Clarke's criteria for choosing a partner has been changing..."

TMZ even sent paparazzi to stake out the couple's residence 24/7, hoping to capture more solid evidence.

But the photos only showed the two of them going to work and traveling separately—Suning went to the company every day, and Emily went to the film set every day.

It wasn't until Friday night that the two were finally photographed dining together at a French restaurant in Beverly Hills.

The photo is very clear: Suning pulls out a chair for Emily, and the two chat and laugh, with Emily's hand gently resting on Suning's arm.

These photos made headlines again.

"Confirmed! Suning and Emily dined intimately together!"

This time, even European media outlets have started reporting on it.

The Daily Mail (UK) reported: "American tech tycoon falls for Hollywood sweetheart, cross-industry romance sparks attention."

Paris Match, a French magazine: "A romantic encounter between Silicon Valley and Hollywood."

Japanese media went even further, calling Suning "America's technology prince" and Emily "Hollywood princess."

……

A charity gala was held a week later at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

At 7 p.m., when Suning's black Mercedes and Emily's red sports car arrived almost simultaneously, the flashes of dozens of reporters on site instantly went off.

Suning got out of the car first, then naturally walked to Emily's car and opened the car door for her.

Emily, wearing a silver off-the-shoulder dress, linked arms with Suning.

The couple lingered on the red carpet for five minutes to allow the media to take photos.

The reporters' questions came one after another:
"Mr. Gan, are you two dating?"

"Miss Clark, how many dates have you had?"

When do you plan to get married?

Both of them just smiled and didn't answer.

After entering the venue, Emily whispered, "Did you see today's Wall Street Journal report?"

"What report?"

“They say our ‘relationship’ increased Lemon Tech’s brand value by at least fifty million dollars,” Emily laughed. “Am I that valuable?”

“They miscalculated,” Su Ning said. “It’s worth at least 100 million.”

Emily was amused.

At the dinner, many people came to greet us.

Hollywood producer: "Emily, if there's a suitable role for Mr. Gan next time, I'll ask you for it."

A tech company executive said, "Su, that was a brilliant move. You got on the front page for free for a month."

The charity's head said, "Thank you both for coming today. Your presence will double our donations."

Emily held onto Su Ning's arm the entire time, her smile appropriate and her demeanor natural.

Su Ning discovered that she was indeed smart, knowing what to say in what situation and what attitude to use when chatting with whom.

This is not just a pretty face.

After the dinner, the two returned to Suning's villa.

This time, the paparazzi couldn't get any photos—the villa's privacy was well-maintained.

"You did well today." Su Ning poured two glasses of wine.

“Professionalism.” Emily took the glass. “Sue, I have a question for you.”

"ask."

"If we keep doing this 'fake it real' thing, won't you get tired of it one day?"

Why am I annoyed?

“Because this isn’t real.” Emily looked at him. “We’re using each other. I use you to increase my fame and value, and you use me to create buzz and boost your brand exposure. It’s a transaction, not a relationship.”

Su Ning paused for a moment: "You want real feelings?"

“I don’t know.” Emily took a sip of her drink. “After being in Hollywood for so long, I can’t tell what’s real and what’s acting anymore. But being with you… at least it’s easy. You don’t lie to me. You give me what I need. You know how I help you.”

"Actually, you're overcomplicating things."

"There's no way around it! It's mainly because you're too perfect."

"Stop singing praises! Go wash up! I'll try my best to satisfy you tonight."

...(End of chapter)