After successfully cracking the perpetual motion technology, I turned down a multi-million-dollar offer in the United States and rushed back to America overnight with the related research files.

As soon as I got off the plane at JFK International Airport, a tall man in black suddenly shoved me hard from behind.

“Move it, you slowpoke! Get the hell out of the way, don’t block the path!”

I turned around, my eyes flashing with anger.

“Sir, is this airport owned by your family? What’s wrong with me walking a bit slower?”

The man sneered at my protest.

“Kid, do you even know who’s about to come through here? That’s none other than the triple Academy Award-winning actress, Emily Young!”

“If you don’t want to get mobbed by her obsessed fans, you’d better get lost now.”

I froze for a few seconds, then pulled out my phone and dialed my fiancée.

“Miss Emily, I hear you’ve been doing quite well in Hollywood.”

Emily and I had met through a blind date.

Back then, she was still an unknown extra, getting the occasional chance to play background roles in film sets.

The blind date had gone fairly smoothly, and her only condition was that our relationship must remain secret.

I wasn’t much of a celebrity chaser, but I understood how the entertainment industry worked. After thinking it over, I agreed.

Because my work unit was of the highest security clearance, we rarely met in person. Sometimes we chatted briefly online, but never about each other’s jobs.

One of the biggest reasons I was so eager to return was to fulfill my mother’s wish—settling my marriage as soon as possible.

When I learned that Emily had suddenly won three Academy Awards, I genuinely felt happy for her.

But before I could offer congratulations, she answered with an icy tone.

“I’m busy. Say what you need to say, quickly.”

Her dismissive attitude gave me a faint sense that something was wrong.

“Emily, it’s been five years since we last saw each other. Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?”

On the other end of the line, her voice was dripping with impatience.

“Daniel Stone, who told you that you could call me?”

“Didn’t I tell you never to mention our relationship in public?”

I froze for a moment, speaking evenly.

“So, Miss Emily, do you think I’m an embarrassment to you?”

No sooner had I spoken than an angry roar came from the phone.

“Yes! I do think you’re beneath me!”

“I’m now one of the hottest stars in the entertainment industry, brand deals coming in nonstop. And you… what do you even have to show for yourself?”

I clenched my fists, holding back my fury, and said word by word:

“You’re this eager to cut ties with me?”

“Emily, have you forgotten what you once promised me? You said that no matter whether you became famous or not, you would never—”

Before I could finish, she cut me off with a single contemptuous word: “Childish.”

The line went dead, replaced by the busy signal.

“You’d better watch your mouth, punk. You know what you should and shouldn’t say, don’t you?”

The same man who had shoved me glared at me viciously.

I slowly lifted my head and met his gaze.

“From that tone, are you threatening me?”

He looked at me with disgust and snorted.

“Is there anyone else here besides you?”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If those fans find out you’re pestering Miss Emily, you might not even know how you’ll end up dead.”

I stood frozen on the spot.

Not long ago, I had just cracked the perpetual motion project—a feat not quite equal to Einstein or Oppenheimer, but still unprecedented in human history.

Would I really be afraid of a mere actress?

“Sir, let me correct you on something,” I said calmly.

“I have zero interest in your little fan-circle antics. But as for Miss Emily, she’d better not try riding on my fame.”

The man in black instantly flared up.

“You little punk, you’ve got some nerve, huh?”

After cursing at me a few more times, he still seemed unsatisfied, so he rolled up his sleeves and lunged at me again.

Fortunately, I had trained in self-defense since childhood. The man swung several punches, but couldn’t even graze the hem of my jacket. Frustrated, he grew more furious.

“You brat, try dodging one more time and see what happens!”

“Don’t think I won’t call Miss Emily right now!”

Despite his repeated provocation, I didn’t fight back—I just kept dodging.

It wasn’t because I couldn’t win. The airport was crowded, and I couldn’t afford to expose my identity just yet.

Besides, I was carrying confidential documents in my bag—files critical to the future of America’s technological development.

After a brief pause, the man swung another punch at me.

At that critical moment, a sharp voice rang out from behind.

“Stop!”

A tall young woman strode toward us, surrounded by bodyguards.

“Jason Miller, you’re my personal assistant. How can you just start a fight in public like this?” she scolded.

“If fans saw this, the company would have to spend a fortune on damage control.”

I studied the woman carefully and had to admit—she was stunning.

At nearly five-foot-seven in height, wrapped in a red trench coat that perfectly outlined her figure.

The only flaw was the frosty look in her eyes as she stared at me.

“Miss Emily, it’s been a while,” I said.

But Emily instantly raised her hand to cut me off.

“Enough. Just tell me—what do you want?”

I froze, caught off guard.

Were Hollywood stars always this impatient?

I had only greeted her, and she couldn’t even bear that?

“Emily, though we haven’t met often, we are still engaged,” I said firmly.

“Don’t you think it’s going too far, not even letting me finish a sentence?”

Emily chuckled coldly.

“Too far?”

“What is there left to talk about between us?”

She cast me a scornful glance, full of disdain.

“Daniel, you don’t actually think I would ever marry you, do you?”

I inhaled deeply, fixing my gaze on her.

“So, from what you’re saying, you plan to break off our engagement?”

She tilted her head back and burst into laughter.

“Break up? Were we ever really together?”

“I don’t even consider you a friend, so what breakup is there to talk about? Stop dreaming.”

I had imagined that after rising to fame, Emily might deny our relationship. But I hadn’t expected her to be this ruthless.

The night before I left for the U.S., she had sworn that once I came back, we would marry.

Yet in just five years, she had turned her back so coldly.

It seemed the old saying was right— the prettier the woman, the more deceptive she could be.

During my years abroad working in research, I had barely slept three hours a night, often skipping meals.

All for the sake of finishing the project sooner, so I could return and fulfill our promise.

But in the end, all I got was her dismissive, “I don’t even consider you a friend.”

What Emily forgot was this:

No matter how many awards an actress wins, at the end of the day, she’s still just a performer.

I don’t deny that celebrities have value.

As public figures, if they spread positive energy and inspire people, that’s admirable and worthy of respect.

But if their character is corrupt, they’re not far from being blacklisted.

A nation’s progress and strength have never come from entertainment, but from the scientists who work in obscurity and devote themselves silently.

Emily noticed my sudden silence and assumed she had struck a nerve. Her eyes gleamed with contempt.

“Daniel, stop spacing out. Just name your price.”

“Money, property—I can give you all of it. But I have one condition…”

I looked at her with interest.

“And what condition is that?”

A sly glint flickered in Emily’s eyes.

“You are not allowed to reveal anything about us to anyone.”

I stared at her coldly, my voice flat and devoid of emotion.

“And if I refuse?”

“Refuse?”

Her face darkened immediately.

“If you refuse, you might not walk out of this airport today.”

By then, crowds of fans had gathered around.

“Hey, old man up front, move it! Don’t block our Emily!”

“Yeah, seriously! How rude can you be, squeezing into the same lane as her?”

“Look at his shady face—he’s probably some paparazzi. Protect our sweet Emily!”

The louder the crowd grew, the more triumphant Emily looked.

She had clearly gotten used to being pampered during her years of stardom. Judging by her behavior, not just an airport lane—even an entire film crew would likely revolve around her.

Still, Emily wasn’t foolish. To maintain her spotless image, she knew how to play her cards.

Glancing around, she waved her assistant aside, then put on a warm smile and addressed the crowd.

“Everyone, it’s a misunderstanding. This gentleman is also one of my fans.”

“It’s just… he got a little overzealous. He insisted on pulling me aside for an autograph, otherwise he wouldn’t let me go.”

Her words instantly inflamed her die-hard fans.

“Our Emily is so kind! Even when dealing with a crazy fan, she still defends him. I’m touched to tears!”

“She’s exhausted herself, and yet she still sympathizes with stalkers. We really picked the right idol!”

“Emily is so kindhearted! I’ll follow her forever!”

Hearing this nonsense, I could only shake my head in resignation. Without explaining, I turned to leave.

But my indifference only made the star even more displeased.

Feeling ignored, Emily stirred up her fans again.

“Alright, everyone, please calm down and listen to me.”

“Much as I’d love to sign autographs, this gentleman bumped into me just now, and I’m feeling a little dizzy…”

Before she could finish, her assistant quickly chimed in:

“Yes, that’s right! Miss Emily had prepared tons of signed photos, but this man snatched them away.”

With the two of them playing in perfect sync, I instantly became the public enemy.

Even through the barricades, I could feel the searing hostility of the fans, their eyes practically wishing to tear me apart alive.

Seeing the situation spiral out of control, the airport security officer hurried over and pulled me aside.

“Mr. Stone, for your own safety, I suggest… you take a different exit.”