Emotional management was just plain disgusting.
It basically meant that Hathaway and the male lead of the movie had to "fall in love" in real life—or at least pretend to, publicly.
Only then would the CP fans happily buy into it.
To be fair, this wasn't anything new. It was practically an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry.
Hathaway's agent didn't think there was anything to discuss—this kind of contract had to be signed.
But Hathaway refused.
She even asked her agent to talk to the producers and see if the "offline romance" clause could be removed.
The agent was going crazy.
"Annie! We're not big stars! Getting you into The Princess Diaries was pure luck. Without that film, we're nothing!"
"And now you think you're famous? You're still miles away from actresses who can negotiate terms with producers!"
"If we reject these offers, no one might ever come looking for us again!"
"This is leading-role material! Do you really want to end up playing supporting characters forever?"
"And those male leads? They're all handsome—basically every American girl's dream husband. Dating them wouldn't hurt you!"
The agent wasn't wrong.
If Hathaway had never met Kai, she might've gone along with it. People tend to drift with the current when they don't have a clear direction.
But now, things were different.
Hathaway shook her head firmly.
"I don't want to be the girlfriend of every American girl's 'dream husband.' I want my boyfriend to belong only to me… and I'll belong only to him."
The agent sighed, completely helpless.
"You've gone crazy."
Soon, news spread that Hathaway had rejected several movie offers, sparking heated debate.
Some people said she didn't know her place.
Others said she was getting arrogant before even becoming truly famous.
But things escalated even further.
During a recording of Hollywood Interviews, Hathaway walked straight into the host's trap—and openly revealed her ideal boyfriend standards.
The show's ratings instantly skyrocketed.
Everyone wanted to know: what kind of guy could meet Hathaway's standards?
Host: "I heard you rejected some roles because you didn't want to fake a relationship with the male lead?"
Hathaway: "Yes. Acting is my job. It can take up my time, but it can't invade my emotions."
Host: "But a lot of girls would love to date those male stars—like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jake Gyllenhaal, Johnny Depp…"
Hathaway smiled.
"They're all great. I loved Titanic—it's one of the best romance films ever. But that doesn't mean I want to date them."
"They're just… not my type."
The host leaned forward, intrigued.
"So what is your type? Does he have to be tall? American? Or does nationality not matter?"
Hathaway shook her head.
"I don't care about height. Being tall doesn't make you handsome. Trees are the tallest—no one calls them handsome, right?"
"My standards for looks are actually higher than for height."
"Of course, he should like sports. Exercise makes people feel bright and alive—science says it releases dopamine."
"Nationality doesn't matter. I like black hair and dark eyes… there's something captivating about that depth."
She paused, her expression softening.
"But personality matters more than appearance."
"He should be calm and composed, but still have elegance and a sense of humor."
"He might seem a little inexperienced at first, but when it really matters, he has his own rhythm."
"He's gentle, not loud, not flashy, and doesn't constantly show off how brave he is…"
"But when real trouble comes—when communication fails—he can stand up and even oppose an entire country for the justice he believes in."
"He stands tall… not in height, but in spirit."
Her "ideal boyfriend" instantly went viral.
Many people said she had just set a new, healthier standard for young women.
But then…
Things got interesting.
People started noticing something.
Was she really describing an ideal…
Or a specific person?
A video of Kai fiercely criticizing Argentina had already gone viral in North America.
His previous scandal with Hathaway resurfaced too.
Black hair and eyes?
Athletic?
Low-key, gentle—but fierce when it matters?
Not tall?
Handsome?
…
Yeah.
Way too specific.
"Hathaway's already taken! Turns out her 'ideal type' is based on a real person!"
"This isn't a preference list—this is a professional-level description!"
"Forget 'ideal standards'—this is basically a public confession!"
"Hathaway openly expresses her love for Kai—every detail matches him perfectly!"
"She rejected major film offers for Kai—risking her entire career!"
For Kai, this whole situation was just…
…a damn mess that dropped out of the sky onto his head.
But honestly, after watching the interview, he couldn't help but think about it more.
Because when Hathaway spoke…
There was light in her eyes.
And that usually meant something real.
Afterward, Hathaway called Kai.
She joked that even if her "character popularity" surpassed his, she wouldn't look down on him—then quickly apologized, worried that all this media chaos might affect his performance.
Kai laughed it off.
"It's fine. I'm used to this kind of hype. Cristiano Ronaldo gets twice as much attention as me. Fans these days just love drama."
Still, neither of them pushed the conversation any further.
They both had their concerns.
Hathaway was afraid that if she confessed and failed, they might not even remain friends.
And Kai…
He needed time.
Because if he really chose to be with Hathaway, there were things he couldn't accept.
Like kissing scenes.
Or anything more intimate in films.
That would mean huge sacrifices for her career.
Of course…
If Hathaway was truly willing to make that choice—
Then Kai would make sure it was worth it.
He'd repay her in other ways.
Push her career even higher than it could have gone.
After all, when it came to choosing projects—
Kai trusted his own vision more than anyone else.
In the end, the romance that had the entire internet buzzing…
Still hadn't actually begun.
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