The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 756: FAMILY SOON

AFTER the program finished recording, Astrid made a point to thank the host and all the staff members. Of course, he also knew he needed to speak briefly with Valentine. It would have been disrespectful to just leave, especially given the other’s seniority.

He was about to walk over to Valentine, but he saw the other was still talking with the show’s director. So, he stayed where he was with Ellis and waited for them to finish their conversation.

As they waited, he found himself glancing over at Valentine. He had been so focused during the recording that he had not noticed a crucial fact at the time. Only now, after it was all over, did he realize Valentine had not tried any underhanded tricks during the entire show. He was not complaining about that, of course. It was definitely better to have no drama. But it made him wonder what Valentine’s real reason was for wanting to appear on the same program with him.

"It looks like they’re done talking," Ellis said, pulling him from his thoughts. "Let’s go, Astrid."

Astrid fixed his expression and smiled. "Yes."

The two of them walked toward where Valentine and his agent were standing. The agent noticed them first and leaned in to whisper something to Valentine, likely informing him of their approach. Valentine turned to look their way and gave Astrid a wide grin. He almost raised an eyebrow in response. Why did it feel like the other was being playful? It was as if they’re already close friends, which felt strange and a little confusing.

"Thank you again for requesting Astrid for this program," Ellis said. Then she retrieved a box of pastries from her personal storage space. "This is a little something we picked up on our way here. Please accept it."

Leon looked at the box of pastries and saw it was from a very famous shop. The timing was perfect because he was quite hungry. He knew Valentine would not be interested in them, so the pastries would definitely end up in his stomach.

"Thank you. We will enjoy these later," he said with a smile as he accepted the box. "And please, no thanks are needed. Having a talented young actor like Astrid appear with Valentine is a benefit for us too. It can make him look more youthful."

To be honest, Leon had not really understood why Valentine wanted to appear on the same program as Astrid. He could admit that the young actor was currently very popular and generating a lot of buzz. But in this industry, hype was often temporary. There was no way to know if Astrid could sustain this level of success over the long term. But after watching the performance the two had just delivered, his opinion changed completely.

Astrid Townsend had the potential to become the next Valentine Davis. If he continued on his current path and avoided any major scandals, there was a very good chance that this would actually happen.

Many people might expect Leon to feel threatened, given his role as Valentine’s agent. However, he felt no such concern. Not only did he genuinely appreciate talent, but he also believed that a bit of healthy rivalry could be beneficial. In fact, he thought it might push Valentine to strive even harder.

Since becoming involved with the emperor, Valentine had lost much of his motivation for his work. His attention was completely fixed on the emperor, as if he were under some kind of love spell. Leon felt somewhat grateful that Valentine at least made an effort to act normally in public, thanks to his incredible acting skills. No one had ever suspected he was in a relationship. If you could even call it that. In Leon’s view, Valentine was more like the emperor’s occasional booty call.

"Hey, don’t talk like I’m ancient. I’m only in my early 40s, still in the prime of my life," Valentine joked, pretending to be offended.

Astrid nearly winced at the mention of Valentine’s age. Right. He had almost forgotten that the other was practically the same age as his own parents. It was another reminder of how strange aging had become in this era with extended life spans. And it also highlighted just how young his parents had been when they married and had him and Reas.

Valentine turned to him. "I really enjoyed exchanging lines with you. If given the opportunity, would you like to act in a movie together?"

Both agents stared at Valentine in surprise.

Leon honestly did not know what had come over Valentine. If he wasn’t aware of how completely obsessed the man was with the emperor, he might genuinely believe Valentine was interested in Astrid. Ellis, on the other hand, was already imagining all the possibilities of the two acting in a movie together and how much that would advance Astrid’s career.

Astrid was also taken aback at first, but he quickly collected himself and replied, "If the opportunity comes, I definitely would."

And he was not just saying that to be polite. He genuinely wanted the chance to work with Valentine. The man was not only the current top actor in the industry, but he was also incredibly talented. It would be foolish for any actor to refuse an opportunity to be in the same movie with him. Besides, their improvised performance earlier had proven to Astrid just how satisfying it felt to act opposite someone who could easily match him. He knew that collaborating on a full project would be an invaluable experience for him.

Valentine gave his shoulder a pat and grinned. "Good. That’s the spirit."

Astrid’s smile almost faltered at Valentine’s friendlessness. It felt so different from how the other had been when they first met.

Even though he quickly recovered and acted normal, Valentine still seemed to notice his slight stumble. The other leaned close and whispered in a voice only they could hear.

"Don’t be so tense. We’re going to be family soon, after all."

Astrid shot him a look as if he had lost his mind. And Valentine simply responded with a charming smile.