The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

WHILE Astrid was busy with the audition, Reas was also busy in his own way.

He was currently in Lauren's private villa, preparing dinner. Since Lauren had given him access to the villa, they agreed it would be more convenient to meet here rather than somewhere else. Of course, this access wasn't just verbal; during his last visit, Lauren had added his biometrics to the villa's security system. Now, all he had to do was show up and let the system recognize him to gain entry.

Lauren had said he'd be back by dinner, so Reas decided to get a head start in the kitchen. He stood at the stove, tossing a mix of vegetables and thin slices of meat in a pan, the savory aroma filling the air as the sauce thickened just right. On the next burner, a pot of soup was bubbling gently, its clear broth carrying the light scent of tofu and fresh greens. Nearby, he flipped dumplings in a pan, their edges turning golden and crispy. A bamboo steamer sat on the counter, releasing wisps of steam from the soft buns inside. The kitchen felt warm and inviting, and as he worked, he couldn't help but hope Lauren would appreciate the effort when he got home.

Once Reas finished cooking, he set the table, placing each dish neatly in the center. Just as he was adjusting one of the plates, he heard the front door open. He turned his head quickly toward the entrance and saw Lauren stepping inside, looking relaxed with his jacket draped over one arm. Their eyes met almost immediately, and for a moment, it felt as if everything else faded away, leaving just the two of them in the quiet stillness.

It had been two weeks since they last met in person. Although they had stayed connected through video calls, seeing each other in real life was an entirely different experience. More importantly, this was their first time meeting after officially confirming their relationship, which made the moment feel even more impactful.

Reas didn't hesitate and rushed forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Lauren. He felt the slight stiffness in Lauren's body at first, as if caught off guard. But after a moment, Lauren's body softened in his embrace, and he slowly brought his arms up, returning the hug.

"I missed you," Reas said without a moment's hesitation.

Lauren, still in his arms, blushed furiously. "I-I missed you too."

Reas pulled back slightly, just enough to cup Lauren's face gently in his hands. His thumbs brushed lightly against Lauren's cheeks as he asked, "Can I kiss you?"

Lauren's face, already flushed, turned an even deeper shade of red. "You—!"

Before he could finish, Reas closed the distance, his lips meeting Lauren's in a soft, unspoken answer.

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The first day of auditions ended late in the evening, around 10 PM, which was understandable considering the large number of participants.

Astrid looked around the empty theatre. Only a handful of people remained: Ellis, Director McCann, the casting director Camilla, and Joseph, the director of photography. The staff from IndieFlix Studios had already left. The four of them were gathered around a table, while Joseph worked alone on the stage, methodically taking down the cameras he had set up earlier.

Honestly, it had been an exhausting day. Astrid didn't want to sound insensitive, especially since, unlike the people auditioning, all he had to do was sit and watch. Still, sitting through countless auditions back-to-back for an entire day was incredibly tiring. He supposed he should be thankful that each scenario prepared by the director was short and they weren't required to give feedback to every participant. If they had, they might have been stuck here well past midnight. Discover hidden tales at empire

"Was there any performance that stood out to you, Astrid?" Director McCann asked.

At the director's question, a certain man with sharp features came to Astrid's mind. He had a rugged, almost intimidating presence that perfectly suited the role of a villainous gangster. Astrid had doubted the man's ability to pull off the scenario he had chosen, but to his surprise, the man proved him wrong. And for that, Astrid couldn't have been more pleased.

"Personally, I think Mr. Archer gave an excellent performance," he said. "Oh, and Miss Marlowe as well."

After saying the names of the two, he continued by mentioning several other individuals who had auditioned that day.

Jimmy hadn't expected Astrid to directly name people. With over 400 people auditioning, it would have been perfectly reasonable if Astrid didn't remember any of their names. In fact, Jimmy had assumed that Astrid would first consult his Terminal to review the profiles of the actors who had auditioned today. That was exactly what Jimmy had planned to do himself, as he had already marked the profiles of those who had delivered the best performances.

"Do you remember everyone's name?" Jimmy asked, his tone faintly skeptical.

Camilla shot her friend a look, as if he had just asked the most ridiculous question. "How could that be possible? It's obviously because these people left such a strong impression on him. Am I right, Mr. Townsend?"

Astrid just smiled and stayed silent. It was better to let them assume than to lie outright. Of course, he didn't remember everyone. He only made an effort to recall the names of those who stood out, which wasn't difficult for him. With his SSS-level mental strength, he could easily memorize the names of every single person who auditioned today if he wanted to. But why would he? What would be the point of remembering all those names? It would be like saving files he wouldn't use again.

"It's getting late," Ellis said gently, glancing at the others. "Why don't we wrap this up for now? You can go over everything in more detail after tomorrow's auditions are finished."

Hearing Ellis's suggestion, Jimmy quickly shifted his attention away from his amazement at Astrid's ability to recall the names of some of the auditionees. He nodded in agreement and said, "Yeah, let's call it a day and head home for now."

And that's how the first day of the public audition ended.