The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

ASTRID could almost see Wulfric's imaginary wolf ears perk up at his words, as if his simple admission had unleashed a wave of unrestrained joy. If the video call had shown more than just his face, Astrid was certain he'd spot an equally imaginary tail wagging with boundless excitement. The mental image made him smile, filling him with a mix of amusement and a strange, almost irresistible urge to reach out and ruffle Wulfric's hair—if only to see how he'd react.

He cleared his throat, steering the conversation away before his thoughts could wander any further. "So, how was your day?"

Wulfric sighed, a note of annoyance evident in his tone. "Same old—endless virtual documents. Honestly, I'd rather be out training the soldiers or sparring with someone." Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

Astrid chuckled at the thought. He still couldn't quite picture Wulfric stuck behind a desk, wading through virtual documents. In his mind, Wulfric was meant to be free-spirited and untamed, doing whatever he pleased without restraint. Still, it was probably a good thing he had at least some sense of responsibility as a general of the Empire. Though, if Astrid had to guess, that so-called 'responsibility' was more likely the result of his straight-laced lieutenant's influence. Without Leland's watchful eye, Wulfric would probably have no qualms about skipping out on his duties entirely.

"And you? How was your day?" Wulfric asked, his golden eyes softening as his focus settled entirely on Astrid.

"Well, aside from the usual class, I reviewed the performances of those who auditioned last weekend and summarized my selections for the casting." Astrid shrugged lightly.

Wulfric's brows knitted together in a slight frown. "Why are you handling that? Isn't it someone else's job? Or are the people in charge of your new movie so incompetent that they're making you pick up the slack?"

Astrid found himself quietly amused by Wulfric's reaction. He could tell the other's words were driven by worry rather than genuine criticism, which only made it more endearing in its own way.

He let out a soft laugh before explaining, "Relax, it's not like that. The director just wanted my input since I'm the main producer of the movie. He values my opinion on casting, that's all."

Wulfric grumbled, his tone carrying a mix of annoyance and concern. "Even if that's the case, it must have been a ton of work with how many people auditioned. As you said, you're the producer—you shouldn't be buried in that kind of grunt work. Isn't that what the casting team is for?"

Astrid offered a small, easy smile. "It really wasn't that much work. I had a system to keep things organized, and I actually enjoyed seeing how much effort everyone put into their auditions. Besides, the director trusts my perspective, so I didn't mind lending a hand."

Wulfric's frown lingered for a moment before he let out a quiet sigh, the tension in his posture softening just enough to signal his reluctant acceptance. Though his concern still lingered in the way his gaze briefly held Astrid's, he chose to let the matter rest. This showed his trust in Astrid's words, despite his misgivings.

Astrid couldn't help but appreciate the restraint Wulfric showed, a clear sign of how much he had grown since they'd first gotten to know each other. If this had been the Wulfric of a year ago, he might have jumped to conclusions and found a way to confront the director, driven by his protective instincts and fiery temper. But now, there was a quiet trust in his reaction, a maturity that showed he was learning to balance his concern with respect for Astrid's decision.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, flowing easily like it always did. They talked about random things, whatever that came to mind. It was familiar and easy, the kind of conversation they always fell into during their calls, where silence never felt awkward, and everything just felt right.

In the middle of a conversation about random childhood memories, Astrid suddenly remembered that the trailer for [Serendipitous Summer] was about to be released. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he realized it would be any minute now.

"The trailer for [Serendipitous Summer] is about to go live. Do you want to watch it together?" he asked.

"Sure," Wulfric replied without hesitation, then quickly added, "Where should I watch it?"

Astrid chuckled and told him where to watch it. He then minimized the call window and opened [Cyberspace]. Navigating to the official page of the production studio releasing [Serendipitous Summer], he spotted their latest post with the two-minute trailer attached. Wasting no time, he clicked on the video.

***

The trailer began with a sweeping view of a serene coastal town bathed in golden sunlight, waves rolling gently onto the shore. It cut to a girl with caramel brown hair and green eyes sitting on a wooden bench near the beach, her head buried in a book, oblivious to the world around her. The next scene showed a boy with black hair and piercing dark eyes riding a motorcycle through the cobblestone streets, his confident smirk unwavering as he weaved through the town with effortless ease.

Soft, uplifting music played as glimpses of their story unfolded—a chance encounter at a small seaside restaurant, where the boy, leaning casually against the counter, noticed the girl quietly reading at a table by the window. Their eyes met briefly before he walked over, his confidence a stark contrast to her shy hesitation as she looked up from her book. Quick flashes followed: the two of them exploring hidden corners of the town, him showing her a secret beach cove, her nervously laughing as he encouraged her to let go of her fears.

The tone shifted briefly, showing her retreating into herself, clutching a book tightly, and him standing alone on a windy pier, staring out at the sea with a rare, serious expression. Then came moments of change—her timid smile growing brighter as they talked by the bonfire, him reaching out to help her climb onto his motorcycle, and the two of them sitting on the edge of a cliff, the girl reading aloud as he leaned back, his confident demeanor softened by quiet admiration.

The final shot lingered on them at the dock, the girl holding a book in her lap while the boy rested his arm casually across her shoulders. They shared a glance, her shy smile meeting his steady, assured one. The screen faded to black, and bold white letters appeared: [Serendipitous Summer], followed by the release date below it.

***

Wulfric stared at the screen long after the video ended, a faint discomfort settling in his chest. The scenes of Aster with that woman lingered in his mind—how close they were, the way she smiled at him, and, worst of all, the way Aster looked at her, like she was something precious. The thought made the unease grow stronger, and he shifted in his seat, trying to shake it off.

He knew, damn it, that Aster was only acting, but that didn't stop the jealousy from gnawing at him. If just the trailer had him feeling this way, how much worse was it going to be when he watched the whole movie?