[STAGE of Two] was a program that featured only two guests per episode. An established, respected actor and a rookie. The senior actor would share their career experiences and offer guidance on the craft of acting. The younger actor was encouraged to ask any questions they had about the industry. Finally, the two would collaborate on performing a short scene together, showcasing their acting skills.

It was not a wildly popular program, but it was not a failure either. It had decent, steady ratings. If it did not, it would have stopped airing a long time ago. Still, it was not the kind of show a superstar of Valentine’s caliber would normally appear on. So why would he want to be a guest there, and with Astrid of all people?

His initial suspicion that Valentine was up to no good returned. Was the man actually planning to get back at Wulfric through him? Did Valentine believe Wulfric had bullied the emperor and decide he needed to retaliate? But since he could not confront Wulfric directly, was he going to use Astrid as a substitute target?

If that was really the case, then he would probably lose all the respect he still had for the other man. It was already in a very fragile state after how Valentine had acted when they met. So it would not be difficult to let go of the little respect he had left for the other.

Anyway, he should probably answer Ellis’ question before she started to suspect that he really did not want to do this program.

“Yes, I know the program,” he said. “But isn’t Valentine Davis too big of a star for a show like that?”

Astrid voiced his confusion. He was not looking down on the program, he was just being realistic about the situation.

“That’s what I thought as well,” Ellis said. “But his agent told me that Valentine wants to appear more approachable to the public. He has this kind of unattainable image, right? At least, that’s what I understood from what he had said. But no matter the reason, the important thing is that this could be a huge opportunity for you if you appear on that program with him.”

Yeah, he was sure that was the real reason, Astrid thought to himself sarcastically.

“So, will you appear on this program?” Ellis asked again.

He looked at Ellis. Seeing the subtle but hopeful expression on her face, Astrid knew he could not say no without giving her a real explanation.

So, he smiled and forced himself to say, “Of course.”

***

“It’s done.”

Valentine looked up from the script he was reading. He was in the office building of Crown Atelier. Since he and Cynric would not be seeing each other for a month, he had decided he might as well film another movie. So, he was in the process of selecting a script right now. He was in the middle of doing that when his agent walked into his office, which was really just his personal lounge room in the building.

It took Valentine a few seconds to understand what Leon meant. Right. He had asked the other to do something for him the other day. “They agreed?”

Leon scoffed before sitting in the seat opposite him. “Who would dare to reject? As long as the agent has a good head on their shoulders, they would not say no to an opportunity like this.”

Well, that was true. Valentine had been the undisputed number one on the [Star List] for several years now. Anyone in the industry would be scrambling for a chance to work with him.

“Why do you even want to appear on that program?” Leon asked, feeling a little embarrassed as he remembered the vague reason he had given Ellis Payne. “Please tell me you do not have some bad intention toward Astrid Townsend.” ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel⦿fire.net

When Valentine first told him he wanted to appear on the same program as Astrid Townsend, Leon was confused. He had not expected Valentine to make such a request. For one thing, it had been a long time since Valentine had appeared on a program like that, at least not in years. And second, he had specifically requested to appear with a certain person.

Leon had heard of Astrid Townsend. It was hard not to, since the young man was the current rising star in the industry. So when Valentine asked him to find a program where he could appear with Astrid, his first thought was that Valentine was planning to upstage him to prove he was the better actor. Or that he had become attracted to Astrid and wanted to get closer. Either way, both possibilities spelled trouble.

Many people believed Valentine was a gentleman with a good temper and solid morals. But that was far from the truth. As someone who had been with him since his early days as an actor, Leon knew better. Valentine was ambitious and ruthless. He would do whatever it took to achieve his goals. He was also incredibly determined and focused. Not to mention, he could be very petty and vindictive.

Leon could only feel bad for anyone who ended up as the target of Valentine’s anger. In this case, he truly hoped it was not Astrid Townsend. The young actor was too talented to have his career ruined just because he had managed to earn Valentine’s personal resentment.

Valentine placed a hand over his heart, his expression a perfect picture of wounded pride. “What bad intention? Leon, I’m hurt. Is that really how you see me? I thought you knew me better than that.”

Leon rolled his eyes. If it were anyone else in the room, they would probably be apologizing by now for saying the wrong thing. Thankfully, he was not just anyone. “It’s precisely because I know you that I said it.”

Valentine chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, my intentions are perfectly innocent. I just want to get to know him better.”

As he said that, the rest of his conversation with Cynric from two days ago came back to him.

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