The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 658: LITTLE GREMLIN

UPON reading it, Lauren stood up almost immediately. The timing couldnʼt have been worse; the make-up artist was just applying lip tint to his lips. His sudden movement jolted her hand, smearing a streak of color from the corner of his mouth down to his chin. She flinched in surprise, nearly letting out a yelp.

”Are… are you alright?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Sheʼd worked with Lauren a few times before and knew he wouldnʼt react so suddenly without a reason. When she looked up at him, her suspicions were confirmed. His face was frozen in shock, eyes wide and unfocused, as if heʼd just been hit with earth-shattering news.

Lauren snapped back to reality at the sound of the make-up artistʼs voice. He let out an awkward laugh and eased himself back into the chair. ”Sorry about that,” he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. ”I just… thought I forgot to turn off the stove at home. Guess I panicked for no reason.”

The make-up artist simply nodded, though the excuse left her wondering. With advanced AI systems in nearly every home, even if someone forgot to turn off their stove, the built-in safety measures would handle it automatically. Did Lauren really live somewhere without those basic features? That didnʼt seem likely. Well, whatever the case, it wasnʼt her business. Shrugging off her curiosity, she went back to her work, carefully finishing the touch-ups.

Lauren let out a quiet sigh of relief when the make-up artist didnʼt pry any further. He didnʼt have another excuse ready if she kept asking. Itʼs not as if he could just say that his boyfriend had blindsided him with shocking news.

It wasnʼt that he wanted to hide his relationship. In truth, he would love to tell everyone he knew about his boyfriend. But now just wasnʼt the right time. Reas was not a part of the industry. Heʼs not only a private person, heʼs also a student. A future soldier, if he might even add. Then, thereʼs also the fact that heʼs young. The media would definitely have a feast if their relationship became public.

He wanted to shield Reas from all of it, to keep him far from the chaos and potential fallout. Thatʼs why he confided in only two people—his agent and, naturally, Astrid. They both needed to be in the loop. Astrid, because he wasnʼt just a friend, but Reasʼ brother. And his agent, because if things went sideways with the media or the public, Lauren knew Chris would handle it. Chris would do whatever it took to smooth things over, to protect them both from any backlash.

That thought brought back the memory of Chrisʼ reaction when he first confided in him about his relationship with Reas.

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”Wait… can you say that again? Sorry, I mustʼve misheard you,” Chris replied, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion.

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”No, you heard it right,” Lauren said, keeping his voice steady. ”Reas and I are dating.”

Chris looked as if a bomb had just gone off in front of him. His face gradually turned red, not from embarrassment but something closer to anger. He was like a kettle on the verge of boiling over.

”I knew it!”

”Chris, hold on—youʼre not blaming this on me, are you?” Lauren said, his tone edged with defensiveness. ”Just so weʼre clear, I did not seduce Reas. I—”

”Of course you didnʼt!” Chris interrupted before Lauren could finish. ”Itʼs that… that little gremlinʼs fault!” He threw his hands up, clearly exasperated. ”I shouldʼve known he was up to something. Itʼs always the quiet ones who turn out to be the freakiest.”

Lauren blinked, his mind stumbling to catch up. He opened his mouth, then closed it, staring at Chris like heʼd just spoken a different language. This was definitely not the reaction he was expecting. What did he mean by calling Reas a little gremlin? And even calling him a freak? Whatʼs happening here?

”Wait—what are you even saying, Chris? Are you… are you having a meltdown right now?” he asked worriedly.

Chris shot him a glare, his nostrils flaring, a clear sign of his frustration. But then he started taking slow, deep breaths, exhaling deliberately, over and over, like someone trying to calm themselves down with breathing exercises.

”Sorry for that outburst,” Chris said, his tone a bit more controlled now. He paused, folding his arms as he looked directly at Lauren, his gaze steady and serious. ”I wonʼt meddle in your romantic relationship, but thereʼs something I need to ask first before I can fully get on board with this.”

”Sure, what is it?”

Though still confused by Chrisʼ initial reaction, Lauren decided to let it go for now. He could ask about it later, anyway. Right now, he needed Chrisʼs support. If his agent disapproved of his relationship with Reas, Lauren knew heʼd still help—but with a sense of reluctance. And Lauren didnʼt want that.

”Do you genuinely like Reas?” Chris asked while looking straight at his eyes, as if gauging his reaction. ”Are you sure you werenʼt pushed or manipulated into this?”

Laurenʼs response was immediate, almost instinctive. ”Of course not! Do you really think Iʼm the type to be manipulated like that?”

Chris only looked at him as if silently saying, ʼwhy do you think I asked if thatʼs not the case?ʼ

”Itʼs not like that, I swear,” Lauren insisted. ”Weʼre together because we love each other. No one is being manipulated or forced here.”

Chris studied his expression carefully, and after a moment, let out a deep sigh, as if heʼd finally found the answer he was looking for. ”Alright, fine. Iʼll help keep this under wraps. Thatʼs what you want, isnʼt it? Youʼre not planning to go public with your relationship with Reas just yet, right?”

Lauren nodded, feeling relieved.

And thatʼs how that conversation ended

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Even now, Lauren still couldnʼt quite understand what Chris meant by calling Reas a ʼgremlin.ʼ How could Reas possibly fit that description when he was so quiet and indifferent most of the time?