The Greatest Showman #736 – Bombardment

Nathan took a deep breath and, for the first time, unleashed the full force of his "lion's roar." "Quiet!"

The earth-shattering shout reverberated through the air, creating ripples that spread outward. In an instant, the reporters fell silent, their expressions a mix of shock and awe. The effect was unexpected, even for Nathan. He scratched his head, realizing that his moment of intimidation had been broken. This realization quickly caused the reporters to burst into laughter.

He glanced at Renly, only to find a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Panic surged within Nathan, and he quickly looked away, clearing his throat. "If you have any questions, ask them one at a time," he said loudly, trying to regain control.

The reporters were about to speak when Renly interjected, "Wait, I have a question. Why did I hear Bieber's name just now? Or did I misunderstand? If he's right behind me, I wouldn't want to get in the way of his loyal fans." Renly pointed toward the back earnestly, as though searching for Justin Bieber.

The reporters exchanged confused glances, unsure where the mention of Bieber had come from. Finally, someone spoke up, "There are rumors that Justin Bieber got a female fan pregnant. Is anyone interested in asking about this?" The reporter paused before adding, "But what does this have to do with Renly? I'm not sure."

Renly raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "All I can say is, I'm not the father of the child," he replied with a grin, immediately sparking laughter from the crowd.

The next question came quickly: "So, have you ever had close contact with your movie fans?" It was a familiar line of gossip.

Renly pursed his lips. "I was just thinking about that," he said, with an underlying tone that suggested this was exactly the kind of question he had expected. "I can't define love, and I can't define fate. But one thing I know for sure is that I take precautions."

The room erupted with laughter, though their cheers were soon drowned out by the screams of excited fans. "Master, I love you! I would have your child!"

Renly's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by such an unexpected declaration. The crowd at the front, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed his reaction, and their laughter grew louder. Renly felt an unfamiliar discomfort, embarrassed in a way he hadn't experienced before—not in front of reporters, but in front of his fans. The feeling was indescribable.

"Thank you," Renly said, the usual sharpness gone from his voice. He cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation. "So, what kind of honor is this, that I have such a grand welcome ceremony? Can anyone tell me why?"

A reporter shouted from the back, "Renly, there's a rumor that the 'Fast & Furious' sequel hasn't started filming because they're still trying to get you back."

Renly raised an eyebrow at this. He had suspected the news might have something to do with his recent box-office success with Crazy Love, or perhaps the publicity surrounding Anti-Cancer Me. But hearing the question surprised him.

"No, I'm sure it's just fake news," Renly answered swiftly.

The reporter pressed on. "Why? Don't you want to return for the sequel? Or is your personal feud with Vin Diesel real?"

Renly chuckled lightly. "Is this news still being hyped?" he asked rhetorically. "People always say news spreads so quickly in the internet age, but it seems I'm still keeping up with the times."

His reply, though indirect, left little room for further discussion on the matter.

But the reporters weren't ready to let go just yet. Someone from the crowd yelled, "So you mean to admit it?"

Renly turned toward the voice. As expected, it was Cornell McGregor, a familiar thorn in his side. After Fast & Furious 5 was released, Cornell had seemed to disappear from the scene. Renly hadn't seen him in a while, and frankly, he was a bit relieved.

But today, Cornell had reappeared, clearly hoping to cause trouble. Renly smiled and raised his voice, "Which ear did you hear that from?"

Cornell's face flushed red, momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth, ready to retort, but Renly didn't give him the chance. "If you're trying to spin it into something, we can end the interview now. You already have your answer, don't you?"

Renly's words landed with the sharpness of a slap to Cornell's face. He knew that there were conflicting reports and unresolved issues within the Fast & Furious franchise, but Renly was masterfully sidestepping the entire topic.

Cornell seethed but stayed silent. Renly's confidence only seemed to grow. "If you're suggesting that I didn't return due to internal disagreements, then maybe you're right. But have you ever considered that I might have different opinions on the script or the character development? Maybe the schedules didn't align, or perhaps I wanted to explore different roles?"

His response silenced the crowd. The buzz of murmured conversation faded, and all eyes were now on Renly. The atmosphere shifted, and Cornell felt the pressure mount.

Renly leaned in slightly, his gaze piercing. "I'm an actor, and you're a reporter. The verdict was handed down before you even started investigating. This is the first time I've heard of an interview where the subject didn't need to be present." He smiled coldly, "Maybe you should think about a career change. Politics, perhaps? You'd be a good fit."

The words were cutting, but they were delivered so smoothly that no one could argue with them.

Cornell's fists clenched, and his jaw tightened. Renly's mockery was palpable, and Cornell felt exposed. Renly had managed to turn the tables on him completely, silencing the question without ever answering it directly.

Cornell was left to stew in his own frustration, his thoughts racing, but the crowd was already turning its attention elsewhere. Renly's calm demeanor had not only deflected the question, it had obliterated the topic entirely.

As Cornell realized he had been outmaneuvered, he noticed the eyes around him—taunting, mocking, and full of contempt. Renly's victory was undeniable, and Cornell had nowhere left to go.