The Greatest Showman #737 - Fan Frenzy

"Renly, you are the best!"

"Master, I love you!"

"No matter what role you play, I support it!"

"Master, you are really charming!"

"Looking forward to 'Anti-Cancer Me'!"

...

Suddenly, the sound of fans shouting in love broke the strange silence. The fans present began to cheer, expressing their support in various ways. The atmosphere, once calm, was now full of excitement. In an instant, Cornell's figure was lost among the sea of fans, and the fiery enthusiasm of the crowd made the entire arrival hall feel like it was steaming.

The contrast between the cold outside and the heat inside was stark.

Another reporter stepped forward, shouting as loudly as he could, "Renly, what do you think about your album 'Don Quixote' climbing to the top 10 on Billboard's album chart this week?" The question was clear, and it prompted a mix of whistles and cheers.

Immediately, other reporters chimed in with their own questions: "And the results on the singles chart are also very impressive! What's your opinion on that?" "Some say you're one of the strongest contenders for a Grammy this year, what are your thoughts?" "Did you expect your album to do so well?" "And what about the success of the ending song 'Believe in Yourself' from 'Love Crazy'?"

Music?

Renly's mind paused, surprised by the question. It was unexpected. He had been thinking about "Crazy in Love" and "Fighting Cancer," which he'd been working on, but… an album? After a brief moment of confusion, the same question arose again: album?

The situation caught Renly off guard, and he couldn't help but laugh. For a split second, he even forgot that he had ever released an album. The self-mockery in his smile added to the moment. "Sorry, I haven't caught up with the news," he said, a bit unsure. "Could this be a Halloween prank? No, that was a month ago. Wait, is this for real?"

Renly began scanning the crowd, searching for Jennifer, Donald, or anyone else who might be behind this surprise.

As for the album Don Quixote, well, let's be honest, Renly hadn't given it much attention. There had been no major promotions, no events. Eleven Studios had only done some minimal publicity through their own channels. He'd only mentioned the album briefly during an appearance on The Tonight Show. Beyond that, Renly had all but forgotten about it.

It was, quite frankly, a forgotten album.

So, what was going on now?

The reporters exchanged confused glances, trying to gauge Renly's reaction. Had he really not known? If this was true, someone at his agency was surely in trouble for not informing him sooner. After all, this news had already begun to go viral.

If Andy Rogers had been asked, he would have complained bitterly about not knowing anything about Renly's music career. Andy was a film manager through and through, and the world of music was still a mystery to him. The speed at which music news spread was clearly a few steps ahead of him. If blame had to be assigned, Roy Lockley would probably be the target—though Roy himself had his own woes, saying, "Renly's phone is off, Nathan's phone was ruined. What else can I do?"

A reporter persisted, explaining, "Just this week, Don Quixote climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Albums Chart, its best position since its release. It also earned six Grammy nominations yesterday. After last year's Emmys, Oscars, and Golden Globes, you'll now compete for the top prizes in pop music. What are your thoughts on this?"

Renly's confusion was visible as he processed the new information. It was a lot to take in.

After a moment, he responded, "'Don Quixote' isn't even a pop album!" He understood why the reporters had categorized it that way, but it was far from his own view of the album.

The reporters blinked in surprise, unsure of what to say next.

"Wow," Renly said, pausing in thought. "This is definitely something I didn't expect. A surprise." His words were tinged with genuine amazement. "I never thought that one day I'd be dealing with this as a singer, not an actor."

Renly's playful teasing made the reporters laugh, and the fans behind him screamed again. Their cheers interrupted him momentarily, giving him time to collect his thoughts. "I'm really happy that someone out there has heard the album and even likes it. It's an amazing feeling."

The intention behind creating the album was simple: to make sure that, in today's chaotic music scene, someone would listen to it. Now that this goal had been reached, Renly couldn't be happier.

"What about the nominations?" another reporter asked, prompting cheers from the fans.

"Thank you?" Renly said uncertainly. If it were a Golden Globe or an Oscar nomination, he'd have plenty to say. But the Grammys? That was a different story. "Honestly, these nominations mean more people will listen to the album. Whether they like it or not, it's just one more choice, and that's worth celebrating."

Renly found himself wondering what George and Eleven thought about the Grammy nominations. The Grammys had been commercialized over the years, and the prestige of winning had started to fade. It was like comparing the Oscars to the Teen Choice Awards.

In 2017, someone even joked that a Grammy wasn't a compliment anymore—being nominated and not winning had become the true victory. Though this sentiment was harsh, it reflected the growing dissatisfaction with the commercialization of the Grammys.

"Will you attend the awards ceremony?" A reporter asked.

Renly chuckled. "If they're welcoming actors, then sure." His joke made everyone laugh, and the questions began to return to normal. The box office for Crazy Love was nearing $100 million. What did Renly think about the upcoming release of Fighting Cancer? His thoughts on filming Edge of Tomorrow?

Countless questions surrounded Renly as he found himself once again at the center of attention. The reporters' enthusiasm was palpable, and after a few failed attempts to escape, Renly finally managed to break free.

But Renly knew this wasn't the end. Dealing with the press was easy—dealing with the fans, though, was another challenge.

The moment he stepped out of the reporters' circle, he was thrust into the midst of screaming fans. The difference was clear: the reporters were one thing, but the fans were another world entirely. A world full of wild energy.

The cries and shouts were just the beginning. The real challenge came in the form of eager hands reaching out to touch Renly. Cheeks, lips, collarbones—it was all part of the game. But then came the next level—hands touching his chest, stomach, and lower body. It was relentless.

Nathan stepped in, arms open to shield Renly, but even his fists couldn't stop the chaos.

Renly felt his shirt buttons start to pop off, his belt buckle loosen, and the painful pressure on his arms and chest grow stronger. It was as if the fans saw him as a doll to be adored and tormented. His entire body was exposed to their intense energy.

In that moment, Renly realized that wearing a shirt today had been a bad decision. The bombardment he had faced earlier during the interview seemed like nothing compared to this.

Navigating through the crowd was a struggle. The shouts, the cries, and the constant push of bodies made it nearly impossible to move. It was as if every inch of his skin, every pore, was under the intense scrutiny of these fanatic followers.

Finally, Nathan, Paul, Rami, and Donald arrived to help pull him from the chaos and escort him into a van. But even then, there were still hands gripping his shirt, holding him back. As Renly rushed forward, the last of his shirt's buttons flew off.

The door slammed shut behind him, but the sounds of the fans banging and shouting continued outside.

Renly sat in the van, his shirt torn and his jacket hanging loosely over his shoulders. His curly hair was a mess, his cheeks marked with red impressions. For a brief moment, he felt less like a star and more like a street rat.

He spread his hands helplessly, pulling at his collar, and said with a shrug, "Go ahead, laugh."

Laughter echoed throughout the van.