The Greatest Showman #1242 - Under the Skin

Standing before Scarlett Johansson, Renly couldn't help but notice how stunning she looked. Her short, neat hair gave her a bold, confident appearance, and her slender face had lost the softness of youth, replacing it with a mature, captivating charm. Her figure exuded grace and pride, and the mature air about her was like a ripe peach, full of a seductive energy that seemed to radiate from every gesture.

"God, these women are all over you," Scarlett complained, her voice tinged with disbelief. "I can't even understand what's going on in their heads. Just look at Diana, then Grace—it's like they can't wait to pounce on you, like moths to a flame."

She gave Renly a pointed look, scrutinizing him, as if appraising his worth. "Honestly, I don't see what's so special. They must have watched too many Disney movies. You know, Cinderella's life with Prince Charming couldn't have been all that great."

Renly had recently been thrust into the limelight when Empire Magazine exposed his true family background. Later, People Magazine crowned him "Sexiest Man of the Year," making him the youngest ever recipient of the title. With his handsomeness, charm, sharp wit, and prestigious lineage, he became the epitome of every woman's dream—a perfect modern-day Prince Charming. At tonight's event, Renly was like a magnet, pulling everyone's attention toward him, and no one seemed to be able to get close enough.

The sheer intensity of the attention had been overwhelming—producers, directors, screenwriters—all having to circle around him, but it was Scarlett who had stepped in to rescue him just in time.

However, Renly knew this was just the beginning. On Oscar night, the waves of admiration would only grow stronger, and after tonight's gala, he would become the ultimate object of desire for countless women. The aftermath would echo long into the future.

"Maybe they were inspired by Kate Middleton's fairy tale," Renly joked, trying to deflect the weight of Scarlett's words. "The media always knows how to mislead people."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "Oh, so you're comparing yourself to Prince William now?"

Unruffled, Renly smiled and shot back, "Isn't that the misunderstanding? I think it's you who has the wrong impression."

Scarlett paused, realizing the playful jab Renly had made. She caught herself, struggling to find a comeback, her lips quirking upward in a knowing smile. "Fine, fine," she muttered, "but don't include me in their ranks."

Renly bowed mockingly, his gentlemanly gesture radiating sarcasm. Scarlett rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "They actually say you're a gentleman? God."

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Renly greeted her, "Long time no see."

Scarlett flashed a smile back at him. "Long time no see, but honestly, I wasn't looking forward to this. Every time we meet, the media makes a scandal out of it. Don't they have anything better to talk about?"

Renly shrugged. "Their heads are the size of peanuts and single-circuited. Didn't you already figure that out by now?"

Scarlett chuckled, though there was a hint of exasperation in her tone. "Well, I've actually been looking forward to seeing you again," Renly continued, his eyes brightening. "I heard you worked with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Is that his first directorial venture?"

"Yes, yes!" Scarlett lit up with excitement, clearly pleased to be talking about her latest project. She threw Renly a wink, the playful gesture adding a layer of charm. "Are you interested in directing too?"

Renly shook his head with a soft chuckle. "No, I'm just curious. Joseph is a unique actor—I'm intrigued to see what kind of director he'll become. I wonder if his performance background will influence how he captures his actors' performances, how he tells the story."

Scarlett laughed, but the joke had a sharp edge to it. "If the women knew that Prince Charming's favorite conversation topics were acting, they'd probably be sorely disappointed."

"I guess that's my style," Renly said with a grin.

As they continued their conversation, Scarlett started speaking about her role in Joseph's film, but suddenly, her words were interrupted by a shift in Renly's demeanor. His presence loomed, his movements swift and purposeful. Without warning, he was closer to her than she expected, and the change in his energy was palpable. Scarlett's breath caught as she found herself wrapped in the intensity of his gaze.

Her pulse quickened as she looked into his dark, soulful eyes—quiet, calm, but full of unspoken depth. The space between them seemed to crackle with a kind of quiet tension. For a brief moment, Scarlett forgot how to breathe. Time seemed to stand still.

Renly's voice broke the silence, smooth and deep. "If I ever direct, would you be willing to join me? We could do it as friends."

Scarlett's breath returned, and she raised her hand, tracing a slow circle over his chest. "Joseph says I'm his muse, so I agreed to join him. What about you, Renly? Am I your muse too?"

Renly leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a husky whisper in her ear. "You really believe in the whole muse thing?"

Scarlett's heart fluttered. She tried to keep her composure, but Renly's teasing tone set her pulse racing. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" she said, her voice tinged with both irritation and amusement.

They were surrounded by onlookers, but Scarlett couldn't quite shake the feeling of being caught in Renly's orbit. She laughed nervously, realizing the joke was on her. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she threw him an exaggerated glare.

Renly took a step back, his expression unreadable. "You know, they do say I'm a gentleman," he said with mock seriousness.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Right, a gentleman. Sure."

Renly grinned, but there was something almost imperceptible in his gaze. "You should know I have boundaries."

As Scarlett stood there, trying to regain her composure, she suddenly wondered if she'd underestimated Renly. His mischievous demeanor had caught her off guard, and she couldn't help but admire how he navigated the world with such ease—his charm disarming even the most intimidating of situations.