The Greatest Showman - Chapter 1389

Ronan Farrow is loved by many. For 54.51% of the people, he is a figure they hold dear—1,350 people consider him their favorite.

For many, Ronan was seen as a gifted child who entered university at the age of eleven, a law student who later ventured into politics, displaying immense potential from a young age. Or, to others, he was the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, entangled in the complexities of family relationships, often weighed down by burdens and public scrutiny.

But for Renly, Ronan was the 2017 News Person of the Year. After nearly two years of investigation, deliberation, and collaboration with other reporters, he had become a pivotal force in exposing the Weinstein scandal. His efforts sparked the global "Me-Too" movement, which sent shockwaves through the world.

Despite his young age, Ronan continues to explore and refine his work across various fields. Renly doesn't view him as just another "intern reporter," but he can't deny the passion and vigor Ronan brings to the table. Despite his experiences with the dark, complicated world of politics, Ronan maintains a sincere and unwavering integrity—a quality Renly admires.

After all, it was Ronan who had gone out of his way to inform the deliveryman about Renly's situation tonight.

It was a fun evening.

Was it a stroke of luck?

...

Renly and his group stood by the side of the road, waiting for a taxi. Their performance had just concluded, and despite being delayed by over 20 minutes, a long line of people remained, all waiting for their ride.

Amid the bustling conversations around them, an awkward silence settled over Renly's group. It was clear no one knew quite how to break the tension. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts.

Melissa, however, was the exception. She seemed oblivious to the silence, asking excitedly, "Renly, did you really stop those four gangsters tonight? You looked so calm, like James Bond!"

Renly kept a polite smile on his face, "I'm sure Blake would have done the same if he had been there."

Blake Jenner, standing beside Renly, smiled back, expressing his thanks.

"But you're different! You're Renly Hall! There's no one quite like you!" Melissa continued, her voice rising with excitement.

Blake, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, subtly observed the exchange. The same question Melissa had just asked had been answered by Renly to a reporter earlier, but it was clear Renly wasn't inclined to discuss it in private. His tone remained polite but revealed a hint of distance. Blake placed a hand gently on Melissa's shoulder, signaling her to ease up.

Melissa shrugged off Blake's hand, her eyes still fixed on Renly. "So what exactly happened? Did they bring weapons? Was there a physical confrontation? Was it like a scene from a movie?"

"For the details, maybe you should read the article in 'Le Monde' tomorrow. I've never been great at telling stories." Renly's words were clear, and his tone was pointed. 'Le Monde' was known for its supermarket-style gossip tabloids, making Renly's message quite obvious.

Turning to Blake, Renly added, "Thank you for coming tonight. I hope we get another chance to meet in the future."

Renly then glanced at Damien and the others before looking at Rooney. "Would you like to go for a walk? Perhaps with me, in those heels of yours?"

Rooney flashed a bright smile, "It would be my pleasure."

Melissa, still eager, quickly chimed in, "Oh, I'd love to join you both!"

But Rooney politely interrupted, "Sorry, Melissa, Renly and I would prefer to walk alone. But if you'd like, this city has plenty of places to explore." Her smile remained, though there was a coldness and arrogance to it as she made her refusal clear.

Melissa's expression faltered for a moment, but she still turned to Renly, reluctant to give up.

Then, she saw it—the distance in Renly's smile, the subtle but unmistakable wall he had placed between them. She understood without words.

Renly, without further comment, nodded graciously, raised his arm in an inviting gesture, and offered Rooney his arm. Together, they walked away.

The atmosphere among the remaining group became even more awkward. After a few moments of hesitation, Melissa and Blake quietly decided to walk off on their own, which seemed to ease the tension slightly.

Damien couldn't help but frown, glancing at Justin. "What just happened? Why does it feel so strange? What's wrong here?"

Justin looked at Simmons, but Simmons was deep in thought, unaware of the undercurrents at play. "Melissa's been trying to use Renly for publicity, but Renly clearly isn't interested in that. He's polite, but there's a definite sense of distance. Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn't be happy with that either."

Damien paused, reflecting on what Justin had said. Slowly, he began to understand. "What should I do now?"

Justin sighed. "You're the director. Ask me? I'm just a music producer—how am I supposed to help?"

"...She doesn't have a big role, right? Renly wouldn't mind, would he?" Damien asked, unsure.

"'Crackling Drummer' is a two-person show. Andrew and Fletcher are the absolute core. All the other characters, like Melissa's role as Nicole, are supplementary. She only appears in a handful of scenes. If we replace her, no problem. We'd have half of Hollywood's unknown actors knocking down the door to get in, even if they had to work for free."

Damien, however, wasn't one to change plans on a whim. He liked to stick to the original vision, every scene meticulously thought out before filming. The thought of altering it, even just mentally, made his stomach churn.

So what now?

Meanwhile, Melissa and Blake walked away, the silence between them lingering.

"...Did you notice that? Renly really has the attention of everyone. His every word and action draws attention from the press. It's incredible," Melissa remarked. She had never seen such a spectacle before, not fully understanding the magnitude of Renly's stardom until now.

Blake, growing frustrated, finally spoke up, interrupting her. "Since you've noticed all the attention, didn't you also notice Renly's tone and attitude? He clearly wasn't comfortable. It's Renly and Rooney's business. Why did you have to get involved?"

"Are you sure it was Renly who was uncomfortable, or are you the one feeling uneasy?" Melissa shot back, her tone becoming more serious.

Blake faltered, caught off guard. "What do you expect from me? Am I supposed to just sit back and accept it? My fiancée is ogling another man, and even took the initiative to approach him, claiming they're just 'friends.' That's not how I define an engagement."

Blake and Melissa had met on the set of "Glee," and had been in a private engagement for some time. Though the paparazzi had often photographed them together, they had kept their relationship under wraps. Blake understood why they kept things quiet, but today's incident had crossed a line.

"I thought we were on the same page here," Melissa said, her tone turning serious. "Renly Hall is a star, and I'm working with him. Do you know how many actresses in Hollywood envy me right now? This is a huge opportunity. Why not take advantage of it?"

"And completely ignore my existence?" Blake interrupted, his anger rising. "Renly's not an idiot. He's not going to just let you do whatever you want."

Melissa retorted, "But there aren't many people like you!"

Blake was left speechless.