The Greatest Showman #1407 – Simple Test

Inside and outside the room, Renly and Rooney pressed their backs against the cold brick wall, their heated skin contrasting with the chill. There was no sign of calm returning; it was as if the rhythm of their hearts was beating together—familiar yet distant, a strange collision of tranquility and excitement. Immersed in their own worlds, the smiles at the corners of their mouths slowly curved upward.

The noise inside and the noise outside, the warmth within and the cold beyond—two completely different worlds seemed to merge on either side of the wall.

"Rooney!"

A sharp shout shattered the moment. The warmth, like a bubble, burst, and Rooney flinched. She turned her gaze toward the source of the sound: Paul Walker, his face bright with a wide smile. He waved enthusiastically at her.

"We were just discussing social networks," Paul said, clearly. "Didn't you mention to Renly last time about Jesse's performance? What happened there?"

Rooney snapped back to reality, quickly organizing her thoughts. She smiled again and moved toward him.

Renly sat quietly, his cigarette case in hand. He hesitated, briefly considering lighting one, but ultimately decided against it. He returned the cigarette to its case and lifted his eyes, watching the lights of New York flicker out one by one, like the haunting end of Fight Club, where two people who loved each other observed the world's quiet destruction.

The night air in New York grew colder. The harsh winds were nothing like the gentle warmth of June. Goosebumps rippled along Renly's skin, waking him from his reverie.

His thoughts snapped back to clarity. He stood, turned, and walked back into the room.

The warmth and the energy of the conversation enveloped him. Laughter and lively chatter filled the air as if nothing had changed in his absence. Yet, there was a relaxed kindness in the atmosphere, not neglect, but a comfortable familiarity. Occasionally, someone would acknowledge Renly's presence with a raise of the glass or a wave before continuing their conversation.

The atmosphere allowed one to roam in a peaceful, almost meditative way.

Renly spotted Matthew Dunlop engaged in conversation with Jake Gyllenhaal on the sofa near his desk.

Renly settled down next to them, not interrupting their discussion but listening attentively. After a while, Jake was called away by Scarlett Johansson and Paul Walker. This left Renly and Matthew in quiet companionship, watching the vibrant energy around them.

"Chris has been trying to find an opportunity to talk to you," Matthew remarked calmly, breaking the tranquility of the moment. His words carried a hint of teasing. "Are you sure you don't want to give him a chance?"

Renly followed Matthew's gaze to see Chris standing by the bar, his attention flickering between them. The way he kept glancing in their direction made it hard to miss.

This was their first private meeting since Oscar night. At Cannes, there had been too many cameras to have any real conversation. Tonight, however, was more intimate, especially since it was the night Renly made history.

"I'm not Arthur, and I won't go out of my way to make things difficult," Renly said with a smile. "But I'm also not Eaton. It would be disrespectful to Edith to push him into something he's not ready for." He glanced at Chris, giving him a playful nod. Chris, caught off guard, gave a quick, awkward smile before hastily turning away, as if nothing had happened.

Matthew nodded knowingly. "You're the easiest level in the Hall family."

The phrase hung in the air, and for a moment, silence settled between them. It was a reminder that Renly, despite his indifference, was now completely independent. The dynamics within the Hall family were subtly shifting, though Renly himself seemed unaffected.

Renly maintained his calm, and after a moment of quiet, he spoke again. "You're the true mastermind behind this party." It wasn't a question—it was a statement of fact.

Though everyone had initially assumed Edith was behind the event, Renly knew better. Edith wasn't the one who enjoyed organizing these things. If she had, she wouldn't have gone off alone to do interviews. And Arthur, well, he had no interest in planning a party and risk facing Renly's anger.

Only Matthew could have been behind it.

A subtle smile played at the corner of Matthew's lips. He didn't confirm nor deny, but his response was clear enough.

Matthew had been planning this night since the Oscars three months ago. He could sense Renly's increasing distance—not from politeness, but from the growing sense of isolation. They'd known each other for a lifetime, yet this was the first time Matthew felt like Renly was slipping away, like a kite carried too far on the wind.

That's why Matthew had organized the party.

Despite knowing that Renly might be angered by the spectacle, and fully aware that Renly didn't enjoy being the center of attention, Matthew had pushed forward. Whether Renly won the EGOT tonight or not, the party would go on. The only difference was in the meaning and the theme of it.

Matthew didn't regret his choice. He had no intention of explaining himself. He met Renly's gaze with calm resolve, ready to face whatever emotions Renly would throw his way.

Renly studied Matthew without a change in expression. The silence lingered, unreadable. But in the end, a smile slowly formed at the corners of his mouth. "You know I won't be angry."

"No," Matthew responded with a grin. "No one can predict what you're thinking. That's why George and Elizabeth are so afraid of you."

Fear.

The word Matthew used intrigued Renly.

Renly chuckled lightly. "But you see through me. Otherwise, this party wouldn't exist." He paused before asking, "Should I start my exit now?"

It was a delicate game within aristocratic circles. If someone sees through you, it's a dangerous situation. You either distance yourself or handle it, or risk becoming the fish in a game of manipulation. It was a high-stakes game, like the servant who knows the emperor's secrets.

Matthew spread his hands. "It's too late. All the evidence has been gathered. You know how I work. I'm an excellent lawyer," he said, a smug satisfaction in his voice.

Renly didn't argue. He just smiled, a small, genuine smile. "Thank you."

Matthew's expression remained composed. "I'll send the remuneration list to you tomorrow."

Renly laughed softly, a smile creeping across his face. "Alright then."

"Look," Matthew said suddenly, shifting his attention.

They both turned to see Chris, smiling too brightly, his exaggerated grin almost comical in its transparency.

Renly pursed his lips. "He's too slow. I thought he was decisive, but it seems I was wrong. He should've approached me the first chance he got." He shook his head, as if confirming industry rumors weren't always accurate.

Matthew made a quiet observation. "He hesitated a lot before taking the role of 'Captain America.' Shows he's a person who can be persuaded." He wasn't trying to attack Chris—he was simply stating the facts. Renly's position was his, and he had no intention of taking sides.

Renly made no obvious move, but his gaze flickered to Edith on the other side of the room. "Compared to him, Edith's the real deal. I never knew she could be so anxious about all this, so caught up in it. I hardly recognize her anymore."

Edith, typically so composed, was distracted, absentmindedly holding her champagne. Though she kept her outward appearance calm, Renly and Matthew could easily see through her anxiousness. Edith, too, was worried about tonight—especially about Renly's stance. She knew that if Renly, the most independent of the Hall family, wasn't on her side, there was little hope for Chris. And if George and Elizabeth turned on him, Chris would be powerless.

But Edith's anxiety came from a different place. While Renly had long been independent, now, after the Earl of Oxford's banquet, he had completely freed himself from any family obligations. Edith, in turn, had to confront her own fears about the future.