The Greatest Showman #1525 - Final Arrival

After a long journey, the yacht finally docked, riding the waves as it approached the pier. The last stretch of its voyage was marked by the serene yet exhilarating sight of Renly stepping out of the cabin and making his way to the deck.

The sky was alive with flashes of light, and the fiery sunset painted the heavens with radiant hues of orange and silver. The scene looked as though it had been brushed by the hands of a divine artist, with Renly's slender figure outlined against the backdrop. His smoky gray striped shirt and navy blue casual trousers exuded an effortless elegance, while the cool sea breeze ruffled his slightly curly hair, adding a touch of mystery to his features. His slight, knowing smile captivated the crowd.

The dock seemed to tremble under the roar of excited cheers and applause. It felt as though the entire island of Lido had come alive with Renly's arrival.

The yacht was fully docked, and Renly made his way from the bustling deck to the solid, stable pier. The sensation of gravity and the firm ground beneath his feet was reassuring, but his eyes were already on the path leading toward the red carpet at the Venice Film Palace.

"Renly, here, look here!"

"Master, wait, wait!"

"Baron Hall! Baron Hall!"

The pier was overflowing with people. Every corner was filled with reporters, some performing daring stunts in an attempt to get the perfect shot. Everyone was clamoring for Renly's attention, shouting his name and trying to catch a glimpse of the star.

Despite the chaos, Renly remained calm. He wasn't rushing; in fact, he relished moments like these. It wasn't about the shouting or the frenzy—though he kept a respectful distance—it was the passion, the madness, and the focus that gave such events their magic. This was the true charm of festivals like this one.

Unlike Cannes, which Renly felt was more about the spectacle, he preferred the purity and simplicity of the Berlin and Venice festivals. But above all, Venice held a special place in his heart, filled with memories of both triumph and reflection.

Renly moved at a steady pace, acknowledging the reporters with nods and smiles. Suddenly, he stopped, taking a few steps back, and raised his voice, "Be careful."

The reporters looked confused, and Renly quickly stepped forward, signaling behind them with his hand. "Be careful, don't step back. The Coast Guard will be called."

Before he could finish, there was a surge of movement. Renly noticed someone losing their balance, and instinctively, he reached out to steady them, exclaiming, "Be careful!" His eyes held a deep, playful smile as he watched the scene unfold.

Suddenly, with a few loud splashes, several reporters slipped off the pier and fell into the sea, one after another.

Though it wasn't an ideal moment for laughter, Renly couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all. The scene quickly descended into chaos as the reporters scrambled, but the playful energy wasn't lost on anyone.

Renly turned quickly to the security guard nearby, urgently waving, "Someone's fallen into the water! Help!" He glanced back at the reporters, waving his hands, "Calm down! Calm down!" He gestured for everyone to step back.

The panic among the crowd quickly turned into order, the reporters shouting, "Move forward! Move forward!" The sudden calmness was a surprising contrast to the expected chaos.

Renly, slightly bewildered, looked around. The journalists were now smiling and joking, and the security guards approached with an unhurried, practiced calmness. One of the staff, noticing Renly's confusion, stepped forward with a reassuring smile and said in English with a strong Italian accent, "Don't worry. This happens every year. We're prepared."

Renly followed their gaze to the sea, where lifeboats were already in place to help. The pier wasn't even a full floor above the water, and falling into the sea wasn't as dangerous as it seemed. His heart, which had been racing, slowly returned to normal.

"So this happens every year?" Renly asked, still processing the situation.

"Yes, every year," the staff member confirmed with a nod. "Though this year's earlier than expected. The competition hasn't even officially started yet. We even made a bet to see who would fall into the water today." They winked at Renly with a grin. "I won."

Of course, it was Italy.

Renly's tension melted away as he recalled how he had overreacted. When the reporters heard about Renly's concern, a few of them called out with good-natured humor, "Renly, thanks for caring! The guys who fell must be so excited."

Another reporter teased, "Master, people said you don't get along with the press, but now we can clear that up!" Laughter rippled through the crowd.

On the North American continent, Renly was often treated with cold indifference by reporters, especially after the controversy surrounding Boom Drummer. But in Europe, he was beloved, admired not for gossip, but for his dedication and professionalism.

Renly smiled at the lighthearted banter, accepting the joke without protest, nodding in appreciation. The air lightened, and the laughter continued.

Once the reporters were rescued and the situation calmed, Renly continued his journey, but not in a rush. He stayed at the pier for a little longer, taking time to interact with the fans. More than 2,000 enthusiastic moviegoers had gathered, waiting to see him before the official unveiling of Gravity at the festival.

Renly's steps were leisurely. He signed autographs, shook hands, hugged fans, posed for photos, and exchanged a few words. What could have been a quick five-minute walk down the red carpet stretched into nearly forty minutes as he made his way toward the official photo area.

The red carpet grew louder and more lively as more guests and film crew members arrived. It was the world premiere of Gravity, and the opening ceremony of the Venice Film Festival. The jury members of the competition unit also made their appearances, adding to the excitement.

Venice had a deep connection to Asian cinema, especially Chinese films, during the 1990s, and the city had become a hub for some of the most influential works in cinema. The festival's ties to the Asian film industry were well-known, and this year, a Chinese-language film, Outing, had made it into the main competition unit.

As Renly chatted with Canadian director Xavier Dolan and French director Philippe Garrel, a crowd of onlookers gathered around them. The three were deep in conversation about cinema, and their exchange became one of the red carpet's most talked-about moments.

Amid the lively discussions, Renly noticed a familiar face arriving, and his eyes turned toward the petite figure making their way down the carpet:

Rooney had finally arrived, just in time.