āTHE host might surprise you with a sudden question. But just try to keep your cool and donāt panic. If you feel panicked, just take a deep breath and then answer the hostās question as calmly as you can,ā Ellis reminded Astrid as they walked inside the broadcasting station.
Astrid nodded. He wasnāt really that worried about any surprise questions. He had done a lot of interviews like this in his past life. So, he wasnāt really nervous or anything like that.
Ellis continued, āThe program also has a segment where the host revealed some secrets they uncovered from the guestās past. This is based on the research theyāve done. I donāt think you have any questionable past, so thereās probably no need to worry about that.ā
That almost made Astrid stop. Well, technically he didnāt really have anything in his past that could be considered as problematic or something that people would take issue with. But if this program team delved too deeply, then they might show pictures of his parents. And that would be the problem.
Having his parentsā faces on national TV was definitely a no-go. Now, heās starting to worry. Although thereās a low chance of that happening, a chance was still a chance. But he couldnāt ask Ellis about it directly because the other might think that he was hiding something. Which was indeed the case. But that something was related to his family instead of just him.
Astridās relationship with Ellis was still not on the stage where he could freely divulged the secret of his family to her. So, the only way to inquire was to ask in an indirect manner.
āWhat kind of secrets do they usually reveal? Is it like some everyday stuff or do they just pick the ones that could be considered as controversial?ā he asked in a nonchalant manner as if he was truly just curious.
āWell, if thereās something controversial, of course that would be the one theyād choose. Itās the one that would make a buzz after all. But that doesnāt usually happen since people with dubious past donāt usually guest in this program. So, itās usually just your regular everyday stuff.ā
āI see,ā Astrid said with a nod.
But deep inside, he kind of wished that Ellis discussed things first to him before agreeing on putting him in this talk-show program. Okay. She did discussed it but not in so much detail. Thatās why Astrid didnāt find anything wrong in guesting in this program.
But because Ellis trusted him more than he imagined, it never crossed her mind that there was something in his past that was worth worrying over. Of course, itās not bad for an agent to trust their actors. Itās just that, it kind of backfired this time.
No, itās still too early to say that it backfired. Besides, if he thought about it carefully, he doubted that this program team would personally go to his home planet which was two galaxies away just to get a footage. Aside from that, this program had only invited him a day after the official premier of [The Sleeping God]. Thereās no way they could have found anything about his parents in just a couple of days.
Yes, thatās right, letās just be calm for now.
The two arrived at the dressing room provided for the guests of [New Star]. They were led there by a staff. Walking inside, they saw two women already there, sitting. One looked like an agent while the other must be either the singer or the writer.
It was a girl who looked to be about in her 20s. But one couldnāt really tell in this era. She could be in her 50s and no one would think thatās ridiculous. She had short light brown hair and a pair of soft green eyes.
It was obvious that she was very nervous, as evidence of how hard sheās clenching the pant suit that sheās wearing. She didnāt even look up when they walked in. She probably didnāt even feel their presence.
āThatās the web novelist, her pen name is One Leaf,ā Ellis whispered to Astrid.
He walked up to the other and introduced himself. āHello, Miss Leaf, my name is Astrid Townsend.ā
The other finally looked up with a start. Then, her eyes widened like saucers when she saw Astrid.
āJace!ā
The other three in the room was startled by her sudden call. Although Astrid tried not to show it by continuing to smile, he was still a bit confused by the otherās reaction.
One Leafās agent quickly resolved the awkward atmosphere by apologizing. āIām sorry, Miss Leaf is just very nervous. I hope you can understand.ā
As if only now realizing her mistake, One Leaf put her hand over her mouth. āI- Iām sorry!ā she said in a muffled voice.
Astrid chuckled. āItās okay. I must have looked like this āJaceā for Miss Leaf to mistake me for him.ā
One Leaf put down her hand covering her mouth and shook her head. āJace is not really a person. Heās- heās a character I created in one of my novels. You- Mr. Astrid looks exactly the way as how I envisioned him to be.ā
As she continued speaking, her voice became smaller and smaller. But since both Astrid and Ellis had good hearing, they didnāt miss a word of what she said.
Astrid raised his brow in interest. He searched a bit about the two guests who would be with him in this talk-show program. So, he knew that One Leaf was currently very hot in the world of web novels right now. She only had three published web novels but all of them were all popular. Especially the latest of the three.
If she could maintain this popularity, then thereās a high chance for her works to be turn into live action. And if she thought that Astrid perfectly fit one of her characters, then the chances of him being considered for the role once it became a live action would definitely be high.
Thereās no reason not to be on the otherās good side. So, he smiled and said;
āFor Miss Leaf to think so, itās definitely an honor.ā