The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

ELLIS went to Astrid's apartment early in the morning. Astrid was a bit surprised since the screen test was still in the afternoon. He was even more surprised when he saw that the other seemed to have not sleep at all. As evidence of the dark circles under her eyes.

"Are you alright, Sister Ellis?" he asked as he gave the other a cup of tea.

Ellis drank a sip before answering, "Yeah. I just made some calls and somehow it lasted all night."

Astrid sat opposite the other. "Was it related to the screen test today?"

Ellis nodded. "I made calls to some people who might know what kind of concept EMMA was looking for for this new perfume line of theirs."

And after a lot of calls, she finally found someone and convinced them to tell her about it. She's just disappointed that it took some time to do it. She was planning to at least tell Astrid about it by evening so the other would have at least time to prepare. But alas, she wasn't that lucky. That's why she came here this early in the morning.

"If you're fine with leftover dinner for breakfast, shall we eat while discussing things?" Astrid suggested.

"I'd love to," Ellis didn't hesitate to say. Because even if it's leftovers, as long as Astrid was the one who cooked it, it would still be better than the majority of the restaurants out there.

Astrid started heating up the leftover dinner he made last night. It didn't take long for everything to heat up. He quickly served the dishes on the dining table. Then both he and Ellis started eating.

"So, what kind of concept were they aiming for?" he started.

"It's actually just not one concept," Ellis said as she ate a piece of chicken. "This upcoming perfume line has three variations. Each one corresponding to a certain image of different types of men. Like a sexy and manly image, a cold and indifferent image, and a cute and bubbly image. Things like that."

"So, three different images, huh."

If Astrid had gone there blindly without any prior information, then it might really be disastrous for him. Because there was a chance that none of the staffs he would meet today would tell him about that. The fact that Ellis managed to get this information meant that she must have really worked hard all throughout the night.

He picked up a piece of meat and put it on Ellis' plate. "Thank you for your hard work, Sister Ellis. I'll be sure to pass this screen test."

"You better," Ellis said in a playful tone before eating the meat he gave her.

She actually wasn't so worried. With the information she gave, Astrid wouldn't have to act blindly as he was doing the screen test. She was confident that the other could show the image EMMA wanted.

After eating breakfast, they spent the whole morning preparing. Ellis took pictures of Astrid as he made different poses. With the photos, they checked which expression and pose he should use later during the screen test.

And just like that, the time to go to the venue had come.

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The place where the screen test would be held was a studio directly connected to EMMA. This was not just a simple connection, the studio was literally a part of the company. With a name like EMMA Studio, one would know that it's related to a certain luxury brand.

This studio was the one in charge of all the pictorials, advertisement, and a lot of other things related to photoshoots and stuff like that. Its building was also located just in front of EMMA's main building.

Ellis parked the flying car at the designated parking lot. The two of them got off the car and walked towards the building of EMMA Studio. After telling the AI receptionist who they were, another AI robot led them to the room where the screen test would be held.

They walked inside the room after the AI robot opened it for them. There weren't that many staffs inside. Maybe just about seven or eight. Both Astrid and Ellis greeted them with just enough politeness, not to the point where they would appear too humble, of course. Some greeted them back with enthusiasm while others' reaction were very lukewarm.

[Well, at least they're not outright being antagonistic.] – Astrid thought.

They were led to a waiting area, a staff telling them that the photographer would be a bit late. But this 'bit' actually lasted for an hour.

"This is totally on purpose," Ellis said through gritted teeth.

"It's fine, Sister Ellis," Astrid said. "They will come sooner or later."

Thankfully enough, after 30 minutes more of waiting, the photographer finally arrived.

"Why haven't you changed your clothes and make-up yet?" – was the first thing the photographer said before Astrid and Ellis could even greet the other. "Do you know how precious my time is? What are you still standing there for? Go and change your clothes!"

A look of astonishment flashed on Astrid's face. Was this guy for real? He's the one who's almost two hours late and now he's telling them that they're wasting his time? Before he could say anything, a staff led him towards a separate dressing room. Which was probably for the best because he might have used his mental force right there and then.

"Please, wear this," the staff said, giving him a set of clothes.

After he changed clothes, a make-up artist entered and started doing his make-up.

As the make-up artist put make-up on him, the expression on Astrid's face was slowly getting darker. Because the other was giving him a make-up style that would clash with the clothes he's wearing.

He looked at the make-up artist and then exert just the right amount of mental force to make the other dizzy. Sure enough, the next second, the make-up artist suddenly stumbled as if she was about to faint.

He quickly supported the other and asked in a worried voice, "Are you okay?"