The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

ASTRID closed the door to his apartment and sank onto the couch. Xiao Lan hopped onto his lap and greeted him. He stroked the cat's soft fur while opening his Terminal to check the messages he'd missed during his busy day.

The first thing that caught his attention was a message from Reas. He clicked it open and began to read.

[Aster, I won't be home tonight. I'll be staying at Lauren's place. If all goes well, I might just head straight to school from here.]

Astrid raised a brow as he read the message. He knew Reas was meeting Lauren today, but he didn't expect it would end with him staying at Lauren's place. And 'if all goes well'? Was Reas suggesting that things might take a more… personal turn?

Was their relationship already at that stage? Astrid shook his head. It didn't matter either way. They were both consenting adults and free to handle their relationship however they wanted. Even if Reas was technically still a teenager, he carried himself with a maturity that often surpassed those older than him. Besides, if it came down to it, Astrid had no doubt that between Reas and Lauren, it would be the latter who was 'bullied'—regardless of their position in bed.

So, he simply responded to his brother's message with a casual, [Have fun! ^_^].

The next message was from Kiran.

[Aster, I've decided to sign with Mr. Atkins' agency. Miss Rose asked her lawyer friend to review the contract with me, and there were no issues at all. In fact, the lawyer said it's very advantageous for me. Mr. Atkins mentioned that he'll assign an agent to handle everything related to my career, so I can focus entirely on creating music. I'm really excited to start this new chapter of my life!]

Astrid felt genuinely happy for Kiran. Knowing Kiran's reluctance to be in the spotlight, it was a relief to see him embrace an opportunity that allowed him to focus on what he truly loved—making music. There was something deeply satisfying about being able to make a living doing what you love. He could only hope that Shir Atkins would prove worthy of the trust Kiran was placing in him.

He typed back with a smile: [That's amazing, Kiran. I'm really happy for you. Just let me know if you ever need help or advice. I'm rooting for you!]

The next messages were from his uncles and Nicol. Thomas' message was straightforward, asking how he was and checking in as usual. Casey's, on the other hand, was more casual, venting about mistakes his employees at EMMA had made. Nicol's message was lighthearted, narrating his day and asking when they could meet again. Astrid took his time replying to each message one by one.

Next, he opened his mother's message. It began with the usual questions about how he was doing, followed by an update about his grandfather.

[Would you believe it? Your grandfather is actually taking to farm life—and doing it well, no less. It's like he's been at it his whole life. He's even gone and made friends with the other farmers. Honestly, I'm not sure how to feel about it.]

Attached to the message was a picture of his grandfather, standing in the middle of the field, a snall smile on his face as he worked under the sun.

It was understandable that his mother felt conflicted about his grandfather being there. While she had chosen to forgive him, that didn't mean she could simply forget everything that had happened. A part of her was likely still angry over the past. But forgiveness had been her way of moving forward with her life. Still, as the saying went, forgiving was one thing—forgetting was something else entirely.

Well, if his grandfather really wanted to be a part of his mother's life again, he'd have to work hard to prove he deserved it.

Astrid replied: [It sounds like he's settling in. How are you holding up with all this, Mom?]

He didn't get an immediate reply, so his mother was probably asleep. With that in mind, he moved on to the next message, or rather, several messages, which were all from Wulfric.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

[Good morning, Aster! Have you had breakfast?]

[You mentioned you'd be observing auditions for your next film today, right? Don't overwork yourself, and make sure you eat on time.] Enjoy more content from empire

[Are you busy? Of course, you must be. If you weren't, you'd have replied to me by now.]

[You still haven't read any of my messages. Is everything okay?]

[Are you still at the auditions?]

[It must be evening already in the capital, and you're still at the auditions?]

[You really should ask that director for a raise—he's making you do work overtime!]

[Aster, please tell me you've eaten dinner. Don't forget to eat, okay?]

[Aster...]

[I miss you.]

Astrid chuckled softly as he read through the messages. It felt like something a clingy boyfriend might send, yet instead of finding it annoying, he found it oddly endearing.

It was definitely because they were from Wulfric. If anyone else had sent messages like this, he might have found them overbearing or even irritating. But coming from Wulfric, they felt different. There was a sincerity to them, a warmth that made Astrid smile instead of roll his eyes. It wasn't just the words—it was knowing they came from someone who genuinely cared for him.

He resisted the urge to call Wulfric, knowing exactly how the conversation would go. They'd start talking about something simple, and before he knew it, hours would have passed. As much as he enjoyed their conversations, he couldn't let that happen tonight. There was another audition tomorrow, and he needed to get a full night's rest to be at his best for it.

So, he could only reply to his messages.

[Don't worry, I ate on time. And I'm not overworked, just busy with the auditions earlier. I'm already back at my apartment and about to get some rest. Stop stressing so much. I'm fine. (..◜ᴗ◝..)]

He looked at his reply, and then added.

[I miss you too.]

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