The Greatest Showman

Chapter 123

Bradley Adams adjusted his breathing, momentarily lifting his fingers off the shutter button. He glanced around at the actors on set. Neil Patrick Harris spread his arms wide to welcome the newly arrived Amy Poehler; not far away, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki who came together, were expressing their admiration for Steve Carell.

The Emmys were always like this—an overwhelming gathering of familiar faces from TV screens, making it hard to stand out. Stealing the spotlight here was far more challenging than the Golden Globes or the Oscars.

The red carpet in front of the Nokia Theatre had a distinctive setup. The theatre itself faced south, with the street in front running east to west. The red carpet began on the western side of the street, following the narrow sidewalk eastward. Upon reaching the theatre entrance, it turned north, opening up to a large plaza.

Journalists were stationed along the southern side of the sidewalk, perfectly positioned to interview actors or capture their photographs. While some fans stood behind the journalists, most of the crowd gathered in the plaza. Here, actors had the chance to interact closely with their fans.

Suddenly, a burst of screams erupted from the start of the red carpet. Bradley glanced over casually, spotting a group of fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girls screaming excitedly, their frenzied enthusiasm almost overwhelming the reporters at the entrance. Without needing to look further, he knew: the ‘Glee’ cast had arrived. The new TV series, which premiered last fall, had quickly become a cultural phenomenon, with every piece of news about it turning into a headline.

Reporters often joked that if ‘Twilight’ dominated film, then ‘Glee’ was its television counterpart.

Leaning forward slightly, Bradley confirmed his guess. Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, and the rest of the cast had arrived together. The teenage fans went wild, turning the narrow red carpet into a boiling cauldron of excitement. The energy was so intense it felt like the ground might give way beneath their feet.

Bradley wasn’t particularly interested. A teen-centric show like ‘Glee’ wouldn’t get much coverage in The New York Times. Still, he picked up his camera and snapped a few shots—just in case they’d come in handy later.

The ‘Glee’ cast, experiencing such attention for the first time, seemed both exhilarated and nervous. They enthusiastically shook hands with fans on both sides of the carpet, which only caused the crowd to erupt further. Although the fans here represented just a small fraction of the audience compared to the plaza, the commotion was so intense it triggered a ripple effect, drawing more fans toward the scene. The atmosphere became so lively it felt less like the Emmys and more like the Teen Choice Awards.

Bradley’s lens focused on Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, his journalistic instincts picking up a hint of something unusual. Were they dating? He squinted, trying to discern the clues, but nothing seemed conclusive. For now, he shelved the idea.

Just as Bradley was about to lower his camera, his hands froze.

A sleek, deep black Porsche coupe pulled up behind the ‘Glee cast’. A tall, striking man stepped out of the car, standing casually by the street as he took in his surroundings. He buttoned the top button of his suit jacket, the fiery sunset cascading over him like the brushstrokes of a master painter. In just a few strokes, the scene was imbued with stunning brilliance.

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He was dressed in a navy blue suit. The sharp shoulder lines evoked the structured elegance of a military uniform, highlighting the angular firmness of his jawline. The slim lapels were clean and modern, eschewing retro designs for a contemporary, youthful edge. The overall design was simple yet refined.

The tailored fit traced a seamless path from chest to waist, striking a perfect balance between fullness and restraint. Every inch of the suit fit impeccably, accentuating his broad shoulders, solid chest, straight posture, and lithe waist. Beneath the fluid lines of the fabric lay a silhouette that embodied both grace and commanding presence. The gentlemanly elegance of his demeanour carried an undeniable edge of magnetic allure.

The pearl-white shirt was flawlessly clean, with even the buttons hidden beneath the placket, suppressing the explosive sense of muscularity beneath its surface. This restraint only highlighted the cool elegance of the navy blue suit. A pocket square peeked out from the right chest pocket—a subtle plaid design of pearl white, light brown, and beige—which perfectly matched the similarly patterned bowtie. This small detail revealed the suit’s unmistakable Burberry pedigree.

The overall look was minimalist, devoid of unnecessary embellishments. Yet, the intricately designed, glossy brown brogue shoes instantly breathed life into the ensemble. They exuded youthful vibrancy with a touch of rebelliousness, blending noble elegance with a restrained, almost ascetic composure.

Between his refined eyebrows, a fleeting expression of brilliance momentarily outshone the fiery sunset behind him.

“Click.”

Bradley was momentarily entranced, pressing the shutter instinctively to capture the moment. It was only when the figure raised his head, fully revealing his face, that Bradley’s pupils widened in shock—that is Renly Hall!

The premiere of ‘The Pacific’ had only sparked a flicker of curiosity. His excellent performance in the series had been a pleasant discovery, making him become a rising star, and his Emmy nomination was just the first stone paving his way into Hollywood. But tonight, with this dazzling, fleeting appearance, Renly radiated an irresistible brilliance that left hearts pounding.

In front of Renly stood the ‘Glee’ cast, who had incited the fan frenzy. In contrast, Renly’s entrance seemed entirely overshadowed, with almost no fans noticing the new arrival at the red carpet’s edge. The stark difference between the ‘Glee’ cast’s overwhelming adoration and Renly’s quiet introduction created a jarring juxtaposition that was hard to ignore.

Yet, paradoxically, it was this backdrop of feverish chaos that accentuated Renly’s poised and understated demeanour. The ‘Glee’ cast’s energetic, exuberant vibe suddenly seemed shallow and transient—an ephemeral burst of foam that would dissolve with the slightest breeze. Their vibrant but restless youthfulness stood in stark contrast to the depth and refinement emanating from Renly, whose composed grace felt carved by time and experience, like a fine wine exuding richness under the golden glow of the sunset.

Bradley couldn’t help but smile to himself. This irony was too delicious.

After all, the ‘Glee’ cast weren’t actual high schoolers. Lea Michele was already 24, and Cory Monteith was 28. Yet 20-year-old Renly exuded a gravitas and elegance far beyond his years, as though he had already witnessed the vicissitudes of life. This depth, sculpted by time and growth, blossomed in the blazing sunset with the warmth and richness of aged wine.

Bradley instinctively pressed the shutter again. Despite the crowd between them, despite Renly only just stepping onto the red carpet, and despite the sea of frenzied fans, Bradley found himself compulsively capturing every fleeting moment. Then he noticed he wasn’t alone—many journalists around him were doing the same. Years of experience had honed their instincts to sniff out newsworthy moments, and they were all drawn to the same figure.

No one else seemed to notice this anomaly—not the ‘Glee’ cast, nor their screaming fans. All the cameras and spotlights were still trained on the ‘Glee’ group, the flashbulbs raining down like a torrential storm. The cacophony of cheers and screams confirmed that they were still the centre of attention, basking in what felt like global adoration.

Only true professionals realized what was happening. The journalists’ cameras had subtly shifted upward, angling over the ‘Glee’ cast to capture the figure behind them. Among the hundred or so reporters gathered near the red carpet, more than two-thirds were no longer focusing on the ‘Glee’ cast. The rest were busy interviewing other actors on the carpet.

The ‘Glee’ cast would only discover the truth the next day, when they realized their prominence had all but disappeared from the headlines. Their red carpet glory turned out to be a fleeting dream that never truly happened.

Renly had been slightly nervous at first. After all, this was his first awards ceremony and his first official showing on the red carpet—the premiere didn’t really count. But as soon as he stepped out of the car, the noise and chaos around him swept away his nerves. There were no cameras pointed at him, no eager photographers following him, and no fans screaming his name. It felt more like entering a bar than attending the Emmys.

Comparing the Emmys to a bar party was something unique to Renly.

The air was filled with shouts and screams of names like “Rachel,” “Finn,” and “Kurt,” blending into an indistinguishable cacophony. Renly quickly identified the ‘Glee’ cast, making the scene feel a bit different from a bar party after all.

He considered stepping forward to greet them but decided against it when the fans on his left grew even more hysterical. Their ear-piercing screams created traffic congestion at the entrance as the actors tried to respond to their adoring fans. Renly figured he could greet them inside the theatre instead. So, he skirted around the group on the right, passing by the ‘Glee’ cast to step into the red carpet area.

The red carpet was narrower than he expected, accommodating at most four people side by side. With television cameras set up in the middle, the walking space shrank even further. It felt less like the prestigious Emmys and more like a high school prom, a thought that made Renly chuckle internally.

“Renly! Renly!” A distant voice called out amidst the sea of screams. It was faint, like a lone canoe adrift in a storm, but Renly heard it. He turned toward the voice.

In that instant, a cascade of flashbulbs poured down onto him like a waterfall.

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T/N – This chapter had too many actors, and too many names, btw Glee huh, I remember watching that years ago, wasn’t really my favourite, actually I barely remember what it was about…

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