Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

….

.

After the misunderstanding was cleared up, Regal and Seren returned to their seats.

But this time, there was a new face sitting beside her, like some unexpected cameo.

Regal took a slow sip of his coffee, his eyes drifting toward the guy who now seemed to have comfortably wedged himself next to Seren.

His lip twitched, a wry grin forming. Well, looks like I am not the only one who finds Seren's grumbling... cute.

A faint chuckle rumbled in his chest as he sized up the stranger, his curiosity piqued.

Never in his wildest dreams had Regal thought his uptight sister would actually bring a guy as her boyfriend.

And not just any guy - this one was practically the world's Keanu Reeves.

…but he is a bit young for 2009. Then again, that's probably to be expected.

He was also pretty sure this guy hadn't made a name for himself yet, Regal had found no information about him online.

Is he even into acting here in this world?

The question wouldn't have crossed his mind if the one making the introduction wasn't Seren.

Because, as he well knew, Seren hated the entertainment industry.

Seren, who would probably punch anyone who even suggested acting as a 'career choice'.

So how did he manage to convince her?

Or did he lie to her?

But that seemed unlikely.

Seren wasn't one to be easily fooled.

His mind raced with questions, each more confusing than the last.

Finally, he broke the silence. "So, Seren, are you going to properly introduce him?"

Before she could answer, the man in question stood, offering a polite smile. "I am Keanu Reeves…. Seren's boyfriend. Nice to meet you."

Regal raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to laugh or question him further. The way the man introduced himself seemed deliberately clever - clever enough to appeal to Seren, for sure.

"Regal Seraphsail." He replied, standing to shake his hand. "Her older brother."

Keanu blinked, clearly confused. "Wait… older? Seren said she is the eldest. Though, honestly, I don't get how that works since you two are twins."

Regal shot Seren a pointed look. She avoided his gaze, already caught in her little fib. He questioned teasingly. "Really, Seren? You lied about something that basic?"

Seren, already flushed with embarrassment, crossed her arms defensively. "Bluh, I never lied!"

Keanu, sensing the shift in the mood of Seren, diverted the topic. "Anyway, you mentioned being a 'future director' earlier. What's that about?"

Seren immediately cut in, her tone dismissive. "Don't bother. He has been going on about that since we were kids."

Regal smirked. "Not anymore."

He added. "I have secured funding for my first film."

Technically, it was more like he had managed to set up a path to secure the funding, but that was a detail he wasn't eager to share just yet.

Seren scoffed, not buying it for a second. "Yeah, sure."

"Yeah, sure." Regal echoed with mock seriousness, keeping his gaze steady.

"As if." She added, narrowing her eyes.

"..." Regal's gaze remained steady, his silence a response in itself.

The energy between them shifted as Seren's skepticism began to waver. Her arms uncrossed slightly, the defiance melting away.

"...You are serious?" She asked, her voice quieter, the surprise evident.

Regal leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "Dead serious. Currently looking for actors and crew, hoping to start the production in two months."

This was the trajectory Regal had meticulously mapped out for himself.

He estimated a month to get his book out into the public and another month to sort out his share of the profits.

That left him with plenty of time to prepare.

For the first month, Regal planned to use the EP he had earned from his two web novels to purchase a script from the system.

He had been keeping a close watch on the bulletin board, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to [Pin].

After the book's release in two months, the EP he anticipated earning would allow him to upgrade his skills, or perhaps even acquire a new one, to support the project's development.

As for traditional currency, the revenue from book sales was slated to become his primary investment. Regal was confident in his plan, and every piece of it felt like a step toward his vision.

Seren blinked, clearly trying to process the news. Her posture fully relaxed now, her earlier doubt transforming into something softer, more genuine.

"You actually did it..." She muttered.

Seren continued, still studying her brother as if trying to reconcile the image of him as a persistent dreamer with the reality in front of her.

Finally, she added. "...congrats."

"YeP." Regal said, popping the 'p' with exaggerated smugness. "Turns out, all that 'nonsense' I was spouting wasn't so nonsensical after all."

Keanu, who had been quietly observing their back-and-forth, asked, his interest piqued. "That's impressive. What's the film about?"

Regal's grin widened. "I haven't decided yet. But even if I did, you will have to see when it hits theaters."

Seren rolled her eyes, her usual skepticism resurfacing. "Oh, come on, you are not even going to give us a hint?"

"Nope." Regal replied smoothly.

Keanu chuckled. "Fair enough. But congratulations, really. That's a huge deal."

"Thanks." Regal said, his tone more genuine now.

Keanu leaned back in his chair, watching their banter with quiet amusement. Then, with a curious glance, he asked. "So, does this mean you are scouting talent already?"

Regal's eyes twinkled, the playful glint of interest surfacing in him. He tilted his head, a smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.

"Why? You thinking of auditioning?"

As soon as he spoke, Regal glanced at Seren, waiting to gauge her reaction.

Keanu shrugged with an effortless smile, though the mischievous glint in his eyes didn't go unnoticed. "Who knows? Maybe I have a hidden talent for acting. I did do a few theater performances, though…"

The words hung in the air for a moment.

…just a few? Hmm, so he wasn't fully into acting yet?

But just now, when he mentioned auditions, there was a flicker in his eyes - a spark.

Looks like he might already be sensing his calling. Geniuses really do recognize their paths instinctively. Regal found himself curious

"Yeah, no thanks, keep it hidden for now." Seren cut in, narrowing her eyes at Keanu. "No way am I letting my boyfriend get involved in your world."

Hah, she could be a problem here, Regal sighed internally but immediately shrugged it off. Nah, I just have to be a little cautious.

Regal shifted his focus back to Keanu.

"Theater performances?" He asked, nudging him to elaborate.

"It all started two years ago, I wa–!" Keanu started, but Seren interrupted with a sharp comment.

"As a last-minute substitute... and he totally bombed it." She said, her tone smug.

Keanu defended himself, sounding a little defensive but good-natured. "Hey, I got the script five minutes before the show! What do you expect? Besides, it wasn't all bad, that's where we first met."

He paused, then added. "And for the record, I got a lot better in the next play. Not that you would know since you never bothered to show up."

Regal raised an eyebrow, turning to Seren. "Wait, what were you doing there?"

To Seren, the theater was nothing short of an 'unholy' place.

Seren let out a small sigh, her arms crossed in annoyance. "I was hired to do touch-ups on costumes. Keanu was part of the cast."

Regal noticed the irritation in her voice. Clearly, she hadn't been thrilled about that job.

He smirked, deciding not to tiptoe around the subject anymore. "You know what, Keanu? Why don't you audition for my movie?"

He had pieced together a few things about Keanu during their conversation.

First, Keanu likely hadn't fully realized his knack for acting yet, or if he had, something was holding him back. But Regal wasn't going to wait forever to find out.

Still, there was only one way to find out if this guy was just Keanu Reeves in appearance or if he carried the talent too - the audition.

Seren's eyes narrowed, her gaze darting between her brother and her boyfriend. "What are you playing at, Regal?"

Regal's tone turned unexpectedly sharp. "Since when did you start meddling in other people's decisions? Let's be clear, the choice is his, not yours. You don't get to complain about it."

Seren glared at him, her voice laced with irritation. "I can complain, and I will. I am saying this again, Keanu doesn't need to get tangled up in your world, Regal."

After a moment, she let out a frustrated huff, her annoyance clear but choosing not to argue further.

Regal studied her, reflecting on how unlike her it was to outright object to someone else's decisions.

Seren wasn't the type to impose her preferences on others.

He was living proof of that.

Despite her distaste for the entertainment industry, she had never criticized his ambitions.

If anything, she had quietly supported him in her own way.

His gaze shifted to Keanu, and the flicker of excitement in his eyes was impossible to miss. He might not have said anything outright, but his enthusiasm was practically radiating off him.

Regal glanced at Seren again, noting how her eyes briefly darted toward Keanu. She had noticed it too.

Keanu raised a hand slightly, his expression amused but uncertain. "Hold on, let's not start a sibling debate over this. Seren's got a point, though, I am no pro. And, uh, I thought you weren't a big fan of me dating your sister?"

"Professional and personal matters are separate." Regal replied coolly, still leaving his opinion about their relationship vague.

He turned slightly toward Seren, his next words clearly directed at her. "And anyway, it's not like he is guaranteed to pass just because he is auditioning. You know how I handle my work."

The implication was clear, he wouldn't cut corners, not even for Seren's boyfriend.

Seren shot Regal a wary look, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing.

Despite her reservations, she knew her brother wasn't the type to compromise his standards. If Keanu wanted to prove himself, he would have to earn it the hard way.

Judging by the way Keanu remained calm and unbothered, it felt as if this wasn't the first time this kind of conversation had played out between the two of them.

Perhaps the topic of him stepping into something bigger has been recurring recently.

Seren leaned back, a lopsided smile forming on her face. "I guess it's just an audition, then. No harm in trying, right?"

"Yeah... no harm done." Regal agreed, his gaze shifting to Keanu, sizing him up.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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