"This show is going to be a huge hit! I''m so d I came." The guests murmured among themselves.


    "Award-Winning Actor Thomas!" Rachel waved frantically, practically jumping out of her seat with excitement.


    "Our originally scheduled guest, Norton, had a scheduling conflict and will be absent for the first episode. Award-Winning Actor Thomas will be filling in for him," the show''s director exined.


    The other guests were ecstatic. Thomas'' fame and poprity would undoubtedly boost the show''s ratings, benefiting everyone involved.


    "Hello, everyone. I''m Thomas. It''s an honor to be filming the first episode with all of you,” he said. Despite being a top-tier star, he was remarkably polite and humble.


    "Thomas, you can sit here," Daisy purred, her eyes practically sparkling as she gestured to the empty seat beside her.


    "I prefer to sit in the back," Thomas replied courteously. He ced his suitcase in the overhead rack and took the seat directly behind Yvonne.


    Yvonne instinctively turned to look at him, surprised to run into an old acquaintance on the show. Thomas was Bet''s cousin. The four great families of Istra were all connected; Bet''s aunt had married into the Taylor family, making her its matriarch. Through Bet, Yvonne had known Thomas since they were children, though they had never gotten along. Yvonne had always been a tomboy, and Thomas used to tease her for being a bad influence on Bet. In return, Yvonne found Thomas, who was quiet and pretty as a child, to be annoyingly effeminate. He called her a tomboy; she called him a sissy. When Thomas imed Bet was Yvonne''s puppy for following her around, she would punch him. His handsome face was often bruised and swollen thanks to her.


    Noticing her stare, Thomas offered a polite smile. “Hello, I''m Thomas."


    "Hello, I''m Yvonne," she replied coolly.


    "Yvonne," he murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "My friend has the same name as you."


    Friend? Yvonne thought. He sure has a high opinion of himself.


    With all the guests assembled, the bus doors closed, and the vehicle pulled onto the main road. The drive to the military base would take


    nearly two hours. Some que ne


    closed their eyes to rest, while others chatted quietly Yvonne wasn''t tired and made small talk with Marina.


    Marina came from a small city, born to working-ss parents. A talented dancer and singer from a young age, she moved to Istra after graduating from @dance academy to pursue her dream of stardom, She had a boyfriend of four years whom she had met when they were both struggling. Their rtionship was strong, and they were already nning their wedding.


    “Congrattions,” Yvonne said with a genuine smile.


    Marina blushed, a shy, girlish look on her face.


    Two hourster, the bus pulled up to the entrance of the Istra military base. As outside vehicles were not permitted on the premises, the. guests had to get off, grab thei luggage, and walk the rest of the way The base was enormous, and after twenty minutes of walking, they still hadn''t reached their destination.