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[Can you at least just tell me why you want Astrid to call you?]

[Don’t worry. It’s nothing personal. Let’s just say that it’s for business.]

Business? What kind of business could an army lieutenant want with a newbie actor? Wait- could it be...?

[Is the army releasing a new Mecha model? Do you want to get Astrid as an endorser?]

This guess wasn’t totally unfounded. It’s not like there wasn’t any precedent before. In fact, the current number one on the Star List had endorsed a special Mecha model before.

[Military made Mechas are not made public. Only commercial ones seek out celebrities for endorsement. You’re a military student. You should know this.]

Ash read his brother’s reply and scratched his cheek. Yeah, why didn’t he think of that? Just reading his brother’s reply, he could tell that the other probably had a disapproving look right now. If he was here, Ash would have already received a lengthy scolding.

[Sorry. I just forgot for a second. If Brother could just tell what kind of ‘business’ you’re referring to in the first place, then I wouldn’t have to think of weird things.]

.....

[So, are you saying your ignorance is my fault?]

[First, I’m not ignorant. And second, if Brother feels like it’s your fault, then it probably is.]

It was already too late when Ash realized that his reply was too cocky, the message had already been sent. What returned to him was not a reply, but a video call request. He felt a bit of chill behind his back. He could already foresee his brother’s expression and the subsequent lecture he would face.

Despite that, he couldn’t just ignore the call. Because a more serious hell would be waiting for him if he did. It’s better to just get it over with.

He took a deep breath before pressing the ‘answer’ button. His brother’s face appeared on the virtual screen. Before he could say anything, the other had already beaten him to it.

“Are you going through puberty?”

Ash’s face turned red the moment he heard that. He was not alone inside the taxi. Even if he didn’t look ahead, he was sure that the driver was looking at him weirdly.

“No! What puberty?”

“It’s a period of growth where teenagers go through major hormonal changes that could affect their moods and therefore would be more prone to rebellion.”

Ash felt even more embarrassed by that textbook like answer. “I’m 19, Brother! Not 13 or 14. My growth spurt stage had already ended. So what kind of ‘puberty’?”

“Didn’t you ask what puberty is?” Leland asked in a very serious tone and expression.

Ash almost groaned in frustration, especially after hearing the taxi driver snorting as if he was trying to contain his laughter. Ash knew that his brother was doing this on purpose. Probably revenge for not giving a proper answer to his request. Really, who would believe that the always straight-laced Leland Brewer could be this petty?

“Brother, just tell me what you need with Astrid. As you said, Reas is my friend. How do you think he would feel if he found out that I gave his brother the personal Terminal number of my brother? He would definitely think something was up!”

Leland had an expression as if he was just now considering what Ash just said. “You do have a point. Then, just tell Astrid that if there’s an unknown number who sent him a message, read it and don’t just mark it as spam.”

Ash frustration was reaching the highest point. “How is that different from what you told me earlier? Besides, we’re not even close yet. I don’t even have his number, so how could I tell him that? You don’t actually want me to meet him personally, right? Because I would definitely be branded as weird person if I do that.”

Leland, who just realized that his brother was actually giving him rational reasoning, felt like he was the one being unreasonable. He sighed. He must admit that he wasn’t really thinking ahead that much when he sent that message to Assil earlier. His thoughts were just focused on using Astrid Townsend’s influence on the prince so the latter could think more rationally.

But now, it seemed like he was the one who’s not rational.

He shouldn’t have involved Assil in the first place. If he was in his normal thinking mode, he definitely wouldn’t have done that. It’s just that, while he was thinking last night of how he should contact Astrid, the information about Assil being roommates with the other’s younger brother came to mind.

But based on how vehemently his brother rejected all the suggestions he made earlier, it seemed that the two had really became friends. Which would explain why Assil had been looking at him as if he was out of his mind since earlier.

Leland sighed. This was indeed an error on his side. “Fine. Just forget what I said.”

He would just think of a better plan to contact Astrid. He still had ample time to do that anyway. Since their mission wouldn’t be finished so soon. As he finally made that decision, he thought of something. Although he didn’t think that it would be possible, it’s better to be safe than to be sorry.

“Assil, I hope that you won’t have any... extra thoughts regarding your friend’s brother.”

Ash was confused at first as to why his brother said that. And then, when he finally understood what the other was trying to say, he was simply dumbfounded.

“Brother, how can you say that?” he said in disbelief. “I’ve already given my heart to someone else. Unless that person returned it himself, there’s no way I could fall in love with someone else.”