ke''s smile widened after hearing Noelle''s response. He leaned in close and murmured, "That''s my girl."


    After interacting with fans for a while longer, ke wrapped up the meet-and- greet and left through the back of the base.


    Once ke left, the fans gradually dispersed.


    Samatha eagerly ran off after ke, while Xenia shot Noelle a jealous re. She hadn''t expected ke to show up and boost Noelle''s poprity. That didn''t make sense. She worked hard to drive a wedge between ke and Noelle at the dinner party.


    Something felt off, and Xenia resolved to approach ke and get to the bottom of


    it.


    Once everyone was gone, Noelle turned to Rachel and asked, "What brings you here?"


    "I went to the finals and heard you''ve been elected the captain of Team Yole. I''ve been meaning to visit you, and I didn''t expect to run into a situation like the one you''ve just been in. I had to speak up for you."


    "Why didn''t you text me beforehand?"


    Rachel smiled shyly. "I was too embarrassed."


    Their interactions in high school had been limited, and it wasn''t untilter that they grew closer.


    Rachel had always felt guilty about beingplicit in isting Noelle during those years, and it made her hesitant to reach out.


    "There''s nothing to be embarrassed about. Let me show you around the team. Didn''t you once say you''d love to visit Team Yole?"


    Seeing a former ssmate had lifted Noelle''s spirits considerably.


    But Rachel was concerned. "What''s going on with ke? Why is he trying to guilt trip you again?"


    She''d seen ke''s attitude toward Noelle and witnessed him p her in the infirmary. He didn''t seem like a good person at all.


    Noelle''s smile faltered slightly. "You know he''s always loved ying the role of a perfect older brother in public. That''s probably his way of exining the injuries on his face."


    "Wait, did you really do that?"


    Noelle nodded. "Yes."


    Rachel burst intoughter. "Good job!"


    Noelle gave her a tour of the base. Then, she introduced her to Grace and Tianna.


    Since Rachel rarely visited, Noelle decided to treat her to dinner with the team that evening.


    They left the campus together after practice, but a van parked by the road caught Noelle''s eye. She paused slightly and pretended not to notice.


    Then, her phone rang. There was a call from ke.


    Noelle knew that if she ignored him, he wouldn''t let it go.


    She stepped aside and answered the phone. "What do you want?"


    "Get in the car. I have something to tell you."


    "I''m about to have dinner with friends. Just say whatever you want to now."


    ke''s tone turned impatient. "I''ll say this onest time. Get in the car unless you want your friends to face trouble."


    Noelle gripped her phone tightly and nced at the van. In the end, she had Grace and Tianna take Rachel to the restaurant and promised to join themter.


    She walked over to the van and got in.


    Once she got in, she noticed ke and Xenia, who sat quietly with her head hung low as if she''d been crying.


    ke patted the seat beside him. "Noelle,e sit here."


    "I''m fine here. What is it that you want to say?"


    "I understand I was harsh at the dinner party and wronged you, but that''s because


    I was misled by Xenia."


    Noelle couldn''t figure out what he was up to.


    ke turned to Xenia. "Come here and apologize to Noelle."


    Xenia hesitated briefly before slowly lifting her head to reveal a noticeable handprint on her cheek.