Dave began to shiver at the thought of what Zhane might do. There’s an old saying: mess with a businessman or a politician, but never with a doctor because your life is literally in their hands. He knew Zhane had the means to make him suffer far more than his other friends could. Zhane’s ability to manage his emotions was legendary; he rarely showed irritation, and no one had ever truly felt his retaliation. But now, Dave feared he might be the first to experience it.


    Dave immediately mped his mouth shut, pouting as he cast a pitiful nce at Hera. Hera, ustomed to Dave’s childish antics and his inability to hold back, could only chuckle at their bickering. To bring an end to their verbal sparring, Hera yfully intervened. "Alright, you two, no more of this early morning bickering. And Dave, stop provoking Zhane." Her mock reprimand only added to the yful atmosphere, making it clear to anyone watching that it was all in good fun.


    Zhane shed Dave a triumphant smirk, raising an eyebrow in a way he had never done before. Despite its novelty, the expression was undeniably infuriating to Dave, who had to concede that he had lost this round to Zhane.


    Dave wanted to voice his frustrations but found no one willing to listen, so he grudgingly swallowed his indignation. Zhane dismounted and handed the reins to the stable master, who guided his horse back to the stable. Zhane then approached Hera, standing just beside her horse. Dave, not wanting to be left behind, hurried to follow Zhane closely.


    Zhane and Dave stood beside Hera’s horse, which was so tall that its back nearly reached their necks, despite their own considerable height. It was only then that they realized the horse Hera was riding belonged to the racecourse’s manager—a prized steed that was never lent out or sold under any circumstances.


    Both Zhane and Dave exchanged surprised nces, their heads swiveling instinctively to scan the deck. They soon locked eyes with the manager, who was also observing them. Zhane’s gaze then fell upon Bry and his father standing beside the manager. His eyes widened in realization as he turned back to Hera, his expression clearly questioning the unexpected situation.


    The two were eager to ask questions but hesitated to pressure Hera. Dave’s curiosity was evident, but a sharp look from Zhane silenced him. Zhane then approached Hera, cing his hands on either side of her waist. With a gentle lift, he effortlessly raised her as if she weighed nothing, then carefully set her back on her feet.


    Hera was surprised by Zhane’s strength, as she had always assumed doctors relied solely on endurance. She realized now that, in addition to their stamina for long surgeries, doctors must also train their muscles. This strength likely helps them assist patients in emergencies when no one else is avable to help.


    As if reading Hera’s thoughts, Zhane’s eyes crinkled into a crescent as he shed a rare, proud smile, revealing his white teeth. This rare disy of warmth was a stark contrast to his usual stern and stoic demeanor.


    Though surprised, Dave chose not to fight back, unwilling to face another humiliating defeat at Zhane’s hands. He felt that no matter who he challenged within his friend group, he always ended up losing, which only further tarnished his image in front of Hera. Instead, he silently nursed his wounded pride and sobbed with invisible tears.


    Determined not to be just a passive observer, Dave grabbed Hera’s right hand and, with his own handkerchief, gently wiped the imaginary sweat from her forehead. "Sweetheart, are you tired? Do you need water, juice, or perhaps me?" he asked with earnest enthusiasm.


    Zhane couldn’t help but acknowledge that when it came to shamelessness, Dave was in a league of his own. Realizing he couldn’t match Dave’s audacity, Zhane decided to let it be. Hera, too, chuckled at Dave’s antics as they all headed back to the deck where Bry and the others awaited.


    When Bry spotted Zhane, he eagerly dashed over. "Doctor! You’re here too!!!" He skidded to a halt in front of Hera. Hera, wanting to ruffle Bry’s hair, found her hands upied—one held by Zhane and the other by Dave. With a helpless smile, she nodded at Bry, signaling him to lead the way. Bry, quick on the uptake, noticed Hera’s predicament, and without making a fuss, he gracefully retreated to rejoin his father, avoiding any awkwardness.


    "Such a smart kid!" Dave eximed, though his voice reached only Hera and Zhane.


    "You’re the only one who looks foolish," Zhane replied with a stoic expression, deliberately ignoring Dave’s challenging re.


    Before the argument could escte, Hera guided them to sit at the same table as Bry and the others. "Manager, the horse was incredible, and it was such a fantastic experience. Thank you for letting me borrow it," she said, effectively breaking the tension between Zhane and Dave. Their curiosity about Hera’s connection with the manager was rekindled as they shifted their focus back to the conversation.


    "Hahaha! No, no, I’m delighted you enjoyed the horse. Consider it a gift," the manager said, ncing subtly at Zhane and Dave before continuing, "And thank you for introducing me to such an excellent horse breeder and trainer. I can now rest easy knowing my stable will be well-stocked with fresh horses and that even the wildest ones will be well-handled." He chuckled and nced back at Bry’s father, indicating their positive discussion about the coboration, while Hera and Dave took ap around the track.


    "Oh? Manager, have you finally decided to hire an external breeder and trainer?" Dave teased, knowing that the manager was notoriously difficult to impress. The regrs at the racetrack were well aware of the manager’s stubbornness when it came to trusting just anyone with his horses. He had always been wary of jeopardizing their well-being and preferred to only buy champions from major equestrian events.