"H-Hello, Brother Xavier!" Alice’s voice trembled as she spoke, her lips pouting slightly, and her eyes sparkling with the illusion of unshed tears.
"C-Can I also ride with you? I don’t have a way back..." Her tone was almost desperate, her gaze filled with a silent plea.
Before Xavier could respond, Alice, with a swift movement, stepped closer, intent on sliding into the seat beside him.
She reached for the spot where his hand had been resting just moments ago, leaning in as if it were already hers, her gaze fixed on him with an expectant, almost pleading look.
"Are we close?" Xavier’s voice was cold and distant, his words slicing through the air with sharp indifference.
Alice froze in her tracks, her hand still outstretched toward the door frame of the van, as if frozen by his tone.
"W-What?" Alice stammered, her eyes wide with confusion and disbelief. She blinked up at him, unable to fully process the chill in his voice.
"We’re not close, and I’m not your nanny," Xavier said, his voice sharp and unmoved. "If you don’t have a ride, hail a taxi. If there are no taxis, then walk."
His words struck with chilling indifference, and Alice’s carefully constructed fa?ade shattered.
The fake tears she had been feigning in front of him turned genuine, her humiliation boiling over.
Nothing could sting more than being publicly rebuked, especially after she had been gloating in front of Hera.
The weight of embarrassment settled over her like a heavy cloak, more suffocating than any of the cruel remarks she had thrown at others.
Xavier disregarded Alicepletely, his attention solely focused on Hera. He extended his hand toward her, a silent invitation for her to join him.
Alice remained frozen in ce, her gaze locked on the scene unfolding before her.
Hera, with a light mocking chuckle, stepped past her, savoring the moment before entering the van.
She reached out, taking Xavier’s hand, and with a swift pull, he guided her beside him.
As Hera settled into the seat, Xavier opened the van’s small refrigeratorpartment and handed her a milk tea, his gesture calm and thoughtful as he smiled at her.
"You did well," Xavier said softly, his voice calm yet full of admiration as he ced a gentle kiss on Hera’s forehead.
It was unclear whether he meant for Alice to see it or if he simply didn’t care, but the act felt like a p in Alice’s face—especially after her earlier insults.
Alice, still standing frozen, felt an intense rush of jealousy and anger twist in her gut.
Before she could utter a word, the van’s automatic door closed with a soft hum, and the vehicle drove away, leaving Alice standing there, seething.
The female crew members, who had not overheard the conversation between Hera and Alice but could clearly sense the tension, looked with knowing nces.
As Alice remained at the entrance, coldly ignored, one of the crew members couldn’t help but chuckle softly before heading back inside the building.
The only one left at the entrance was her.
"Did she bully you? Or say something to upset you?" Xavier asked softly, his voice full of concern as he gently massaged Hera’s palm, a gesture meant tofort her.
Hera couldn’t tell if Xavier had some kind of telepathic ability or if he simply understood Alice’s nature.
But deep down, she realized that Xavier seemed to sense her unease, even though she had kept her expression neutral.
He may not have known exactly what had been said between her and Alice, but he could tell that something had happened.
The tension in the air, the subtle hints of hostility, reminded him of the way Alice had provoked Hera during their previous variety show appearance.
Xavier, who had always been sharp, instinctively knew that something had disturbed Hera.
That’s why, despite not knowing the details of their conversation, he feltpelled to ask, to soothe her, and to show her a gentler side of himself.
His protective instincts kicked in, and his focus shifted entirely to Hera, hoping to make her feel safe and understood.
When Alice had been acting all chummy with Hera, Xavier couldn’t help but shut her down with his cold remarks.
He wasn’t one to tolerate being too familiar with people he wasn’t close to, and Alice’s actions had crossed a line.
Her behavior made him feel ufortable, and he didn’t want Hera to misunderstand his intentions.
Though he knew his words had been harsh, Xavier didn’t really mind. He had always been this way with others—blunt, direct, and unapologetic.
He didn’t dwell on it for long. That brief exchange with Alice was fleeting, quickly fading from his thoughts as if it had never happened.
His focus remained on Hera, and any lingering difort he may have felt evaporated, leaving no trace.
"Do you think I’m easy to bully?" Hera asked, her lips curling into an amused smile as she took a sip of her milk tea.
Xavier paused for a moment, thinking, before a soft chuckle escaped him. He shook his head, his gaze never leaving hers. "No one can bully my Hera," he replied with a hint of pride.
He reached up, his fingers gently brushing the back of her head, pulling her a little closer. Resting his forehead against hers, he added with a yful grin, "I forgot just how amazing you are."
Heraughed lightly, but before she could say anything, Xavier leaned forward, stealing a sip from her straw. He pulled away with a smirk.
"This is way too sweet," he teased, making a face beforeughing softly.
Xavier continued to gently rub Hera’s head, his touch soothing as they both rxed in their seats.
Daisy and the road manager remained silent, exchanging knowing nces through the rearview mirror, their lips curving into wide, quiet smiles.
They made a conscious effort to keep their presence unobtrusive, not wanting to disturb the warm, intimate atmosphere between Hera and Xavier.
Daisy couldn’t help but think to herself, ’<i>Ugh, I don’t want to watch this endless disy of PDA and forcefully making us eat dog food. I want a love life too!’</i> she silently groaned, but kept her thoughts to herself, watching the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and longing.