"That’s a great idea!" Hera replied enthusiastically, her hands sping together in excitement. "Since the director hasn’t called for us yet—he’s probably busy—how about we all grab some lunch?"


    Xavier’s gaze softened as he watched Hera, his eyes following her every move with quiet affection.


    When she suggested lunch, he didn’t object. He simply nodded in agreement, clearly willing to go along with whatever made her happy.


    "I-I..." The second female lead, Nami, nced back at Alice’s group, her head lowering as she hesitated.


    After a brief moment of thought, she gave a small nod.


    Factions forming during filming was inevitable, and she knew she’d be targeted no matter what.


    If that was the case, she’d rather align herself with the best actor’s group than endure the pettiness of bullies.


    At least with Xavier, there was no need for ttery or ying politics—everyone knew that the award-winning actor despised such practices.


    Sticking around him was far more rxed. The only challenge? Figuring out how to remain close without being brushed off.


    The answer, of course, was Hera.


    "May I join too?" Nami asked softly, her gaze directed at Hera instead of Xavier, as though seeking her permission.


    "Of course! Let’s all go together!" Hera replied enthusiastically, her bright smile sweeping over the small crowd gathered around her, Xavier, and Zen.


    "Then how about we let our esteemed Best Actor, Xavier, treat us?" Zen chimed in mischievously, his grin wide with yful intent.


    It was clear he had been nning this from the start.


    After all, it was nearly impossible to get Xavier to spend time with anyone, let alone treat them to a meal. Xavier always kept to himself.


    But now, with Hera around, Xavier seemed far more agreeable—and Zen wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip by.


    As Zen had predicted, Xavier didn’t refuse. Instead, he simply nodded after ncing at Hera, as though silently seeking her approval.


    The moment Xavier agreed, Zen sprang into action, eagerly leading everyone toward the exit.


    Before they left, Zen made sure to call over a staff member to inform the director that they were heading out for lunch.


    Ever the yful one, he even extended the invitation to the director and staff, acting as though <i>he</i> were the one hosting the outing.


    Of course, Xavier didn’t seem to mind at all, his calm demeanor making it clear he was willing to go along with Zen’s antics.


    And so, they all set off in their own cars, creating a scene that resembled a convoy as they made their way to the Golden Dragon Pavilion.


    Leading the group, Xavier drove Hera’s mint-pink Pagani.


    Though the car’s soft color might have seemed overly feminine at first nce, the sight of Xavier and Hera inside transformed it entirely—making it look stylish and refreshingly elegant.


    The two of them, effortlessly stunning, turned the girly car into a symbol of charm and sophistication, while the rest of the group followed closely behind.


    When they arrived at the restaurant entrance, the staff immediately recognized Hera and sprang into action, quickly forming a neat weing line.


    Bowing respectfully, they greeted Hera and her group with practiced precision.


    Since Gerald wasn’t present to personally attend to Hera, the manager stepped in, determined to ensure everything was perfect for their visit.


    She meticulously oversaw their wee, radioing the kitchen to begin preparations and directing the other staff to ensure Pavilion 1 was impably arranged for Hera and her group’s arrival.


    "Wee!" the manager greeted enthusiastically.


    The group trailing behind Hera and Xavier naturally assumed the warm reception was because of Xavier.


    After all, who wouldn’t recognize the award-winning actor? Having someone like Xavier dine at their establishment was as good as free promotion for any restaurant.


    The others who followed the pair were visibly astonished when they stepped into the Golden Dragon Pavilion.


    It wasn’t just the luxurious ambiance that left them in awe—it was the exclusivity.


    Even having money wasn’t enough to secure entry, as the restaurant was strictly members-only.


    Emily, Wesley, and Alice, who had tagged along out of curiosity—and perhaps to gloat—were left stunned when they saw where Xavier and Hera had taken the group.


    The Golden Dragon Pavilion was a ce they had only heard of, an opportunity they had never expected to get.


    Hesitating for a moment, they quickly decided to blend into Hera’s group, pretending as if they belonged, and followed everyone inside.


    Hera, however, had already taken note of the trio.


    She understood their intentions—they had likelye to ridicule her orpete in a show of wealth.


    Yet, in their eagerness to follow her, they had unwittingly led themselves straight into the Golden Dragon Pavilion—a venue so exclusive that even Emily, with all the backing and resources at her disposal, couldn’t dream of affording entry, much less stepping through its doors.


    "Young Miss Hera, we have prepared your room," the manager said, leading the way.


    Her words struck like a thunderp, halting everyone in their tracks.


    They had all assumed the manager was simply being polite to Xavier, given his fame and status as a top actor.


    But to their surprise, the greeting was directed at Hera—and it wasn’t just any greeting.


    The mention of her <i>room</i> implied she was a regr.


    The only exnation?


    Hera was not just wealthy enough to enter such an exclusive establishment; she was wealthy enough to be treated like one of their own.


    In that moment, a new understanding dawned on them—Hera wasn’t just another neer. She was on an entirely different level.


    "Shall we?" Xavier said, extending his arm, signaling Hera to take his arm as he escorted her inside.


    His calm demeanor left everyone stunned, standing motionless in ce. It took them a few moments to snap back to reality, but by the time they did, Hera, Xavier, and Zen were already a good distance ahead.


    Only then did the group start to move inside, their minds racing with a mix of thoughts and emotions.


    More than anything, they were filled with excitement, their eyes darting around the luxurious establishment as they tried to absorb every detail.


    They knew this experience, dining in such an exclusive ce, would be an asset in the future.


    They could use it as leverage, a weapon tomand respect from others.


    After all, stepping foot inside this renowned establishment was something most could only dream of—yet here they were, being treated like VIPs by the manager herself.


    Even Alice, Emily, and Wesley—who had seen much of the world—understood the significance of this ce, so they could only follow quietly.


    But Alice, in particr, couldn’t believe that Hera had any real connection to this exclusive establishment. It didn’t make sense.


    If Hera were truly that wealthy and influential, why had she worked part-time in various establishments in the past?


    Why had she struggled to support Alexi, as Minerva had mentioned? Hera herself had admitted during an interview that she had faced difficulties.


    These inconsistencies left Alice skeptical. As she followed behind, her mind raced with questions, each one making the situation even more confusing.


    Soon, they were led outside to a stand-alone pavilion beside the sereneke.


    "Young Miss Hera, please, rest here for a while. Would you like me to prepare the usual, or would you prefer to select from the menu?" the manager asked politely as soon as Hera sat down.


    Hera nced around and nodded, then turned to the others. "Does anyone want to add anything?" she asked.


    The others immediately shook their heads, not even daring to nce at the menu for fear of seeing the exorbitant prices. But one person seemed to be looking for trouble.


    "I’d like to add a few things," Emily said haughtily. "After all, I’m not sure we have the same taste in food." She didn’t believe for a second that Hera was a regr here.


    In fact, Emily thought the whole situation seemed too good to be true.


    She suspected that the manager might be Hera’s friend, pretending to treat her like a wealthy heiress to give her face.


    The more Emily thought about it, the more convinced she became of her theory.


    Emily quickly flipped through the menu, her eyes widening as she saw the prices.


    Her hand trembled slightly, but she managed to mask her nervousness, though her heart still raced in disbelief.


    The prices were astronomical—just a bottle of water here could buy an entire meal for a table elsewhere.


    She nced up at Hera, her gaze sharp and filled with conflicting emotions—uncertainty mingled with doubt, as if she couldn’t quite reconcile the reality before her.