After an extravagant feast, during which all the dinner plates were cleared except for Maxim's, they were left feeling full and slightly drowsy.
Fortunately, Maxim brought up the topic of the Full Moon Party in time, and this time, things went much smoother, allowing Ronan to focus.
Based on their brief encounter last night, Sam, the owner of the "Noon" bar, appeared to be a lover of talent and a seasoned music enthusiast who genuinely appreciated performances.
He treated Ronan with a different level of respect. Moreover, compared to Cliff and Maxim, who had a physical altercation, Ronan seemed the most suitable person to negotiate.
In the end, it was Ronan who took the initiative and asked Sam if he would be willing to recommend the One Day King band to perform at the Full Moon Party under the bar's name.
Sam agreed.
"Ho ho ho!"
"Hey, what should we perform? This is the Full Moon Party, and we need to showcase our best talents and deliver a performance that will astonish everyone!"
"Ronan, I think we should rent a practice room for extra rehearsals tomorrow. Such a performance opportunity mustn't go wrong."
"A practice room? Maxim, are you out of your mind? Where do we have the money for that right now? Don't forget, we have five more bar gigs ahead. If we rent a practice room, we might not even afford gas."
"Cliff, I just believe we should pay extra attention to..."
"Ronan, what do you think? What do you think? How about each of us makes a list of potential songs, then we discuss and select the most suitable one?"
Chirp, chirp, chirp, their conversation never seemed to end.
Leaving the "Noon" bar with a positive response, the four members of the One Day King band couldn't stop talking on their way back. Each of them shared their thoughts, both with one another and sometimes with themselves.
Remarkably, these disjointed conversations flowed smoothly without any hiccups, allowing the discussion to continue.
Gradually, Cliff parked the car in the motel's open area. It was still only 10 o'clock in the evening, and the motel was bustling with activity.
The entire place was brightly lit, resembling daylight. Even the parking lot was filled with young people coming and going, enjoying the party.
Boom!
A young man with dreadlocks carried an enormous retro radio from the 1980s on his shoulders, blaring deafening rap music as he staggered from the direction of the highway into the motel's front yard. His low-slung jeans almost touched the ground as he passed in front of the car.
Ronan, who had just opened the passenger door and stepped out, observed this curious sight but was overwhelmed by the various elements around him.
Surprised and fascinated, his eyes darted in all directions. He sensed his phone vibrating in his pocket but didn't pay it much attention. He answered the call without hesitation.
"Hello, this is Ronan Cooper."
While his eyes were still fixed on the nearby party, a melodious, deep laughter emanated from the receiver, resembling the mellow tones of a cello. "What's this? Have you started working as an office secretary recently?"
What?
What was going on?
Ronan was filled with question marks.
However, Ronan sensed familiarity and teasing in the voice on the other end of the phone. He seemed to be able to "see" a faint smile forming on the caller's lips.
This prompted Ronan to momentarily divert his attention from the massive radio to the conversation. He removed the phone from his ear, glanced at the caller
ID: Max.
It had no additional labels, no last name, just a solitary name. Yet, the corresponding face quickly appeared in Ronan's mind.
Max Cooper.
He was Ronan Cooper's older brother by two years, the brother Cliff mentioned last night.
"Today, because I suddenly became concerned about job security, I had to start thinking about my future."
Ronan brought the microphone back to his ear, attempting to respond with a self-deprecating joke. However, his tone had shifted slightly. It was less lighthearted, more serious.
In his previous life, Ronan had been an only child with no siblings. Later, at the age of seventeen, he lost his eyesight completely.
The family's financial burden due to his medical treatments had caused strain and exhaustion, leading to distance among family members. By the age of twenty, his parents had divorced, unable to withstand the pressure.
For Ronan, not only were siblings unfamiliar, but even navigating family relationships was a complex challenge.
Just like now.
Ronan could easily interact with friends, displaying humor and ease. However, when talking to his brother on the other end of the phone, his joking tone felt out of place.
Moreover, Ronan hadn't entirely adjusted to his new situation. What if Max found out?
He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
As a result, his self-deprecating remark had turned into a complaint. Ronan closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and wore a vexed expression on his face.
Unexpectedly, a soft laugh emanated from the other end of the phone, rolling smoothly in the caller's throat, elegant and charming. "Don't try to garner sympathy from me. This situation is a lesson; you need to learn to adapt."
Although Max was giving advice to his younger brother, his gentle tone didn't carry any harshness. This eased Ronan's anxiety slightly, but he still didn't know how to respond.
Too many words, too many mistakes. Was it better to stay silent at this point? But how did the Cooper brothers interact with each other?
Max, sensing Ronan's silence, chuckled again but didn't press further. He changed the subject himself.
"I've already consulted my lawyer friend about the legal letter. You don't need to worry about the rest; I'll handle it for you."
So, this was what Cliff had asked about? The band members had tasked Ronan with inquiring about the legal letter from Tristan?
"However, you and the band members need to discuss whether you're willing to sue him to recover your earnings from this tour."
"You have the right to appeal, but the problem is that appealing takes time and costs, which might exceed your tour earnings. From a profit perspective, it might not be cost-effective. However, if you want to make a statement, appealing is necessary."
Although Ronan didn't speak, Max explained the situation in detail. Ronan gradually moved away from the noisy area and headed toward the reeds on the opposite side of the road. The air grew quieter, and Max's concern in his voice became increasingly evident.
"...What's your opinion?" Ronan finally asked, hesitantly, his voice wavering.
"My opinion is that you should express your stance, send the legal letter, and demonstrate your commitment to appealing. You don't need to proceed further for now. See how he reacts first. Perhaps an out-of-court settlement is possible," Max offered an objective opinion from his standpoint.