The night breeze rustled through the swaying reeds, carrying with it the gentle gurgling sound of the Mississippi River under the moonlight. Everything fell into a serene quiet.
Max's voice came through the phone, its slow and eloquent cadence softening in the warmth of his tone.
After delivering an objective analysis, he politely presented his opinion and waited for Ronan to make his decision.
As Ronan sank into thought, his tense mood gradually eased. He no longer had to constantly worry about revealing his secret, allowing him to focus on the matter at hand.
Max, displaying patience, didn't interrupt Ronan's contemplation. If not for the sound of Ronan's peaceful breathing on the other end of the line, he might have thought the call had disconnected.
When Ronan finally came to a decision, he realized his earlier lapse and apologized, "Sorry, I was lost in thought."
Max responded softly without judgment, offering Ronan the time he needed. After a brief pause, he continued with a hint of hesitation in his voice, "Ronan, there's something else. I can't say for sure, but I feel I should warn you to be cautious."
"After consulting my lawyer friend, we suspect that Tristan is not a simple person. It's likely that the lawyer's letter wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. The wording, sentences, and clauses suggest it was prepared well in advance."
Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place in Ronan's mind. It had all been foreshadowed.
Perhaps Tristan had already planned to part ways with the One Day King band but didn't want to waste the time and effort invested in the upcoming bar tour. The interview with the record company was merely a decoy; the real motive was to profit in the end.
If that were the case, many things made sense, such as the smooth interview opportunity and the disregard for the Full Moon Party. They had been kept in the dark, unwittingly used to achieve Tristan's goals.
"We were deceived, helping him count his money," Ronan said with a bitter smile, realizing that this incident had occurred before he joined the band, yet he couldn't help but feel a trace of bitterness.
Max could sense Ronan's shifting emotions, understanding how painful it could be to be betrayed and abandoned. However, he also hoped that Ronan could grow through this experience.
Nevertheless, growing up through such suffering was a harsh reality of life.
Max tried to offer comfort in a light-hearted manner, "Well, I'm used to it. Let's clean up the mess and start over. It won't have much impact."
Ronan was momentarily stunned by Max's simple statement, uncertain how to express his complex emotions.
His jumbled thoughts led him to impulsively say, "Thank you... I mean, thanks..."
Was that the right response?
Or did North American culture prefer saying "I love you"? At the thought, Ronan shuddered, unable to conceal his discomfort. "I can't say that, absolutely not. It sounds so strange!"
"Understood," Max replied, respecting Ronan's feelings. He didn't press further and instead changed the subject, "By the way, Alice mentioned she was coming to see you. She should arrive today or tomorrow. Has she contacted you?"
What?
Alice Cooper?
The Cooper family had three siblings: Max, Ronan, and Alice.
Alice was three years younger than Ronan, making her twenty-two years old.
Ronan hadn't successfully passed Max's level of interaction, and now he was facing a more challenging level? Alice was coming to visit directly?
"Not yet," Ronan replied with a touch of tension in his voice. He forced himself to remain calm and thought carefully, but he couldn't find any memory related to this.
He couldn't help but ask, "When did she plan to visit?"
"Just this week," Max replied. Afterward, he seemed to recall something. "Didn't she tell you? It seems she wanted to surprise you."
Though still concerned about Alice's visit, Ronan caught the meaning behind Max's words. "Did you spoil the surprise?"
Max remained silent, implying that he had indeed hinted at it. Ronan couldn't help but chuckle.
In that moment, before the laughter could fully erupt, Ronan noticed a slender figure on the opposite side of the road. The symmetrical silhouette of long limbs cast a stretched reflection in the moonlight.
Light chestnut hair, almost shining under the creamy-yellow streetlights, danced as its owner moved gracefully and curiously explored the area around the band's car.
Before Ronan could react, a clear and pleasant voice carried over on the wind, "Where's Ronan?"
Then, with a gesture from Ollie, their eyes met.
"Ronan Cooper!"
Over the distance of a road, Ollie's cheerful voice reached Ronan's ears. It was unmistakably him.
A faint smile played on Ronan's lips. "Speak of the devil, and she shall appear."
In the next moment, the figure sprinted towards Ronan with tremendous energy, like a charging bull.
Ronan's instinct was to dodge, but he managed to twist his body just in time. He caught the person's shoulders with both hands, releasing the momentum. The figure was drawn into Ronan's embrace, preventing any possibility of collision.
Boom!
They held each other tightly in a warm embrace. The cheerful voice continued in Ronan's ear, "Ronan, Ronan, Ronan!"