328-330

Chapter 328: Near or Far 

Clearly, with the Grammy Awards just around the corner, even though One Day King isn’t your typical “idol band” that thrives on looks, having a great appearance and being in top shape is still the best way to generate buzz and capture attention. More importantly, it’s a crucial part of their stage performance—and it deserves extra attention. 

For true top-tier artists, good self-management is part of the job. One Day King may just be getting started, but Alice still hopes they’ll begin forming good habits early. Ronan is great in every aspect, especially when it comes to professionalism—he’s always the most focused and invested when it comes to work—but his eating habits are a serious issue. 

Alice looked at Max, frustrated and disbelieving that he was actually encouraging Ronan. She immediately spoke up, firmly objecting. 

Before Max could respond, Ronan protested strongly, “Alice, you have to consider how much energy we’ve burned today. Even having a late-night snack right now isn’t a problem.” 

“I’m not saying you can’t eat at all,” Alice replied, unmoved. “But it’s too late. Late-night snacking isn’t healthy, and I think you guys need to be more mindful.” 

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Ronan pressed his lips together and shook his head. “Technically, we only had two meals today. A snack is necessary—it’s normal to replenish energy, especially for health reasons.” Without waiting for Alice’s rebuttal, he turned to Max with a grin, “So, have you decided? Are you coming to the awards ceremony?” 

“Max!” Alice interjected again. 

Max glanced at Alice, his eyes quietly reassuring her, as if saying: It’s been a long day. This is the one little joy Ronan has—let’s not take it away. 

Alice could read his expression perfectly and crossed her arms with a huff, refusing to speak further. 

Max turned back to Ronan, who was clearly smug about winning the argument. He raised his hand and lightly tapped Ronan on the back of the head. “Alice cares about your health too. You’re still young, so overeating doesn’t seem like a big deal. But in a few years, your hormones will start acting up.” 

Ronan rolled his eyes in protest but wisely chose not to push his luck and stayed silent. 

“As for the Grammys,” Max finally answered, “I’m not going. I’ll watch the livestream with Mom at home.” That was actually why he had come to visit Ronan today. 

Each invited guest to the Grammy Awards is allowed to bring a plus-one—whether it’s a family member, a friend, or a romantic partner. 

On the red carpet, couples usually get all the attention. But family members are also popular choices—from parents to siblings and other close relatives, there’s plenty of flexibility. 

Ronan had really hoped his mother and brother could join them at the Staples Center to witness the band’s first major career milestone. He genuinely wanted to show them what he’d accomplished—to prove himself through his performance. 

But his mother had already declined his invitation. 

And now, Max was turning him down too. 

Ronan felt a twinge of disappointment. Ever since he got this second chance at life in a different world, his emotions had been conflicted. 

On one hand, he wanted to stay distant from this family and start a brand-new life—these people were Ronan Cooper’s family, not his. He always had to worry about slipping up in front of them. 

But on the other hand, in the quiet of night, he couldn’t shake the loneliness. He often recalled that night he wrote Born This Way, with Alice cheering him on by his side. Deep down, he longed for connection and support. 

Ronan couldn’t clearly explain how he felt about this family. But when Max refused to attend the awards, the subtle bitterness on his tongue betrayed the fact that something inside had shifted. Shouldn’t he have been relieved by their distance? 

And yet… 

This feeling was unfamiliar. Technically, this was his first time meeting Max—essentially a stranger. They had no real connection. But ever since their encounter, Ronan had felt a strong emotional undercurrent, and his rationality was in complete disarray. 

From their enthusiastic hug, to their bickering, to the way he kept glancing at Max—his gaze a mix of hope and anxiety—it all seemed like he was waiting for Max’s approval while fearing his indifference. None of these feelings were originally his. Yet deep in his soul, he could sense the bond with the Cooper family growing, and his heart swelled like an inflating balloon, emotions surging uncontrollably. 

This wasn’t Ronan. But it was Ronan. 

Facing Max and Alice, Ronan could truly feel the tangle of emotions and the depth of their connection—and he was slowly being drawn in. 

Sensing Ronan’s inner conflict, Max softly explained, “We just don’t want to be in the spotlight. But we’ll be watching the livestream, cheering you on. It’ll be the first time Mom and I see the band perform officially. You better give it everything you’ve got.” 

Ronan understood. 

They had their own lives. If the media got involved, their routines would be turned upside down—just like what Ronan and Alice had experienced. Even though they were family, they still needed to respect each other’s boundaries. That was the right thing to do. 

Ronan could easily imagine how chaotic things would become if they stepped into the spotlight. Not even Max would be spared—and the band was already under immense pressure. Ever since the Grammy nominations were announced, One Day King had been at the center of media storms, with rumors and negativity spreading like wildfire. 

Maybe keeping his family out of the spotlight really was the best choice. Ronan couldn’t bear the thought of them being the target of cruel insults. Even Maxim was struggling—how could his quiet, peaceful family handle it? 

Ronan didn’t trust himself to stay calm. 

His rationality slowly returned, and he didn’t have the mental space to dwell on the mysterious emotional bond he felt. He could only let himself drift with the tide of overwhelming feelings. And though he was still a bit disappointed, he smiled anyway. “I know. I just…” 

“…feel a little let down,” Alice finished for him. “Ronan really wanted you two to see the band’s performance live. It’s like how I’d want my family to see my work in the cinema. Max, let me tell you this—on stage, Ronan is absolutely dazzling.” 

Chapter 329: Envious Gaze 

“…Max, I can tell you this—Ronan on stage is a dazzling presence.” 

Alice’s voice was full of conviction and confidence. After spending more than half a year together, she had absolute faith in Ronan. Her eyes sparkled with determination as she tried to convince Max. If it were her movie premiere, she would also hope her family could be there. 

Now, Alice could completely empathize with Ronan’s feelings of regret and disappointment. She hoped her words would be persuasive enough to change Max’s mind. 

“I believe you.” Max nodded gently at Alice. He didn’t need to explain himself—he had always been Ronan and Alice’s biggest supporter. That had never changed. But Max had his reasons, and once he made a decision, it wasn’t easy to change. 

Then he turned to Ronan and said firmly, “I promise, if you ever hold a concert here, I’ll be there. I’ll buy a ticket myself.” 

Ronan couldn’t help but smile, but kept a serious tone. “By the time we hold a concert, you might not even be able to get a ticket.” 

His overflowing confidence made Alice laugh, while Max calmly replied, “Then I’ll ask for a backstage pass.” 

Ronan nodded in satisfaction. “Now’s the time to show your sincerity. I’m hungry. Seriously.” 

Max picked up the bag of apples from the table and handed it to Ronan, who looked pleased—but quickly composed his expression, ready to say something when Max cut him off, “Let’s order some steak for supper. How about it?” 

“Yay!” Ronan pumped his fist in the air. This time, Alice didn’t try to stop them. 

Standing quietly to the side, Ollie watched them with a hint of envy in his eyes. Although he had two half-brothers, their relationship was distant due to their father’s four marriages. They rarely spoke beyond polite greetings. 

As a child, Ollie used to fear his brothers. They blamed his mother for “stealing” their father and believed that she was the reason for their parents’ divorce. They used to secretly pinch or hit him when no one was looking, and it made him want to run whenever he saw them. 

As they grew older and drifted apart, they came to understand—divorce happened because their father was selfish, not because of any woman or child. The truth was, their father saw all his children as burdens. Once Ollie realized that, they stopped bullying him. They were like strangers now—but the childhood trauma never quite left. 

Watching the Cooper siblings now, bickering and laughing, Ollie felt both unfamiliar and quietly envious. 

Then Max’s voice reached him. “Do you mind joining us for supper? If not, come along.” 

“Me? I… I don’t mind…” Ollie was flustered, not expecting Max to suddenly speak to him. After answering, he immediately regretted it. “But… is it really okay if I join?” 

Max gave him a puzzled look. 

Ollie grew even more nervous. His old awkwardness around “strangers” was showing again. “I mean… you guys… maybe I shouldn’t…” 

Objectively speaking, Max was a stranger to him. They barely knew each other. 

But Max showed no special expression and replied seriously, “If it’s you, we can make an exception. Ronan always talks about you. Sounds like he bullies you a lot in the band. So as compensation—and to keep you from suing him—we’ll buy you dinner.” 

Ollie was unsure at first—Max’s expression was so serious. But then he realized the warmth and familiarity in his words, and scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. 

Max paused for a moment, then added, “Ollie, would you like to share supper with us? I’m afraid Ronan might devour the whole table if left alone.” 

“Ha!” Ollie laughed cheerfully. 

Up ahead, Ronan turned back. “Wait—are you talking about me? Why do my ears feel itchy?” 

“Yes,” Max admitted with a straight face. 

Ronan widened his eyes, dashed over, and put Ollie in a headlock. “Ollie Love, what were you two saying?” 

Ollie protested immediately. “It was Max—it was totally Max!” 

Their playful shouting echoed through the hall. Ronan was juggling a mouthful of apple while restraining the much taller Ollie—it was chaos. Meanwhile, Alice and Max quickened their pace, acting like they didn’t know the two goofballs behind them. 

After a short distance, Max looked over at Alice. His focused gaze made her a bit self-conscious. “What’s with that stare? Do you have something in your eye?” she quipped, annoyed. 

Max stayed expressionless and asked, “Alice, are you okay?” 

“Me? I’m great.” Alice answered naturally and without hesitation, clearly misunderstanding his intent. 

Max clarified, “I know you can handle all these small tasks—it’s not hard for you. But that’s not what I meant. I was asking you… are you okay?” 

Alice opened her mouth to respond, but paused. 

Max continued, “Alice, this isn’t the work you’re meant to do. You should be filming your very first movie, not running around like a nanny handling the band’s affairs. I know Ronan feels the same way—we both hope you’ll chase your own dreams.” 

Alice fell silent. 

Max was always like this—calm, sharp, and insightful. He could trace problems to their roots and find the right solutions. Whether it was Ronan or Alice, Max could sense the truth in their hearts and inspire them to pursue what they loved. 

Recently, even Alice had forgotten about her actual career, throwing herself entirely into her role as the band’s manager. Over time, she blurred the line between duty and identity—and even started to feel a sense of accomplishment from managing. 

She hadn’t thought about her film in a while, and that realization left her stunned. 

But Max had hit the mark and brought her memories flooding back with just a few words. 

Chapter 330: Lingering Fear 

Back when Alice temporarily took on the role of the band's manager, it was merely a stopgap. Now that the band had signed with Atlantic Records, the label was more than happy to assign a professional manager to handle their affairs. The band could even hire a personal assistant or coordinator to take care of the daily grind. 

In other words, Alice could’ve stepped away at any time. 

Yet, she chose to stay and work with the band. And not only that—she had become more involved, more committed, as though she really were their official manager. Her own work as a director had been completely sidelined. 

Something about this didn’t seem right. 

It's often said that the person involved can’t see clearly, while the outsider sees the truth. Max could tell immediately—something was off. 

He looked at Alice, who had fallen silent. “Is it because of Ronan?” 

Alice quickly shook her head, letting out a soft laugh. “No, don’t blame Ronan. He’s actually asked me a few times to go back to school and start looking for directing jobs. But I told him being around the band gives me more opportunities to find investors. I want to raise funds to shoot my dream project, rather than work as a cog in the machine of a major studio.” 

Max didn’t respond, simply listening intently. 

Alice paused briefly, needing a moment to organize her thoughts. “And that’s true—I’m not lying. I do need funding, and being around the band puts me in contact with more opportunities. You know, Ronan and Bruno Mars have become friends, and he’s been invited to those ultra-exclusive private parties. Those people spend money like it’s water. Even just a few drops through their fingers could mean a fortune for me.” 

She stopped again. Max sensed there was a “but” coming, so he remained silent. 

Alice knew Max had seen right through her and chuckled slightly before continuing. 

“But… I’m worried about Ronan.” 

Max’s brows drew together. The shift in his energy was unmistakable—his whole demeanor turned serious, and the air between them grew heavy. 

Alice pressed her lips together. Of course, both Max and Ronan loved her dearly, but there was something unique about the bond between the two brothers. She still remembered how Max had reacted when he heard that Ronan had been cornered by a group of football players at school. 

Max had stormed out of the classroom with a baseball bat, joining Ronan to take on seven bulky players. Their ferocity was shocking—especially when Max took a blow to the head and was bleeding profusely, yet kept fighting like a warrior. 

Later, Max learned the reason behind the fight. One of the players had insulted their mother, claiming her questionable behavior was why their father had abandoned them. Ronan had snapped and knocked the guy’s teeth out, triggering the beatdown. 

After learning the full story, Max and Ronan didn’t back down. Instead, they ambushed those guys in a back alley and gave them another brutal lesson. 

Since then, no one dared to mess with the Cooper siblings again. 

At the time, Alice hadn’t understood what had really happened. She only remembered that their mother had punished both boys severely: “No matter what happens, violence is never the answer.” The brothers had stubbornly refused to apologize and were forced to stand in the living room for four hours. 

She remembered her mother crying quietly in her room, and the stubborn, unyielding expressions on her brothers’ faces. Maybe it was just a boy thing, but their bond seemed impossible to break. 

Years later, Alice learned the truth—when Ronan was a child, he once fell gravely ill with a persistent fever. Max and their mother had stayed up all night by his bedside, terrified he wouldn’t make it. 

Meanwhile, their father was off partying with another woman. 

Ronan had survived, but his body never fully recovered. That was why Max had always been so protective of him. It wasn’t just love—it had become instinct. Whatever happened, Max would always stand by Ronan. 

Now was no different. 

Seeing Max's furrowed brows, Alice smiled and teased, “See? I knew you’d worry about Ronan more than me. I’ve been abandoned by both of you.” 

Max’s expression was one of exasperated affection, but his eyes remained warm. 

Alice giggled, then turned serious. “Ronan once collapsed on stage. He stopped breathing for a moment.” 

Her voice tightened. She could feel Max’s anxiety—he looked so worried, even though Ronan was right behind them at that very moment, laughing and horsing around with Ollie. 

Still, Alice’s heart clenched. A chill ran down her spine. 

“I think… he really saw something on the other side. Something in that near-death moment. I don’t know how to explain it, but after that, he wrote Innate…” 

She trailed off, unsure how to express what she felt. The dread had taken root in her heart, hard to describe, harder to shake. 

“I’m scared for him.” 

In truth, Alice had never said this out loud. When she first joined the band’s tour, she hadn’t thought much of Ronan’s past illness. But over time, as she spent more time with him, all the little details began to add up. Her childhood fears began creeping back. 

And now… she was terrified. 

She was afraid Ronan might one day just vanish—like a feather caught in the wind, gone without warning. 

Without even realizing it, Alice’s own motivations had begun to shift. 

Max’s eyes revealed a deep sadness. He was worried about Ronan, but also about Alice. The emotions were tangled, bittersweet, impossible to name. 

He had always worried about Ronan, and that concern wouldn’t go away just because they weren’t always together. It had become a part of him. But perhaps because of that familiarity, Max could remain calmer than Alice. 

“Ali,” he said softly, “The best way to fight death isn’t just to keep living. It’s to burn as brightly as possible before the end comes.” 

His voice was calm, steady—hiding all the pain and fear underneath. 

Alice froze. Something clicked in her mind. “So that’s why… you’re encouraging Ronan to chase his dreams?” 

Suddenly, everything made sense.