325-327

Chapter 325: Regaining Focus 

Alice quickly sensed something was different with the band's vibe—not in a bad way, but rather with an unexplainable, excited energy buzzing around. 

But she had no idea what had happened. While the band was rehearsing, Alice was running around like a headless chicken dealing with the awards show's organizers—discussing things like the performance order, technical equipment, entrance logistics, backstage etiquette... the whole chaotic package. 

This was One Day King’s first performance at the Grammys. For Alice, it was also her first time managing such a massive event—not just a regular tour stop, but a high-stakes, world-class production. It even topped the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show in scale. She needed everything prepped to perfection to avoid any mess-ups on the big day. 

So Alice micromanaged everything, diving into every tiny detail to make sure nothing went wrong. The endless to-do list was exhausting, especially since Alice was still relatively new to being a manager. She had barely had time to sip water, let alone check in on the band. By the time she finally rejoined the group, they had already finished their rehearsal—and she had missed everything. 

Still, even though something clearly happened, the mood was upbeat. Maxim seemed especially amused, and since nothing felt negative, Alice didn’t rush to probe. She waited until they got back to the hotel, then casually asked Ronan, "Everything okay?" 

Ronan looked at her, hesitating under her concerned gaze. Part of him wondered if, as a fellow woman, Alice might better understand what Alena meant by her cryptic words—"thank you" and "I like you." What did she really mean by that? 

But after a second thought, it all seemed silly to even bring it up. It wasn’t the time for some overly dramatic heart-to-heart, and to be honest, it felt a little awkward talking about this kind of thing with Alice. His thoughts were spiraling again, so he swallowed the words. 

"I'm just nervous," Ronan finally said. 

Alice didn’t overthink it. Maybe Ronan was just getting stage fright about performing at the Grammys, and the band was teasing him about it. "Ronan, you just have to believe in yourself. From the music to the stage—this is your moment. Nervousness is just a kind of adrenaline.” 

Compared to Ronan, Alice had unshakable confidence in him. "Even if you don’t believe in yourself, or in me, then at least believe in the Grammys. They wouldn’t nominate you for seven awards unless you deserved it," she declared, throwing her hands up like it was the most obvious thing ever. "Not even the label has that much influence.” 

That made Ronan burst into laughter. "Fair enough, I can’t argue with that!" 

Alice thumped her chest proudly. "Exactly! So believe in me, believe in yourself, and believe in the Grammys!" 

"Ha!" Ronan chuckled. It sounded like a cheesy motivational speech from a pyramid scheme, but it worked. His mood lifted, and his thoughts began to settle. 

Back at the hotel, they had a quick breakfast before Curtis gathered the band for a closed-door meeting to finalize the arrangement of their two Grammy songs. 

At first, Ronan struggled to focus. His mind was still clouded with lingering thoughts, and it showed in his lackluster input. That meant Curtis ended up leaning more on Maxim and Cliff, but their responses didn’t quite hit the mark. The brainstorming session didn’t generate the creative sparks Curtis was hoping for, and things got tense. 

Ronan felt the pressure. He forced himself to concentrate, putting his distractions aside. Slowly, he caught up with the discussion and began contributing more. The energy picked up again, and ideas started flowing. 

Maxim, however, began to feel frustrated—not at Ronan, but at himself. He was trying to keep pace with Curtis, but his inspiration just wasn’t clicking. It chipped away at his confidence, reinforcing his fears of not being “good enough.” 

No one else seemed to notice, too busy bouncing ideas. Only Ronan caught on and gave Maxim a quiet, concerned glance. Maxim smiled faintly and shook his head, brushing it off, before pulling himself back into the conversation. 

The structure of the two songs was basically locked in, but Curtis, ever the perfectionist, had made more changes after the on-site rehearsal. He was determined to craft the perfect performance, so more tweaks, more rehearsals, more teamwork were needed. 

The morning discussion dragged on for nearly two hours before the band jumped straight into practice mode. There were no breaks—only a brief lunch—before diving into a grueling schedule of high-intensity rehearsal for the rest of the day. 

But now, Ronan was completely dialed in. 

Whatever worries had clouded his thoughts earlier were now gone. He had found his focus again—on the stage, on the performance, on the music. That kind of laser-sharp professionalism brought everything into alignment, and rehearsal ran smoothly. 

And they weren’t done yet. 

After dinner, the band headed to the recording studio. They needed to lay down vocal parts and orchestral tracks—basically re-record both songs into Grammy-exclusive versions. 

Surprisingly, the recording session went better than expected. The weeks of relentless practice paid off. Everyone was focused, and the takes were solid. In less than two hours, they had everything pre-recorded and ready to go. 

From here on, the band could focus on refining their live performance, while Curtis handled the final mixing and mastering. The orchestral parts would be recorded separately in the studio to sound live—but without having an actual orchestra on stage stealing the spotlight. 

Everything was unfolding with clockwork precision as they approached the final sprint to Grammy night. 

After recording, the band finally had a moment to breathe. It had been a crazy, non-stop day since arriving in L.A., but now they could relax a little. 

Just as Ronan walked into the hotel lobby, he spotted a familiar face waiting for him—grinning with excitement. 

Chapter 326: Sibling Reunion 

“Ah…” 

Ronan stretched out with a big yawn. After all the traveling and endless hustle, the muscles in his neck were stiff like a rock. No matter how much he twisted or rubbed them, the tightness wouldn’t ease. If he could just soak in a hot spring for a while—that would be the perfect vacation. 

“All I want right now is to lie in a hot spring, with a steak and an onsen egg right next to me. And a small bowl of steaming hot chicken soup. Imagine the juices of the steak exploding in your mouth, no fancy seasoning needed—just a dash of black pepper to bring out the sweetness of the beef. The aroma of the meat would stay perfectly intact. And if you’re into it, break the yolk and give the steak a light brush of it…” 

As Ronan spoke, completely lost in the fantasy of his dream meal, Ollie beside him couldn't help swallowing hard. The gulping sound was so loud that Maxim burst out laughing—his weird chuckle sounding oddly like a cuckoo bird. 

Watching this unfold, Cliff quietly stepped a few paces back, pretending not to know them. 

Ronan was about to tease Ollie when he suddenly caught a faint scent—crisp and fresh, like apples. Not the overripe, mushy kind, but those that are still firm, lightly fragrant, with a hint of tartness beneath the sweetness. The scent was subtle, refreshing, and oddly invigorating on a cool night. 

That delicate aroma spread through the luxurious hotel lobby and caught Ronan’s full attention. He unconsciously followed it, and Ollie and Maxim quickly noticed he had stopped walking. 

“Ronan?” Ollie looked confused and called out. 

Ronan didn’t respond. 

Maxim clapped Ollie on the shoulder. “We’re already at the hotel, what are you worried about? He’s not going to get lost.” With that, he strolled off to catch up with Cliff and head upstairs. 

Ollie lingered for a moment, still a bit concerned, and stayed put, waiting for Ronan to return. 

Then he saw Alice follow Ronan, and after thinking about it, he followed too. 

Ronan walked a few steps toward the hotel lobby waiting area, guided by that subtle scent, then stopped and looked up. His eyes immediately landed on a familiar figure, and joy spread across his face like sunshine breaking through clouds. He called out with pure delight: 

“Max!” 

He dashed over, his face lighting up with a wide, radiant smile. The joy in his heart surged so powerfully it felt like even his soul trembled. 

Even Ronan could feel it—the genuine emotions of Ronan Cooper welling up from deep inside. He didn’t hold back, letting himself fully embrace the rush of emotion. With zero hesitation, he ran forward. 

Max Cooper—the eldest of the three Cooper siblings—was also Ronan and Alice’s greatest supporter in chasing their dreams. Always had been. 

To be precise, Max had sacrificed his own dreams and entered the workforce early to support his younger siblings. It was Max who encouraged Ronan to pursue music. Without him, One Day King might never have formed. 

Max used to say, “I don’t have a dream. I’m just an ordinary office worker, so I chose the path that suited me best. But if you and Alice have dreams, you should chase them bravely.” 

Deep down, though, Ronan and Alice knew the truth behind that statement—how much resignation and heartache it held. 

To be fair, the Cooper family wasn’t destitute. They were solidly middle class. Their mother was an interior designer with a small studio of four partners and fewer than 50 employees—stable, but not extravagant. 

But after their father abandoned the family, the burden grew immense. Female interior designers in the late '90s still faced heavy prejudice, so Max had to grow up fast and take on responsibilities beyond his years. 

Maybe Max had dreams too—dreams that were buried and forgotten. Or maybe he truly didn’t have any, crushed under the weight of day-to-day survival. Either way, that was the most heartbreaking part. 

Ronan and Alice’s dreams had grown under their mother and brother’s protection. Even now, they were just getting started. They were nobodies, trying to make their way in the glitzy and cutthroat entertainment world—a road full of challenges. 

Especially for Ronan Cooper, who had stepped onto the path of chasing dreams only because of Max’s guidance. 

He understood better than Alice what their family had been through. He understood Max's sacrifices—and so he cherished the opportunity to pursue his dream even more. That’s why he kept performing, even while burning with a high fever. But in the end, he vanished from that stage forever—giving way to this new Ronan. 

In a way, Ronan Cooper was lucky. Even at the very end, he stood on the stage, living in his dream. But he was also tragically unlucky—because his dream was ultimately crushed before it could bloom. 

Now, this new Ronan carried on both his life and his dream. 

Smack! Max had barely stood up before Ronan barreled into his arms. The impact nearly knocked him off balance. 

Looking down at Ronan clinging to him so tightly—even at 25, still like a child—Max smiled with a touch of helpless affection. “So, tell me—who bullied you this time?” 

The overwhelming emotion had caught Ronan off guard. Without any mental prep, his body and expression had acted on their own. Still, he couldn’t deny the comfort that hug brought. Like a safe harbor, it calmed his stormy emotions and brought him peace. 

After the brief emotional surge, Ronan grew embarrassed. He averted his eyes and pretended nothing had happened—like that impulsive moment wasn’t his at all. He returned to his usual tone and quipped, “If I needed help, I would've called ages ago. No need to wait until now to complain.” 

Max gave Ronan a knowing look. 

The old Ronan would’ve never said something like that—light, teasing, and so natural it made conversation feel effortless. It was clear that the past half year of wandering and adventure had made him grow up. 

Chapter 327: Inertial Imbalance 

Just one look—that’s all it took for Max to clearly sense the change in Ronan. Every move he made, every word he spoke—it all felt different. It was like he’d transformed overnight. He’d grown and matured during their long journey apart. He was still Ronan, yet… not quite the Ronan he used to be. 

Max wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or not. On one hand, he wished Ronan could stay innocent and pure, untouched by the chaos of the entertainment world. But on the other hand, he was also relieved to see Ronan’s growing wisdom and maturity. Without it, surviving in such a complex industry would be nearly impossible. 

Conflicted thoughts swirled in Max’s mind as he observed Ronan closely. 

Ronan, meanwhile, had no idea what was going through Max’s head. After spending more than six months with Alice without slipping up, Ronan had let his guard down a bit. Plus, his embarrassing reaction earlier had him flustered, and he was doing everything he could to avoid Max’s gaze. Naturally, that meant he missed the subtle change in Max’s expression. 

More importantly, Max was excellent at hiding his emotions. He didn’t let a single hint slip through—no one would’ve been able to tell what he was thinking. 

Then Ronan spoke up in defense, “I smelled apples and came to check it out. And voilà—there you were.” 

Max paused for a second, then a small look of relief passed through his eyes. At least one thing hadn’t changed—Ronan’s love of good food. “Careful,” Max said, half-joking, “next time someone might lure you away with a lollipop.” 

Completely unaware of how close he’d come to trouble, Ronan just raised his head and met Max’s gaze with mock outrage. “A lollipop? No way! It’d take at least two.” 

Max’s lips curled slightly—not a full smile, but just enough to show he was amused. 

Then Max turned his attention to Alice, who was now approaching with Ollie. “So, Alice,” he said casually, “has Ronan been abusing child labor again?” 

Alice scrunched her nose playfully. “Absolutely. I demand justice for all the suffering he’s caused!” 

Ronan immediately widened his eyes in protest. “Abusing you? Alice, it’s clearly the other way arou—” 

“Hmph! You’re just saying that because Max always takes your side!” 

“Since when?! Max always sides with you!” 

“Really? Then explain why he hugged you and totally ignored me!” 

And just like that, Ronan and Alice transformed into bickering schoolchildren. Their playful argument was so ridiculous that Ollie was left completely stunned. Was this really the same calm and composed Ronan he knew? 

Max, however, was totally unfazed. “They’re always like this,” he said to Ollie. “Still haven’t grown up.” 

“Max!” Ronan and Alice shouted in perfect sync, clearly offended. 

Max didn’t say anything more, just gave Ollie a subtle glance, as if to say, See? Told you so. 

“Long time no see, Ollie,” Max then said, greeting him directly. Technically, all the One Day King band members had met Max before—more than once, in fact. But they didn’t really know each other well. Thanks to Ronan, though, their relationship was a little closer than just acquaintances. 

Ollie’s brain was still catching up from all the rapid-fire banter, so he paused, blinking in confusion. “Uh… Max. Sorry, I—this is actually my first time… so…” 

“First time seeing the whole Cooper crew in action?” Max finished the sentence with a knowing smile. “Don’t worry. Today’s actually pretty tame. We’re not even at full crazy yet.” 

Ollie gaped. Was Max joking? He wasn’t sure. He gave Ronan a helpless look. 

Ronan was starting to realize just how out of character he’d been. From start to finish, he’d been acting like someone else. But then again, in his past life he’d been an only child. He never knew what sibling interactions were supposed to look like. Turns out, this chaotic teasing might be exactly what they were. 

Some reactions were just instinctive, hardwired. Before the brain could think, the body was already acting. 

And yet, this kind of “out-of-character” behavior wasn’t unpleasant. On the contrary, it felt familiar… and comforting. 

Ronan turned to Ollie and said, “Trust me, you don’t want to know the truth.” 

The seriousness in his tone caught Ollie off guard. He glanced between Ronan, Max, and Alice—then back to Ronan. At last, he understood where Ronan’s talent for deadpan nonsense came from. When Alice finally broke and laughed, Ollie couldn’t hold back either. 

Ronan smiled too, then looked at Max again. “When did you get here? Why didn’t you give me a call first?” 

Max, ever stoic, wasn’t cold or expressionless like a robot—but more like a man always dressed in a suit and tie, proper and stiff. He rarely let emotion show on his face. Whether he was happy or nervous, he always wore the same neutral expression. That kind of poker face was crucial for his work. 

Even in private, Max was like that. It made him seem intimidating to strangers, but those who got to know him discovered his deadpan humor pretty quickly. 

“If I had called, would you have answered?” Max asked flatly—a direct hit to Ronan’s conscience. 

Ronan was instantly speechless. He didn’t even know where his phone was. When he got into work mode, anything unrelated was a distraction. Max knew that all too well. 

Even before Ronan joined the band, he was forgetful—always losing his phone, leaving it somewhere. The whole Cooper family was used to it. That’s why Max made sure he had backup ways of contacting Ronan’s friends, so he could always keep tabs on his brother’s whereabouts. 

“I called Alice instead and asked about your schedule,” Max added. “Didn’t have to wait long.” 

Max was currently working in Los Angeles, so when he heard Ronan and Alice were back in town, he didn’t wait for them to come home—he came to check on them first. 

“Do you guys need a late-night snack? Or haven’t you eaten dinner yet?” Max asked, clearly knowing Ronan too well. At the mention of food, Ronan’s eyes lit up. 

He’d always been like that since childhood—food could solve anything. But Alice… Alice was not one to be swayed that easily. 

“Max!” she groaned. “We’re going to the Grammys next week! Okay, sure, we’re a band and we don’t have to keep super strict diets, but still! It’s late, and you’re offering them snacks? What if Ronan shows up on stage with a puffy face?!” 

Alice was gradually adapting to her role as manager. It wasn’t just about scheduling appearances or handling PR anymore. She was planning for the band’s future—strategizing, managing, making sure everything was on point. 

Even down to their sleep schedules and eating habits. 

Because in showbiz, every detail counts. 

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