Chapter 1081: Chapter 1081: Keep Your Distance
The sunlight sharply outlined Hannah’s features, making them particularly distinct.
Hayes glanced at her, then closed his eyes, yet the piercing sunlight made the image in his mind equally vivid.
"Getting prettier, then giving the cold shoulder—Icy and heartless woman."
He muttered under his breath, the tone full of wistfulness.
"Hayes, if you don’t get up, we’re leaving without you."
Hayes opened his eyes to find that Hannah and Roy had already left the grassy field at some point.
He hurriedly got to his feet and rushed over to Hannah’s side. "Couldn’t you have woken me up earlier?"
She smiled, "You seemed to be sleeping so soundly, I didn’t have the heart to wake you."
Hayes huffed.
The trio’s silhouettes grew distant as they walked, with Hayes never quiet along the way.
First, he held the gifts from the fans to Hannah with a face full of envy, then he chatted up Roy about Louis Snyder as if they were old friends.
"I heard he’s your younger brother? How could the two of you be so different? It’s hard to believe."
"Just a cousin."
"Cousin, huh? That explains it. I can’t stand Louis’s phony act, but you seem alright. I could make friends with you."
Hayes walked up and threw an arm over Roy’s shoulder.
Roy silently removed his hand and went back to Hannah’s side, "... Ah, thanks."
Nevertheless, Hayes didn’t mind and seemed especially spirited walking beside Hannah.
*
That evening, the directors invited the show’s guests to dine together.
Surprisingly, Hayes was among them.
It was then announced that Hayes was the third guest star for this installment of the show, a last-minute decision, so not many people were aware.
Hayes arrived late; he’d wanted to sit next to Hannah but found that spot already taken, and he reluctantly sat next to Roy instead.
The impromptu dinner had a particularly harmonious atmosphere.
Hannah’s face was even more delicate and lively than it was on camera, especially her charming smile that naturally drew people in.
Even the seasoned seniors in the program took to her, addressing her affectionately as if she were their own granddaughter.
Those who had once harbored biases against Hannah had long since forgotten their previous comments.
One by one, smiles never ceased as they jostled to get closer to Hannah.
As long as there was a topic, the conversation flowed endlessly.
The table was filled with joy and laughter, leaving Hayes somewhat "ignored" to the side.
He gnawed on the chicken leg in his hand with bitterness, eyeing the boys crowded around Hannah, and muttered, "Don’t guys nowadays know to keep their distance from a girl who’s got a boyfriend?"
Their eyes nearly popped out in their eagerness.
Roy observed quietly, then spoke up after a moment, "But, aren’t you and Hannah also very close?"
He had already put down his utensils, sitting properly to the side, back straight, posture upright, like an elementary student with a red scarf.
Hayes glanced at him, suddenly finding the chicken leg in his hand less appetizing. He silently set it down before saying, "What do you know? My relationship with Hannah is different."
Roy looked at him, his gaze tinged with confusion.
Hayes wiped his hands, his flamboyance matching the bright gold hair, and even his speaking manner was brimming with cockiness, "Hannah and I, we have a childhood friendship."
