Tianzhu is on a coffee run; Vera's accidental encounter

Elsewhere in Genesis Town;

The set was buzzing with activity.

Stylists darted back and forth, makeup artists adjusted their brushes, and cameras clicked incessantly under the bright studio lights.

Tianzhu sat alone in a corner, his mask and cap blocking most of his face as he was busy playing Candy Crush to pass the time. A shadow then fell over him. "Tianzhu-ge?"

"Hmm?" He looked up, eyes meeting a young woman in her 20s standing before him. She had sharp yet pleasant features, her hair tied back into a neat ponytail.

"I'm Kim Yuna," she introduced herself with a polite bow. "A fellow road manager."

Tianzhu gave a small nod. "Hello."

"Xueli-jie wants to treat everyone," Yuna continued, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Iced Americanos and snacks. I was told to bring you along."

"Ugh… The job of serving…" Tianzhu groaned inwardly, but taking a breath, he pocketed his phone and stood up. "Alright. Let's go."

The café they stopped at was modern and sleek, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air.

Yuna placed the order: eight iced Americanos, five lattes, two cappuccinos, and two mochas. The cashier moved swiftly, preparing the drinks while Yuna wandered over to the pastry display.

She stared at the selection, her brows slightly furrowed.

"What's wrong?" Tianzhu asked, noticing her expression.

Yuna sighed, biting her lip. "I, uh… forgot to ask exactly what kind of snacks to get. I was supposed to get croissants for Xueli-jie, but it looks like they aren't available here. And I didn't ask Jingmin-ge what to substitute them with, in case they weren't available."

She glanced at her phone and dialed the manager's number, but the line was busy.

Tianzhu observed her for a moment before replying. "Give me a second." He held up a hand, signaling Yuna to wait. With his other hand, he slipped his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.

"Hmm?"

Yuna watched, curious. His demeanor remained calm as he called someone.

"Jiejie," Tianzhu spoke as soon as the call connected. "They don't have croissants. What do you want instead?"

On the other end, Xueli's voice came through, casual but firm. "Bagels."

Tianzhu nodded. "Got it." He ended the call and turned to Yuna. "Get bagels."

Yuna's eyes widened slightly. "Wait… was that Xueli-jie just now?"

"Yeah."

Yuna stared at him as if she were trying to process something. "You have her number?"

Tianzhu merely nodded again, unfazed. "Yes."

Yuna blinked. "Huh…"

Tianzhu raised a brow. "Just buy the bagels. And a couple of rice cakes for me."

"Ah, Yes." She nodded, adding bagels to the order along with a few packs of rice cakes.

Soon, the two returned with a large coffee carrier, each cup neatly placed in its slot, along with bags of snacks.

Yuna took charge of distribution, checking the list as she handed out drinks, iced Americanos, lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas.

Tianzhu, without a word, helped distribute the snacks. It was a simple, repetitive task, something he had never done in this or past life. Yet, he did it without hesitation, efficiently moving from one person to another, handing them their orders with a calm demeanor. He doesn't want others to think badly of his sister, or blame her that she hired an arrogant manager.

From a distance, Xueli spotted him. Her arms were crossed, her expression unreadable.

Finally, she turned to Manager Jingmin and pulled him aside.

"Hey, why are you giving my brother menial tasks like this? It's enough that he had to go out there to buy for everyone, but now, he also serves it? That's the job for production assistants and interns," she said, her tone sharp but quiet enough that only he could hear.

Jingmin sighed, rubbing his temple. "Ma'am, this is part of a road manager's job. Yuna has been doing the same thing for the past couple of years, and there are no interns either. If I start giving him preferential treatment, the higher-ups might not like it. Moreover, neither of you wants your familial relationship with him to get out. So…"

Xueli sighed, leaning against the wall. "I know, but it is uncomfortable for me. Let Yuna handle such things by herself, atleast when I'm in the room. You can send him on another coffee run or whatever you could think of."

"Understood." Jingmin nodded, glancing at Tianzhu for a moment before walking away.

Xueli gave one last glance toward Tianzhu, who continued working with the same composed expression, oblivious to the conversation happening behind his back.

Her grip on her phone tightened.

Why was he lowering himself like this? Was it really for Vera, as he said? She couldn't understand what was going through her brother's mind.

*

Once the photoshoot wrapped up, the team packed their equipment, and Xueli, Tianzhu, and Manager Jingmin left the studio, heading toward their vehicle.

As soon as Jingmin started the car, his phone suddenly rang. "Excuse me…" he muttered, answering the call. "Hello?"

A few seconds passed, and his expression quickly shifted from casual to tense. "What? When?" He listened intently before sighing. "I understand. I'll be there soon."

He ended the call and turned to face Xueli. "Something happened at home. I have to go."

Xueli frowned slightly. "Is it serious?"

Jingmin didn't elaborate, but his urgency was evident. He looked over at Yuna. "You'll have to drive them."

Yuna blinked. "Me?" Her eyes momentarily darted to Tianzhu, who kept his mouth shut.

"You have a Class 2 license, don't you?"

Yuna hesitated for a second but nodded. "Yeah, of course." She stepped out of the passenger seat and moved to the driver's side.

Jingmin quickly bid farewell to Xueli and Tianzhu before rushing off.

As Yuna adjusted the seat and started the engine, she glanced at Xueli through the rearview mirror. "Fasten your seatbelts, ma'am. Tianzhu-ge"

As the vehicle cruised down the road, Xueli spoke. "You don't have to wear the mask anymore."

Tianzhu nodded and pulled it off.

Yuna, glancing at him through the corner of her eyes, nearly did a double take. She could already see that he had good looks even when he had a mask all along, but his sharp features and well-defined jawline made her pause.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, "If you don't mind me asking… Tianzhu-ge, why were you wearing a mask? Fine dust is minimal today."

Tianzhu shrugged, his voice calm as he lied through his teeth. "I can't handle crowds properly. Wearing a mask helps reduce my anxiety."

Xueli, who had been watching him from the back, shook her head slightly. 'That lie is actually pretty believable.'

Instead of pressing further, she leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and put on her headphones, immersing herself in music.

Meanwhile, Yuna couldn't shake her curiosity. "So, Tianzhu-ge, have you worked as a road manager before?"

"No. I'm a rookie."

Yuna's eyebrows raised. "A rookie? But… rookies aren't usually assigned to top actresses like Xueli-nim."

Tianzhu didn't react much. "I guess I got lucky."

*

Meanwhile, nearby Wushan Square;

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting soft golden hues across the city, Vera found herself wandering through the vibrant heart of Wushan district.

The area was alive with the hum of energy, filled with students, tourists, and artists. The free market was in full swing, with local vendors showcasing their handmade crafts, artwork, and other unique creations.

Drawn by the rhythmic beat and the excited chatter, Vera moved closer to the sound.

A small crowd had gathered around a busking performance, and from the front, she could see a group of teenagers on stage, energetically performing a catchy song.

They had professional equipment, matching in-ear monitors, and crisp choreography.

A banner nearby read: Alphabet – DEBUT SHOWCASE

Agency: StarX Entertainment

Vera leaned in to watch, folding her arms and nodding along to the beat.

The group, while clearly rookie idols, had charisma and tight synchronization, and their debut song was catchy, a summer pop track with bright vocals and flashy moves.

Since it is winter, it is kinda weird to hear such a type of debut song.

After all, winter debuts usually lean toward cozy, emotional, or dramatic concepts, but then again, it isn't a hard-and-fast rule.

Moreover, StarX is a small-time agency. They can't afford to waste too much time on training/preparation, as it costs too much money.

As the performance ended, the group bowed to enthusiastic applause, thanked the audience, and began packing up. Vera clapped lightly, impressed, then moved along the street, just enjoying the lingering buzz.

That's when something caught her eye.

A pair of twin girls stood not far from one of the open areas, surrounded by cables and equipment, not setting up, but rather... packing down. Their faces were pinched with frustration. Vera slowed her steps. Something felt off.

An older man, who seemed to be part of the informal organizing team, was speaking with them, his arms crossed. "You're next on the list. What's going on? Are you canceling?"

One of the twins, the one without any glasses, sighed and scratched her head. "Our guitarist… he had to leave for an emergency." Her voice was laced with visible disappointment.

The other twin added quickly, "We were going to just play acoustic versions of our songs, but half our set needs the guitar. We don't have a backup."

The man tilted his head. "So what now? Want me to push your slot to later while you try to adjust? Or do you want to cancel?"

The twins exchanged a worried glance, unsure how to proceed.

Before either of them could answer, Vera stepped forward from the small group of onlookers that had started gathering. She held her hands up slightly in a friendly gesture. "Sorry… I, uh, accidentally overheard." She smiled at the twins. "I play guitar. Been playing for four years now."

The three of them looked at her in surprise.

"I mean, I don't know your songs or anything, but if you need help, and if you can walk me through the chords or even do a quick run-through… maybe I can fill in?"