Chelsea returned to the clothing section balancing two large cups of milk tea, the condensation from the plastic lids making her fingers slightly cold.
One was brown sugar with extra pearls — Rhianna's favorite.
The other was her usual — less sugar, more tea.
She didn't notice the faint shift in atmosphere between Bryan and Rhianna.
She didn't notice the slight awkwardness that had settled after the "couple" incident.
She just walked in like normal.
"Hey guys, I'm back!"
Bryan looked up from his phone immediately.
Rhianna turned around from the counter where a sales assistant was neatly packaging her purchases in branded bags.
Rhianna walked toward Chelsea and took the milk tea with a grateful smile.
"Thank youuu. What took you so long?"
Chelsea hesitated for a second.
"Oh… nothing. Just some annoying person."
Bryan's eyes flicked up again.
"Annoying?"
Chelsea rolled her eyes slightly.
"Yeah. Some tall, arrogant guy who thinks calling people 'little one' is normal."
Rhianna blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Bryan stood up slowly.
"What happened?"
Chelsea shrugged, trying to make it sound unimportant.
"I bumped into him. He laughed. I called my laptop my dream man. He called me little one."
Rhianna gasped dramatically.
"He called you what?"
"Little. One."
Bryan's jaw tightened slightly.
"What did he look like?"
Chelsea thought for a second.
"Tall. Broad shoulders. Expensive suit. Cold face. Probably thinks he owns the world."
Bryan's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
But before he could ask more—
He casually reached over, took Chelsea's milk tea from her hand—
And started drinking it.
Chelsea froze.
"Hey!"
He swallowed.
"Hmm."
"Should have asked for one! Why take mine?"
Bryan shrugged lazily.
"Because I feel like it. And I'm older than you, so I can do what I want."
"What?!" Chelsea snapped. "Just one year!"
On a normal day, she would've jumped at him.
Tried to snatch it back.
Argued for ten full minutes.
But today?
She didn't.
She just crossed her arms.
"Whatever."
Bryan noticed immediately.
That wasn't normal.
He handed the cup back.
"You don't want it?"
"No."
She wasn't in the mood.
Not after that strange encounter.
Not after being called little one like she was a child.
Bryan said nothing.
But he watched her carefully.
---
"Are we done here?" Bryan asked after a moment. "We're going to be late for Jason's competition if we don't leave now."
Rhianna checked the time.
"Oh shoot, you're right."
She turned to Chelsea.
"Do you want to get anything else?"
Chelsea shook her head slightly.
"Nah. Maybe next time."
Her mind briefly flashed back to the Titan X Pro display.
Her dream man.
And the arrogant real man who stood in front of it.
Bryan noticed that distant look again.
Interesting.
---
After a quick snack, the three of them left the mall and headed toward the esports arena.
---
The stadium was massive.
Bright LED screens flashed team logos.
Crowds poured in from every direction.
Fans wore jerseys with Jason's gamer tag printed across the back.
Chants filled the air.
"J-SON! J-SON! J-SON!"
Rhianna's eyes sparkled.
"I love this atmosphere."
Chelsea grinned slightly.
Jason in business mode was cool.
But Jason in competition mode?
Unstoppable.
They were escorted to VIP seating near the front.
The stage was set up like a battlefield.
Five gaming chairs on each side.
Huge screens above displaying live gameplay.
Commentators already hyping the crowd.
"And today we have the reigning champions defending their title once again!"
The crowd roared.
Jason walked onto the stage with his team.
Wearing a black and silver jersey.
Headset around his neck.
Expression calm.
Focused.
Chelsea immediately stood up and waved both hands dramatically.
"JASOOOON!"
Rhianna laughed and joined her.
Bryan remained seated — but a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Jason glanced toward their section.
For just a split second—
He smirked.
Then he sat down.
Game one began.
---
The match was intense.
It was a strategic 5v5 multiplayer battle game.
Fast-paced.
Every second mattered.
Jason played the role of team strategist and primary damage dealer.
His movements were precise.
Calculated.
When his team nearly got ambushed in the jungle zone—
He predicted it.
Redirected.
Counterattacked.
The commentators were losing their minds.
"INSANE REFLEXES!"
"He saw that coming from miles away!"
Chelsea was practically standing the entire time.
"LEFT! LEFT! HE'S BEHIND YOU!"
Rhianna was gripping her drink tightly.
Bryan leaned slightly forward.
Jason's team secured the first objective.
Then the second.
But the opposing team was strong.
Very strong.
Mid-game, Jason's team lost two players.
The crowd gasped.
Rhianna covered her mouth.
Chelsea muttered under her breath.
Bryan's expression sharpened.
Jason remained calm.
He retreated.
Regrouped.
Waited.
Then—
Perfect timing.
He baited the opposing captain into overextending.
Trapped him.
Eliminated him.
Turned the tide.
The crowd exploded.
The energy in the arena shifted completely.
"THIS IS WHY HE'S THE CAPTAIN!"
Jason's team pushed forward with momentum.
Objective secured.
Final base attack.
Victory.
The screen flashed:
WINNER.
The stadium erupted.
Chelsea jumped up and screamed.
"I KNEW IT!"
Rhianna clapped so hard her hands turned red.
Bryan stood slowly, nodding slightly.
On stage, Jason removed his headset calmly.
But there was fire in his eyes.
He stood up.
Shook hands with the opposing team.
Professional.
Composed.
Champion.
---
After the match, fans rushed for photos and autographs.
Jason was surrounded.
Chelsea and Rhianna made their way backstage with Bryan.
"You were amazing!" Rhianna said the moment Jason approached them.
Jason smirked slightly.
"Obviously."
Chelsea punched his arm lightly.
"You almost gave me a heart attack."
Bryan nodded once.
"You played well."
Jason glanced at him.
"You doubted?"
"No."
Their exchange was brief.
But respectful.
Rhianna looked at Bryan
Their eyes met for a second longer than necessary.
Chelsea, meanwhile, was distracted again.
Jason noticed.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
But she wasn't fully there.
And Bryan noticed that too.
---
Across the VIP balcony—
Someone else was watching.
Dylan Brown.
He had sponsors attending the event.
And while scanning the arena—
His gaze froze.
Two buns.
Oversized hoodie.
Familiar face.
Little one.
He watched as she laughed with her friends.
She looked different here.
Happier.
He turned slightly to his assistant.
"Who is that?"
The assistant followed his gaze.
"That is Chelsea Blake."
Dylan's expression changed.
"Blake?"
"Yes, sir. Daughter of Mrs. Blake. The Blake Group."
Dylan went silent.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
His eyes lingered on her one second longer—
Before he turned away