Chapter 323 - 322: You’re Not Getting Off That Easily

Miles Sutton, unwilling to let it go, was about to be more direct when he heard Henry Hughes call out from across the room, "Miles! Julius! What are you two talking about? Come over and run."

Henry Hughes and Dunley were already on the treadmills. They were probably competing, each setting their speed faster than the other.

With the interruption, Miles Sutton couldn’t press the issue. "Coming!" he shouted, then turned his head toward the man, inviting him with the air of a caring older brother. "Let’s go."

Miles Sutton was nearly six feet tall, yet he still had to tilt his head up to speak to the man. Realizing this, he subtly took a few steps forward to avoid standing right next to him.

The gym was spacious and nearly empty, save for two staff members. Simon Lockwood remained silent for a moment before heading over.

With all four male guests occupied on the treadmills, the two staff members had nothing to do. They soon grew bored of watching, so they sat off to the side and started scrolling through their phones.

A dozen or so minutes later, the two staff members started to yawn, while the other three men hit their stride.

Simon Lockwood pressed the stop button on his treadmill. Under Henry Hughes’s confused gaze, he stated calmly, "Going back to my room."

Henry Hughes glanced at the muscles on his arm, then at his clean, sweat-free forehead, and teased, "Tired already?"

"We men have to work out more, or we’ll never find girlfriends," Henry Hughes said earnestly.

Dunley, who had gotten comfortable with him, joked, "Hughes looking for a girlfriend? The women in Meridia are fiery and beautiful, you’d definitely like them."

"No, no, no." Henry Hughes wagged his index finger, a reminiscent look on his face as he said, "I still prefer our Celestria girls. They’re so delicate and sweet."

"Yes, Celestria girls are beautiful too," Dunley immediately corrected himself, realizing he was on a Celestria variety show.

Their conversation shifted from which country had prettier girls to whether the show’s secret missions would be difficult. They failed to notice that the man who had sparked the whole discussion was already at the door.

Miles Sutton watched the man’s retreating back, his eyes narrowing. Just as he was about to follow, a staff member attentively asked, "Mr. Sutton, is there anything you need?"

"Hey, where did Julius go?" one of the others called out.

"He went back to his room," a staffer answered. At that, Miles said to the staff member who had stopped him, "I’m heading back too. You don’t need to follow. It’s nothing."

The two staff members looked hesitant. "Mr. Sutton, it’s better if we escort you back."

It didn’t matter if a non-celebrity wandered off, since no one would recognize them anyway. But a star had to be protected at all times. What if a sasaeng fan had gotten in?

Thanks to the delay, the man was long gone. Miles Sutton was so annoyed he wanted to curse, but he had to maintain his public persona. "No need, don’t trouble yourselves. I’ll just go back with the others in a bit."

"Oh, oh, okay. Understood." The staff members breathed a sigh of relief.

「In a room on the fifth floor.」

Joanna Kennedy took the Blue Rose from her suitcase and placed it on the nightstand.

The small night light, the Blue Rose, the matching set of pink bedding... it all seemed to still smell faintly of laundry detergent.

Joanna clapped her hands in satisfaction. Done!

After busying herself for over half an hour, she was starting to feel a little hungry now that she had a moment to relax.

Remembering the staff had said there was a buffet on the first floor, she was just about to put on a coat and head down when there was a knock on her door.

’At this hour, it could only be my assistant or a staff member.’ Joanna didn’t think much of it. She walked to the door and opened it, but just as she was about to ask what was wrong, she was pulled into an embrace.

"..."

In the distance, the elevator dinged softly, signaling someone’s arrival. Joanna had no time to think. She grabbed the man by the waist, pulled him into the room, and slammed the door shut.

The closed door cut them off from any outside eyes. Joanna’s heart, which had nearly stopped in shock, began to pound again. She shoved the man away, her movements sharp and decisive.

Their eyes met. Simon Lockwood was the first to look away. He pursed his lips and said, "Have you eaten?"

He was even using the classic Celestria icebreaker. It was clear Simon Lockwood was so awkward he genuinely didn’t know what to say.

Joanna folded her arms and lifted her chin, an arrogant posture. Her tone was just as arrogant. "What’s it to you, Mr. Julius?"

She ground out the last two words through clenched teeth. The fact that she was using an honorific showed just how furious she was. For once, Simon Lockwood was at a loss, all of his earlier coolness and indifference gone.

"...I didn’t mean to hide it from you," Simon Lockwood said, his tone strained.

Joanna laughed sarcastically. "What? What did you hide from me?"

Joanna took two steps closer, looking straight into the man’s dark eyes. She could see the anxiety within them but pretended not to notice. Her voice was calm. "Mr. Julius, have we met?"

"..." Simon Lockwood’s face paled slightly. "Joanna..."

"Do you have the right to call me Joanna?" Joanna’s tone grew impatient. Seeing the flicker of hurt that inadvertently crossed the man’s handsome and distinguished face only made her more irritated.

’The nerve of him, acting hurt when he’s the one who lied. I haven’t even said anything yet! God knows my heart almost stopped the moment I saw him.’

’And what did he do? Just gave me a cool, indifferent glance. That’s right, that glance is exactly what’s bothering me. I guess I’m just that petty!’

"Get out of my way. Don’t keep me from my dinner."

Joanna kept her head down and tried to walk past him, but was suddenly caught in an embrace around her waist. She didn’t hold back at all, grabbing the large hand cinched around her and biting down hard.

The man grunted but didn’t move an inch, letting her bite without a single word to placate her.

This made Joanna even angrier. She bit down until her teeth ached, refusing to let go. Her cheek was touched gently, and Simon Lockwood’s voice was low. "Feel better now? If not, you can keep biting."

Joanna: "..."

’He talks as if his hand is so precious.’ Joanna made a disgusted sound, then flung his hand away without a shred of courtesy. "Who’d even want to bite you?"

"Your hand isn’t even insured. It has no value at all," Joanna added venomously.

Simon Lockwood silently accepted it all. Finally, he looked at her, pursed his lips lightly, and said, "Don’t be angry..."

He coaxed her as if he were giving an order. Joanna was rendered speechless. "Why would I be angry? I’m not angry at all," she said, not meaning a word of it.

Simon Lockwood looked at the girl’s cheeks, puffed out with anger, but didn’t expose her lie. In a low, soft voice, he said, "Right. Joanie is the most magnanimous."

"Don’t you try that with me." Joanna glared. "Don’t think you can just talk your way out of this."

"...It’s a bit complicated."

"Then give me the simple version!"

"..." Simon Lockwood was silent for a few seconds. Under the girl’s glare, he finally confessed, "I didn’t hide it from you on purpose. It was because I wasn’t sure if I’d be selected."

"Then when did you get the invitation from the show?" Joanna asked.

Simon Lockwood: "..."

Simon Lockwood: "Yesterday."

Joanna was speechless.

’Right, right, right. No wonder he had so much energy to torment me last night. So he’d already gotten his confirmation. I’m the only one who gets hurt here, huh?!’

Joanna didn’t want to say anything more. "Just get out."

Simon Lockwood: "Don’t you want to know who my teammate is?"