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🕑 Added 2025-08-17 15:59:33 +0000 UTCChapter 334: A World for Two
Screams and shouts erupted like fireworks, piercing through the murmuring noise of the crowd and instantly pulling everyone's attention to their source.
Lucieldun—Lucy—couldn’t care less that all eyes were on her. Her gaze was locked onto the band members at the beginning of the red carpet. The excitement that had been bubbling inside her finally burst free, uncontrollable now, and she screamed wildly from the heart.
She knew it. She knew it. She knew that One Day King would shine like this on the red carpet—especially Ronan. Dressed in a formal suit, he was breathtaking. Her heart skipped a beat just looking at him. His charm was irresistible—too much to even blink, for fear she’d miss the most beautiful, most moving moment.
She knew it!
Ever since that close encounter in Las Vegas, Lucy had completely fallen for One Day King. What started as curiosity had grown into deep admiration. The more she explored their music, the more she was drawn to the soul of it.
She had been that heartbroken girl, sobbing uncontrollably. But in Ronan’s song “Dancing Alone”, Lucy felt something soft yet strong—a healing kind of gentleness. It wasn’t weakness. It was tender, yet resilient. That strength had comforted her, held her together.
Since then, the band had been on a steady rise, and Lucy followed every step. But sadly, One Day King never returned to perform in Las Vegas. Her dream of seeing them live kept getting pushed back—until the Grammy nominations were announced.
She didn’t hesitate for a second. The moment the nominees were revealed, she booked her trip to Los Angeles for Grammy weekend. She wanted to see them up close, hear them perform live, and maybe—just maybe—witness them step onto the Grammy stage. Heading to the City of Angels was the easiest decision she ever made.
Like a moth to a flame, Lucy’s passion was fully ignited. The thought alone had her heart racing. Life was vibrant again, filled with anticipation. Every day was charged with energy and excitement.
And now, she was seeing them with her own eyes—Maxim, Cliff, Ollie, and… Ronan!
It was all worth it.
The joy and thrill exploded within her like fireworks, endlessly bursting. Her screams came out on their own—her throat didn’t even register the pain. Her body trembled as her cells boiled over with adrenaline. She jumped in place, unable to contain the rush.
Screaming was the only outlet. It was the only way to calm the raging heat in her blood. Without it, she might’ve exploded.
This was only the second time Lucy had seen One Day King in person, but it felt like she’d known them for years—like they’d been part of her every day and night. That connection transformed into overwhelming passion. Her voice climbed higher and higher, breaking loose with unstoppable force.
And then… her eyes welled with tears.
She didn’t even know why. She couldn’t name the feeling. Were tears too much? Maybe. But she couldn’t hold back the emotional tide. So she gave in. She let it wash over her and enjoyed it.
“Ronan!” Her raw, tear-soaked cry echoed through the air. Lucy was completely lost in her emotions. Even with the whole crowd staring, she didn’t care. It felt like it was just her and One Day King—like no one else existed. Her sight, her hearing, her whole being was focused entirely on them.
The intimacy of the moment made her heart tremble. She was in too deep—lost in euphoria. She even forgot her friend was right next to her.
“Ahhhhhh!” “Ahhhhhh!”
That friend was Ella Freeman—the tall girl who had stood beside Lucy that night in Las Vegas.
Ella had joined her on this trip. She liked One Day King too, though she wasn’t quite as obsessed. Even now, she managed to stay somewhat rational. Still, the excitement was contagious. Ella couldn’t help but jump and shout alongside Lucy, waving her arms and yelling their names.
“Ronan! Ahhh! One Day King!”
She kept glancing around, trying to hype up the crowd with her cheers. Slowly, the audience around them began to stir.
So this was the band that caused such a sensation during the nominations?
Before they could fully react— Click… Click… Clickclickclick…
The sound of camera shutters began to swell, spreading like wildfire. It started slow, then surged into a thunderous wave. The storm of silver flashes swept across the red carpet, overwhelming the cheers and drawing all attention. A glowing sea of camera lights engulfed the scene, erasing Staples Center beneath a blinding glow.
From the murmurs of fans to the frenzy of media, the scene shifted in tone. Both states were chaotic—but the new wave carried heat. The flashes were like burning lights brushing the skin. Finally, it felt like the red carpet had come alive with real energy.
Freelance journalist Buster Wayne stood in the thick of the crowd, mulling over his coverage for the night. It was still early—just twenty minutes into the red carpet. Most A-listers wouldn’t show up yet.
Red carpets weren’t concerts—arriving later didn’t necessarily mean higher status. But timing still mattered. Ideally, the best spots were near the end of the first half or the beginning of the second, spaced away from other big names to maximize spotlight. Right now, things were still calm, and Buster had time to think.
He’d been wondering who would spark the first real frenzy of the evening.
And then—he saw him. Maxim. Unexpected… but also, somehow, perfectly fitting.
Chapter 335 A Fleeting Moment, Eternal in Time
The moment it began, Buster immediately noticed Maxim.
Out of reflex, Buster was already one step ahead, pressing the shutter. From the scattered click-click sounds around him, he could tell the others were slower to react. Clearly, the other reporters weren’t familiar with the band One Day King, but Buster didn’t care—his full attention was now locked in.
Even though he’d seen Maxim up close before, Buster had to admit: Maxim truly was one of God’s favorites. His chiseled features required only the slightest play of light and shadow to outline a strikingly handsome face. Every movement the camera captured seemed destined to become timeless.
Still caught in that moment of awe, Buster pressed the shutter again, taking several rapid shots to catch the figures appearing behind Maxim—especially one man, tall, lean, and perfectly proportioned.
He wore a crisp white shirt with a charcoal gray suit, accented by a blue polka-dot tie. No excessive accessories, no flashy colors. And yet, within that simple style radiated a gentle, refined charm. The tailored fabric hugged his slender frame perfectly—not too much, not too little. Just standing there on the red carpet, he effortlessly drew all the color from the scene. Even the blazing tangerine sunset in the sky paled by comparison.
Ronan Cooper.
Even in a crowd, even surrounded by the noise of a thousand voices, Ronan’s presence effortlessly captured every gaze—especially when he stepped onto the stage. That inner glow, that unique charisma, shone bright.
Right now, the red carpet was his stage.
Ronan may not have had Maxim’s classic good looks, but he had something just as powerful: a rare, magnetic aura. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was impossible to resist. Eyes followed his every move instinctively. Cameras couldn’t fully capture it. Words fell short trying to describe it.
Everyday Ronan and stage Ronan were the same person—yet somehow completely different. In this moment, every gesture and movement exuded calm confidence and elegance. Even with Ollie and Alice still visible in the corner of his eye, even as Maxim and Cliff slowly approached and the crowd buzzed around them, the spotlight remained stubbornly fixed on Ronan.
Without realizing it, Buster had aimed his camera straight at Ronan. His finger pressed the shutter again and again, recording the moment.
Ronan seemed to be saying something comforting to Ollie. A soft smile appeared on his face. The golden sunlight poured over his shoulders like decoration, merely outlining his features. You could almost see the fine layer of fuzz on his skin. It was a moment so breathtakingly beautiful that Buster instinctively pressed the shutter again and again. When he finally stopped, he realized his fingertips were trembling slightly.
Thump! Thump!
Buster could feel the pounding of his heart in his chest. That fluttering, electric sensation was rare. Even as a fellow man, he had to admit—light and shadow truly favored Ronan. A fleeting glance had somehow become eternal, forever etched into memory.
He suddenly remembered the shot he’d captured in Washington last time—an ordinary moment that, on closer look, was anything but. Just his second time seeing One Day King up close—once onstage, once on the red carpet—and already, Buster could sense that glow radiating from them. Was this the aura of stardom? Or was it something even more special? The curiosity quietly bloomed again.
A moment later, the other reporters finally realized who One Day King was. Then came the barrage—the chorus of shutters clicking rapidly, nonstop. Buster had no time to ponder further. He raised his camera again, capturing Ollie and Cliff in that split second.
It wasn’t until the award ceremony was over that Buster realized most of his photos were of Ronan. He had meant to give each band member equal attention, but his subconscious had guided his hand—and the camera—toward Ronan again and again. In the end, it hadn’t been as balanced as he thought. He couldn’t help but smile helplessly.
But the more he thought about it, the more he realized—he wasn’t the only one.
Click-click-click!
Flashes exploded like fireworks. The place was a sea of light, engulfing everything in silver. Even the vivid red carpet seemed to fade in the glow. The energy of the reporters was unmistakable.
As the biggest nominee during this stage, One Day King had stirred countless discussions and debates—both praise and criticism. They were under a microscope, and every move they made tonight at the Grammys would be analyzed. One small misstep could completely shift public opinion.
So, of course, the reporters weren’t going to miss this golden opportunity.
In an effort to break the ice and attract the band’s attention, they threw out every trick in the book—yelling first names, last names, compliments, insults—anything that might catch someone’s ear. Just one successful shout, one captured glance, and they’d win.
“*Ronan!*”
“*Cooper!*”
“*Ollie!*”
“*Devil!*”
“*Chasing the light! Chasing the light!*”
“*Maxim!*”
Every kind of name and phrase was flung out into the chaos. But without question, Ronan was the crowd favorite—perhaps because he was the band’s frontman, perhaps because of his stellar appearance on The Jimmy Chicken Show, or maybe for reasons harder to explain.
What was obvious was this: all the reporters were calling for Ronan. The entire red carpet buzzed, practically boiling over from the noise.
Buzz. Buzz.
Buzz. Buzz.
Ollie was overwhelmed, unsure where to even look. Panicked, he turned toward Ronan for help. “Ronan?”
Honestly, Ronan was a bit lost too. The blinding flashes poured down like scorching snow, plunging his vision into temporary darkness. Only pinpricks of light danced before his eyes. The shouting from all directions was disorienting, and it was impossible to find a clear focus.
Even after living two lives, Ronan had never experienced anything on this scale. The anxiety and nervousness from being unprepared only made things worse.
Thankfully, he had mentally prepared himself. No matter what happened, he stayed calm. If not, his face might’ve frozen in some awful way—cross-eyed or half-smiling—and ended up on tomorrow’s front pages looking ridiculous.
So instead—bring it on. Let the storm grow even wilder.
Chapter 336: Close Contact
Without showing a hint of emotion, Ronan let out a long, quiet breath and maintained a composed posture. Every bit of nervousness and unease was perfectly hidden beneath the surface—he was fully prepared for whatever challenge lay ahead.
Click-click-click-click.
Click-click-click-click.
The sound of camera shutters filled the air, vibrating through his eardrums, and soon after, Ronan could hear the cheers of the crowd gradually building.
A beat—or several—too late, the red carpet crowd finally seemed to realize who had just appeared:
One Day King.
The biggest surprise and breakout star during this year’s Grammy nominations, and now one of the most talked-about acts. Everyone was asking the same questions: “Who exactly is One Day King?” “How did they suddenly rise to fame?” “Is their music really that good?” The buzz was nonstop.
Now, the "mystery figure" was finally revealed.
Of course, it’s not like fans hadn’t seen their faces before. Even those too lazy to do a quick search would have seen the photos attached to the Grammy nomination list. But this was different—now the audience could see the band in person, up close. No extra limbs or third eyes. Just real people standing right in front of them.
And so, mixed in with the endless shutter clicks, the shouting began—scattered and out of sync.
“Maxim!”
“Hey, over here!”
“This way, this way!”
“Ronan!”
Shouts rang out in all directions, with no clear rhythm or organization. Honestly, most of the crowd was just caught up in the excitement. Many didn’t even know the band members’ names, so they just yelled whatever they could think of. The result? A chaotic and wild energy that swept through the crowd.
Still, the red carpet was alive again. After a brief lull, the excitement had returned, and the audience could feel like they were part of the moment again.
“Ronan!”
“Ronan!”
“Ronan!”
Amid the rising noise, Ronan caught the sound of his name being called. He turned toward the direction of the voice and saw a sea of waving arms. It was nearly impossible to tell exactly who had shouted, but—
There was an exception.
“Ronan! Aaaahhhh!”
One desperate scream exploded near his ear. The voice was raspy, almost breaking into sobs, filled with raw emotion and urgency—like a blazing fire in the middle of a freezing winter. That voice caught Ronan’s full attention, and his gaze followed.
Surprised, he instantly recognized the face. He couldn’t recall the name, but he knew they’d met before—not too long ago.
So, he started walking in that direction.
“Aaahhh!”
“Ahhhh!”
“Ah…”
The screaming grew hoarse, then fell silent. Lucy stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief, watching as Ronan walked toward her.
She was convinced he was looking right at her, walking straight toward her. But then she second-guessed herself. We’ve only met once—there’s no way he remembers me, she thought. He couldn’t possibly spot me in this crowd, could he?
Yes. No.
No. Yes.
Caught between hope and doubt, Lucy didn’t have time to think it through—Ronan was already right at the edge of the red carpet, standing just a few feet away. The people around her instinctively held their breath.
Ronan had a towering presence, both in height and energy. Standing on the red carpet, he radiated an aura that made it hard to breathe. Every subtle movement seemed to hold a quiet power, causing people nearby to lean back slightly, as if in awe and fear of a rare flower blooming on the edge of a volcano—beautiful but dangerous.
But Lucy didn’t notice any of that.
In her eyes, there was only Ronan.
Closer.
So close.
She held her breath completely, staring at him as his lips began to move. He seemed to be saying something—but the background noise blurred it out, and her brain had practically short-circuited. She couldn’t hear a thing.
It wasn’t until Ella nudged her that she snapped out of it. She shot Ella a quick glance, then locked eyes with Ronan again.
“I remember you guys. Las Vegas, right?” Ronan said.
Boom.
Lucy’s mind went blank. He remembers me. He actually remembers me. Ronan remembers me?! Oh my God. Jesus Christ!
She couldn’t say a word—just gave a tiny nod like an idiot, unable to control her face or body.
Then Ronan smiled—
BOOM! Her heart stopped. Her lungs stopped. The whole world froze.
“Hah, so you two came all the way here just to support our band, right? Please say yes, or I’ll be too embarrassed to handle it.” Ronan raised his voice slightly to be heard over the crowd, his tone light but sincere, like a soft pluck of a guitar string.
AAAAAHHH!
Lucy was internally screaming like a prairie dog meme, but her body stayed frozen in place, unable to respond.
Thankfully, Ella stepped in to save the moment. “Yes! I came specifically to see One Day King. Lucy’s been looking forward to this for ages—she started getting ready weeks ago.”
“Hah,” Ronan chuckled, his smile fully blooming. Then he took half a step forward, closing the distance—
And Lucy’s brain completely shut down.
He’s too close. Way too close. My heart can’t take this.
She could even smell his clean, refreshing scent. Her mind couldn’t pinpoint the fragrance, but it tugged at her heart, pulling her closer, even as her body froze in place.
On one hand, the closeness made her stiff.
On the other hand, she desperately wanted to get closer.
It was a tug-of-war between logic and emotion, a whirlwind in her mind, though from the outside, she looked calm—just staring at Ronan, eyes wide, forgetting to even blink.
“Thank you both for coming to see us perform. It really means a lot,” Ronan said softly, his voice sending vibrations straight through Lucy’s ears. She could feel his breath on her skin, and her ears turned a bright, burning red.
Then Ronan took a small step back and looked at them both.
“Hope you enjoy the show tonight,” he said. Then, spreading his arms wide, he added with a grin, “Welcome to the Kingdom of One Day!”
AAAAAHHH!
More internal screaming.
Ronan turned and walked away, leaving Lucy staring after him. Her emotions hit a fever pitch and exploded outward.
“AHHHHHH!”
“AHHHHHH!”
