"This trip to Veyport City is part of a well-earned vacation. I’ve been working non-stop for over half a year—it’s finally ti to take a proper break," Anna said with a serene smile, her gaze drifting occasionally to the window, lost in thought.
Don’t be fooled—showbiz is anything but easy. Beneath the glitz and glamour lies an abyss of scandals, backdoor deals, and unspoken darkness, so of which are far uglier than the public imagines.
Even without dipping into the industry’s shadows, Anna’s popularity alone made her schedule a nightmare to manage. Booking her for any appearance would normally an waiting six months, at least.
So to have a few free days? To Anna, this felt as precious as those good old New Year holidays from childhood—rare, and full of life.
The conversation gradually faded, leaving behind a trace of silence.
In the subtle awkwardness that followed, Anna turned her eyes once more to the window, her brows suddenly furrowing as she noticed the rundown suburban scenery outside. Sothing felt wrong. Her voice turned cold as she called toward the driver, seated up front.
"This isn’t the way to the hotel! Stop the car! Pull over, now!"
The driver ignored her, his foot pressing harder on the gas pedal as the RV picked up speed.
Call the police!
Anna’s first instinct was to grab her phone, but her face turned pale the mont she saw there wasn’t a single bar of signal.
SCREECH!
A sharp brake jerked the RV to a halt. Anna, caught halfway forward, nearly lost her balance—but Veil reacted instantly, catching her and pulling her into his arms.
Once the vehicle had fully stopped, Veil let go without a word, subtly helping her regain composure and distance. Neither of them spoke about the mont—it was like a silent agreent had been struck.
The driver locked the RV doors behind him and stord toward the rear, pounding on the tinted windows with a loud thud. His face twisted with irritation.
"Out! Both of you—get the hell out!"
Veil glanced through the window. "This was planned. And it’s not just him—there’s a whole group waiting outside."
Anna saw it too—a band of ard thugs closing in. She took a deep breath and turned to Veil with a faint smile.
"Don’t worry, little junior. This is my ss to clean up."
Hiding wasn’t an option. No signal, one sheet of glass—there was no way they could rely on outside help. She opened the door and stepped out calmly.
Facing the encroaching thugs and the defiant driver, Anna’s expression turned ice cold.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Her voice carried authority—there was anger, disgust, and defiance, but not even a trace of fear.
The driver crossed his arms and sneered.
"What do you think? It’s a kidnapping. Can’t you tell?"
"Money? Fine. Na a number. I’ll pay. Just get back afterward, and I’ll pretend none of this ever happened."
Her voice was cool, composed. The aura of a queen from the entertainnt world burst forth with full intensity.
"You’re here for money. I can give you what you want. But if you refuse my offer... well, you can try your luck. Not only will you get nothing, but I guarantee—every single one of you will face the full weight of the law."
Veil stood behind her, watching calmly as Anna took command of the situation.
Fearless under pressure. Turning the tables from a position of weakness.
She wasn’t just strong—she was resolute. And Veil didn’t doubt her for a second. If this woman were really kidnapped, she’d probably choose death over the humiliation of being used.
The driver hesitated, a flicker of fear in his eyes. Anna’s presence had shaken him. Whatever sches he had in mind, they quickly vanished.
This was no ordinary celebrity. She was a queen of the screen. Even if she didn’t wield raw power, her status alone could spark a dia frenzy. If sothing happened to her, the level of investigation that followed... no one could predict the storm it would bring.
"Miss Anna... we’re just following orders, alright? Look, we’ve got numbers, sure—but even so, we’re no match for a top-level bodyguard. If this goes wrong, our families might be the ones paying the price," the driver muttered, his arrogance crumbling.
Anna frowned. More thugs were closing in.
Veil, watching from behind, let out a quiet sigh. This situation was completely off-script.
Clearly, his involvent had disrupted the original plotline. Without Windsor International’s endorsent deal, Anna probably wouldn’t have even co to Veyport City.
Now that this chaos had unfolded... did this an it was his mont to shine?
He actually felt grateful to the driver. Sotis, only a slap could express the depth of one’s admiration.
He rushed forward, channeled just a fraction of his strength—barely a tenth—and slapped the driver across the face.
Smack!
The blow left the man dazed, his eyes rolling. Veil didn’t miss the chance to deliver his lodramatic but oddly satisfying line:
"You’ve got so nerve, trying to kidnap my spokesperson?! What is it, you all forgot how to spell the word ’death’? Or do I just not look dangerous enough anymore?!"
"Junior... you..."
Anna stared blankly at Veil as he charged forward, her stunning face filled with bitter emotion.
She had forgotten what kind of person Veil was. Back in their school days, he was always the kind of guy who stood up for what was right.
How could soone like that just sit back and watch in a situation like this?
But their enemies had the numbers.
Before her worry could even take root, Veil had already thrown himself into the fray.
One punch crushed a thug’s nose. One kick sent a burly man flying several ters.
This wasn’t a fight—it was a one-sided beatdown. Like an adult bullying a group of helpless kids.
In under three minutes, all the thugs were sprawled on the ground—so groaning in pain, clutching their noses or arms, others holding their crotches, mouths wide open in silent agony, their faces twisted in unspeakable tornt.
This kind of pain couldn’t even be scread out loud.
"Junior... your fighting skills are insane!"
Even soone like Anna, who had seen her share of chaos and spectacle, was left speechless by the scene.
She couldn’t wrap her head around how soone with a lean fra like Veil’s could unleash such terrifying power.
In just the blink of an eye, a whole group of violent criminals had been taken out?
It felt more like a movie than real life.
Veil casually kicked the driver in the gut before turning back to Anna with a sheepish grin.
"I have a bit of a temper. I can’t stand bullies like this. If I didn’t learn how to fight, I’d probably get taken advantage of all the ti."
"That makes sense."
Anna gave a bitter chuckle and nodded, carefully examining Veil as he approached. If not for the slight awkwardness between them, she might’ve reached out just to feel his muscles.
In her mind, the image of the young man from their university days began to overlap with the heroic figure standing before her now.
Whatever guard she still had in her heart... was starting to fade.
Of course, gaining the favor of the queen of the entertainnt world wasn’t that easy.
But long before she beca famous, back when she was still a shy, fresh-faced girl, she’d often heard tales of the legendary "Junior Veil"—stories that often owed much to the prestige the Lancaster family gave him during college.
"Kid, you’re dead at! Young Master Maxen Clark will never let you go for this! Just because you can fight doesn’t an anything! He’s got real experts at his side! You? You’re nothing but cannon fodder. Do yourself a favor and butt out!" the driver growled, one hand pressed to the ground for support, his swollen face looking like it had been stung by a whole hive of bees.
Oddly, as Veil was being threatened, he felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
It had been a long ti since anyone dared to talk to him like that.
Soone really did have a death wish, huh?
"Senior, call the police," Veil said firmly, with an air of righteousness.
Since Anna already saw him as a gallant hero, it made sense to keep the image going.
It would save him a lot of trouble down the line.
Anna rummaged around the car for a mont, then switched off the signal jamr and finally made the call.
Not long after, the police arrived, rounded up the driver and all the thugs, and loaded them into patrol cars.
"Junior, today’s ss was all because of . I really don’t know how to thank you," Anna said after giving her statent and leaving her contact information with the police. She didn’t leave with them, but instead turned to Veil with her lips gently pursed, as if deep in thought.
"How about I treat you to grilled fish? Before I ca to Veyport City, I did my research. There’s this one place—supposedly a local specialty, and absolutely delicious."
Veil chuckled. "Actually, if you want to thank , there’s another way."
Anna’s lips, painted with a soft rose hue, curled into a faint smile as she teased, "Oh? And what way would that be?"
"Be the face of Windsor International’s beauty supplent, of course. Senior, don’t tell you forgot why I ca to pick you up in the first place? Wasn’t it to get you on board as our brand ambassador?"
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