Grayson frowned, "I know. But I also know that you’ve never drank this much."

"People change." Neville took a sip from his glass as if to taunt Grayson. "Cheers."

Grayson exhaled and called, "Neville. Even adults had their limits."

"Touché. Now we can test what my limits are."

"Are you seriously going to drink yourself away tonight?" Grayson asked with a more grave tone than before.

Neville held his gaze before looking away.

"Move your hand," he said flatly.

But Grayson did not move his hand.

It was infuriating, but what could he do?

This was his beloved.

"Neville." His voice dropped, low enough that the background noise drowned it. "What’s wrong?"

Neville opened his mouth—and closed it again. He sensed someone coming from his peripheral vision.

Lilianna.

She approached with a faint smile on her face.

Behind her, Julius adjusted his position, moving closer to Iris and Sarah. He unusually engaged them in a conversation to stop their gazes from looking back at Lilianna.

"Are you Neville?" Lilianna’s voice was as sweet as honey and warm like the sunlight. "I’ve been hearing a lot of incredible things about you."

Grayson’s hand was still on Neville’s glass. His expression changed into a blank expression.

He straightened himself and angled his body slightly. He didn’t look to acknowledge Lilianna, who approached them.

Neville’s reaction was simpler. He just glanced unhurriedly at Lilianna and then turned back to his drink without a word.

He lifted the glass with Grayson’s hand loosely covering it and forcibly took a sip. It was too much to say that he managed to lift it.

Rather, Neville simply tilted the glass at an angle that allowed him to drink, bypassing Grayson’s blockade.

Grayson’s eye twitched.

Even if Lilianna was offended by the obvious disregard of her presence, she made sure she didn’t show it.

Her smile was still there, standing patiently with bright eyes, determined to exert her presence in the world of two.

"Sarah had been telling me about your pool game earlier," she said, undeterred.

Lilianna leaned against the bar. She positioned herself so that the three of them formed a loose triangle.

"What was it? A back shot bank shot? That’s really a professional-level technique. I had no idea we had someone who is so talented."

Neville said nothing and took another sip. But Grayson blocked it again, so he had to move at an odd angle again to take another sip.

Cover it as much as you want. I’ll take a sip whether you like it or not.

’Is he really ignoring you? The nerve. After everything you’ve sacrificed—’ Her inner voice was angry with her.

Although Lilianna felt the same, she couldn’t outright show it.

"I’ve always wanted to learn," Lilianna continued, as if she hadn’t just gotten ignored.

But her tone did sound a little hurt—not too much, just enough to suggest vulnerability.

"Would you be willing to teach me? I promise I’m a quick learner."

Neville set his glass down and looked at her, really looked at her. His expression was the kind of blank that could be mistaken for politeness, but there was something flat and assessing underneath it.

"No time," he said.

Lilianna’s smile didn’t waver, but something behind her eyes tightened.

’That little—how dare he reject you?! Don’t let him push you around!’

As soon as Lilianna heard that, she lowered her head a little to control her expression.

Then, she said, "Oh."

Lilianna let out a small, self-conscious laugh, touching her collarbone in a gesture of mild embarrassment.

"I understand, you must be tired. Then... even if not billiards, would you like to play something else with me? There is a drone racing game in the living room."

Then she acted like she was afraid that Neville would reject her again.

She quickly said, "If you don’t like that, we could try the mecha simulation arena—I saw that there are two pods in the gaming room."

Then, she showed a pitiful expression on her face, as if Neville was bullying her.

"What do you think? It looked like it could be fun?"

Lilianna really did up her game.

Refusing once was dismissive. Refusing twice, in this kind of setting, would be rude.

Social pressure, when applied, really did people dirty.

However, Neville didn’t quickly answer.

He looked at her.

Then he looked at Grayson.

Grayson, who was standing right there, clearly heard it. But he did absolutely nothing.

His eyes were fixated on Neville, waiting.

If Neville decided to continue to ignore Lilianna, he would support him.

If Neville felt forced to comply with Lilianna’s demands, he would refuse on his behalf.

If Neville entertained Lilianna, he would do nothing about it. He would just continue to ignore Lilianna.

After all, Lilianna was the one who chose to approach them. So, whatever happened, it wouldn’t be their problem.

In the end, Grayson continued to ignore Lilianna.

Neville stared at him with slight disbelief. Then, his hazy, alcohol-softened gaze sharpened for a brief moment.

His lips curved and secretly sneered.

The voice in Lilianna’s head was getting a little louder, clearly excited.

’Play it soft. Keep your eyes a little wet. Don’t blink too fast—that gives it away.’

Lilianna followed every instruction.

Meanwhile, Neville watched her from behind the rim of his glass. The only thing keeping him calm was the fact that Grayson’s entire inner circle was in the same room.

It was a beautiful place, really. But right now, Neville fervently wished it would spontaneously combust.

Lilianna tilted her chin when she hadn’t heard an answer for a while. She clasped her hands together and gazed at Neville with wet eyes.

"I know you probably don’t like me for some reason."

Lilianna said, her voice pitched low and earnest, enough to be heard by the people around.

"But tonight’s supposed to be fun. I just thought it’d be nice to play together."

She gestured vaguely toward the game area.

"There’s a pool table, darts—I even saw a zero-gravity zone upstairs—"

She even knows the complete layout of the whole place? But I heard from Grayson that this place frequently changes its amenities.

Neville noted.

For someone who had just appeared without moving much of an inch from where the people stopped her to chat, she certainly knows the place like the back of her hand.