At the end of the siblings’ first performance, the entire crew was singing together with them like how they led Ryu’s fans to do the same when they performed the song for the first time. They even drew the attention of the construction workers from phase two to peep in.

Jeremy felt it was not right for him to stay at Jason’s place after he woke from the nap. So, he gave Chiang a call to fetch him and have them pack lunch as he was starving. He made Chiang and Real promise to not tell Ivy about it till evening as he promised he would stay in the car and rest while having his packed noodles which coincidently was the famous one in town from Auntie Soh’s stall. He envied Chiang and Real who were having the spicy ones but was glad his non-spicy noodles were very sumptuous which made his appetite return.

As he finished up his lunch, the hype from the performance at the site made him alight to take a look. To his surprise, It was his first time listening to her melodious voice. It mesmerised him so much that he had forgotten to take cover for a moment. Real had to pull him back before he was discovered by others and reminded him to head back to the car at the end of the performance which he reluctantly obliged.

After having to amend the phase of their performance the whole day, the siblings were finally satisfied with the arrangements. As they were wrapping up for the day, Ivy wanted to return to check on Jeremy only to find Real acting strange, standing by a corner. She decided to approach him and in her mind, she had a feeling Jeremy was in the car.

As Real explained to her that Jeremy had been in the car with them since two hours ago but was asleep, she began to snap.

“Who are you working for at this point? At this rate, if he dies, would you be responsible? Do you know how weak his body is now? With this wind, he might catch a cold!” She scolded which attracted passerbys’ attention as Real stood in front of her guiltily. She sighed and tried to regain her composure to not trigger especially Ryu or Nick to figure out her situation.

“If this happens again or if he falls sick, I’m not going to pay both of you.” She concluded as Real nodded.

“I need to attend on his behalf the dinner with my uncle tonight. Could you send me there and seriously please, keep watch of him? Send him to the hotel to rest first and I will let you know when to come back and pick me up. ” Ivy surprised Real with how eloquently she could change her mood.

“Yes.” He said as she sighed to find Ryu.

“Hey, I got to go. There’s an event to attend with Uncle Charles tonight.” She said to Ryu who hugged her.

“Take care. Be careful. I will see you tomorrow.” Ryu whispered to her ears worriedly. “I know. I will. Enjoy your time tonight. Restrain yourself.” She reminded as she winked which made Ryu smile at her teasing.

When Ivy rushed to the car, Chiang began to drive according to Real’s instructions but Ivy began to worry not because of Jeremy who was asleep but because Daisy was calling her mobile.

She sighed and held her forehead as Jeremy took a peep from his pretend sleep. He could tell Ivy was frustrated as he quickly fell back asleep again when she signaled Real for his jacket.

“Hello, Mum?” She whispered.

“Ivy, are you with Jeremy?” Ivy could sense her worried tone as she quickly took the jacket and placed the phone between her left shoulder and ear before wrapping Jeremy with the jacket.

“Yes, mum. What’s wrong?” She asked as Daisy sighed a breath of relief while Ivy turned up the temperature of the air conditioner.

“No, nothing. He didn’t look very well this morning when he left for Manes with your uncle. I thought he might have caught a fever. It often happens when he drinks too much. Lately, he had been catching too many colds and the weather had become chilly. I just…” Daisy’s voice began to become distressed when Jeremy woke to sneeze as Ivy flinched over to her side to avoid Daisy hearing him.

“Mum, don’t worry. I have him with me and he is well. We are heading for dinner with my uncle now. I will let you know if he is sick alright?” Ivy looked into Jeremy’s gaze who knew she was talking to Daisy. She squinted her eyes at him as he looked away guiltily.

“Alright, at least there’s you there I won’t have to worry much. Just make sure he eats. He rarely eats when he is sick but if you make him sweet porridge, he will definitely eat up. Get him to have more rest and drink less please.” Daisy said as Jeremy was about to take another sneeze when Ivy pinched his nose.

“Alright, mum. I will remember them. Love you! See you tomorrow night!” She quickly hung up and rummaged her bag for tissues to hand to him.

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“Could you stop by a pharmacy, Chiang?” She instructed and noticed Jeremy wanted to retaliate but hesitated when he noticed she raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Are you supposed to be here? What happened to the promise?” Ivy folded her arms as she felt the car came to a stop.

“Help me get cold and fever tablets. Grab some plain buns and water, please. Oh, grab food for both of you too at the nearby convenience store. Chiang, you can go with him.” Ivy instructed them as they both alighted to run the errands while Jeremy sniffed and looked out at the window as he chuckled.

“Thank you. Didn’t know you would worry about me this much.” Jeremy said as Ivy scoffed.

“Do you think I want to? I’m doing a favor for Mum. I just don’t want her to worry. Look she even called and she is alone tonight. You really shouldn’t be here. Were you intending to drink again tonight if wasn’t for me?” Ivy vented as she sat and waited for Real and Chiang to return.

“You even bribe my underlings now?” He mumbled as she raised an eyebrow.

“If I don't, do you think you can survive now? Stop worrying mum. Your body is so fragile. Stop drinking else at least exercise and watch what you eat!” She scolded as he pushed her back down on the seat while their gaze met.

“Were you really worried about me because of mum or…” He raised a dangerous questioning eyebrow at her.

They were quickly interrupted by Real and Chiang who were not aware of their situation as Ivy quickly pushed Jeremy away. She instantly grabbed the medication and fed it to Jeremy before handing him the water and bun. As Chiang continued to drive further down before they reached the restaurant, Ivy was trying to not think about his question earlier as she watched him slowly dose off.

“Send him back to the hotel to rest first. I will call when it ends.” She instructed Real and Chiang as they nodded.

Jeremy was too groggy to retaliate with her as he watched her left. “Stay. Find a spot to park.” He instructed as Chiang and Real understood he was worried that Real offered to head down to the lobby to scout and patrol while Jeremy fell asleep.

“Ivy, my dear niece! You came! Come, come let me introduce you to the business partners. They are all investors of the charity home…” Charles greeted as he brought her one round and introduced her to everyone.

More like leechers of the society. She sneered in her heart.

For the rest of the night, she sat listening to their boring conversations; boasting about their so-called success as they drank one cup over another of whiskey. With that, she came to know Mr. Oshia was one of those who had many legal connections and he was a lawyer himself.

The other two old uncles, the one with glasses, Mr. Ma was mysteriously reserved as Ivy wondered if he was doing it on purpose while the other one who was as fat as Charles, Mr. Ruvela was dealing with finances as he owned a private investment holding company. Ivy could tell he must be the one financing most of the activities as they discussed about a shop house takeover and wanting Charles to deal with the construction.

It did not take the old ones a very long time to get drunk, especially Charles. As much as Ivy enjoyed getting to know each of the uncles but the insights were not of much use to her just yet.

All that for nothing. She sighed at her tough luck of prying for information on their illicit business.

“Uncle Charles, stop drinking already. It would be bad for health. Time to get you head home.” Ivy helped to lift him with his guards as they headed to the main lobby after bidding goodbye to the other guests.

Real noticed Charles had left as he stood close by Ivy who was busy sending off the rest of the drunk guests. As the other business partners boarded their cars one by one thereafter, she stood noticing a familiar figure stepping out of the last car and waiting for Mr. Oshia.

It was Kyle as she clenched her fingers into a fist suppressing her fear while trying to remain composed. Real noticed the change in her as he stepped closer to her.

“What a pleasure seeing such a beauty here! Guess my father’s close business acquaintance is your uncle?” Kyle greeted as he winked in her direction. Ivy was snarling at him as she squinted her eyes.

Real noticed Ivy was nervous and quickly stood in between them before Kyle headed back into the car. “Will see you more often, sweetie!” Kyle called out before the car drove off as Ivy continued to snarl at him.

“Miss Ophal, are you alright?” Real checked with her noticing she was very upset. When the car finally drove off she was wobbly as Real caught her. Only then did she realise she was furious at the sight of Kyle.

Jeremy noticed her wobbly self from inside the car when Chiang updated him that Charles had left. He instructed Chiang to check the identity of the guy earlier. “I’m fine.” She touched her forehead as she walked towards where the car was parked earlier. “Looks like all of you didn’t leave?” She questioned as Real harrumphed.

She could only sigh. When she got into the car, she could tell Jeremy’s worried eyes but he did not barge from his seat. “Real and Chiang, get off and head to the hotel. I will drive.”

She instructed before getting down and got the keys from Chiang. Jeremy was a little nervous with her as she quietly drove to her grandma's house instead, with him checking on her from the front mirror occasionally but slowly dose off again at the comfort that she was safe for the time being.

As she alighted from the car quietly noticing Jeremy was asleep, she smiled coming back to familiar surroundings. As she stepped forward, she saw the newly renovated house and recalled the scary bear’s head sight which had scared many, she laughed to herself.

She continued to touch the newly painted walls and her grandma’s old car. She missed the old look of the house but she knew it was better for Ryu this way. He would not be able to handle staying in a shabby old place like she used to as she strolled to the only thing that was still the same, the glasshouse. She sighed a breath of relief seeing it while recollecting the many nights she could not sleep, seeking refuge in it.

Hello, my friend… She greeted in her heart to the solitary of the night, a part that she still could not bypass after all this while.