The boy's voice was clear and young — kids forget fast, and by now he'd long put that kicked‑by‑Autumn‑James incident out of his mind.
Seeing Autumn James there, his eyes lit up and he called out without thinking.
Autumn turned. Liam Carter stood where he'd been, eyes bright, genuinely surprised.
Autumn frowned. She didn't understand why Liam looked like that — back when she'd taken care of him, he'd been full of disdain.
She ignored him and, a little embarrassed, told Summer Lin and Peter Edward, "I think my membership card's missing. Let's go to Royal Pavilion — they use electronic membership."
Summer and Peter had no objections and nodded. But Liam wouldn't accept that.
He hurried up and blocked her path. "Why are you ignoring me? I have a One‑Pin Pavilion membership! I can get you in!"
He started fumbling through his pockets for a card.
Autumn frowned and stopped him coolly. "No need, thank you."
Liam froze and looked up at her, puzzled and a little hurt. "Why are you so polite to me?"
"Is it because of the breakfast thing before? I already gave you the money — what more do you want?"
He sounded wronged at first, then, oddly, impatient. Autumn felt a small ache in her head — how did she keep running into these cute but exhausting people?
She turned to leave. Liam instinctively grabbed her arm.
At that moment a sweet, bright voice came from behind.
"Yangyang sister!""Yangyang sister, what are you doing here!"
The voice was unmistakably perky. Autumn's heart skipped; she tried to hurry away, but Liam still held her wrist. She shot him a glare as footsteps drew closer and, unable to free herself, gave up.
Peter Edward noticed her trouble. He reached out, gripped Liam's hand firmly — Liam flinched and let go. Autumn was free and nodded gratefully at Peter.
"Yangyang sister, did you come because Ian Leo is holding his celebration banquet here today?""Why didn't you tell us earlier? One‑Pin Pavilion is tiered — you can't just walk in without a card!""Come on, Yangyang sister, everyone's waiting!""But… these two… Ian Leo doesn't know them. Would it be awkward if they came together?"
Anna Hawthorne's words pretended to be considerate, but really painted Autumn as some shameless freeloader bringing a crowd to eat for free.
Liam listened, suspicious. So she planned to bring these two to freeload at One‑Pin Pavilion? He knew Autumn's background and worried she might be used.
Resolutely he stepped forward and stood between Autumn and Peter. "Autumn James, if you want to go in, go by yourself. VIP room No.1 is fine — but I won't let these two in!"
Autumn pressed her lips, holding back anger. Were these people for real? Always echoing each other — why don't they form a little stage troupe?
She wanted to swear, but had to keep it civil in public. "They're my friends. Not bringing the card is my fault. I never intended to freeload in your room, understand?!"
Before Liam could answer, Anna laughed. "Yangyang sister, not having the card isn't your fault, but don't be so vain. A family only has one card, right? That card's with Ethan — how would you have it? If you want to try One‑Pin Pavilion's food, come with us. Miss today and who knows when you'll get another chance?"
Almost as Anna finished, Autumn realized what had happened — Ethan James had taken the membership card she'd left in her bag.
Anger flared, then she calmed herself. "Is that so? Why don't you ask your brother Ethan where he got that card?"
Anna froze, about to argue, but Liam, already impatient, interrupted: "Enough. Stop sulking and come in. Only you can enter — at least it's a VIP room. Those two shabby people can stay out. Next time you can bring them if you have the chance, but don't always let them take advantage…"
Summer, listening, glanced down at herself: …this isn't shabby at all.
Autumn couldn't stand it and cut him off. "Stop — I said they're my friends, didn't you hear me?!"
Then a calm, pleasantly trained voice spoke: "Hello — Mr. Edward has arranged a VVIP room for you. Shall I seat you now?"
It turned out Peter Edward had quietly gone to the front desk and opened a VVIP room. Unlike other rooms, a VVIP room didn't need a reservation — there's always a spot.
The front‑desk attendant, who'd been watching and was annoyed that the lady forgot her card and was mocked, kept her professionalism. When the gentleman produced a VVIP card she was thrilled — it was like a fantasy come true.
She politely looked to Autumn for a response.
Autumn's gaze met Peter's. She lifted the corner of her mouth and said, "Okay."
She and Summer were led to the VVIP room, leaving Anna and Liam standing there stunned.
So they actually had a membership — a VVIP one. Hadn't they just made fools of themselves?
Liam ground his teeth. It was Autumn's fault for knowing and not saying anything. He must have looked ridiculous in that man's eyes… the thought made him angrier.
Anna stepped forward. "Let's go back and eat — they'll be worried if we don't hurry."
Liam shot her a fierce look. "Eat, eat, eat — that's all you ever think about! Why don't you just choke?!"