The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 379

Chapter 379: Chapter 379 The Stolen Kiss
Dave felt like he was on cloud nine. He knew that Hera was being considerate of him, but more importantly, it meant she truly saw him and understood his sadness. The thought of that brought a glimmer of hope into his horizon, making him realize he wasn’t as hopeless as he had originally believed in her eyes. With this newfound hope, a spark of confidence began to resurface within him, encouraging him to pursue Hera boldly—this time with assurance and a sense of purpose.

As Hera pulled away from whispering in his ear, her scent lingered, captivating Dave to the point where he couldn’t resist the urge to act. In a sudden impulse, he leaned in and stole a quick kiss from her lips—a fleeting peck that happened so fast, it almost went unnoticed. Fortunately, no one saw the moment unfold. Zhane, with his back turned while talking to Bry and the others, unknowingly shielded Hera from view with his tall frame. Dave bent over, and remained hidden behind him, leaving the rest to easily assume they were simply whispering to each other.

Hera was caught off guard by Dave’s sudden move, her eyes widening in surprise. But before she could react, Dave flashed a boyish grin, his smile brimming with genuine happiness that revealed just how much he couldn’t help himself. His carefree expression left her momentarily speechless, and the words she had been about to say faded away. Instead, she gave him a playful glare, her eyes still reflecting a hint of amusement.

By now, she had gradually grown accustomed to the male leads stealing kisses from time to time. At least, it was still limited to brief kisses and playful moments—not full-blown intimate acts that would definitely put her in a tricky situation.

In fact, Dave’s kiss was adorably innocent compared to the others. While the other male leads often kissed her with an intensity that made her feel like they might devour her, Dave’s felt light and sweet. She hadn’t expected this side of him—the mischievous Dave showing such innocence, or so she thought. Little did she know, if they weren’t in such a public place, he might have already pulled her into a secluded alley, kissing her with far more passion and letting his hands roam freely.

This brief encounter subtly shifted Hera’s perception of Dave, leaving her with a more favorable impression of him. His playful boldness, combined with that unexpected innocence, intrigued her in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Without realizing it, Dave had unknowingly earned himself a place a little closer to her heart.

Their secret moment went completely unnoticed by the others, thanks to Dave’s clever timing. Even Zhane, who stood just feet away, remained oblivious to the stolen kiss. When he finally glanced back, Dave flashed Hera a sly, fox-like grin, brimming with mischief. Hera’s pulse quickened, but she kept her composure as Zhane raised a questioning eyebrow, sensing something was off.

Hera quickly averted her gaze, her mind racing for a response. There was no way she could tell him that Dave had just kissed her, could she? That little secret was theirs to keep—for now, at least.

Hera smiled at Dave, quickly deciding to tell a harmless white lie. “Dave just said something he thought was funny to cheer me up after I got upset by those people,” she explained, her voice light and casual. But despite her calm tone, she couldn’t bring herself to meet Zhane’s eyes. Instead, she kept her gaze lowered, fidgeting slightly as the guilt crept in.

For some reason, lying to Zhane didn’t sit well with her, even if it was a small, insignificant fib. The weight of it pressed on her conscience, making her feel uneasy. Still, she maintained her smile, hoping he wouldn’t notice her discomfort as her mind raced with the truth she kept concealed.

Seeing the guilt on Hera’s face, Dave quickly wiped the smile from his own, not wanting to add to her discomfort. Despite his concern for her feelings, he didn’t regret stealing that kiss. He knew well enough that he wasn’t the only one vying for her affection—his friends had likely tried their own advances. Although he was certain of this, he had no idea what kind of kisses they might have shared with her. If he did know, it would only serve to deepen his frustration and hurt, making him feel even more unsettled.

Zhane noticed nothing out of the ordinary and assumed Hera’s discomfort was due to the events of the day. To offer some comfort, he reached out and gently rubbed the top of her head, a gesture meant to soothe. Unbeknownst to him, a look of tender affection appeared on his face, his lips curling into a soft, adoring smile that he didn’t even realize was there.

Beside them, Dave watched the scene unfold with wide eyes, his expression a mix of surprise and contemplation. Despite his internal reactions, he chose to remain silent, his thoughts swirling as he observed Zhane’s comforting gesture towards Hera.

He couldn’t bring himself to say anything or stop Zhane from interacting with Hera, even though a pang of jealousy stirred within him. They had all agreed to play fair and square, understanding that each of them had their own moments with Hera. Dave knew that even though he had stolen a kiss from her, it was part of the unspoken rules they had all accepted. No one could question his actions under these terms, just as he couldn’t challenge Zhane’s gestures of comfort. The balance they maintained was fragile, but it was essential for navigating the complex dynamics among them.

Once Dave had calmed his own feelings, the group gathered to head out in their separate cars to the Golden Dragon Pavilion. Just before they left, Hera finally took a moment to really observe Zhane. For the first time, she noticed the pale complexion of his face and the dark circles under his eyes. It struck her now, in the quiet moment after the day’s drama and her own preoccupation, how exhausted he looked. Her earlier distractions had kept her from seeing it clearly, but now, with everything settling down, she was fully aware of just how tired he seemed.

Hera guessed that Zhane might have came to the racecourse to unwind after a long day yesterday. Not wanting him to endure another hour-long drive back to the city while already looking so worn out, she offered him a chance to ride with her. This way, he could rest a bit and take a break from driving.

Zhane’s tired eyes brightened slightly, and a gentle smile touched his lips as he nodded gratefully at Hera. He decided to follow her to her car, appreciative of the chance to rest. Meanwhile, Dave, who was not far behind, had observed the exchange. Though he hadn’t heard their conversation, he had intended to ride with Hera as well. Assuming Zhane had parked his car near hers, Dave thought nothing of it and continued on, planning to join them for the ride.

As Hera approached her car, she saw Bry and his father already climbing into their truck. Bry leaned out from the passenger window with a cheerful grin and called out, “Sister! We’ll follow you from behind!” Hera responded with a nod and a smile, then unlocked her car with the key, ready to head out.