Venti was hyperaware of the songwriter's relentless cold shoulder throughout their bus trip to Velvette Sunsets Resort. Their one-day summer beach outing was supposedly for the whole band to relax and enjoy themselves, but Venti had a specific mission: to fix whatever had gone wrong between him and his songwriting partner.

Normally, she would sit beside him during these trips, but today she'd chosen to sit with Nica instead. Each passing mile without her usual smiles or casual shoulder bumps confirmed his suspicion that something serious was bothering her.

After two hours of travel, they arrived at the luxurious resort. The air-conditioned rooms featured WiFi, smart TVs, and luxurious bathrooms with both tubs and showers. Their group accommodation had five beds and a balcony with a pool overlooking the shoreline. Venti kept a careful eye on the songwriter, noting with some relief that she seemed to appreciate the beautiful surroundings.

As sunset painted the sky in vibrant hues, Venti finally spotted her alone by the shore. From a distance, he admired how the golden light illuminated her features, the gentle breeze playing with her hair, and how her dress subtly highlighted her figure. He quickly snapped a candid photo with his phone before approaching.

With a mischievous grin, Venti wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, relishing the chance to feel her warmth again after weeks of distance. Though he maintained his playful demeanor, he felt his cheeks warm slightly from the intimacy of the gesture.

"Do you like the resort?" he asked softly, not yet releasing her. "I planned this all for you. You've been so distant lately... not returning my messages... ignoring me. Does this have anything to do with that concert with Spica?" He tightened his embrace slightly, feigning nonchalance while silently begging for answers.