There had been some misunderstandings, but in the end, everything worked out for the best. Sophia felt a wave of relief wash over her.
After Anita removed her cheongsam, the trio left the set together.
Anita still wore a sun hat and a mask, not to avoid the paparazzi but to keep from drawing attention from passersby.
As for John and Sophia, no one knew them, so there was no need to hide.
They had just left the crew when John chuckled and said, "Some bastards are following us again."
Anita responded coolly, "It's normal, isn't it? The paparazzi live for this stuff."
She was used to it by now.
But then, a sly glint flickered in Anita's eyes. "You know, I used to be excited about shooting, but I didn't expect fame to come with so much trouble. As soon as I got famous, it seems like trouble followed me."
John shot her a surprised look. When had his sister become so self-aware?
But soon, he understood exactly what Anita was doing.
After saying that, Anita suddenly changed position, moving closer to Sophia and deliberately pushing her. "One of the downsides of being a star is that you can't even go shopping with a man without the media making a fuss."
At first, Anita had been standing between John and Sophia, but now, with a little nudge, Sophia found herself in the middle. She accidentally bumped into John as Anita pushed her.
Anita's intentions were blatant.
As expected, Sophia blushed, clearly embarrassed.
John couldn't help but comment, "Sisters, honestly. I don't know how to respond to your acting. You're fantastic on-screen, but your real-life performances? They're more awkward than a first-year acting student."
The three of them had been shopping together many times before, and Anita had never once mentioned being worried about attracting attention. But today, with Sophia there, suddenly she was "afraid."
John could see through it immediately. Anita was just putting on a show.
Anita pretended not to hear him. "What? What are you talking about, John? I can't hear you. The wind's too strong here, and if you're more than two meters away, it's hard to hear anything."
John sighed, helpless.
After being pushed into John and then quickly pulling away, Sophia felt her heart race. The contact had been brief, but her mind was spinning.
His muscles were so… solid.
John didn't look like the typical muscle-bound man, but his strength was undeniable. His arm felt like rock when she bumped into it. His triceps were powerful, and it was clear he wasn't someone to be underestimated.
If John knew what she was thinking, he'd never let her hear the end of it.
Men were meant to be strong—solid, muscular shields.
As Sophia lost herself in her thoughts, John suddenly spoke, his voice low, "The person following us isn't just some random paparazzi. He's a martial artist."
Sophia felt a jolt of panic. "Then what should we do?"
"You go with my sister," John said quickly. "I'll handle him."
Before he finished, John broke into a grin. "Too late. He couldn't wait any longer—he's about to strike."
John had already felt the presence of the attacker behind them. A strong wind suddenly cut through the air, and a figure lunged at them like an eagle. The fingers extended sharply, targeting the back of John's head.
Most people wouldn't have had time to react, but John was already prepared. As the attacker's fingers aimed for him, John twisted and threw a punch with force.
Bang!
The man was thrown back, staggering a few steps. He looked at John, surprised by his strength. "Are you a martial artist, not a monk?"
The man who attacked them was Bill, a disciple of the White Dragon King. His plan had been to take John out quickly and then vanish before anyone noticed.
To Bill, monks were usually weak, especially if they hadn't prepared any special techniques. In the eyes of a true Heaven Master, monks were no different from frail women.
He had thought it would only take a few seconds. But John had effortlessly resisted the attack, and now Bill was reconsidering his approach.
"Bill, how dare you hurt him?" Sophia shouted, her voice filled with fury.
The Swift family, who backed Bill, was known for their connections to the White Dragon King—something that wasn't exactly a secret in Houston. Sophia knew Bill well from her family's dealings with the Swift family.
At the sound of his name, Bill froze. His gaze flickered to Sophia. After a long moment, he sneered, "Ah, the Long family girl. What brings you here? Shouldn't you be in Houston, tending to your dying grandfather?"
Sophia's anger flared. "How dare you say that! My grandfather is in perfect health! It's you who should be worried about your own life!" she snapped back.
Bill laughed darkly. "I'm not wasting time on a little girl. I'm here for one person, and it's not you. Stay out of it."
He turned his attention back to John, his eyes narrowing. "You're impressive, kid. You blocked half of my strength, but that's all. Let's see if you can keep up with me."
The challenge was clear. Bill was ready to escalate the fight.
Sophia was still processing everything. The Long family's opportunity—it was John. She realized, finally, what Perry had meant all those years ago. The opportunity wasn't some magical artifact or a rare elixir—it was John himself.
Desperate, Sophia turned to Anita. "I've been seeking the Long family's opportunity from you for so long, but now… after everything, I truly consider you a friend. Please, can you help save my grandfather? I'll kneel if that's what it takes!"
Tears welled in Sophia's eyes as she dropped to her knees, her desperation clear.
Anita was taken aback, quickly reaching out to support her. "Sophia, I didn't know the answer before, but now that I do, I won't hide it from you."
Sophia's heart leapt. "Really? You'll tell me?"
Anita smiled, nodding. "Yes, I'll tell you. The opportunity Taoist Perry spoke of… it's right in front of us."
Confusion clouded Sophia's face. "In front of us?"
She glanced around, still unsure. "Where? I don't see anything."
Then her gaze locked on Anita, and understanding flickered. "Wait… Are you saying it's you? Have you found a way to cure my grandfather?"
Anita shook her head. "No, it's not me…"
Sophia's heart sank. "Then who is it?"
Anita's eyes flicked toward John, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange. "It's him."
Sophia stared, disbelief evident on her face. "Do you mean… him? Your brother?"
Anita nodded, her smile widening. "Yes. John is Perry's disciple. The opportunity you've been seeking… it's him."
The realization struck Sophia like a thunderclap. A rogue like John—the one who had seemed so unreliable—was the answer to her grandfather's survival.
If only she had known how wrong she was about Perry.
With a smirk, John added, "Don't call me that. I'm just a shameless bastard."
Despite his teasing, he didn't deny the truth.
Sophia's eyes glimmered with hope. "Mr. Lopez, you're an expert! Can you save my grandfather? Please, I beg of you, for the sake of my friendship with Anita!"
John scoffed. "I'm not an expert. I'm just a shameless rogue."
The dynamic between them was palpable, and Sophia found herself helpless in the face of his arrogance.
Suddenly, she dropped to her knees again. "Mr. Lopez, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have insulted you. Please, I beg you, save my grandfather."
John smirked. "You're a girl. How can you admit you were wrong? You must be doing this against your will. Besides, you're right—I am indeed a shameless rogue."
Sophia, undeterred, looked up at him with determination. "I'm not afraid to kneel. Please, save my grandfather. Please!"
John nodded. "Fine, I'll save him. But there are conditions."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. "Conditions? What are they?"
John smiled again. "You'll find out."