The Day I Kissed An Older Man
Chapter 2545

There was no point in accepting a student who lacked dedication in dancing and was preoccupied only with twisted thoughts. They had nothing to achieve there and would only cause other students not to focus on dancing.

On their way back, Lucas held Melody's hand while tracing circles absentmindedly on her palm. He gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Melody shifted and gently caressed his hand. "Is something on your mind? Are you still worried about Grandma?"

Lucas glanced at her and pulled her into his embrace with a sigh. "Yes. And you too."

"Me? What's there to worry about me?" Melody raised her head in confoundment while in his embrace.

"You're too kind, which makes you easy pickings for bullies. You'd be going head-to-head with that other student if I didn't come today, right?"

Melody remained indifferent. "She's just a sore loser. I won the first round, and I'm going to win in the next round too. She won't be arrogant anymore after she lost to me."

Melody's perspective was too simplistic; some matters were not as straightforward as who triumphed over whom. Carmen, for instance, had no animosity with her, yet online gossip and seeing Lucas picking her up daily was sufficient for jealousy to brew within.

Melody could rack up victories all she wanted, but Carmen would never accede to that.

"You shouldn't see others in such a negative light. Even though I've faced plenty of challenges since my debut, everything tends to end on a positive note, right? Plus, you'll always be by my side." Nodding was the only option available to Lucas under Melody's bright and expectant gaze.

"Yes, but what if I fail to reach you in time one day? You can't just stand there and let people do these things to you. Or... You could just ignore them and tell everything to me when I arrive. I'll get back at them for you."

Despite Lucas' serious demeanor, Melody burst into laughter. "Am I a child in your eyes? I'm an adult now. I can handle all that."

Melody's reassurance did nothing to smooth over Lucas' troubled expression. "Yes, I know you're an adult, but some people aren't as simple as they seem. I'm glad you don't have to go to the dance studio anymore, or I'd be worried about your safety."

Lucas' anxiousness was evident. He genuinely fretted over Melody, and Beatrice's fall down the stairs had wrought him with anguish. He did not want the same fate to befall Melody.

The newfound fame Melody received necessitated the watchful eye of bodyguards, yet she was not accustomed to having people follow her all the time. Lucas, too, did not want to keep her under that close of a watch, and he was fine with allowing two guards to accompany her when she ventured out. Even so, there were times when Melody did not enjoy the presence of those bodyguards, but the dark circles under Lucas' eyes made her acquiesce.

"Don't think too terribly of her. She is still a young girl, after all, and she's only a few years younger than I am. She's probably just a bit more impulsive, that's all. Perhaps she just dislikes me as a person? I've been following your advice perfectly all this while, and I've had guards accompany me when I go out too. You shouldn't worry so much about me."