This left Ariana feeling resigned.

Sonia instantly recognized the ID and burst into laughter, her voice crackling through the mic. "What's going on here? Who's your surprise guest? You two are too much!"

Feeling embarrassed, Ariana just said, "You're familiar with him."

With that, the game commenced.

While the rest of the group displayed prowess in the game, Holden struggled to find his footing, inadvertently contributing to the opposing team's success from the very start.

As Holden continued to struggle, Ariana intervened, suggesting a change in strategy. "Why don't you switch to a support role? Stick with me and focus on clean-up; let's rack up some kills."

Their enthusiasm for the game was so intense that they played well into the night.

Under Ariana's leadership, the team exceeded the initial cutoff score and secured a position in the top thirty rankings.

However, the upcoming competition posed a significant challenge, an offline match narrowing the field from thirty to fifteen. Caught up in the thrill of it all, Sonia inquired, “Are we going to participate in the next match?"

Ariana set her phone aside, letting out a tired yawn. "We'll play it by ear. Luckily, everyone was available tonight, so it worked out this time."

Ariana and Sonia were the ones with flexible schedules in the team.

Tyler's acting commitments could whisk him away at any moment, Cole was perpetually booked, and as a CEO, Holden's demanding schedule made him rarely available. It felt like a miracle they had managed to gather for tonight.

After a brief exchange, they bid each other goodnight and headed to sleep.

The following day, Ariana decided to visit the hospital to see Calvin.

Thanks to Dr. Larson's skillful work, Calvin's face had nearly recovered, restoring his status as a heartthrob on screen.

Both Ariana and Calvin were satisfied with the outcome.

With Calvin's appearance no longer a concern, Ariana began contemplating Lining up some scripts for him to audition in the near future.

Upon hearing of Calvin's successful surgery, the Appetizer Squad wasted no time paying Calvin a hospital visit. Their excitement was palpable upon spotting Ariana.

Given their hectic schedules filled with shows and public appearances, it had been some time since they had seen Ariana.

Surrounding her, they engaged in a heartfelt conversation, sharing laughs and relishing each other's company. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotion, Ariana tactfully made her exit with an excuse.