Chapter 366 Dave Miserably Loosing To Zhane
As Hera arrived where Zhane was, Dave, who was just a few feet behind her, began sobbing even before his horse came to a halt.
"Wuwuwu! Baby! I just want a date! A date! Why are you so cruel?!" Dave cried out in frustration. He had hoped to pull off a win under Hera’s nose, knowing she was new to the horse and hadn’t had a chance to familiarize herself with it. Unlike the time she won with Diamond against Xavier, where she had already done a lap before the bet started, this time Dave believed his chances were better since Hera had not yet had a lap or bonded with the horse.
But reality hit him hard, making it clear that escaping his predicament was a distant hope. "Just a date!" Dave’s tearful eyes pleaded with Hera, his frustration was evident. He wanted to throw a tantrum for not getting what he wanted, but his pride prevented him from begging. All he could manage was to let his bitter tears fall.
Zhane, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement at Dave’s childish display, approached Hera on horseback. "You really shouldn’t have pulled your punches against this manchild," he teased gently, offering her a handkerchief to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead.
Dave shot Zhane a wide-eyed, accusing glare. Hera had already wiped the floor with him, and now Zhane was suggesting she hadn’t even tried her hardest. What did that make Dave look like? It only highlighted his weakness and made him seem even more feeble in comparison to Hera’s impressive and strong horsemanship.
Dave wanted to cry, but no tears came as he approached the two. Hera chuckled in response to Zhane’s teasing. "Damn you, Zhane!" Dave exclaimed, before turning to Hera with a pleading expression. "Huhuh, sweetheart, don’t let him mislead you. He may look young, but he’s got an old man’s heart and doesn’t understand. Please, just one date?" He continued to plead, fawning over Hera with earnest desperation.
Hearing Dave call him old in front of Hera struck a nerve with Zhane. Unlike his other friends, Zhane often played the role of the responsible older sibling, and his reserved, old-fashioned demeanor combined with his workaholic tendencies made him feel self-conscious. He worried that Hera might find him boring and come to dislike him because of these traits.
As the most well-behaved and polite among the five, Zhane now felt a surge of anger. He was tempted to throw Dave off his horse, hoping a few broken bones might knock some sense into him. Zhane also considered making Dave’s stay in the hospital longer than necessary, ensuring he wouldn’t be able to pester Hera for a while.
Zhane’s anger only grew as he entertained the idea, making him seriously tempted to follow through. Dave felt a shiver run down his spine and instinctively looked up at Zhane. The mischievous glint in Zhane’s eyes made Dave realize he had definitely poked the wrong bear this time.