"All right, Miss Laura! You just woke up, so get some proper rest. Stop worrying about my affairs. As long as they don't mess with me, I won't mess with them. Do you want some fruit? I'll peel an apple for you," Shalma Hughes mumbled. Casually brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her beautiful eyes shimmered with a faint, watery gleam that radiated a breathtaking beauty.
Miss Laura nodded. Shalma grabbed an apple and a paring knife. Just as she was about to start peeling, the older woman spoke up.
"Shalma, don't wear such heavy makeup. Look at you, you don't even look like yourself anymore."
Shalma's hand paused on the knife. Then, she flashed a bright smile. "Miss Laura, you don't understand. In the corporate world, wearing makeup is basic etiquette. Going bare-faced is considered rude."
In truth, wearing makeup made her feel as though she had put on a mask. It gave her an incredible sense of security.
"Is that so?" Miss Laura asked doubtfully. "You look like two completely different people with and without makeup. I could barely recognize you."
"Haha! That's the magic of it! It can transform you into a whole new person," Shalma said, carefully peeling the apple.
"You young people! Your ideas are always so unorthodox. By the way... Shalma, do you have a boyfriend? If you do, bring him around so I can meet him. Let me check him out for you."
The unexpected question struck Shalma right in the heart.
"Do I have a boyfriend?" she wondered.
Unbidden, a strikingly handsome yet fiercely cold face surfaced in her mind. Shalma hastily shoved the image aside. "Why did I suddenly think of him?" she scolded herself.
"Well, do you?" Miss Laura pressed, noticing the girl staring blankly into space as if lost in thought.
"I do! Of course I do! Let's see here... I have one, two, three, four... Oh, Miss Laura! I have way too many boyfriends to count," Shalma teased. Her eyes gleamed with mischief, even though she wore a look of complete innocence.
Miss Laura chuckled, thoroughly amused. "You silly girl! You never take anything seriously."
Life was full of surprises, but right now, Shalma felt that the surprise she was facing was more akin to a sheer fright.
Inside the most expensive cafe in Eldoria, Shalma sat by the window. Her face was completely devoid of makeup. Her slightly wavy hair was tied back in a loose, casual ponytail, with a few stray strands framing her face like weeping willow branches. Her skin was so fair it appeared almost translucent. Dressed casually like a college student, she had even scrubbed away the bright red polish that normally coated her fingernails. Altogether, she looked just like an innocent eighteen-year-old girl.
She exuded a pure, unblemished aura. Just by sitting quietly at her table, she had already drawn the lingering gazes of quite a few men. She had originally come here to enjoy a rare moment of leisure, but now she felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
Staring at the cafe entrance, she watched the owner personally escort a certain someone inside. A cold sweat began to slowly bead on her forehead.
"How is he in Eldoria too?" she thought in a panic.
"Why do you look so awful?" Wendy Quinn asked, staring at Shalma with deep concern. "You've been working all by yourself in Aethelgard. You haven't developed some kind of illness, have you? Why did your face suddenly go completely pale?"
"Of course not. I'm not stupid. I wouldn't work myself to death," Shalma said, lifting her gaze.
"But your complexion really is terrible. Are you feeling unwell?" Wendy asked.
Shalma looked at her best friend, suddenly finding herself speechless. Wendy was great in every way, except that she could be incredibly nagging at times. She loved to get to the absolute bottom of things and was like a dog with a bone when she wanted answers.
"I probably just stayed up too late catching up on work recently, so it's taking a toll on me," Shalma admitted truthfully.
Wendy instantly looked as though she had it all figured out. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Here I was thinking you had crossed the wrong person in Aethelgard and ended up pregnant out of wedlock or something. You know, with your stunning looks, most men who see you would want to claim you for themselves. Haven't you noticed? Ever since you sat down in this cafe, I can't even count how many men's eyes have lingered on you. Sigh! You're guaranteed to turn every head in the room."