Chapter 7: Where Were You Last Night?
As the solution worked its magic, the tattoos on her body began to dissolve at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Emma Roberts soaked in the hot water, a face mask covering her skin. She closed her eyes and rested for a while.
When she woke up, the water in the bathtub had turned murky and black.
And her body...
Without the tattoos covering her skin, her true appearance was revealed.
The temporary tattoos she used didn't harm her skin. Besides the crescent-shaped birthmark on her chest, her skin was flawless, as smooth as the finest jade, delicate and translucent like snow under the moonlight.
Before she was reborn, she impulsively got permanent tattoos that stayed with her for seven years. For seven years, she didn't know what her body really looked like.
Seeing her bare skin now, she was surprised at how good her complexion was.
At twenty years old, she was in the prime of her youth, the best time for a girl's skin.
After peeling off the face mask, Emma drained the dirty water from the tub and thoroughly cleaned her body again.
She changed into a bathrobe and sat down at the dressing table.
The girl in the mirror had light, misty eyebrows, a high and delicate nose, and naturally rosy lips, like peach blossoms in March, inviting and stunning. But what stood out the most were her eyes, clear and sparkling, like autumn water, shimmering with a brilliance that rivaled the stars.
Her skin, once dried out from heavy makeup, now looked radiant and smooth, thanks to the face mask, matching the tender skin on her body.
Emma knew this was only temporary. Face masks and beauty treatments could only maintain her skin's condition for a short time, especially emergency masks that were just a quick fix.
To fully restore her skin, she needed proper care.
Her exaggerated hairstyle from the salon returned to its natural state after washing, her half-dry, waist-length hair cascading over her shoulders like ink.
In her previous life, she had cut off her cherished long hair, but now it was back...
Emma felt a deep joy at this regained treasure, carefully combing it with a wooden brush.
After drying her hair, Emma faced a new problem: her wardrobe full of outrageous clothes.
Forget it, she decided to go to the walk-in closet on the third floor and pick something nice. She had been given a second chance at life, so why should she compromise on herself?
The entire third floor was a walk-in closet filled with clothes, accessories, and bags that Logan Black had prepared for her. Although she had never touched these items in seven years, the closet was always stocked with the latest collections.
Downstairs.
Logan Black was leisurely drinking his coffee at the dining table.
The dark shadows under his eyes from chronic sleep deprivation had lightened significantly. His already handsome face looked even more radiant today, almost glowing with energy.
"Ouch, hot, hot, hot..." Lin Que, who had been staring in a daze, accidentally burned his mouth with hot coffee.
Logan's gaze shifted lazily towards his friend, his expression clearly saying, "What an idiot."
Yet, Lin Que still thought, Damn it, even when this guy mocks me, he's still insanely handsome!
Lin Que slammed his coffee cup down, "Damn it! Logan! Be honest! What did you do last night? Steal some yang energy from yin?"
Logan seemed to be in a good mood and didn't flip out at Lin Que's chatter.
Lin Que stared deeply at his friend's extraordinarily handsome face, looking heartbroken and distressed, "Logan, with your status, looks, and physique, you could have any woman you want! Why degrade yourself like this?"
Emma had just finished dressing and came downstairs when she heard Lin Que's words.
Why did that sound so familiar?
"If it was just a phase, wanting to try something wild, that'd be one thing. But you've been at it for two years now, and I, as your brother, can't stand it anymore..."
Lin Que continued to rant, while Logan, lounging lazily, suddenly turned his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the direction of the stairs.
Lin Que instinctively followed Logan's gaze.
The next second, his eyes lit up, filled with astonishment.
On the stairs stood a girl in a pure white dress, her slender figure and waist-length hair shimmering like silk. Her bright eyes and rosy lips, combined with her delicate, jade-like skin, made her look otherworldly.
This girl was stunning beyond words...
Even in front of Logan, she didn't lose her radiance.
What made her even more captivating was her soft, ethereal aura, making one feel an overwhelming desire to protect her!
Even when Emma had walked up to the dining table, Lin Que still looked like he was dreaming.
Emma glanced at the dining table. Normally, she would sit as far away from Logan as possible, but this time she thought for a moment and sat down next to him.
Logan's eyes flickered slightly as the girl chose to sit beside him.
Following the principle of "the less said, the less wrong," Emma began to eat her breakfast in silence after sitting down.
From the moment she arrived, Logan's intense gaze had been fixed on her.
She was actually quite anxious about her sudden transformation, unsure how Logan would react.
After all, if Logan didn't mind her ghastly appearance before, wouldn't it be better for her to look her best and feel good about herself?
Relaxing with this thought, Emma focused on her breakfast.
Suddenly, a long finger reached towards her cheek.
Emma tensed up, her entire body stiffening.
The finger brushed a lock of hair that had almost fallen into her bowl, tucking it behind her ear.
Logan leaned back lazily in his chair, retracting his hand slowly, his gaze never leaving her, studying every inch of her skin and every subtle expression with a barely perceptible warmth.
Emma sighed in relief and quickly tucked her hair behind her ear herself, to prevent it from falling again.
Finally snapping out of his daze, Lin Que excitedly leaned in and whispered, "Logan! You've finally come to your senses! You should have chosen someone like her long ago—so beautiful and feminine, someone you'd want to cherish and protect! Why let that woman Emma ruin you?"
Emma: "..." Ruin...
Lin Que continued, "By the way, what happened to that ugly girl? Did you kick her out?"
Emma: "..." Ugly girl...
Lin Que rambled on, "Although Emma wasn't as heavy into heavy metal when you first got with her two years ago, she was quite overweight! At least 150 pounds, right?"
Emma: "…!!!" Nonsense! It was 140! Although she had put on weight during her teenage years from overeating, she had never exceeded 100 pounds!
Lin Que: "Logan, I never understood your taste. How could you fall for a fatty?"
Emma: "..." Fatty...
Emma finally couldn't take it anymore!
No girl could tolerate being called fat to her face!
With a loud "slam," Emma put down her chopsticks heavily and glared at Lin Que like a dagger, "Lin Que! What's wrong with being 150 pounds! What's wrong with being fat! Did I eat your rice?"
Lin Que's expression was as if he had seen a ghost. He stood up so quickly that he knocked over his chair, "Holy crap! Emma... Emma!!!"
How could this be?
"Did you get plastic surgery!?" Lin Que was stunned.
But that couldn't be right. How could surgery be this fast? Just a few days ago, she still looked like a ghost.
Emma, fuming, said, "You got plastic surgery! This is how I've always looked! And where exactly am I fat? Explain!"
Logan's typically lazy, vacant expression momentarily faltered.
The girl's eyes seemed to burn with a fire he hadn't seen in a long time, a vivid and intense anger.
Feeling a cool hand gently rest on her head, Emma froze. Logan's hand was soothing, as if calming a small, ruffled animal.
Then, his pleasant voice whispered in her ear, "You're not fat."
Emma was taken aback, looking at Logan in surprise.
Was she crazy? She actually thought Logan seemed... gentle...
Realizing she might have overreacted, she murmured awkwardly, "I'm not fat now..."
Logan: "You weren't fat before, either."
Lin Que immediately said with a serious expression, "Logan, say that again with a clear conscience!"
Emma gritted her teeth in frustration.
Logan glanced at Lin Que nonchalantly, "I gave the East Side property to Yuan Da."
Lin Que was dumbfounded, "What? Logan, you promised it to me! How could you give it to another company! Did you give it to Yuan Da just now or decide a second ago?"
Logan: "Just now."
Lin Que: "…!!!"
Damn it! Just because he said Emma was fat?
"You... you tyrant!" Lin Que was exasperated.
Logan didn't deny it, and seemed to even accept the title, saying calmly, "You should go. You're in the way."
Not only was he a tyrant, but he was also prioritizing women over his friends, actually saying Lin Que was in the way.
Heartbroken, Lin Que left in tears.
After Lin Que left, the room was filled with just Emma and Logan.
Without Lin Que's presence, Emma's previously relaxed nerves tensed up again, and Logan's presence felt overwhelmingly dominant.
"Eat more."
A piece of her favorite breakfast dumpling appeared on her plate.
Emma had mixed feelings.
Since she arrived, Logan had shown no particular reaction to her transformation.
Lin Que's reaction was more... typical, right?
Unable to hold back, Emma asked, "Logan, don't you think I look different today?"
Logan added another shrimp dumpling to her plate, "What?"
Emma: "My appearance!"
Logan raised an eyebrow, "Any difference?"
Emma was speechless: "..."
Was this man blind?
Seeing her darkened expression, Logan looked at her nonchalantly, saying, "Still just as appetizing."
Emma: "..."
Just as appetizing?!
Did he really find her previous ghastly look appetizing and see no difference now?
Emma was astounded by this man's peculiar taste...