âAre you still doing your skincare research, Nina? Have you discovered anything new? We can talk about it.â
Nina froze, not expecting that Chris would bring up this subject. The girl had been feeling so down recently that she was barely interested in anything including skincare. All Iâve been doing is flipping through my old notes. I havenât done any new research. How am I going to answer him?
Seeing her freeze, Chrisâ lips curled upward. âItâs completely fine if you havenât discovered anything new. When you have nothing else do to, you can just go through whatever Iâve told you before. Who knows, you might get some new ideas from there and come up with something even better.â
Nina nodded with a smile.
She did flip through her notes often, but her thoughts wouldnât be on the words. Instead, her mind was full of Chris every time.
Hence, rather than giving her new ideas, going through her notes only made her yearn for Chris even more.
As her thoughts began to wander, she heard Chrisâ voice. âSo, whoâs the new teacher your Daddyâs gotten you?â
Nina returned to her senses. âI donât know either. I havenât met him or her.â
âWell, do your best. I know youâll have bright future ahead.â
âI will!â
As the two exchanged glances and smiled at one another, Nina asked how Chris was doing.
âIâm doing great,â Chris replied briefly.
âYou said you wanted someone who understood makeup to help you. Have you found them?â
Chris paused for a moment before nodding. âYeah, I have.â
Nina didnât know what to say.
Heâs already found someone?
How did it happen so quickly?
The manâs answer took Nina aback. And here I was, thinking that Iâll help him, but heâs already found someone? Does that mean he wonât need my help?
The thought of this made Nina look downcast.
Her meal instantly became unappetizing.
She tried asking what kind of assistant Chris had gotten himself. âIs your new assistant really good at makeup?â
Chris nodded. âSheâs a girl too, and sheâs older than you.â
Older than you. These three words really astonished Nina.
Then again, Chris was much older than she was. It was only normal and fitting for him to find someone older than her too.
Nina felt a cold breeze in her heart. âShe must be really pretty, huh?â she asked while having some fruits, pretending to look nonchalant.
Chris fell silent briefly before nodding.
With that, it was Ninaâs turn to fall silent.
Nina suddenly felt like she had asked the obvious. Of course someone as amazing as him would only be interested in pretty and talented girls.
She continued to eat with her head lowered, feeling dejected. Even her favorite dishes now tasted bland.
The child couldnât help but wonder if Chris liked that woman or how the two would look like standing next to each other.
Just as she considered asking Chris if he was into the woman, his phone suddenly rang.
After answering it, he turned to Nina. âI have to go. Take your time eating.â
Nina got up. âIâm done too. Iâll be heading back now.â
âDo you want me to see you off?â
âItâs fine.â
Nina smiled at him before turning to leave the private room. Chris soon followed suit.
Sheila was surprised to see Nina return to Murphyâs residence looking so glum.
She couldnât stop talking about wanting to see Chris before coming over. Shouldnât she be happy? Why does she look so upset?
Did they not have a good talk? Did they get into a fight? But that shouldnât be. After all, they hadnât seen each other for so long.
Sheila walked toward Nina, full of curiosity. âYouâre back so soon, Nina.â
Nina nodded. âYeah. I came back right after eating. He had something urgent to take care of.â
So thatâs what it is. Sheâs upset because she didnât get to spend enough time with him. There must be so much more she wanted to tell him.