Chapter 35


    A minor hup didn’t affect Pearl’s mood.


    The fashion charity dinner hosted by Zero Hour


    took ce at the Imperial Hotel. Zero Hour, a leading magazine in the domestic fashion


    industry, saw the event’s standards and prestige continually rising, making it challenging


    for even celebrities to secure an invitation.


    Pearl had an invitation but had left it behind, so Hubert took her straight inside, which caused quite a stir upon their entrance.


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    The host interviewed celebrities on the red carpet while they posed for photos and graciously interacted with the


    media before they walked up to the panel to sign and pose for pictures. Pearl, on the other hand, bypassed the red


    carpet, waving away the offered


    pen.


    Reporters couldn’t help but notice Pearl’s extraordinary beauty and charisma, leading them to specte about


    her celebrity background. Cameras were raised to capture her, but her bodyguards swiftly intervened to shield her.


    Pearl turned her back to the cameras, waiting by the disy board while


    Hubert finished his autographs. She couldn’t resist asking him, “You’re sure there are four ancient, enameled


    bowls, right? Don’t you dare deceive me.”


    Hubert handed the pen to the receptionist


    and gently put his arm around Pearl’s shoulder to guide her inside, saying, “When have I ever lied to you? Let’s go. I’ll first


    take you backstage to see what treasures they have. I will get it for you if you find something you


    like.”


    Before they could reach the backstage area, they ran into the editor–in–chief of Zero Hour magazine. Hubert extended his


    arms in wee, eximing, “Hi, ine!”


    ine hugged him and yfully patted his back. “Don’t act like a child. You should call me


    ‘auntie‘!”


    Hubert chuckled. “Come on, you look way too young to be called that.”


    ine patted his shoulder again before embracing Pearl. “Pearl, it’s been so long! How


    A


    have you been?”


    “I’m doing well. ine, you look younger and prettier!”


    ine pointed at the mischievous Pearl and Hubert. “You two, always making fun of me.”


    Hubert and Pearl both showed childish grins.


    The editor–in–chief of Zero Hour, ine Law, was Hubert’s aunt and someone who had witnessed Pearl’s


    growth. Their rtionship was so close that Hubert didn’t call her “auntie” and always called her name closely within their circle.


    Pearl rarely attended such public events, but this time, she had two reasons. First, it was because of the beautifully enameled


    bowls, and second, she came here for the sake of


    ine.


    Since Hubert had arrived, ine was determined not to let him go easily. She insisted on taking him to socialize, and Pearl


    couldn’t help but relish watching Hubert leave. She happily rxed and walked backstage.


    The venue was already crowded, with people forming small groups engaged in gossip. Pearl, like a lone ranger,


    walked through without ncing at anyone. However, as she walked, amotion erupted behind her. She casually


    looked back and froze when her eyesnded on a familiar figure.


    As if sensing her presence, that figure also turned to look at her. Their eyes met through the crowd and the noise.


    Pearl paused at once when she met that person’s distant, cold gaze. Her heart missed a beat, and she furrowed her brow.


    It was Marc. What was he doing here?


    She cast another nce at the person next to him. The answer seemed clear when she looked at Lucas, who


    was flirting with a woman as they walked.


    Apanied by the melodious piano music, Marc


    confidently made his way through the dense crowd and approached Pearl. His


    handsome face,posed posture, and calm demeanor were all too familiar to Pearl.


    ”


    A


    It was so familiar that the clod scent emanating from him momentarily transported Pearl into a trance as if they


    were still husband and wife and had never divorced.


    If they weren’t in the hall at that moment, their usual conversation would start with Pearl cheerily greeting him as


    he entered the house. “You came back?”


    His response would sometimes be silence and other times just a cold nod.


    This time, Pearl didn’t initiate the conversation. Her demeanor was no longer warm and cheerful but somewhat cold, radiating


    an aura of keeping people away.


    It was Marc who spoke first.


    “I’m here.”


    His voice was neither too high


    nor too low, neither too light nor too heavy. It even carried a hint of gentleness, akin to a husband searching for his wife who had


    stormed off to her parents‘ house.


    Pearl raised an eyebrow, finding this opening statement rather peculiar.


    “Weren’t we supposed to


    treat each other as strangers whenever we met again? Why did he act like someone close to me?” she thought.


    “I don’t know you, sir.”


    Pearl


    didn’t y along with his acting. Instead, she just gave him a fleeting, indifferent nce as if they were total strangers, then turned


    and walked away.


    Marc remained where he was, watching Pearl’s retreating figure with pursed lips.


    Lucas‘ handnded on his shoulders, and Lucas chuckled softly in his ear. “It’s so embarrassing, right? Even I feel


    embarrassed for you.”


    Lucas managed to hold back hisugh and shared his experience with his close friend, “This isn’t


    the right way to pursue a woman, let alone an ex–wife. You abandoned her before, and now you just said,


    ‘I’m here.‘ Come on, are you expecting her to throw herself at you just because


    of one sentence like that? Do you think that Pearl is still a naive young girl?”


    Δ


    Marc wrinkled his brow, and he knew he didn’t have much experience pursuing women. He


    couldn’t help but feel that Lucas had a point and asked without reservation, “Well, then, how should I go about it?”


    Lucas was taken aback by Marc’s seriousness. “Are you serious?”


    Lucas then checked Marc’s forehead, murmuring, “No fever either, so why all this nonsense?”


    Marc’s expression darkened as he swatted Lucas’s hand away, snapping, “Get lost!”


    Lucas looked at Marc, arm crossed, and slowly shook his


    head. “Dude, have you ever heard the saying that don’t try to mend what’s already broken? The most futile thing in the world is


    trying to rekindle a past love. Love, when it’s over, should stay over. Don’t attempt to piece together a


    shattered mirror. There will always be cracks, even if you


    somehow manage to do it. Besides, ask yourself. Do you genuinely love Pearl now


    that you’ve turned around to chase her, or are you not used to her being gone?”


    Marc furrowed his brow slightly and admitted with uncertainty, “I just want an answer.”


    “What answer?” Lucas inquired.


    Marc didn’t respond but strode quickly in Pearl’s direction to catch up.


    Lucas watched, unable to resist shaking his head, thinking that his best buddy really needed a tough lesson about love.


    Pearl arrived backstage, her heart in turmoil.


    She discreetly closed her eyes, despising her ownck of calmness after seeing Marc. She had clearly resolved to cut off


    all emotions towards him, so why was her heart still racing when he appeared?


    “Calm down,” Pearl told herself.


    She tried to stay calm while reflecting on all the tough days, tears,


    and bitterness she had suffered during the past three years in front


    of Marc. In the end, she showed a bitter smile, knowing that his arrival had nothing to do with his affection for her.


    So, what did it matter whether he was here or not?


    A