Chapter 239


    Chapter 239 Gaining Trust Through Deception


    Two dayster, Imogen received two reports about the inferior materials ke had employed. One


    was from a private inspection agency, and the other came from the relevant authorities. While the


    wording in the two reports differed slightly, their ultimate conclusion was the same. There was


    indeed an issue with the materials.


    Imogen couldn’t help but harbor the worst suspicions about ke. He must have known about the


    problem with the materials but chose to feign ignorance, even allowing Erik to have them tested to


    confirm hisck of knowledge. ·


    ording to Noah’s information, ke had moved his entire family abroad because of a job


    transfer. During the first few years abroad, their lifestyle was far morevish than what his sry


    alone could support. The Hale family was not particrly wealthy. Even if they had some savings,


    keeping such avish lifestyle wouldn’t be enough.


    Gradually, the Hale family’s standard of living declined until it resembled what they had in their


    home country.


    In theory, when the Hale family moved abroad, they should have been buying a house and enjoying


    an increasingly better life due to higher wages. Instead, their situation had worsened. Imogen


    spected that ke likely didn’t have any high–paying job overseas. He was probably relying on


    ill–gotten gains from someone behind the scenes. Once that money ran out, their quality of life


    plummeted.


    ke wanted to restart his construction business upon returning to his home country. However, he


    lacked the necessary connections and financial resources. So, he resorted to using inferior


    materials and pocketed some of the material costs from home owners.


    However, Imogen’s goal was to help Erik resolve the issue and build more trust with him rather than


    expose ke.


    Imogen decided to let him pretend he didn’t know for now. The real target was identifying the


    supplier behind the inferior materials, as leaving them unchecked would harm more people. Imogen


    forwarded electronic copies of the two reports to Erik. [The test results are out, and the materials


    are inferior. The supplier likely deceived your uncle.]


    Erik was undoubtedly surprised upon seeing the reports.


    The chat interface disyed “Typing…” for a few minutes.


    Eventually, Erik replied. [I understand. I’ll talk to my dad. I will also report the supplier to the relevant


    authorities to demandpensation.]


    Imogen: [Do you need me to find awyer for you?]


    Erik: [Please do. My dad and I are unfamiliar with the local market. We might get the short end of


    the stick dealing with the supplier. Thank you. I’d probably still be hitting a wall if it weren’t for you.]


    Imogen: [You’re wee. When are you avable in the next few days? Let’s schedule a dinner


    meeting with thewyer and bring the receipts for the materials your uncle purchased.]


    Erik: [How about tonight? I finish work at half past five. Could you coordinate with thewyer?]


    Imogen: [Sure.]


    Imogen had reached out to Robert Malonzo. He was awyer from Marshall Group’s legal


    department. Usually, Robert didn’t take on private cases, but for Imogen’s sake, he agreed


    immediately and was exceptionally diligent.


    With official test results and purchase receipts in hand, the case appeared rtively


    straightforward.


    However, there was always the possibility that negotiations with the supplier forpensation


    might not go smoothly and necessitate legal action.


    Under Robert’s guidance, Erik filed a report against the supplier and initiated apensation


    im.


    The relevant authorities acted swiftly. They confiscated the inferior materials, ordered the factory to


    make necessary improvements, and facilitated a mediation session.


    Charlie was busy from the afternoon on the day of the Golden Phoenix Awards Ceremony. During


    the ceremony, there were several program intermissions. Charlie was busy applying makeup to her


    backup dancers in the shared dressing room.


    Her assistant hurried over. “Ms. Franco.”


    “Hmm?” Charlie responded while focusing on her dancers‘ faces as she swiftly wielded a brush.


    “Mr. Thompson’s makeup artist fell ill and had to go to the hospital. Could you please go there right


    away? Mr. Thompson has a rehearsalter, and time is running short.”


    Charlie stood up. She put away her eyeshadow palette and brush. “Alright, you take over here.”


    “Ah, please go quickly. Mr. Thompson is in dressing room number 3.”


    “Okay.”


    Charlie organized her makeup kit and headed to dressing room number 3.


    Room 3 was much better equipped than the public makeup area. Two actors shared the room. One


    was Liam, whom the assistant had mentioned, and the other was a famous young actor.


    The door was open, so Charlie knocked and entered. She walked over to Liam, who was sitting in


    front of a mirror.


    Liam’s assistant immediately handed her a cup of coffee. “Ms. Franco, thank you so much for this.


    Cindy suddenly had a stomachache and had to go to the hospital.”


    Charlie positioned her makeup kit on the dressing table before the mirror. “You can leave the coffee


    here. When is his rehearsal?”


    “In an hour. Also, here’s the autograph you wanted.” Liam said and pointed to a few postcards on


    the table. “Don’t forget.”


    “Alright, thanks.” Charlie opened her makeup kit, took a few brushes, and smiled as she spoke, “By


    the way, I wanted to thank you for the other day. Fortunately, I identally walked into your private


    box. Otherwise, it would have been a major embarrassment.”


    “No problem,” Liam replied with a grin


    “Has the skincare routine been done?”


    “Yes, it’s already done.”


    Charlie nced at Liam’s skin tone andplexion, then selected a bottle of primer from her


    makeup kit. She gently touched Liam’s face and remarked, “You have wonderful skin. I don’t


    think we’ll need much makeup.”


    Charlie was working with Liam for the first time.


    Liam’s assistant immediately said, “Isn’t that right, Ms. Franco? All the makeup artists who


    have


    worked with Mr. Thompson say he’s the easiest to work with.”


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    The makeup artist working with the famous young actor nearby couldn’t help but nce at Liam’s


    wless skin and silentlyment his situation. He was dealing with erged pores and dullness,


    which posed quite a challenge.


    Charlie applied primer and a light foundation to Liam’s skin and started working on his eyebrows.


    She already had a clear idea of the shape she wanted. She leaned slightly, held a brow powder


    palette in one hand, and used a brush to gently create an outline that matched Liam’s natural brow


    color.


    Charlie ced the brush from the brow powder palette on the table and picked up a t–tipped


    brow pencil with the other hand. She steadied Liam’s head. “Stay still, please.”


    “Sure.”


    The t–tipped brow pencil delicately traced Liam’s eyebrows, one hair at a time. Charlie’s hand.


    was as steady as an experienced artist’s, and each strand was distinct and vividly brought to life.


    The result was eyebrows that looked utterly authentic.


    Liam maintained a neutral expression as he gazed at Charlie before him.


    They were face–to–face and incredibly close. He could even see her eysh roots.


    Her skin looked impable. Even up close, there was no sign of caking or king, which made her


    appear more natural than many celebrities.


    Liam often witnessed some celebrities on set whose makeup had issues like caking, unevenness,


    and acklusterplexion. These problems could only be fixed with the help of good lighting and


    post–production editing. The editing was often so intensive that it made it difficult to recognize the


    original photo. The release of untouched images was never allowed.


    Her eyes were clear as she gazed intently at his eyebrows. Her expression was notably serious, a


    striking departure from her typically animated demeanor.


    Liam’s assistant showered Charlie with praise. “Ms. Franco, your eyebrow work is exceptional. It


    looks amazing.”


    After a while, an employee with an ID badge knocked on the door. “Mr. Thompson, are you ready?


    Your rehearsal is about to start.”


    Charlie shook a setting spray in her hand and said, “I’ll be ready in a moment.”


    Charlie packed up her makeup kit after spraying the setting spray. “Alright, you can head to


    rehearsal now.”


    Liam stood up, adjusted his clothes in front of the mirror, and said, “I’m off.”


    “Goodbye.”


    Liam headed off to the rehearsal.


    Charlie then left the makeup artist’s area while carrying her makeup kit. Suddenly, she stopped


    walking.


    In the corridor ahead stood a figure she knew all too well.