Only you in my love

"You look much better now," Leon said. At this time, Valerie came out of the backstage with her makeup still on.

When she came out, she only saw a glimpse of Michelle. The coat Michelle was wearing was particularly eye-catching.

Valerie pretended not to see it and proceeded straight to the two people beside Michelle. "Hey, Bryant, Leon."

Bryant looked her up and down from head to toe. She only changed her dancing shoes, and her makeup and hairstyle were still the same as on the stage. "Why didn't you change your clothes before coming out?" he asked. "I'll change it later. I'm excited to meet Michelle." Valerie looked at her and smiled. "Hello, Michelle."

Michelle had already known who Valerie was, but she didn't know how to react when she called her name. All she could do was avoid making eye contact with her.

It would've been rude if Michelle just ignored her. "Hello," Michelle greeted her reluctantly.

Valerie feigned a gasp and pretended she didn't know her. "Oh, it's you. So you're the Michelle everyone's talking about."

"Yes." Michelle nodded. "I wasn't able to tell you my name the last time."

"What a coincidence!" With a fake smile, Valerie walked over to Michelle's side and stood between her and Leon.

"We've met twice before, but I forgot to ask her name. It's totally my fault. She helped me out before."

"Michelle, have you really met each other before?" Leon had a hard time believing it.

"Yes. I met her twice when I was shopping," Michelle answered.

"Really?" He glanced at Valerie suspiciously. "What were you buying when you met her? Why didn't you tell me?"

Michelle pressed her lips as her heart started to pound against her chest.

She couldn't tell him. If she told him the truth, then Leon would find out that she lied to him.

The more she hesitated, the more curious Leon became. He tilted his head towards Valerie, signaling to her to answer his question. Michelle looked at Valerie with pleading eyes and shook her head subtly.

Even if Michelle hadn't beg, Valerie would've lied to him regardless.

But since she did, Valerie decided she would do her a favor.

She flashed a reassuring smile towards Michelle and turned to Leon. "It's girls' stuff. It's embarrassing to say it out loud."

With just a few words, she managed to manipulate what Leon and Bryant were thinking.

Bryant coughed awkwardly.

Leon couldn't help but glance at Michelle and mope in silence.

Michelle heaved a sigh of relief and smiled gratefully at Valerie. The worry in her eyes dissipated, and her entire face lit up.

'No wonder Leon likes her. She's so beautiful and kind,' she thought.

"Please wait for me outside while I change my clothes. I'll make it quick and come out soon." Then, Valerie turned to Michelle. "Can you do me a favor?"

Michelle smiled at her. "Yes, what is it?"

"Can you come with me and help me in removing my makeup? I might need your help in the middle process."

After Michelle nodded, Valerie grabbed her wrist and pulled her away. "I think you're not wearing enough clothes. I bought some medicine that can help prevent you from getting a cold. There's also hot water backstage." "Thank you," Michelle said sincerely.

"No need to be polite with me. Leon treats you like his sister." Valerie was trying to imply that she was close with Leon.

Michelle was no longer an innocent girl who knew nothing about love. She was very sensitive to those kinds of things now, especially when it was related to Leon.

She immediately understood what Valerie meant.

A faint bitter feeling started to snake up her heart.

The theater's dressing room was spacious and was only occupied by two dancers. When Valerie took Michelle in, there was another girl inside who had just changed her clothes and was about to go out. The three of them passed one another at the door.

"Goodbye, Valerie," the other girl greeted as she left.

Now, it was only the two of them inside. Michelle saw many flowers lying around the place.

"Michelle, have a seat. I'll make you a cup of cold medicine first." Valerie took out the medicine she had mentioned earlier from her bag.

"It's fine. I can do it myself," Michelle said to Valerie before she could do it. "You can change your clothes first."

"Okay." Valerie handed the medicine to Michelle and turned to change her clothes.

Michelle placed the medicine in a paper cup and soaked it in hot water. After giving it some time to cool, she took a sip to feel the temperature. When it was no longer too hot, she drank it all the way down. Slowly, her body started to feel warmer.

'Valerie's so considerate,' she thought.

Compared to her, Michelle didn't know how to take care of others when they were feeling unwell. She only knew how to cook.

When she was a child, it was her parents who took care of her. When she lived in the dormitory, it was her roommates. Nina was also there to protect her.

Michelle looked down and sighed in disappointment. Then, she heard footsteps growing closer. When she looked up, Valerie was done changing her clothes. She was now wearing a blue dress, which looked as though it was tailored for her and accentuated her beautiful figure.

She had a thick coat hanging on her elbow.

Overall, she looked magnificent.

Michelle looked at Valerie's plump breast and then looked down to compare it with hers.

'Mine's so small compared to hers,'

she thought.

'It seems that what they said is right. Once a girl has a boyfriend, her breast will develop.

That's nice to know.'

Then, her lips curved downwards. 'Leon is now someone else's boyfriend."

"Michelle, do you think blue looks good on me?" Valerie lifted the hemline of her dress and loosened it. "I can't wear a cyan dress during this season. Back in the summer, I would normally wear cyan dresses. I like that color very much. Leon told me it fits me really well." Her tone sounded so casual, as though she was just telling something trivial in her everyday life.

However, Valerie designed it with an intention in mind.

Michelle looked shocked and kept quiet.

Valerie sat in front of the dresser and looked at Michelle via the mirror in front of her. She saw that Michelle looked uneasy holding the cup in her hand.

"Michelle, can you help me take off my headwear from behind?" Valerie asked as she stared at the mirror.

Once she had finished the medicine in her cup, Michelle went to Valerie and removed her headwear.

"It's okay now."

"Thank you, Michelle." Valerie's head felt lighter as her black hair fell down her shoulders like a waterfall. She looked at Michelle and noticed her absent-minded expression.

"Did you like the performance tonight?" Valerie asked as she removed her heavy makeup.

"What?" Michelle didn't know what to say. She was too busy looking at Leon that she wasn't able to pay attention to the performance that had happened in front of her.

She scratched her head and looked embarrassed. "To be honest, I wasn't able to watch it carefully."

"Ha-ha!" Valerie chuckled. She didn't blame her. "Leon told me you were a simple girl. So did my cousin. Now, aside from that, I also think you're honest."

Valerie's praise made Michelle blush a little bit.

When Valerie saw Michelle's pinkish face, she subtly narrowed her eyes at her without making her notice it.

'She must've bewitched Leon with that innocent and harmless face of hers.

It's so disgusting.'

And yet, the more disgusted she felt, the friendlier she pretended to be. "Do you know what kind of story Giselle is telling?" Valerie asked with a smile. "I can tell you. Leon likes this ballet play very much." Michelle looked at her eagerly.

She also wanted to know more about Leon's favorite ballet.

"It's a sad story about two star-crossed lovers." Valerie looked deeply into her eyes.

Michelle tilted her head and was confused why Valerie was looking at her with such a sorrowful expression. It was as though the story had something to do with her.

When their eyes met, Valerie looked away and continued speaking.

"It's the love story between Abelard, an aristocratic playboy, and Giselle, a poor girl from the countryside. Abelard fell in love with Giselle at first sight. However, he already had a fiancee.

From the very beginning, the count hid his real identity and deceived Giselle. He didn't tell her about his family background, nor the fact that he had a fiancee. The ending of the story is when poor Giselle died. It's a tragedy. They belonged to different social classes. They shouldn't have been together from the start." Valerie sighed as she finished.

After hearing the story, Michelle frowned. "But I don't think one's family background should be an issue."

"You're such an innocent child." Valerie exhaled condescendingly, as though she was about to give her a lecture.

'An innocent child like her could never shoulder the responsibility of ruling C Island by Leon's side,' she thought to herself.

"But I'm not a child," Michelle said stubbornly.

Valerie scrutinized her from head to toe. "In our eyes, you're just a child. Leon says you're cute. The only people he calls cute are children."

"Oh." Suddenly, Michelle felt dejected.

It all made sense to her now. Leon had always told her that she was cute, but he never called her beautiful.

That was because he treated her as though she was a child.00000