On her third day in Veridia, Evelyn Grant finally opened her tools of the trade.
Sophie Keaton wanted a glamorous "rich-girl" makeup look with defined features.
The base was a clean, matte finish. She chose a dark brown pencil for the brows, focusing on creating a defined arch. A peach-apricot eyeshadow was swept over the lids as a base, with emphasis on darkening the outer V of the lower lash line to create depth. A fine shimmer was layered over the *aegyo-sal*, and the eyeliner was extended slightly, winging upward at the corner. She applied wispy, separated false eyelashes. The lipstick and blush were a matching reddish-orange.
Finally, she styled Sophie's long hair into big waves, pulling back and pinning the sections on either side of her ears. The look was noble and proud, yet it didn't seem out of place on Sophie Keaton; in fact, it suited her perfectly.
She was a true heiress, after all.
Evelyn Grant tilted Sophie Keaton's chin up, leaning in to check the makeup for any flaws. As her own picturesque features drew near, a light, pleasant scent of gardenia wafted over.
Sophie Keaton blinked and suddenly asked, "What body lotion do you use? It smells so good."
Evelyn Grant paused for a moment before sending her the brand name. After decisively placing an order, Sophie Keaton grinned and pushed Evelyn down in front of the vanity mirror.
"You should do your makeup nicely, too. We're going to a bar tonight."
Sophie Keaton had specifically chosen a little black dress and placed it beside her. She smiled at Evelyn, an innocent and pure expression on her face. "Try this on. I think it would really suit you."
Evelyn Grant: "..."
'Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this?'
After finishing their makeup and changing clothes, it was getting late.
Night gradually fell, and the city lights began to flicker on.
An Aston Martin pulled over discreetly by the side of the road.
Outside the bar, many people were taking photos under the "Sugar Bar" sign. Evelyn Grant didn't sense anything unusual at first, but when she followed Sophie Keaton inside, her jaw dropped.
Under the dim neon lights, several muscular men in white shirts were swaying to the music on stage. With every movement, you could vaguely make out the lines of their chests and biceps.
A glance to the side revealed... some were shirtless.
The shock was so great that she whipped her head around, her pupils trembling.
Sophie Keaton's red lips parted, and she uttered three words with utmost calm: "Male model bar."
...
Evelyn Grant took a sharp, shocked breath. Seeing Sophie Keaton's excellent mood, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "...Are you allowed to be here?"
"Why not? I'm an adult!"
She muttered, "But my brother would definitely not let me come. So, tonight is a secret. Just between you and me."
Evelyn Grant instantly felt like she'd been tricked into this, going behind Preston Keaton's back...
'If we get caught, it's over. Would he think I'm the one who brought his sister to a place like this?'
She asked weakly, "Can I go back to The Mid-Levels?"
Sophie Keaton shook her head. "No way. I've already told you my plan, so you have to have fun with me!"
"Besides, it's a legitimate place. We're just here to have a drink and enjoy the view, not to actually do anything. There's nothing wrong with looking at handsome men. Only an old fossil like my brother wouldn't understand."
"..."
Evelyn Grant pinched the bridge of her nose.
"The old fossil is on a business trip. As long as we're quiet about it, he'll never know."
Sophie Keaton grabbed her hand, beaming as she led her further inside. "I even booked us seats in the main area! At ten o'clock, that whole row up there takes their shirts off in unison."
'She seems to know a lot about this...'
Evelyn Grant: "Have you been here before?"
"Nope, I saw it online," she laughed. "So I've always wanted to come check it out."
There were places like this in Eldoria, too, but she was always surrounded by bodyguards. Word would get back to her parents immediately, so she never had the chance.
Thankfully, she'd gotten her driver's license.
She could secretly drive here by herself.
A glass of wine and a Long Island Iced Tea. Evelyn Grant watched as Sophie Keaton casually picked up the Long Island, and she advised with some concern.
"That's pretty strong. Drink it slowly."
"What's the big deal?" she scoffed lightly. "I can hold my liquor."
The crowd she hung out with—she wasn't sure if they should be called friends—had secretly tried all sorts of alcohol with her. Her brother had found out and scolded her more than once.
The upside was, she really didn't get drunk easily.
Evelyn Grant took a sip of her wine when an important thought suddenly struck her, and her back straightened.
"You've been drinking. Who's going to drive back?"
Besides the fact that she was also drinking, they drive on the left in Veridia, and a license from The Midlands needs to be officially converted before you can drive there.
Sophie Keaton curled her lips into a lazy smile. "We'll just have a handsome guy who hasn't been drinking take us back to The Mid-Levels."
After saying that, she couldn't help but laugh again. "Just kidding. It'd be trouble if my brother's people saw us. We'll just leave the car and grab a taxi, or call for a designated driver."
Evelyn Grant was at a loss for words. "You're seriously terrible."
Sophie Keaton couldn't help but burst out laughing.
After spending the entire previous day together, the two young women had already become quite familiar with each other. Evelyn Grant rested her chin on her hand, making idle chitchat with Sophie.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, or the fact that the music was loud enough that no one else could hear, but after waving away a male model who was trying to hit on them, Sophie Keaton leaned close to Evelyn Grant's ear.
"I'll tell you a secret, but you can't tell my brother."
"There's someone I really, really like, but he doesn't like me back. He just sees me as a little girl."
Her face scrunched up with the uniquely melancholic worries of a young girl. "The whole reason I keep making a fuss to come back to Veridia is because I want to see him..."
At this, her eyes lifted, suddenly brightening. "Hey, what if I ask him to come pick us up later? It's the perfect excuse!"
An eighteen-year-old girl can't hide matters of the heart. When she spoke of that person, it was as if her eyes held the stars.
It made Evelyn Grant wonder what she herself had been doing at eighteen.
'It seems I was either turning down confessions or traveling the world with my friends.'
Dylan Grant always used to tell her that you could fall in love anytime, but the sights you see at different ages are different. The feelings you have in the moment are something you can never experience again later.
Looking back, that carefree time with few worries was the most unforgettable.
So, when it came to Sophie Keaton's romantic troubles, she felt she couldn't be of much help.
She rested her chin on her hand, pondering for a few seconds. "If you want to see him, then of course you should."
But Sophie Keaton's spirits fell again. "No, I can't. If he sees me in a place like this, he might snitch..."
She didn't say who he would snitch to.
But Evelyn Grant guessed it was probably someone close to the Keaton family.
She wasn't curious enough to guess who Sophie Keaton's crush was. If Sophie didn't tell her, it meant she didn't want others to know.
Another cocktail.
Sophie Keaton's mood was a rollercoaster. She put her hands on her hips, looked at the male models, and huffed, "Plenty of guys are chasing after me. I'm not going to get hung up on one person. With so many handsome men around, I'll forget him sooner or later!"
'People who say things like that are usually the ones who end up going right back to that same blade of grass.'
Evelyn Grant glanced down at the time. It was almost ten o'clock.