In the evening —
Alia and Freya were waiting in the restaurant.
Although there was still ti, every passing second only made Alia more anxious.
How could she not be?
She had put all her stakes on Adelyn.
Now everything depended on her.
"Didn’t you say you trust her?" Freya asked, side-eying the girl.
Alia awkwardly scratched the corner of her brow. "That I do, but —"
"It’s fine," Freya said, her tone soft. "There is still ti. Stop getting anxious. If you trust her, trust her completely."
Alia opened her mouth to speak, but her words stalled when, from the corner of her eyes, she saw soone enter the restaurant.
The familiar figure.
She turned to look, properly, and a small smile lifted her lips.
"There she is."
At her words, Freya turned as well.
Adelyn walked in with grace —each step swift yet asured. She wore a face mask that covered half of her face, but her eyes were striking as ever.
Sothing about those eyes felt familiar, though Freya couldn’t quite place it.
"Hello," Adelyn stopped before the table and extended her hand. "Adelyn Grace."
Alia stood up and smiled, the curve of her lips slightly awkward. Taking her hands, she introduced herself again.
"Hey, I am Alia. I was the one who connected you over the call."
Adelyn nodded in acknowledgent. Her gaze then shifted to Freya, who had been studying her with scrutinizing eyes.
"Then you must be Sister Freya?"
Freya paused for a mont before nodding and taking her hand. "Yes, it’s nice to et you. Please, sit."
As they were seated, Alia remained visibly restless. Her eyes kept trying to glimpse Adelyn’s face behind the mask —but she couldn’t.
Fidgeting with her hands, she finally spoke, unable to hold back any longer.
"Well, ..."
Adelyn stared at her, her brows lifting slightly.
"Is your face alright?" Alia asked.
Her question imdiately made Freya turn towards her.
Feeling her gaze, Alia hurriedly explained, "I an —you ca wearing a mask. I was just casually concerned. After all, you will be working with us, and we want you physically fit and ... well, presentable."
"Alia!"
"Freya, I am genuinely concerned," Alia insisted, though her anxiety was evident both in her tone and expression.
She turned back to Adelyn, clearly waiting for an answer.
Behind the mask, Adelyn smiled faintly.
"Genuinely concerned that I might have faked my profile on Battling Legends?"
Alia imdiately flushed. When she felt Freya’s questioning eyes on herself, she avoided it.
And just seeing that, Freya understood what Alia had been hiding all along.
"You found her through an online mobile ga?" Freya asked.
"I—I was just —" Alia looked helpless. "—looking around when I ca across her. People tagged her as the beauty on the ga server, so I thought —"
Freya pinched the bridge of her nose, unsure what to say.
This might be the first ti a talent agent has gone scouting through online gas.
"Alia, you —"
"We aren’t required to show our faces while playing online gas," Adelyn interjected calmly, her words holding a light tease.
Alia looked even more embarrassed. "Then, why were they calling you a beauty?" She had clearly researched before contacting her. She was certain that’s what people called her.
Or else, why would she reach her, staking the last chance she had?
Adelyn shrugged lightly. "Because of my gaming skills. Players often call top-tier players the ’beauties’ of the ga."
"Then what about your looks?" Alia’s heart sank. "Are they even suitable for the entertainnt industry?"
Her eyes searched.
Good complexion —suitable.
But then, why was she covering her face? Could she —?
Alia’s earlier confidence crumbled completely.
Could the stars have so rcy on her?
Why were they bullying her like this?
Alia waited, but when Adelyn didn’t respond for a good long mont, she nearly teared up. She pushed her chair back, ready to leave, when Adelyn finally spoke.
"I am not sure if my looks are suitable or not," Adelyn said calmly. "Why don’t you check and guide ?"
Before Alia could ask what she ant, Adelyn lifted her long, fair fingers and gently removed the mask.
Her smooth complexion was revealed bit by bit —until her face was fully visible.
"So," Adelyn asked, eting Alia’s gaze with clear curiosity. "Do you think I will make it?"
Alia didn’t know how to respond.
She opened her mouth, but the words lodged in her throat.
She had seen Adelyn’s portfolio before. She knew how heavily edited photos could be.
Yet this was the first ti reality completely outshone the pictures.
Adelyn’s profile photos didn’t do her justice at all.
Turning to Freya, Alia squealed softly, "How did I even find her? Was the entire galaxy rooting for ?"
She wanted to jump in celebration, but rembering where she was, she restrained herself.
Rubbing the tip of her nose gently, Alia forced herself to calm down before turning back to Adelyn.
"Well," she cleared her throat before continuing, "let’s not delay this any further. Since we are here to sign the contract, let’s do it right away."
There is no way she was letting her slip away.
She pulled a folder from her bag and slid it toward Adelyn.
"Please."
However—
What she failed to notice was that throughout all this, Freya had been looking at Adelyn differently —as if she had finally recognized her.
"Wait."
Freya pressed her hand down on the folder, stopping it mid-slide.
"Huh?" Alia frowned. "What’s wrong?"
"Do you have any doubts. Let’s discuss that after we sign her," she said hurriedly, not wanting to miss the chance they had.
But when she saw Freya not responding, she continued hurriedly, lowering her voice so Adelyn wouldn’t hear.
"Sister Freya, understand. Even if her acting skills are lacking, she can learn. And even if she doesn’t —her looks alone can land her a few roles. Sothing is better than nothing. We can keep looking for more talent. Trust ."
With that explained, Alia tried to pull the folder again —but Freya didn’t let go.
"Sister Freya—"
"You are Adelyn Scott," Freya said slowly. "Aren’t you?"
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