The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

Rhea Warren reached out to wipe away Leila Jennings’s tears, her own eyes turning red as well.

"That Thorne... he always acts so serious, so stern with everyone. But really, he has the softest heart."

"I’m not telling you this to make you cry. I want you to know that even after a failed marriage, you can’t lose your ability to feel. If a person loses that, they’re no different from the walking dead."

"You have to be like one of your own experiments, one you’ve repeated a thousand times. Even if you fail, you need the courage to start all over again."

Leila Jennings nodded, her eyes red.

"Fine, go on and cry. It’s better to get it all out. You can’t cry tonight, or you’ll be all swollen tomorrow." Rhea Warren pinched her cheek, then her expression turned serious. "You’ve gotten so thin, there’s nothing left to pinch. You need to eat more."

Leila Jennings broke into a smile through her tears.

"Get a good night’s sleep. A stylist will come to the house tomorrow to do your makeup and hair. Then you’ll go to the cocktail party." Rhea Warren smiled as she called out, "Dr. Jennings."

Leila Jennings called back, "Professor Warren."

"Speaking of which, once the bidding for this project is over, you’ll be assigned a house and a position. You’ll be a professor, too, in your own right." Rhea Warren reminded her, "Starting today, you need to take good care of yourself. You’re young! If you don’t wear pretty dresses and high heels now, what are you waiting for? Orthopedic shoes?"

Leila Jennings nodded. "I understand, Mrs. Warren."

"At least you knew to get a new phone and dye your hair," Rhea Warren encouraged her. "Keep up the good work."

「The next day.」

Leila Jennings woke up at six as usual. This time, instead of making breakfast, she got herself ready. She wore her normal clothes but put on very light makeup, which made her look much more refreshed.

When she got to The Cole Group, Nathaniel Cole and the others weren’t there. The huge office was empty except for her. After finishing her daily task of organizing files, she assisted Zachary and his team online.

Mr. Duncan messaged her that the stylist had arrived at the house. She requested time off, clocked out, and went back.

She changed into the dress Mrs. Warren had given her and sat at the vanity, letting the stylist work their magic. After her hair was done, they started on her makeup.

Halfway through her makeup, Sean Sinclair called.

"Are you at work?"

"What’s wrong?" Leila Jennings didn’t answer directly.

"I can’t take you to the cocktail party tonight after all. Next time, okay?"

’He’s already made up his mind, and he’s still pretending to ask me if it’s okay?’

Leila Jennings said, "It’s fine."

"I knew you’d be the most understanding," Sean Sinclair said with a laugh before hanging up.

Only then did Leila Jennings look at herself in the mirror. She was stunned. She blinked.

"Are those fake eyelashes?"

"Nope, they’re your own. One light brush and they’re so long and curly," the makeup artist said with a grin. "Your nose has a great bridge, and your lips have a beautiful shape. But the most important thing is your head shape—such a superior skull structure! What a perfect head!"

Leila Jennings: "..."

’That’s supposed to be a compliment, right?’

She said, "Thank you."

"You’re welcome, you’re welcome! Doing makeup for a beautiful woman is a pleasure."

The makeup artist styled her hair into a low, pinned-up ponytail. She put on prescription-colored contacts, a pearl necklace, and matching pearl earrings. Finally, she put on gloves and high heels.

"I saw you have a pair of nude high heels. You can wear those!"

Leila Jennings glanced to the side. The shoebox was sitting there quietly, a brand logo printed on it along with a label for the size and color.

"The company gave them to me."

"???" The makeup artist’s mind went blank. "What kind of company is so generous?" she said, shocked. "I want to work there!"

In the four years she was with Sean Sinclair, Leila Jennings had never paid attention to women’s luxury goods. It was only after Sean’s promotion that she learned a little about men’s luxury brands.

"This pair costs over ten thousand, and they’re not even always in stock."

Leila Jennings’s eyes widened slightly. ’President Cole really treats his employees well,’ she thought.

"Have you worn high heels before?"

"Not often."

Leila Jennings decided to try them on. They didn’t feel too tiring at first, but before she even arrived at the venue, the balls of her feet were already starting to ache.

"Miss Leila Jennings, we’ve arrived." Butler Duncan got out of the car himself to open her door and handed her a small embroidered clutch.

Leila Jennings, used to large bags, said, "This looks like it can only hold a phone."

Butler Duncan smiled. "It’s just an accessory. I will wait outside for you, Miss Leila Jennings."

"Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Duncan."

"You’re welcome." Butler Duncan drove the car forward as a line of other cars pulled up. Leila Jennings took out her phone and messaged Professor Cheney and Chloe to ask where they were.

Chloe called. "Leila, where are you? Professor Cheney and I are right at the entrance."

"I’m at the entrance too."

"The main entrance?"

"Yes, the main entrance."

"That can’t be right, I don’t see you." Chloe looked all around. ’The place isn’t that big. How can I not find her?’

Leila Jennings watched as Chloe walked back and forth right in front of her twice.

"..."

"Chloe," she said, hanging up the phone.

Chloe was standing right next to her, phone pressed to her ear. "I’m at the main entrance, Leila! I don’t see you, but I just saw this stunning, aloof beauty. Hehe. I didn’t dare stare, I was afraid she’d think I was a creep. Hehe. But I was standing next to her, and she smelled so good. I don’t know what perfume it was, but it was amazing!"

Leila Jennings: "...Chloe, it’s me."

Chloe turned her head, and when she came face-to-face with the "stunning, aloof beauty" she’d just been talking about and saw her face clearly, her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"S-S-S..." She stammered for a few moments. "Senior!"

Leila Jennings hadn’t expected such a big reaction. "It’s me," she said calmly.

"AHHHHHH!" Chloe excitedly ran off and dragged Professor Cheney over. "Professor Cheney, look, look! Who is this!"

Professor Cheney walked closer and saw it was Leila Jennings.

’Leila Jennings in a gown and makeup?’

He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on.

"Leila Jennings!" Professor Cheney exclaimed, startled.

Leila Jennings felt a bit awkward. "Does it not look good?"

Chloe’s eyes were sparkling. She nodded repeatedly. "It looks great! Great!"

She was practically drooling.

She had always thought her senior had the bones of a beauty, she just didn’t like to dress up.

"I’m just so gratified," Professor Cheney said with a smile. "Young people should dress up. Well then, let’s go inside."

"Okay." Leila Jennings nodded, gently lifting the hem of her dress. Just as she placed one foot on the stairs, she heard Cecilia Sinclair’s surprised "Whoa!" from behind her.

"Whoa! Bro, this place is so grand! I have to take tons of pictures tonight, enough to fill my social media feed for the next few days."

Sean Sinclair’s date was Cecilia Sinclair? This surprised Leila Jennings a little.

At the research institute, besides Professor Cheney, no one knew about her relationship with Sean Sinclair. So Chloe was confused as to why her senior had stopped walking.

Behind them, Sean Sinclair spoke. "Hold on, we’re waiting for someone."

"I know, Bro. You’re waiting for Sarah." Cecilia Sinclair smiled. "Sarah just messaged that she’ll be another ten minutes or so. Why don’t you take me inside first? Then you can come back out to get her and walk in arm-in-arm. You have no idea how many people you’ll make jealous!"

"You and Sarah are a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman. As for that other person... forget it." Cecilia Sinclair looked disgusted at the mere thought.

Chloe knew of Sarah Lynch. She glanced back at the Sinclair siblings and muttered, "That couldn’t be Ms. Lynch’s boyfriend, could it?"

Professor Cheney, standing beside her, was completely dumbfounded. After a moment to recover, he lowered his voice and asked, "Sarah Lynch has something to do with your husb... with your ex-husband?"