Chapter 166 Painted Faces
Zion praised the moment Anneliese set her tools down.
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Anneliese felt a sense of pride. Jonathan’s face carried such authority that doing anything to it became an aesthetic pleasure. Smiling shyly, she said, “It’s only because your boss has such great skin. The makeup goes on easily.”
It wasn’t flattery. His skin was smooth and flawless, better than most women’s. Smooth to the touch, bouncy and soft, it was addicting to brush against, and she found herself hooked on the feeling.
“I’m heading out.” Jonathan rose to his feet, then suddenly reached out and rubbed his thumb along the corner of her mouth. “You got some powder there.”
Only then did Anneliese remember how her hair had slipped down earlier, and she had tucked it back without thinking. But where his thumb had brushed across her cheek and lip, it was like a spark had caught fire. Her face flushed bright red. She hurriedly raised her hand and wiped at the spot herself, laughing awkwardly.
Jonathan stepped into the elevator, the mirrored wall reflecting his flawless features and the faint curve of his lips. “Have two sets of men’s skincare products delivered to Maple Bay,” he instructed Zion.
He had a feeling she liked men with good skin–he’d better maintain it.
Zion, used to his boss‘ peculiar orders at this point, only nodded, then reminded him, “Tomorrow’s banquet Ms. Claude is attending should be Mrs. White’s birthday dinner. Sir, you…”
“Clear the schedule,” Jonathan continued.
That was as good as admitting he planned to attend as well. Clearly, he was worried the Whites might make things difficult for Annelise.
After breakfast, Anneliese took Meatloaf for a walk before hurrying to Astoria University. She hadn’t been to campus for three days because of her trip to Riveraton, so she called Jackson on
her way.
When she arrived, Jackson was already waiting downstairs. She jogged over quickly. “Sorry,
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Chapter 166 Painted Faces
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something came up these past few days, and I couldn’t make it to class.”
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She wore a simple white cashmere hoodie, wide–leg black pants, white sneakers, and a camel- colored coat, her hair tied back in a low ponytail with a backpack slung over her shoulders. She looked no different from any other student on campus, yet as she ran up to him, she carried with her the warmth of sunshine and autumn air.
Jackson’s hand clenched tighter in his pocket before he forced a smile. “It’s fine. Come on, Professor Baltimore asked me to bring you straight to the lab.”
She had promised earlier to help in the professor’s lab with sorting and analyzing data, but things had been delayed.
Falling in step beside him, Anneliese asked, “Professor Baltimore isn’t mad, is he?”
“He’s not.” Jackson kept the conversation going. “In fact, he even asked about you twice, wondering if something had happened.”
Anneliese didn’t want to mention the mess with Zacharias, so she only smiled. “Just had some personal matters to take care of. It’s all settled now.”
Her light tone left Jackson a little disappointed.
“Can you tell me about the lab?” she asked.
The thought of spending every day with her instantly revived him. “Of course! The project we’re working on is about energy and power optimization. The team’s not that big–just me, and four other seniors, three guys and a girl. They’re all easy to get along with, so don’t worry.”
As he went on introducing each member by name and personality, Anneliese listened attentively, occasionally asking questions. From a distance, the two of them looked close, chatting and laughing with ease.
Not far away, a girl in a brown beret–Coral’s roommate–snapped several photos of their backs and immediately sent the pictures to Coral.
‘Coral, that crazy woman showed up at our school again. She’s even cozying up with Jackson. Hurry and show your boyfriend these pictures so he won’t fall for her tricks again!
‘By the way, you’ve skipped too many of your core classes. You’re short on credits, and we’ve covered for you too many times already. Several professors are angry. If you don’t come back soon, they’ll mark you as absent more than eleven times and cancel your exam eligibility!
‘Tell your boyfriend to deal with his ex and come back to school!‘
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Chapter 166 Painted Faces
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Coral was holed up in a rundown motel on the outskirts of Oceaton. She zoomed in on the pictures, staring at Anneliese’s bright smile as she walked across Astoria University’s campus.
She then looked around at her own miserable state–disheveled, hiding out, surrounded by piles of instant noodle trash. She didn’t even dare open the curtains in broad daylight.
Compared to Anneliese’s glow, she felt like nothing more than a roach. And in her mind, it was all Anneliese’s fault.
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