He gave a habitual curl of his lips, then bsmiled /bas he turned the phone around, screen facing Jem.

“Well: Impressed?”

Jean blinked in surprise. This guy was actually showing off his game stats to her.

People bustled back and forth around them: the ce was buzzing with noise and movement. But Easton looked like he existed in a different worldpletely unaffected,pletely immersed in himself, not giving a damn about anyone else.

“Mr. Easton

Out of nowhere. Olive approached with a bright, eager smile on her face. She looked at Easton with a hopeful expression, her fingers nervously twisting together.

She hade over just to greet Easton. Right behind her. Dustin and Ran also walked up- each one putting on a humble front as they offered their greetings to Easton.

Jean stared, ck–jawed. These people all looked older than Easton, yet in front of him, they acted like subordinates groveling before a superior.

So this was how it worked: Easton didn’t need to say a word–people just came to him.

That was thew of the jungle in showbiz–those with enough fame always ended up calling the shots.

“What’re you thinking about?”

Easton’szy bvoice /bdrifted into her ears.

Jean snapped out of her thoughts, her gazending–somewhat absentmindedly–on his deep–set

eyes.

The guests had finished greeting him band /breturned to their seats. Easton sat there, eyes lowered. watching her with bamused /binterest

He knew exactly what was going through his bsister’s /bhead.

But he still asked—on purpose–just to see how she’d respond.

Jean pressed her lips together and shook her head bhard/b.

“I wasn’t thinking anything-

Easton curled his lips again and gave a soft chuckle.

“Really? You looked a little spaced out just now.”

Chapter 81 Julia Shows Up

But Easton reached out and rubbed the top of her head;

“You’re too young to be worrying about stuff that doesn’t matter.”

Finished

Under the light, the man’s good–looking face took on a soft, pearly glow. His lips lifted into a dazzling smile.

“If you’ve got questions, just bask /bme don’t go overthinking thing

Jean instinctively tried bto /bbat his hand away, her face scrunched up in annoyance

“Hey! I btold /byou to stop messing with my hair…”

She acted like she hated it, but inside, she kept reying what Easton had just said. What ithe /iheck is up with this guy? Suddenly ibeing /iall inice/ii? /iiSaying /istuff like just ask me… Yeah right. I don’t ibuy /iit for ia /isecond! iHe’s /istill a scumbag–probably even iworse /ithan ibefore/ii! /i

Easton let his hand fall away, ncing sideways at his sister, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

This stubborn little thing still clung to bthe /bbelief that he was out to get her.

He had bnever /bactually done anything to hurt her. He just really enjoyed watching her squirm, struggle, freak out–it was entertaining, like a toy that satisfied his urge for chaos.

But then, Easton’s eyes darkened just a little.

Lately… something felt different. He couldn’t put his finger on it. If he had to describe it, maybe…. he liked watching Jean look dazed or happy more than seeing her panic. He liked watching her scarf down food with a satisfied little grin…

Weird. His tastes really were hard to predict.

And honestly, he had no idea when or how it all changed…

Wherever Easton went, he was always the most dazzling person in the room. Even now, sitting in an unremarkable corner where no one dared to approach, he was still the focus.

Plenty of people had their cars tuned in, catching glimpses of Easton’s every move out of the corners of their eyes.

Naturally, everyone saw how Easton interacted with Jean.

They were surprised; they were curious. Who iexactly /ibwas /bthis little girl bnext /bto Eastoni? /i

The high–andb–/bmighty Easton had never been the approachable type–always distant and out of reach, like something just beyond arm’s length.

Yet here he was, showing an unexpected side of himself to a young girl.

Strange. Really strange. But then agam, weird stuff happened in showbiz all the time. Even if

12:54 PM

Chapter 81 Julia Shows Up

Right then, a flurry of light, hurried footsteps sounded at the entrance,

Finished

A girl who looked like a porcin doll–beautiful and adorable–came in dragging a suitcase, panting slightly from exertion..

“You are?”

A staff member nced at her in confusion, unable to hold back a question.

“Hello, everyone,” the girl replied politely, giving a formal bow. Her snow–white face was tinged with two faint pink splotches, probably from the sunlight outside, making her look even more adorable.

“My name’s Julia. I’m here for the show.”

“Oh, so you’re Julia.

Taylor, who had been busy, immediately paused and strolled to the entrance for a closer look.

Julia was someone the station head had personally mentioned, but Taylor had never met her. before.

Seeing that the girl was pretty and well–mannered, Taylor felt relieved right away. iWith /ia kid this sweet, what could possibly go wrong?

Jean, who’d been half–asleep and resting her chin on her hand, suddenly sat up straight the moment she heard the name “Julia.”

Sleepiness vanished in an instant.

“Wh… Juliab?/b” Jean frowned anxiously and muttered under her breath.

“Where is Juliab?/b”

“Right over there.” Easton helpfully raised his hand and pointed toward the door.

He put his hand down right after, eyes still glued to his phone screenb. /bIn truth, he hadn’t looked. away from it bonce/b–he’d just happened to lift his long fingers for a moment….

Jean followed the direction Easton had pointed; her gaze cut through the crowd andnded right bon /bJulia.

So this bwas /bJulia. She looked about the same age as Jeanb; /bclearly another civilian guest paired up with a celebrity.

Jean furrowed her brows, a sh of confusion in her eyes. I thought the storyline had already shiftedb… /bbut Julia still showed up right on cue. Julia.. why is she still here? It doesn’t add up. Everything else changed

don’t tell me she’s still meant to end up with Easton?

Easton’s fingers suddenly froze mid–bmotion/b.

Chapter 81 Julia Shows Up

Finished

“You know Julia?” he asked. But in the next breath, he switched to his usual smiling face and looked over at Jeam.

Jean pressed her lips together and answered a little stiflly, “Nope.”

“Really?” Easton stared at her, his gazeced with a smile–yet also bottomless and hard to read.

“Really.” Jean obviously wasn’t about to admit she knew the plot.

She frowned and stared back at Easton with aplicated look. Julia… That girl was ithe /ifirst domino in Easton’splete and total downfall.