You Are The Apple of My Eyes

Chapter 716 Express Her Love

Michelle's parents had always taken her photos ever since she was a child. She had always been a photogenic girl and had no problem smiling happily in front of the camera. Her smile was able to melt people's hearts.

This was the case as Leon watched her on the screen.

Every time he saw her smile, his lips would always curve upwards.

Ever since they sat together, Valerie hadn't moved her eyes away from Leon. She saw familiar glimpses of his affectionate expression every time he looked at Michelle. It was the same way he had looked at her in the past. Finally, she was sure of one thing.

Michelle wasn't just his friend. He was in love with her.

At first, she was doubtful about it. But now, she was sure, and the thought made her feel very uneasy.

He had been looking for her for so long. And yet he fell in love with another woman. A young girl.

Valerie felt disgusted as she watched Michelle during her interview.

"Now that we've talked about the competition, let's focus on something else," the host said.

"Okay, but please hurry up," Michelle replied. "I'm going to call my brother to tell him about the good news."

"Isn't he watching the live broadcast of the competition?" the host asked.

"I don't want him to watch it. I'm afraid he'll scold me for being fierce in the game," she answered.

The host smiled. "Okay. We have a question for you and we're curious to know the answer. No one knew that you were a girl because you've always hidden your voice and face. Why is that?"

"Because he won't allow me."

The host looked confused. "Why wouldn't he allow you?"

"He doesn't allow me to show neither my voice nor face. He also doesn't allow me to add any friends on WeChat randomly. He says I'm easily deceived, and he doesn't believe me when I tell him I'm not."

"He must be a caring brother. My next question is for all the single boys. Do you have a boyfriend?"

"What?" Her face turned pinkish. "No."

The host continued his line of questioning. "Is there anyone you're in love with?"

Hearing the question made Leon frown. He thought he could no longer handle watching for another second, so he stood up and left.

"Yes, I do. I like him very much," Michelle's sweet voice played from the screen. Valerie noticed that Leon had walked away. She immediately understood why.

For a moment, she felt very sorry for him. The one he loved had a crush on someone else.

But that was inconsequential to her. From now on, her heart only belonged to him.

Since Michelle had already fallen in love with another man, Valerie thought she had nothing to worry about.

Leon had learned a lesson from his experience with her. He had learned not to cage Michelle the same way he had done to her.

When she heard Michelle say something from her iPad, her face turned pale. She tried to exit the page several times, but the live broadcast wouldn't close. She had no choice but to turn off her iPad in a hurry.

When the light from her iPad faded, her fingers trembled slightly.

'Thank God Leon went to the balcony.

If he heard what Michelle had said...' Her thoughts trailed as she couldn't bring herself to even imagine the possibilities.

After the interview, Michelle left the camera and exhaled upwards, gently blowing her bangs.

Joanna clapped as she walked towards her. "All this time, I thought you wanted to keep it a secret. Turns out you were just waiting for the right opportunity! You're so awesome! But I gotta say, it's a little high-profile."

"I...I can't help it. What if Leon was watching it?" Michelle pressed both her palms against her face. She could feel the warmth of her own hands. "I...I think I made a mistake, Joanna."

"No! Don't regret it. Have courage. If Leon watched it, then you can take that as an opportunity to confess your love to him. If not, then you can just repeat what you said to him." Joanna placed her arm around Michelle's shoulders.

"What?" Michelle's legs were still trembling from the adrenaline of confessing. "Maybe Leon didn't see it. After all, there are so many videos online."

Joanna pinched Michelle's nape. "Don't be so timid, okay? What if he also likes you?"

"But what if he doesn't?" Her mind couldn't help but jump to the worst-case scenario. The more Michelle thought about it, the more regretful she became.

"If he doesn't like you, then try to make him like you." At Joanna's age, everything was a possibility for her.

Even though Michelle always thought like a child, the fact was she was no longer one.

"But what if he doesn't like me?" she repeated in a dejected tone. "What happened a while ago was just an impulse. What if Leon doesn't want to talk to me anymore? Ugh, I just hope he didn't see it."

"You can go ahead and ask him! If he says he watched it, that means he knows how you truly feel. If he feels the same way, then you'll be a couple. But if he pretends as though it didn't happen, then..." Joanna paused for a while, and then continued, "If that happens, then it's your choice whether you want to pretend as if nothing happened or avoid him."

"Avoid him? Do you mean to leave him?" Michelle pouted her lips. She didn't want to leave Leon.

Joanna looked up for a while and said, "That's what I mean. If you don't, can you handle seeing him date another girl? If I were in your position, I don't think I'll be able to."

"Oh." Michelle imagined the scenario Joanna painted for her and understood her perspective.

When they were no longer at the interview area, Michelle found a quiet corner to make a phone call. After waiting for two beeps, the other side answered the phone.

"Hello, Leon!" she greeted excitedly. "I have good news to tell you."

"Oh? What's your good news?" Leon replied.

He already knew what she was going to say but was willing to pretend that he didn't.

"I participated in the competition, and we won! It's good news, right?"

"It is! I'm so proud of you. Congratulations!"

From the sound of his voice, Michelle could imagine Leon smiling the same way she was.

"When will you come back? I'll pick you up at the airport and celebrate your success."

"Maybe after two days. I'm not yet sure since I'm not the one buying tickets." She bit her lower lip and tried to stop herself from speaking. But she managed to muster enough courage to continue. "Leon, I just had an interview. Did you..."

'Should I ask him directly if he watched it?

Or should I ask him if he wants to watch it?'

Leon wasn't sure why she suddenly brought this up. He carefully thought of what to say next. "What's wrong with that interview? And yes, I did watch it."

"Oh...you did?" Michelle stammered. Her heart began to race as her mind started to feel like static. "Then, you heard what I said, right?"

"Yes, I did." He sensed something wrong with her tone. "Michelle, what's the matter?"

Michelle panicked. "No, it's nothing. I'm hanging up now. Bye."

"Wait! Don't hang up yet!" A long beep played on Leon's phone. He looked at the call log and saw that it was their shortest call ever. He began to sigh in disappointment.

"You were so quick to hang up. Is there something that you don't want me to know?" he mumbled to himself. Leon figured it had something to do with the interview, so he decided to watch it again from beginning to end.

While he stared into his phone, Valerie stood by the door of the balcony and pressed her ears against the wall. She overheard their entire conversation.

Although she didn't hear what the other person said, she had a rough idea based on Leon's replies.

When she heard the footsteps growing closer, she went back to the sofa and pretended nothing had happened.

She grabbed her iPad and swiped the screen. Before Leon could speak, she said, "You left before you finished watching the interview. Do you still want to watch it?

But that was a live interview, and now, it's over. Though I think they'll upload it later. If you want to watch it, I can send you the video once it's out." She flashed a fake smile.

"Don't you have something important to do with my cousin? The live broadcast of the competition took so long. Go ahead with your work. I'll keep an eye on it for you."

She shook the iPad in her hand and spoke in a calm demeanor.

Leon nodded. "Okay, thank you."

"You're welcome. We're friends. I haven't thanked you. I thought I would be alone for the rest of my life, with no family around me."

Guilt started to snake up on Leon's heart again.

If it weren't for him, Valerie wouldn't have been left alone and helpless.

"Sorry. I'll try my best to make it up to you. You can go back to C Island. You'll have better compensation there," he said as he looked at her. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

"But I want to stay here in Lexingport City with my cousin. I'll leave when he finally gets married." She paused and smiled at him. "Also, you don't have to say sorry all the time. Things have passed. Go ahead with your work. I'll send you the video as soon as it's out."

"Okay." He felt grateful for her kindness.

When Leon left, the smile on Valerie's face faded away.

She quickly found the interview video of Michelle and sent it to a professional editor. She asked him to alter it according to her requirements.

'Leon will only see what I want him to see, ' she thought to herself as a menacing smile flashed across her face.