New Shoes for Isabella

Victoria wakes from a sweet sleep. Since she started shooting for the drama, carrying with her a heart filled with trepidation, this is the best sleep she's had.

The warm and bright morning sunlight streams through the window. Victoria pulls back the curtains and stretches, her beautiful face bathed in the sunlight, her fluffy hair seemingly glowing, as if she were a goddess stepping out of a comic.

She opens the door and steps out.

The Pretty Generation dormitory feels a little cold and quiet, with everyone out working. Only from the room next door comes the sound of a phone call.

"Claire, why don't you sleep a bit more on your day off?" Victoria asks, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she goes next door.

"I wanted to sleep in too, but someone decided to call me early in the morning and woke me up," Claire grumbles. She's supposed to have the morning off, but a call from eight to nine-thirty disrupts her sleep. In another hour, she has to get her makeup done and head out.

In short, her supposed day off is as good as none.

"It's Jessica, isn't it?" Victoria guesses right away.

Lately, Jessica has been the only one running an overseas schedule.

"That's right."

Claire rolls her eyes, complaining, "That girl is off this morning and insisted on showing me what Kobe beef looks like."

But despite that, she can't help laughing heartily.

"That's so like Jessica!" Victoria agrees wholeheartedly. Then, as if remembering something, she casually asks, "How's Jessica doing with the photo shoot in Neon?"

"It should be wrapping up soon, I think," Claire replies. "From what she said, she'll be back in ten days at most."

Speaking of which, she adds somewhat sulkily, "Never mind her, let's find something to eat. I'm starving."

After saying this, she looks at Victoria, who's lost in thought, and gently calls out, "Victoria, Victoria?"

"Oh, yes." Victoria snaps back to the present and says, "I'll go get some food."

Two days pass.

In the evening, Victoria arrives at KG Studio.

Today is the day Sebastian Vanderbilt will fulfill his promise.

"I have a model coming over for a rescheduled meeting, so wait a bit for me. It'll be over quickly," Sebastian apologizes.

"It's okay, I have plenty of time today."

Victoria puts down her backpack, her eyes moving subtly as she asks tentatively, "Maybe I could have a look?"

"Of course."

Sebastian teases with a smile, "If it weren't for your misunderstanding at the beginning, the anklet accessories were originally intended for you."

"Didn't you just teach me the other day not to easily discuss unhappy things in front of others?" Victoria retorts slightly.

"Do you consider yourself 'others'?" Sebastian blinks.

Victoria looks at him, taken aback. Their eyes meet and stop for a moment. They exchange smiles, and any previous gap between them seems to vanish in that instant.

"She's here, let's go have a look."

On the first floor of the studio, Isabella Harris stands there looking fresh and youthful in a white T-shirt and denim shorts, her hands nervously clutching the strap across her chest, exuding the fragile quality of the girl next door.

"How have you been taking care of yourself?" Sebastian asks with a gentle smile.

The hardworking are never unlucky. She is like a blade of grass that seems soft but grows tenaciously in the storm. Sebastian admires such an attitude.

It is also why the studio delayed a product for a trainee by a whole half a month.

"I'm all better now."

Perhaps comforted by Sebastian's friendly smile, Isabella gradually relaxes. After a quick glance at Victoria, she begins speaking more fluently.

"Since I left the studio last time, I haven't practiced dancing at all."

"Is that so?"

Sebastian smiles and says, "Sit there, take off your shoes, let me have a look."

Isabella, glancing at Victoria again with a shy expression, recognizes her as a member of Pretty Generation.

Is she supposed to show off her feet to a respected senior from the same company?

"I think I ate something wrong at lunch; I'll go to the bathroom." Victoria senses something in the air and excuses herself to leave.

"You may wait me in my office later," Sebastian instructs.

If Isabella's feet are fine, they will likely need to take sample photos of the jewelry for the product design.

Soon after.

"Don't be so nervous, you can think of it as a stage experience," Sebastian reassures her with a smile.

Then, perhaps reassured by his words, Isabella bites her lower lip, bends down, and takes off her blue and white flat shoes, revealing a pair of feet as pure as white jade.

Isabella's feet, bare and simple without any adornment, rest casually on a stool, their natural charm evident.

"Just a faint mark that's barely visible," Sebastian notes with satisfaction. "A little bit of oil later on, and it should be invisible."

At those words, Isabella's eyes brighten with hope.

"The final effect will depend on the photo shoot," Sebastian adds.

As he speaks, a thought seems to strike him, and he asks, "Isabella, do you really need this money?"

"I..." Isabella hesitates, her gaze dropping slightly, embarrassment in her voice, "My rent is due soon, and the landlord has been reminding me."

"Don't trainees live in dorms?" Sebastian inquires as he rises to his feet, watching Isabella put her shoes back on. "JYP should have dormitories for trainees."

"The dorm is too noisy, it's hard to focus on studying there," Isabella explains.

"Studying?" Sebastian expresses a bit of surprise.

"Yes, I got into Boston College this year." Isabella's face shows a hint of pride when discussing her studies – a pride born from long hours of hard work.

"Really?" Sebastian responds with a smile. "My cousin Abigail also started at BC this year."

"Your cousin must be very pretty and cute, right?" Isabella, following Sebastian upstairs, inquires curiously. She thinks to herself, surely a man as gentle as Sebastian will have a younger cousin influenced by him.

"My cousin is indeed beautiful," Sebastian replies, smiling. "As for being cute..."

He hesitates for a moment.

"By tomorrow at the latest, the payment for the endorsement will be transferred to your account. Congratulations on our cooperation," Sebastian extends his hand to Isabella, who has just signed the contract, offering his congratulations.

"Thank you so much, I will work very hard," Isabella responds with bright eyes, her happiness evident as she walks away with light and spirited steps, almost ready to bounce with joy.

"Is it finished?" Victoria approaches.

"Yes, she fits the product perfectly," Sebastian nods, but soon after, he slaps his forehead, takes a box from the front desk, and quickly follows Isabella out.

"Isabella?" Isabella turns around, puzzled, to see Sebastian approaching and opening the box to reveal a pair of canvas shoes. "These shoes should be more comfortable," Sebastian says with a light laugh. "Don't misunderstand, consider it a gesture of care for our endorser."

"But..." Isabella starts to object, recognizing them from an expensive brand.

"There's no need for any 'buts,'" Sebastian says as he crouches down and slips the shoe onto her foot amidst her stunned silence.

Under the glow of the setting sun, the scene at the street corner is picturesque and harmonious.