Pearl ran out of Exhibition Hall C, having mixed feelings. The confrontation with Haley just now left her feeling both angry and exhausted. She took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
"Pearl! Wait!" Janetta's voice came from behind. Pearl stopped and waited for her friend to catch up.
Janetta, panting, said, "Are you okay? Haley was really out of line just now!"
Pearl forced a smile. "I'm fine, just need to calm down for a while."
Janetta took Pearl's hand. "Come on, let's go to the Hall A. The artworks there might help lift your spirits."
As they entered the Hall A, Pearl's mood did indeed improve slightly because of the beautiful art pieces around her. She was about to thank Janetta when she suddenly felt like she bumped into someone.
Pearl exclaimed, only to see the juice in her hand spilling on Adrian Egan's suit.
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" Pearl apologized quickly, trying to help him wipe the suit.
Adrian, however, said gently, "It's okay."
Pearl looked up at Adrian and found him quite handsome with a gentle demeanor. She said apologetically, "I'm really sorry. You should take off the suit, I'll send it to the dry cleaner."
Adrian smiled and shook his head. "No need for that trouble. But since this 'accident' happened, should we formally introduce ourselves? I'm Adrian Egan."
Pearl was somewhat surprised. "What do you mean? Have we met before?"
Adrian nodded. "Yes, Pearl."
Pearl looked at him warily. "Are you trying to flirt with me?"
Adrian chuckled. "It seems you really don't remember me. Think carefully, was there a chubby kid who always followed you around before?"
Pearl furrowed her brow, pondering for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "Wait, you mean you're that chubby kid?"
Adrian nodded. "That's me. Long time no see, Pearl."
Pearl looked at Adrian in astonishment. The chubby little boy she had turned into such a handsome and suave man.
"Adrian, you've changed so much! I almost didn't recognize you." Pearl exclaimed sincerely.
Adrian chuckled. "Yes, time is truly a magical thing. But you haven't changed at all, still as beautiful as ever."
Janetta, standing nearby, was puzzled. "Pearl, what's going on? Do you know each other?"
Pearl explained, "He was my neighbor when I was a child. We used to play together."
Adrian added, "More accurately, I always followed behind Pearl. I was her sidekick back then."
They all laughed. Pearl felt much more relaxed, as the unpleasantness from earlier seemed to have been forgotten.