Chapter 420 Ice Queen
Alvin lifted his chin, looking all proud, like a kid waiting for a gold star.
Luann's face was a mix of emotions. No matter how good-looking he was, that outfit was a disaster.
Alvin, oblivious to Luann's inner turmoil, tugged at his tie and beamed, "So, what do you think? Isn't my outfit awesome? I redesigned this suit myself. Pretty talented, huh?"
Luann's eyes drifted down. The once all-black suit was now half red, half black. It was a bit too big, with a giant skull on the red side and some weird words on the black side that even she couldn't decipher.
Emma burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. "What are you wearing? Are you trying out for a street performer gig?"
Alvin's face fell instantly.
Emma reached out and touched his hair, which was stiff with too much gel and looked super greasy.
She kept going, "Even flies would need crutches to land on your head, it's so slick they'd break a leg!"
Alvin slapped her hand away, not holding back, leaving her hand red. He turned to Luann, looking serious. "Luann, you tell me, how's my outfit? I got up at six this morning and spent the whole day at the salon."
Luann opened her mouth, seeing the hope in Alvin's eyes, and had to say, "It looks great, very unique."
Alvin immediately relaxed and shot Emma a smug look. "Did you hear that? Luann gets my style. You, on the other hand, have no taste. Stay away from me."
Emma rolled her eyes. "That's just a white lie; can't you tell?"
Alvin gritted his teeth. To stop them from arguing and making them late for the charity gala, Luann quickly said, "Let's talk in the car."
The three of them hurried into the car. Alvin sat in the back, constantly checking himself in a small mirror, clearly pleased with his look.
Luann glanced at him through the rearview mirror and couldn't help but ask, "You spent the whole day at the salon because it was packed?"
Alvin replied, "No, there weren't many customers, so I had all the stylists help me!"
Luann nodded thoughtfully. "No wonder there weren't many customers."
Her voice was low, and Alvin didn't catch it. "What did you say, Luann?"
Luann shook her head. "Nothing."
They soon arrived at the charity gala.
The place was packed. Newly crowned movie stars, minor celebrities, and members of wealthy families were all there.
The gala's schedule was simple: an award ceremony, some performances, and finally an art auction. All the money raised, no matter how much, would go to the night's total donations.
This charity gala's theme was helping kids from poor families.
There were dozens of large round tables at the venue. Apart from the specially arranged seats by the organizers, everyone else could pick their own seats. The two tables closest to the stage had nearly twenty name cards.
Luann turned to Emma and Alvin, "You guys go find a spot. I gotta sit at the main table."
They both nodded, "Okay!"
Luann had just settled in when people started trickling in.
Even though she didn't know them, everyone greeted her warmly. After all, who wouldn't want to cozy up to a young, beautiful, and impressive girl like her?
After a round of hellos, Luann's face was starting to feel stiff from all the smiling. Then, a woman walked in, and Luann recognized her immediately—this year's hot new actress, Elodie Rivera.
Elodie had been in the game since she was five, starting as a child star by chance. Now, at twenty-four, she had a bright future ahead.
Elodie's rise had even overshadowed Grace, who only got a nomination this year because of Elodie's success.
Despite her talent and acting chops, Elodie was known for being hard to approach—a real ice queen.
Tonight, she was rocking a pure black strapless evening gown with a long train. Her features were striking, and her eyes had that cold, indifferent look.
Elodie walked over and took the seat next to Luann.
As soon as Elodie showed up, the chatter around them died down. She glanced at Luann, and their eyes met for a brief moment.
This caught a lot of attention. People at the nearby tables started whispering.
"Are these two gonna throw down?"
"Do they even have beef?"
"Totally. When Elodie won Best Actress, Luann was at her peak and totally stole Elodie's thunder."
"Oh yeah, I remember that!"
"They probably won't fight."
"Why not? I've heard Elodie's got a nasty temper! She throws fits, yells at directors, and bullies her fans. She's done it all!"
People were buzzing with gossip. Suddenly, they noticed Elodie turning her head, like she was about to say something to Luann.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the drama. But to their surprise, Elodie just said, "Hello."
Luann smiled gracefully, her white strapless evening gown showing off her long, swan-like neck and perfect shoulders. "Hello, Ms. Rivera."
Elodie nodded and straightened up. Their exchange was simple and brief, leaving everyone surprised.
From afar, Alvin spotted Elodie and gulped. He nudged Emma, who was scanning the room for Ernest. "What do you think of that woman? Pretty, right?"
Emma glanced over and gasped. "Oh my god, that's Elodie! Why is she sitting next to Luann? I've heard she has a terrible temper. Luann better not get bullied. I have to go over."
Alvin's eyes lit up with excitement. "Let me handle this! I love dealing with drama!"
