Chapter 92 On the Eve of Filming
To meet Quentin's special requirements, Olive worked tirelessly for two days and nights to complete the dress. Upon finishing, Olive called Quentin and asked him to bring Lauren over for a fitting.
Uncharacteristically, Quentin immediately brought Lauren to see Olive, eager to see how Lauren would look all dressed up. Olive brought out the dress but deliberately kept it a secret, not opening it in front of Lauren and Quentin. Instead, she pushed Lauren directly into the changing room.
Quentin, waiting outside, grew a bit impatient. Seeing Quentin's anxious expression, Olive chuckled and said, "Quentin, patience is a virtue. You need to stay calm!"
Quentin shot her a glance, unwilling to argue. At that moment, the sound of high heels echoed from a distance. They looked towards the door and saw Lauren in a light blue silk gown. The dress had a beautiful drape and exquisite decorations. The gown was adorned with gold-threaded patterns all over, and the waist was cinched with a multicolored woven belt.
The dress had two layers. The inner layer was shorter, reaching only to the thighs, while the outer layer was thin silk, semi-transparent, adding a touch of ethereal beauty. Lauren, being tall and slender, perfectly showcased the dress's advantages. Standing gracefully before them, Lauren looked a bit shy, her blushing cheeks adding a touch of allure. Her already long legs appeared even more enticing under the thin silk. Lauren's tousled hair fell lazily over her face, making her look like a Venus who had wandered into the mortal world.
Quentin, gazing at the Venus-like Lauren, couldn't help but swallow hard. He knew Lauren was attractive, but he hadn't expected her to be this stunning. He wanted to lock Lauren away at home, not even allowing Olive, another woman, to admire her. He regretted making Lauren the spokesperson, as now the whole world would know of her beauty. Seeing Quentin's reaction, Olive smiled with satisfaction.
The dress was so precious that Lauren even breathed carefully. "I think this dress is too luxurious. It's not suitable for me, let alone for endorsement photos," Lauren said uneasily.
"No, I think it's perfect. It suits you very well. Mr. Robinson specifically asked me to prepare this dress for you. If you don't accept it, wouldn't that waste his effort?" Olive said with a smile. Quentin, snapping out of his daze, glared at Olive, knowing she would meddle.
"It's barely acceptable. You should wear it," Quentin said awkwardly, clearly pleased but unwilling to voice his praise. Olive pouted. Quentin was still the same, pretentious and insincere. Lauren walked over cautiously. Indeed, the dress was beautiful, but wearing it made her feel like she wasn't herself. The feeling was unfamiliar.
"Olive, isn't the waist a bit too tight?" Quentin frowned, finding it increasingly uncomfortable to look at. Lauren tugged at the waist, feeling it was indeed a bit tight. Olive noticed it, too. She rarely made dresses for pregnant women, so she hadn't considered everything.
"Yes, I focused too much on aesthetics and didn't consider Lauren's comfort," Olive said, open to feedback. "Aesthetics aren't the most important. I want a comfortable dress," Quentin said. Lauren's heart warmed. Quentin's thoughtfulness was truly captivating, making it hard to resist.
Olive took the dress away for final adjustments, and Lauren followed Quentin back to her house. "Do I really have to wear that dress for the commercial?" Lauren asked.
"Yes," Quentin replied. Lauren suddenly fell silent. She wasn't concerned about the dress but about her identity being revealed soon, feeling anxious. Quentin guessed what was on Lauren's mind and said coldly, "There's nothing to be nervous about. Since you are already Mrs. Robinson, you need to adapt to that life quickly."
Adapt quickly to life as Mrs. Robinson? Lauren had spent two years trying to fit into that life, and now it was right in front of her, but she felt scared. Lauren, who always thought of herself as brave, suddenly found herself lacking courage. Becoming Mrs. Robinson was the dream of millions of girls and had been her greatest wish. But now, life had worn down Lauren's edges, and she no longer had her former bravery.
"Quentin, I don't want to wear it. I want to be myself. Do you think the real me would embarrass you?" Lauren was extremely sad, knowing she wasn't very outstanding and fearing Quentin was doing this just for appearances.
"Don't you want it? Are you throwing a tantrum?" Quentin smiled meaningfully. This was the first time Lauren had so clearly said no to him. In fact, Quentin had already regretted commissioning the dress for Lauren while they were at Olive's. He didn't want others to discover Lauren's beauty because it belonged to him alone.
Lauren thought Quentin was angry, but this time, she didn't want to back down. "I'm not throwing a tantrum. Can't I express what I truly feel?" She said. Quentin understood Lauren's grievances. He had indeed neglected her too much over the past two years.
"Alright, we'll do as you wish." In the end, Quentin relented. Lauren was immediately delighted to hear Quentin agree. "Really? I really don't have to wear it. But Olive designed it so meticulously. Wouldn't it be disrespectful not to wear it?" Lauren hesitated.
"Don't worry about her. You should think more about yourself," Quentin said, his eyes clear as spring water, looking intently at Lauren. Lauren felt uncomfortable under Quentin's gaze and changed the subject, "Quentin, are you really sure you want to introduce me?"
Quentin found it amusing. Lauren needed to be more knowledgeable. At this point, she could still ask such a silly question. However, he chose to answer patiently, "Yes, Mrs. Robinson." Quentin's eyes sparkled a light that had appeared once at Olive's. Quentin felt his feelings for Lauren were becoming increasingly different.
He used to resent Lauren for scheming to marry him. Later, he found her foolish yet endearing, someone he could tease for amusement. But unknowingly, his heart had fallen for Lauren. What was maddening was that he found himself quite obsessed with this feeling.
With tomorrow's commercial shoot scheduled, Lauren was exceptionally nervous. She couldn't tell Quentin about her anxiety and had no other friends, so she thought of Ethan, who had just returned to the country. Lauren arranged to meet Ethan at a café, intending to have a heart-to-heart conversation with him to vent her recent emotions and thoughts.
