STILL feeling a bit confused, Yu Jiao walked out of her room. Luo Ren said he would arrive here before lunch. She had to tell her mother that she would go to an art gallery with Luo Ren. But because her mind was still so muddled, she just stood in ce and stared nkly into space.


    The thought ''is this alright?'' kept running around her mind. The fact that she and Luo Ren would go somewhere with only the two of them hit her only after the call ended. This was the first time she would go somewhere alone with the other. She couldn''t help but feel nervous.


    Of course, it''s not because she was afraid that Luo Ren would do something bad to her. No, that''s thest thing that would ever cross her mind. It''s just that she couldn''t really exin why she''s nervous. It''s not even the kind of ''scared nervous'', it''s simply his heart beating uncontrobly fast. Like someone expecting something, but also hoping that nothing happened.


    Quite contradicting, right? But that''s exactly how she''s feeling.


    "Jiao Jiao?"


    Her mother''s call once again pulled Yu Jiao back to reality. She turned to where the voice came from and saw her mother just walking out of the kitchen.


    "What''s wrong? You looked like you''ve seen a ghost or something," the other asked, a worried expression appearing on her face.


    "Oh, it''s... ahm, Mom, Brother Ren called, and he asked me if I want to go to an art gallery with him," Yu Jiao said, telling her mother about her phone call with Luo Ren. "And I agreed."


    Her mother blinked. "He asked you to go out today?"


    Yu Jiao nodded. Then a strange expression crossed her mother''s face.


    "Will heeter to get you?"


    "Yes. Before lunch."


    "Hmm... then I guess we have to prepare for this... little outing."


    That confused Yu Jiao. "Prepare?"


    When her mother told her to ''prepare'', Yu Jiao didn''t expect that the other would dress her up and even put light make-up on her. There were even hair extensions which she didn''t know where the other got. Before she could even have time to be surprised, a dress suddenly appeared out of nowhere. What was even more surprising was it fit her like a glove.


    She didn''t know where her mother got these things. She wasn''t even aware that the other knew how to put on make-up. But the end result was... almost like a miracle.


    There, standing in front of the full-length mirror, was a tall young woman wearing a light blue dress. It was a simple dress with no special pattern. Just a silver belt that entuated her slim waist. She was wearing ck leggings and a pair of two-inch heels pumps.


    Her hair, that was now up to her waist, was styled in princess curls. The skin on her face was like smooth white jade. Her eyes even appeared bigger than normal because of whatever her mother lined it with. Even her eyshes looked longer. Her cheeks were pinkish, like there was a permanent blush in them. And her lips were like peaches, pink and plump.


    Yu Jiao almost couldn''t recognize herself.


    Was this really her? Could a little make-up, a dress, and hair extensions change a person''s atmosphere this much?


    "I knew this will suit Jiao Jiao," her mother said on the side, obviously very delighted.


    "D-does it really suit me?"


    Her mother stood beside her and put her arm around her shoulders. "Jiao Jiao, look at the mirror. Can''t you see how pretty you are?"


    Yu Jiao looked at the mirror once again. Although she looked vastly different from her usual self, she couldn''t really tell if this was pretty. For her, the definition of ''pretty'' was someone like Luo Yan.


    Instead of pondering over that, she just decided to change the topic. "But Mom, where did you get this dress? These shoes too. The hair extensions as well."


    "I bought them when I was still married with... Mr. Mo," her mother paused, as if thinking of the past. But she quickly recovered and continued with a bright expression. "I bought a lot of dresses for you, shoes as well. I really wanted you to wear them. But I know they''re not the type of clothes you usually wore, still I couldn''t help but buy them. I''m d that it finally became useful at this time. Oh, the hair extensions, I just bought those recently. I had a feeling that it maye in handy. And it really did. Hohoho!"


    Yu Jiao didn''t know how to respond to that.


    If she asked more about the dress and the shoes, it might remind her mother of Mr. Mo. Although she didn''t have any particr opinion of the man, since the two were already divorced, it''s better not to be reminded of each other.


    While she was thinking of what to say, the doorbell rang.


    "Oh, that must be Xiao Ren," her mother said. "Stay here in your own room for a while, okay Jiao Jiao? I will just talk to Xiao Ren for a bit."


    Feeling a bit confused as to why her mother wanted to talk to Luo Ren, but Yu Jiao still nodded at the end. Her mother walked out of the room and she stayed. When a minute had passed, Yu Jiao started to fidget. To calm down her frayed nerves, she started to walk back and forth.


    When her anxiousness had reached the extreme level, the door to her room opened and her mother came in. When the other saw her bitting her thumb, a helpless smile crossed her lips.


    She walked closed to Yu Jiao and held her hands. "Our Jiao Jiao, don''t be nervous. Isn''t Xiao Ren your friend? Just think of this as an ordinary outing between friends."


    Friends. Right. Luo Ren was her friend. So, was there really a need to be nervous?


    Yu Jiao clenched her fists. "Okay. An outing between friends. Yes."


    But when she walked out of her room and saw Luo Ren, her heart started beating uncontrobly again.