You Are The Apple of My Eyes
Chapter 719 Competing For A Necktie

Lydia looked at the necktie Michelle was holding and thought it would fit Leon well. "You liked this tie when you first saw it. Just choose this one."

"That's right. Didn't you like Leon too when you first saw him?" Debra teased her cheekily. "All right, all right. Let's head over to the counter and pay. We still have other things we need to buy, and we haven't even decorated the venue yet."

"That's right," Lydia said. "Doing all those takes a while, and we can't afford to waste time wandering around. If we bump into Leon, our plan will be ruined."

Michelle nodded. "You're right. Leon's office seems to be nearby."

Debra widened her eyes and grabbed Michelle's hand. "Let's hurry up! Pay for the tie and leave."

The three of them headed towards the counter.

"Excuse me," Valerie called out to stop them.

They stopped and turned around.

'Necktie? Leon?' Valerie overheard what they were saying. She was sure that the girl in front of her was Michelle. Michelle had bangs covering her forehead and puffy cheeks. Although Valerie thought Michelle wasn't that pretty, she couldn't deny that Michelle did look cute when she smiled.

She had always imagined Michelle to be a mature, beautiful woman. But what she saw in front of her was a cute young girl.

She couldn't fathom why Leon would fall in love with Michelle.

'Is it because he had grown sick of me that he's looking for something else now?' she thought.

"Hello, what's up?" Michelle said with a friendly smile as she looked at the beautiful woman in front of her.

Valerie reined in her thoughts and looked at the tie in Michelle's hand. "I saw this tie just now, and I've taken a liking to it. Is it okay if you can give it me?"

Without intending to, Michelle withdrew her hand.

Valerie noticed the hesitation in Michelle's movement. She obviously didn't want to hand over the tie to her. Valerie let out a small exasperated sigh and, in a soft voice, said, "His birthday is coming soon, and I want to buy him a tie. I've searched everywhere, and it took me so long to replace the tie you're holding. But it seems you picked it up first. I guess I have to pick another one."

She smiled kindly and kept her eyes on the tie. Then, she lowered her voice enough for everyone to still hear. "I really like this tie. I'm sure he'll like it too. I was planning on making him happy with this tie." Whenever she looked and spoke like this, people would usually give in to her requests.

Michelle held onto the tie and felt conflicted. 'If I give the tie to her, then I'll have to go back and choose another one.'

She thought of handing it over to Valerie, but when she felt the silky fabric glide smoothly against her fingers, she hesitated.

"I'm sorry. It seems that you have to pick another one," Lydia said as she held Michelle's wrist and faked a polite smile in front of Valerie.

From the very beginning, Lydia had noticed Valerie, who looked like she came from a rich family. She had noticed that Valerie seemed to have taken a fancy to the same necktie as Michelle did. She had planned to ask Michelle to give it to Valerie if Valerie wanted it, too.

But Valerie turned around after Michelle had gotten the tie.

It befuddled Lydia why Valerie came to them and asked for the tie now. It seemed that she was desperate to take it. Something must be wrong.

"You know us, right?" Lydia asked.

The look in Valerie's eyes shifted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. After all, she was a sophisticated woman. "How can we know each other? Ever since I came to Lexingport City, I haven't made any friends yet. For the past two days, I've been selecting ties for my friend. I really like this tie. Can you give it to me?"

She looked at Michelle with pleading eyes.

As the woman's eyes stared at her, Michelle couldn't help but feel sympathetic. She turned to Lydia and Debra. "How about we pick another one? Maybe I can replace another tie which is more suitable for Leon." "Thank you!" Valerie's face brightened with joy.

Debra placed her hand on Michelle's shoulder and said, "But we're running out of time. Imagine how many decorations we still need to buy and we haven't even started preparing the venue. We only have this afternoon and tomorrow, then you'll make the cake yourself the day after. We have a lot of things we need to do and we're on a tight schedule."

Then, she turned to look at Valerie. "Since you've been picking ties for two days already, why don't you continue your search?"

Debra grabbed Michelle's hand and dragged her away.

Valerie gritted her teeth in anger. Then, she caught a glimpse of the bracelet on Michelle's left wrist.

Her eyes widened in shock. She couldn't believe it!

That bracelet, which only the royal family of C Island could wear, was given to Michelle. And now, she was wearing it.

'Does Leon really like her so much?'

After Michelle paid for the bill and left, Valerie secretly followed them. She noticed that the three of them entered a house.

Michelle and the others were planning to hold the birthday party on the rooftop of her house.

With labored breath, Debra struggled to climb the stairs as she carried a big black plastic bag. Beads of sweat started to roll down her forehead.

"Why am I even here? This isn't my crush's birthday party, so why am I doing all of this?" Since she came from a rich family, Debra wasn't used to doing tiring work. Yet now, she found herself working as though she was a maid.

When she finally reached the rooftop, she was so tired that her legs buckled and almost collapsed. She leaned against the wall and tried to catch her breath. "Can I call my bodyguards to help? I'm exhausted. The bag's so heavy."

When she finished speaking, Lydia lifted the bag she had just put on the floor with only one hand.

Debra looked at her in shock and awe.

"You can sit there and rest. We'll handle everything else." Lydia smiled as she effortlessly carried the bag to the middle of the rooftop.

The black plastic bag, which Debra had been carrying, was much larger compared to Lydia's tall and thin frame. Debra thought anyone would struggle to pick up that bag given its size, and yet Lydia carried it with one hand as though it was nothing.

Debra still couldn't believe it! 'Lydia's so strong,' she thought.

She struggled to walk and followed Lydia. "Isn't that heavy?"

Lydia raised the bag slightly and checked. "Yes, a little."

"Okay, that's good to hear. I thought I was just too weak." Debra went to the nearest chair she could replace and sat down. Behind her, there was a long square table.

Michelle, who was busy putting vases on the table, saw Lydia walking over to her. "I'm coming! Let me carry it," she said excitedly as she ran towards her.

She grabbed the bag from Lydia's hand. Using both hands, she lifted it up with ease and went back.

Debra was so shocked! 'How is this possible?'

Since Michelle had a short frame, she looked like a chubby penguin walking with the big bag. Debra heaved a sigh upon seeing this.

'I'm not a delicate woman,' she thought.

Michelle put the bag down and opened it. One by one, she took out the things inside, including small bags of deflated balloons. "Let's blow these balloons and tie them up."

"Blow? Like with our mouth?" Debra asked as she felt her own mouth. "It'll be swollen if we do that."

"Don't worry," Lydia smiled as she took the balloons. "We have tools to inflate them."

"Oh, thank God." Debra feebly stood up and walked towards them. She noticed Michelle's bracelet. She grabbed her hand and took a closer look. "When did you make a fortune, Michelle?"