This night, Charlotte couldn't sleep.
As the hours passed and she gazed out the window at the moonlight, her mind was consumed with the memory of her first meeting with Kingsley.
It had been when she was a child, before her family had found her. She and Kingsley were in the same orphanage, and at the time, she was frequently bullied.
In a moment of crisis, Kingsley had intervened. Wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, he appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Despite being young and frail, he stepped in front of her. When he saw her being bullied, his eyes turned scarlet.
Kingsley rushed forward and fought with the group of people like a furious lion cub.
Charlotte suddenly saw the blood on the carpet, causing her to scream in terror as Kingsley seemed to recover from his anger.
He turned to her, a hint of confusion and apprehension in his red eyes, as if he feared meeting her gaze.
Charlotte remained surprisingly calm, sitting paralyzed on the floor.
In a trembling voice through clenched teeth, she said, "I'm fine. Can you come over here and help me up?"
Kingsley didn't respond, his back to the light, and his emotions remained unclear.
Charlotte noticed the knot in his throat roll, as if he were trying desperately to hold something back. Her heart sank. She could see his fear, that there was an intense dread hidden in his dark eyes.
"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you," Charlotte soothed him with a soft tone.
Kingsley hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, then raised his arm for her to use as support without making direct contact. Charlotte grasped his arm and slowly made her way to the couch.
Once she was seated, Kingsley withdrew his hand and avoided contact with her. Charlotte's heart sank with disappointment, and the sparkle in her eyes faded slightly.
She remained silent, and Kingsley quickly turned and left. Watching him leave, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if they had once known each other.
"Wait, what's your name?" she called after him.
Kingsley paused and turned to face her. "Kingsley," he said, then turned back and left.
Then, Charlotte was found by the Scott family and brought back home, but Kingsley's bravery in protecting her left a lasting impression on Charlotte's heart.
Charlotte returned to the orphanage to find Kingsley, only to discover that he had been taken away by a mysterious family. As she grew up, Charlotte constantly tried to find out more about Kingsley but was unable to find any information.
Recently, Charlotte saw Kingsley again when she overheard him on TV competing in an international competition as an honors student at Fromanza University. However, he didn't seem to remember her.
They hadn't interacted much, and while Charlotte remembered him for saving her life, he didn't seem to remember the random acts of kindness he had done.
Charlotte sighed and rolled onto her back, feeling frustrated.
The next day, Charlotte entered the rehearsal site with dark circles under her eyes. The makeup artist noticed her pale face and asked, "What's wrong with you? Didn't you sleep all night?"
"I slept a little," Charlotte said, rubbing her eyes and laughing softly. "Maybe I've been feeling a bit stressed lately."
"Is Carolina being too hard on you?" The makeup artist spat. "Don't worry about her; she's just like that. Drama is everything to her."
Charlotte chuckled.
The door to the dressing room opened, and an ordinary-looking woman with an arrogant demeanor walked in. "Who is Charlotte?" she asked.
Charlotte looked over and replied, "It's me. Can I help you?"
The makeup artist blushed slightly and smiled. "It's Zelda. What can I do for you?"
Zelda?
Charlotte's eyes twitched slightly at the mention of the name. Zelda was the captain of the school's cheerleading squad and the original female lead in the play. However, Carolina had chosen Charlotte to play Juliet instead.
Zelda glanced at Charlotte with a hint of cynicism. Rather than answering Charlotte directly, she spoke to the makeup artist, "I need you to help me with the makeup. Come with me now."
"Now? But I'm in the middle of..." the makeup artist began, but was interrupted.
"Hurry up!" Zelda insisted, addressing the others in the dressing room. "Everyone who's idle, come with me."
It was clear that Zelda was targeting Charlotte.
"It's fine, you go ahead," Charlotte said with a gentle smile. "I can handle this myself."
The makeup artist saw the determination in Charlotte's eyes and finally nodded.
Then Zelda left with a group of people. Before leaving, she gave Charlotte a mocking, disdainful laugh.
Charlotte's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes grew cold and intense. Nevertheless, she chose not to escalate the situation by instigating a conflict within the theater group.
Soon, Charlotte finished applying her makeup and prepared to go on stage.
Today's rehearsal scene featured the classic moment from Romeo and Juliet, where the two lovers converse on the balcony during a moonlit night.
Juliet soliloquized about love at her window, while Romeo, drawn to the scene, intruded, and they confessed their love for each other. Romeo used the most beautiful metaphors and language to express his love, while Juliet responded with her own sufferings and vows of love.
Charlotte was getting ready for rehearsal when Zelda approached her.
Zelda scanned Charlotte casually, her eyes unfriendly, before glancing at the two-meter-high balcony set up on stage. She quickly looked away.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow slightly, but the next moment, she caught sight of Kingsley entering the room. In fact, everyone's attention turned to Kingsley as he walked in."