Chapter 45: Chapter 42: Fundraiser Gala!
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….
No, what mattered was that half the clothes—over 100 sets—were women's outfits.
Lolita dresses. Ball gowns. Miniskirts. Puffer jackets. Female suits.
Off-shoulder styles, backless designs, thigh-high cuts… and—wait, what the hell is with the stockings?!
Is this a joke?
Did I piss off Stark somehow? When? HOW?!
Lemu's mind raced through his recent interactions with Stark but came up with nothing.
Still, as his eyes wandered over the pile, something unexpected happened.
He reached out and picked up a light blue dress hanging near the edge of the bed.
The top half featured geometric lace patterns, subtly see-through, while the skirt flared gently, ending just above the fingertips with a slight tilt to the left side.
Made of silk, it had a soft, smooth texture and carried a faint bohemian vibe—a design that seemed almost ethereal.
…Okay. Fine. It's actually kind of pretty.
Looking at the light blue dress in his hands, Lemu couldn't help but recall that incident in the bathroom—the time he had accidentally put on the wrong outfit.
That same shade of blue, that same delicate fabric—and in the mirror, staring back at him, had been an exquisite girl.
So beautiful. So stunning. So effortlessly captivating.
Every movement she made had mirrored his own, and her face had been identical to his.
A sudden, inexplicable urge stirred in his heart—an urge to see her again.
All it would take was putting on this dress and finding a mirror.
Just one more glimpse…
Click!
The door creaked open with a sound so soft, yet in Lemu's ears, it boomed like thunder.
He jumped, startled out of his thoughts.
"Pepper! What are you doing in here?!"
His voice came out sharper than intended, and a slight flush crept up his face—an unmistakable mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
Pepper raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by his overreaction, but she chose not to dwell on it.
"I heard your clothes arrived, so I came to take a look."
Her eyes swept across the mountain of outfits, widening in shock.
"Tony bought you all of this? Oh my God!"
She covered her mouth, clearly stunned by the sheer excessiveness of it.
"I thought he was just joking…"
"Mm-hmm."
Lemu grunted in response, still trying to recover from the near heart attack he'd just experienced.
Pepper stepped further into the room, her curiosity piqued, as she circled the piles of clothing—inspecting, evaluating, and occasionally smiling.
Finally, she plucked a few outfits from the chaos and held them up in front of him.
"Let me help you try these on."
Her tone was playful, but her eyes sparkled with determination.
"No one knows fashion better than a woman. Trust me—I'll make sure you look amazing."
She unfolded a black Gothic Lolita dress and held it up to him, grinning as she swayed it slightly in front of his face.
The lace trim and ruffled layers added a dramatic elegance, but Lemu felt like the entire world was crashing down around him.
Pepper's expression was practically glowing with anticipation.
Was this revenge? Or just pure evil?
"Look at this one! I think it'd suit you perfectly—just try it on, okay?"
Pepper held up a black Gothic dress, her eyes practically sparkling with enthusiasm.
"If you wore this, you'd look just like a dark princess straight out of a fairy tale—mysterious and enchanting."
Lemu stared at her, completely expressionless, before shaking his head.
"Okay, fine. What about this one? Or maybe this?"
She held up two more outfits.
One was a white evening gown—elegant and refined, exuding a sense of maturity and grace.
The other was a pink fitted blazer paired with a white graphic tee—more playful and youthful in style.
"Honestly, I think both would look amazing on you. Since you're attending a gala, either the dress or the suit would be perfect."
Pepper leaned in closer, her eyes wide with hopeful pleading.
"Just try one—just one outfit! Please?"
"No way."
Lemu's flat refusal cut through her protests, and before Pepper could respond, he shoved her out the door.
"Out. I'll pick something myself."
Click.
He locked the door behind her.
Leaning against it, Lemu let out a deep sigh, feeling an inexplicable sense of conflict.
Half an hour later…
When he finally emerged, the roomful of clothing had completely disappeared—every last piece, including the women's outfits.
All of them had been quietly stored away in his dimensional inventory.
As for himself?
Lemu had opted for simplicity—a plain white shirt paired with black trousers.
If not for the ridiculous price tags on the clothes, his delicate features, and his striking light-blue hair, he might have passed for a completely ordinary teenager.
Pepper, who had been waiting in the living room, was visibly disappointed.
Her face fell as soon as she saw him.
"That's it?"
Clearly, this was not the fashion statement she had envisioned.
But Lemu ignored her reaction, already heading toward the door.
"Let's go. We'll be late if we don't leave now."
They arrived at the Walt Disney Concert Hall just in time.
The gala was set to start at 8 PM and would run for four hours, wrapping up around midnight.
By the time Lemu and Pepper stepped inside, the venue was still sparsely populated.
Soft, melodic music filled the hall.
The walls, adorned with warm-toned geometric tiles, gave the space a modern, artistic ambiance.
Clusters of well-dressed guests stood chatting in small groups, scattered throughout the open area.
….
The Stark Military Family Fundraiser Gala was being held at the Disney Concert Hall.
As one of the primary representatives of the organizing team, Pepper was immediately swept away by the so-called elite of society to handle networking duties shortly after they arrived.
Meanwhile, Lemu—true to his nature—had brought along a bag of snacks filled with biscuits, dried fruits, small fish jerky, chocolates, and candies. For a snack lover, the world would always revolve around delicious treats.
Since he had already devoured his personal stash earlier that day, he had swiped these from Stark's private collection before heading out.
….
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