Contract Marriage: The Replacement Groom

65 Haircut

Inside Valen's room....

The child just came out of the bathroom looking flushed. His milky white skin had red patches from the hotness of the water and his hair was dripping. He had a white towel wrapped loosely around his waist.

Getting into his room, he was shocked to see Jeslyn sitting on his bed with a leg crossed and a maid standing beside the door with her head bowed. "What are you doing here?" Valen asked, looking guarded.

"Relax, little plum..."

"Don't call me that!" It sounds too girly. He thought.

Jeslyn chuckled and shrugged. "Little Plum, I'm here to apologize." She smiled.

Valen furrowed his brows. 'Apologize? When has Jeslyn ever apologized to him?'

The more Valen thought about it, the more he felt suspicious of her.

"You can leave now," Valen said, not accepting or rejecting her apology.

"I should, but I can't." Jeslyn shook her head and got up.

With every step she takes towards Valen, he takes an equal step back.

"What do you think you are doing?" Valen asked, a little flustered.

"Nothing. I just want to help you out. I heard you don't allow servants to wash you or dress you up. It's either Rex or Mulan, but since they aren't here, I should take over. Besides, your hand isn't well." "No! Stay away from me, don't come close!" Valen panicked.

Ever since he got injured because of her, plus seeing her lie in bed, looking peaceful for days, Valen started to feel something he didn't understand and for that, the boy had been trying to stay away from her, but this vixen....

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you, not that I can anyway." Jeslyn stretched a hand and forcefully yanked Valen towards her before she dragged him to sit in front of the large mirror on his dressing

table.

"Let me go!" Valen struggled against Jeslyn.

Feeling annoyed that her kindness was being taken for granted, Jeslyn picked up a pair of scissors and held it against Valen's long hair.

"Move one more time and I'll cut your hair," she threatened.

Valen stiffened after that, giving Jeslyn enough time to admire his hair.

Jeslyn gave the hair a second look and pursed her lips. His hair looks beautiful and soft. When made into a side swept, Jeslyn was dead sure that the hair would form a bang to cover his eye. Jeslyn had never paid close attention to his hair because he never styled it. Except for the first time

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she saw him in the dining room where he had his hair in a messy back swept, Valen always left his har tied in a man bun.

How would she pay attention to the child's features when they are always at loggerheads?

"Your hair looks beautiful, she subconsciously fisted the black wet hair.

"Let go of my hair, Valen slapped her hand away with his left hand.

At this point, the boy was regretting why he tried to save her. If not, his right hand would have done a lot more than just slapping her hand off.

"Ahem!" Jeslyn coughed after seeing him glaring at her.

"You see this pair of scissors I'm holding, if you don't allow me to do what I want, I'll cut your hair. 1 believe you know I'm capable of that. After all, I'm your... stepmother" She winked while beaming Valen felt shivers at her smile. He somehow felt she was capable of doing so, besides, it's just hair and not his life.

Valen sat there unmoving while gritting his teeth. He would have protested but he loves his hair more than anything... except three people.

Jeslyn smiled brightly. She didn't know why or when she learned how to give a haircut, but one of her hidden talents was giving good-looking haircuts, which she had never done for anyone except the handsome men she loves drawing on her books, back in college.

Jeslyn closed her eyes and hoped she would be able to put her 'talent' to practice or else, Valen would

skin her.

Looking at his thick, long, dark, and full hair in the mirror, Valen felt a bitter taste in his throat. He loves to get a good haircut, but ever since that incident where he was kidnaped under watch, Maverick never allowed him to leave the house unless Maverick was in Country M.

When Valen was two years old, Mulan had taken him out when Maverick was out of the Country. According to Mulan, she had taken lots of guards along. On their way, they got ambushed and little Valen was kidnaped.

When Maverick rushed over, he flipped the Country upside-down until his son was found with the Xu family.

Ever since then, Maverick forbade anyone from taking Valen out of the mansion unless he was in the Country.

Valen wasn't supposed to know about the incident, but Mulan told him about it, creating fear in the child's mind, and preventing him from mingling with people.

So for that, Valen doesn't go to salons, not even the private ones made for him.

If his hair was getting too long, Mulan or Rex would trim them.

"Your hair is already low on one side. There are a few styles that your hair could make, but I'll only give you one that would make you look like an obedient child." Jeslyn said while blow-drying the messy hair. Valen rolled his eyes at her words.

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"Should I give you a high, low, or temple taper fade haircut? Or should I give you... Skin?! Hahaha... no, that's not good. An undercut would look better, or perhaps a pompadour haircut? Quiff haircut? Combed over?... That's right! It would make you look responsible. 1

However, your hair will be cut to a medium length, would you like that?" She looked at the child in the

mirror.

Valen had a dead look, but when he heard his hair would be cut to medium length, he shook his head vigorously.

He didn't want to open his mouth because he'd say something he didn't want to utter.

Jeslyn chuckled at his reaction. "Don't worry, I was only kidding. We have settled for a haircut. The

good thing about it is that you can style it however you want if you are tired of combing it back. Also,

I discovered you don't have a clipper here, and 'Comb over' doesn't need a clipper.

So let's begin!"