Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Owen Reynolds took a long, hard look at the object before him. It was supposed to be a human figure, but all it really had was a vague, borderline shape of a person.

Forget about facial features or any semblance of expression; it was devoid of any detail.

Owen was brutally honest, "...This feels a bit half-hearted. I can't recognize it."

A glance around the stall revealed that all the clay figures shared the same, peculiar style distinctly unattractive in a very specific way.

The stall itself was odd, unmanned save for a tripod holding up a smartphone, its back camera facing them.

Roseanne pondered for a moment, "It's a bit rough, but from this angle, it kind of looks like... Cupid?" As soon as she finished speaking, a young man suddenly popped up from behind the stall.

Literally popped up, as if spring-loaded, snapping to attention.

"Lady, you actually recognized my sculpture?!" The young man's eyes sparkled with excitement. Heaven above, he finally found someone who understood his art.

Roseanne was slightly taken aback, "It's actually Cupid?"

"Yes, yes!" The man nodded fervently, "You're the first to see what my work is about, oh... I'm so touched!" Uh...

Roseanne, "Even though your sculpting of shapes and features is... quite lacking, the overall outline does hint at something. Are you into abstract art?"

The man's mood swung from touched to stone-faced in a second, asking her, "...Are you here to mock me?"

Roseanne, "..."

Owen Reynolds, "She's not wrong though, it is pretty abstract."

The man, "??"

Who says things so bluntly to someone's face?

Despite his online fame as the top clay sculptor on a platform with two million followers, known for his motto "Sculpt anything well, except for human figures."

Roseanne encouraged, "Just keep at it, and maybe the facial features will become clearer."

Little did they know, the live stream was going wild with laughter.

【Who's this lady? Spot on with her comments. I could almost see the seriousness on her face while she spoke! LOL...]

【How many times has Mack been hit with reality? Why can't he accept that his sculptures look like crap? Is it so hard?】

【This time it's different. The lady gave him hope, then smacked him hard. Classic!]

【That guy with her knows how to twist the knife without even breaking a smile.】

【Gotta say, this couple has some stunning looks!]]

【They're in front of Elite Business University, maybe students?】

【She looks the part, he doesn't】

Seeing the spike in his live stream

"Mack," the stall owner,

warted end Reynolds around longer.

to keep Roseanne ander

"I can make you both a couple's sculpture, how about that?"

Roseanne shook her head, "No, thanks."

"Why not?"

"I'm afraid I can't face it."

Mack, "..."

Live stream:

【LOL... I'm dying, she's too witty!】

【At this moment, I bet Mack's face says 'I wish I were dead']

Mack, "I may not be great with individual figures, but I excel at couples!"

Roseanne, skeptical, "Can a person who dislikes onions enjoy a bowl full of them?" Mack, "..."

【OMG! I'm going to die laughing in this stream!]

【Lady's logic is impeccable, truly. She's so earnest, I'm in tears!)

Mack, "I have to show you today! Don't worry, it's on the house!"

With that, he rolled up his sleeves.

Roseanne was intrigued, "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Mack immediately directed them for

a

your heads closer...

Yes,

Now turn your head a

bit..."

Roseanne thought the "turn your

head"

es in Oestruction was meant for her,

and

Reynolds thought the

same.

As they both turned-

Their noses brushed against each other, lips grazing in a fleeting, unintentional kiss.