"Ivy!"

Joshua and Nicole stood at the door, joyfully shouting her name. Their clear, sweet voices instantly lifted the mood.

"Oh, it's Joshua and Nicole." Ivy patted their heads. "Come on in, you're always welcome here!"

Joshua tilted his head up. "Ivy, you look much better than last time, even prettier."

"Yes, yes," Nicole chimed in. "And you smell so nice."

"You think I smell nice?" Ivy sniffed herself. "I didn't even use any perfume."

She had been staying home all day, lounging in her pajamas, often too lazy to even wash her face, let alone use perfume.

"It's the scent of a beautiful woman," Joshua replied. "Pretty girls always have a nice scent. Mommy has it too!"

With that, he turned to look at Shawn. "Right? You must smell it all the time."

"Yes."

Ivy laughed heartily.

Gale sat down on the couch. "I saw Aurum at the mall this afternoon, and now I'm at your house tonight. Why aren't you two sticking together?"

"He's busy with work, and I'm busy with my things."

"When