Luo Ye took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
At a time like this, he couldn’t afford to panic. He needed to stay calm and look for Alicia’s weaknesses.
Alicia hadn’t believed the excuse he’d made up earlier, which meant Alicia was hungry for the truth.
At the same time, she didn’t actually know the truth herself, which meant what she really wanted was a “truth” she could be convinced by—one she considered credible and was willing to believe.
That made things easier.
“Alicia, let me ask you: as a teacher, if you discover a student has thoughts of ‘harming’ others, what’s the very first thing you should do?”
Luo Ye posed his first question.
Alicia frowned slightly, not expecting Luo Ye to answer her question with another question.
“And a second question: if that teacher is especially young, maybe just graduated from school and not yet used to the role of teacher, and so instinctively thinks like a student—‘when facing off against adults and teachers, students should stand on the same side’—do you think, for his responsibilities as a teacher, what he did was right or wrong?”
“……”
Alicia couldn’t answer right away.
Even without thinking too hard, it was obvious the “teacher” Luo Ye spoke of was himself.
So what he meant was, he’d discovered a girl with improper thoughts, and disregarding the fact that he was both a male student and a male teacher, he’d barged into the girls’ dormitory out of an instinct to cover for her.
Then, who was that girl?
Did she really need to dig deeper into the truth?
Alicia pondered.
From a rational standpoint, as Student Council President, Alicia felt she needed to know every student’s actions—especially students who might endanger others.
But emotionally, the other party was her fiancé, and not just any fiancé, but one she’d only just formed an alliance with. If she kept pressing for explanations even after they’d already laid things out openly, wouldn’t that make her seem like a petty ally?
That wouldn’t be good for future cooperation.
After thinking it through, she’d already come to a decision.
“Have you eaten yet? Let’s talk over a meal.”
In the end, Alicia relented.
“All right, thank you for your understanding.”
Luo Ye gave a slight bow, then felt a surge of excitement inside.
The best lies are ones that blend a little falsehood into the truth; that way, the lie seems all the more real, and the other party can’t spot the flaws right away.
“Let’s go.”
Alicia spoke softly, turning to walk ahead.
At a nearby Outdoor Restaurant, Luo Ye and Alicia casually picked a seat and started eating together. In fact, Alicia had already eaten, so she just ordered a cup of black tea; it was Luo Ye who was having a meal.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves in shards, and the late summer breeze made the trees rustle. Luo Ye glanced at Alicia sitting beside him, thinking that if there were ever a love story set in another world, Alicia would be the perfect heroine, and he’d reluctantly make himself the male lead.
After all, if not for this horde of troublesome girls, starting off by clinging to a princess—such a rich lady—could be called the perfect start.
It’s just that…
“Alicia!”
A cool and urgent voice rushed toward them from behind.
Luo Ye and Alicia turned their heads in unison, then frowned together.
It was Hisinei again.
She glared at Luo Ye, as if to say: why did you snatch Alicia away from me?
Luo Ye sighed, wondering how to explain, but Alicia spoke first.
“What a hassle,” Alicia said.
“What did you do to her?” Luo Ye teased. “Don’t tell me you dumped her back then, and now she’s come to collect her love debt?”
“……” Alicia’s elegant brows trembled ever so slightly, and a dark line appeared on her forehead as she said, “You have quite the wild imagination, so I’ve decided to send you out there.”
Luo Ye: “?”
What’s that got to do with me?
“Since she’s now convinced my leaving has something to do with you, and even sees you as a love rival…” Alicia said slowly, “then you go deal with her. I won’t hold your barging into the girls’ dormitory against you anymore.”
Luo Ye: “?”
If I’m asking a question, it’s not because I think I’m the problem, but because I think you must be out of your mind to do this.
You may look magnanimous, but do you really think facing this heiress widow girl alone is easier than being judged by you?
“You’re my fiancé, after all, and you said yourself she’s my suitor. Isn’t it only natural for you to clear away my love rivals? If she keeps pestering the two of us, it’ll be hard to carry out our plans, don’t you think?” Alicia gave a meaningful, subtle smile.
“I didn’t know you were such a schem—”
“Hm?”
“Nothing.”
Luo Ye was about to complain, but Alicia’s glance silenced him.
He’d wanted to be a bystander enjoying the show, but now he was being dragged in, swept up in the whirlpool of gravity girls.
Terrifying.
Wait a minute, could it be that after that close encounter with Anna, he’d also been caught by gravity?
Luo Ye shuddered at the thought, but reassured himself: as long as he kept his wits, there was no way a gravity girl could capture and ruin him.
Hisinei watched Luo Ye and Alicia whispering sweet nothings right in front of her, exchanging glances and secret smiles. She couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of her eye, and a wave of green envy seemed to sprout on her head.
Suppressing her irritation, she gracefully smoothed her hair, pulled out a chair, and sat down, smoothing her skirt. “Although this isn’t our first meeting, let me introduce myself again. I am Hisinei Laurent. My father is Duke Laurent, and I am the eldest daughter of the Laurent Family.”
It had to be said, even when the girl introduced herself with a blank face, her otherworldly, elegant, and stunningly beautiful white-haired, youthful appearance with a generous figure was enough to hit anyone’s preferences.
Except her gaze was rather predatory.
Luo Ye looked at the now fully aggressive Hisinei and felt a headache coming on. “You suddenly barged in on me and Alicia—was there something urgent?”
“First, I want to ask you…” Hisinei interlaced her fingers and rested them beneath her delicate chin, her beautiful and serious ice-blue eyes fixed on Luo Ye. “What exactly is your relationship with Alicia?”
“It’s simple. We’re engaged to be married.”
“If you’re not, then why did you… huh?” Hisinei started to speak on autopilot, but suddenly realized Luo Ye had dropped a bombshell.
“Huh? Huh? Huh?!”
How could this be?!
Luo Ye complained inwardly. So you’d already decided how I’d answer, and even planned out how to steer the conversation, just waiting for me to fall into your trap?
“No way, that’s impossible! Are you lying to me?!”
Luo Ye replied calmly, “It’s a Political Marriage. The news will be officially announced by the Palace tonight. It’s already decided.”
“Then why you? Why would Aili-chan be with a boy, and with a boy like you?” Hisinei gritted her teeth, her voice icy.
Others might not know about her and Alicia’s past, but Hisinei knew very well.
Once, she and Alicia were inseparable best friends, growing up together, as close as family or sisters. But ever since that day when Alicia took the initiative to leave them, quitting their group, everyone fell apart. She didn’t even know why Alicia had grown distant from them, from her.
How could she accept such a baffling situation?!
Hisinei swore she would reclaim those beautiful memories of the past!