On the boys’ side, Mary hurried along the path and finally caught up with Wen Er.
“Senior, why…?”
The goddess-like senior, as radiant as a moonlit night, approached gracefully. It would be impossible for anyone not to feel moved by her presence.
Especially when Wen Er noticed the sweat on Mary’s brow, her own heart couldn’t help but stir in a subtle way.
No, no, no! She had to keep her distance, she couldn’t make another mistake.
Wen Er hesitated, her lips parted as if to say something, but Mary was one step ahead. “Senior, let’s walk together.”
“But, Senior, I’ve already…”
Wen Er wiped away the hair dampened by her sweat, glancing carefully at Mary’s eyes. “If it’s just a walk, can’t we?”
With the invitation so clear, to refuse now would be to embarrass Mary.
Considering Mary’s background and status, Wen Er could only nod in the end.
Along the way, neither of them spoke, nor did they hold hands. They kept a certain distance between them, not too close and not too far.
When they returned to the Academy, Mary didn’t take Wen Er straight back to the dormitory building. Instead, she dismissed a few guards and walked with Wen Er toward the depths of the Academy, to that little grove by the lakeside.
In the Little Grove of the Academy, couples often came here to do things that couldn’t be described out loud. Not only were there male-female couples, but even more often, female-female couples.
Although the Academy officially allowed free love, the girls still preferred seeking out hidden places.
Wen Er and Mary strolled near the Artificial Lake beside the Little Grove, where a light breeze caused ripples across the water’s surface. The leaves in the grove rustled with the wind, creating a tranquil and soothing atmosphere.
“Senior, shall we sit here for a while?”
Mary pointed to a large stone beneath a tree.
The stone was quite big, but its surface was flat enough to serve as a makeshift public bench.
“Alright.”
Wen Er nodded in agreement.
The surroundings here were quieter, allowing Wen Er to relax a little.
She gazed at the shimmering surface of the lake, lost in thought.
“Senior, thank you for coming with me. I really admire you.”
Mary’s sudden praise left Wen Er a bit bewildered.
To be honest, Wen Er had imagined many scenarios before this: being scolded by the girls, or even slapped.
She had mentally prepared herself for the worst—she never expected Mary would come to her like this.
What…what’s happening?
Mary looked out across the lake, the corners of her lips lifting. “You didn’t choose to keep dragging things out, but had the courage to confess and clarify things between us. That’s not something everyone can do. Honestly, if it were me, I couldn’t have done it.”
Wen Er blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed, her head lowered as she fiddled with the corners of her clothes.
“I-I don’t deserve such praise from you, Senior…”
“I have a good eye for people. Senior, you’re truly amazing. I actually like you even more because of it.”
Wen Er looked up in surprise. At that moment, Mary was sitting on the stone with her arms wrapped around her knees, resting her chin on them as she gazed seriously at Wen Er, her beautiful eyes full of sincerity.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a gentle glow over Mary. The scene looked just like a finely drawn CG Illustration from a beautiful girl game.
Mary seemed to be shining.
That kind of heart-stirring, enchanting feeling made Wen Er unable to put her emotions into words.
Fortunately, in the next second, Mary withdrew her gaze and stretched her arms. “But unfortunately, Duke Sheiyl made the first move, so I’ll have to give up. But I can still be friends with you, right, Junior?”
“Of course, that’s fine.”
Wen Er certainly couldn’t say “no.” Mary, the dignified Lady of Ten Gold, was willing to become friends with her—she would be foolish not to accept.
Mary had changed her tactics—advancing by retreating. Since Wen Er was unavailable for now, she would simply wait.
Three years from now, when Xie Yier’s Prophecy ended, if she had already maxed out her affection with Wen Er, then she could take Wen Er for herself, and by then, even Xie Yier would have no say in it.
Thinking of this, Mary couldn’t help but smile with a hint of mischief.
If it was for the sake of winning Wen Er, she was willing to wait.
“Wen Er, what do you plan to do in the future?”
“I… I don’t really know. I originally entered the Academy because I wanted to become a Pharmacist after graduation. But now… things seem unclear…”
Wen Er lifted her head to look at the cloudless Sky Dome, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
“Have you ever thought about leaving the Royal Capital and starting over somewhere else?”
Mary turned her head to look at Wen Er, her pink hair fluttering in the breeze.
“I… have thought about it. But considering my younger sister, I can’t just abandon my responsibilities.”
Hearing her answer, a flicker of disappointment flashed in Mary’s eyes.
She said, “When I graduate, I’ll leave the Royal Capital. My family will grant me a small Territory to manage on my own.”
“That’s great!” Wen Er said sincerely, “Senior, with your abilities, you’ll definitely succeed.”
“In the future, it might be a long time before we meet again.”
“Huh? Senior, will you… never come back to the Royal Capital?”
Wen Er looked at Mary in surprise, a trace of confusion in her voice.
“Maybe, but not necessarily.” Mary met Wen Er’s gaze. “It depends on whether there’s someone worth coming back for.”
Wen Er’s heart trembled. She understood the hidden meaning in Mary’s words.
But did she have the right…? Senior deserved a future better suited for her…
Wen Er took a deep breath. “Everyone has their own life to live. We’re all just passersby on each other’s paths. If everyone’s life track is like a thread, each encounter is just a brief intersection.”
Mary laughed softly. “Junior, you’re good with words. But, Senior, I just want to know—would you like to spend this part of your journey with me, in a love that’s bright and passionate? I really do like you, Junior.”
Wen Er felt as if she could see the stars twinkling in Mary’s eyes.
She could tell—Mary was serious, not joking.
But…
“Let’s… forget it.” Wen Er spoke with difficulty, avoiding Mary’s gaze. “I’m not qualified right now.”
Xie Yier always used those little games to tease Wen Er, both frustrating and endearing her.
But Xie Yier always lent a hand when Wen Er needed it most and was willing to spend so much on her.
Wen Er felt she still had to give Xie Yier the importance she deserved, granting her the exclusive right to her feelings.
Mary saw Wen Er’s resolve and knew her attempt had failed once again.
But for this very reason, she wanted Wen Er all the more.
“Alright, then.” Mary stood up, dusting off her skirt. “Then I hope, before I leave, I can see a more independent you.”
“Thank you, Senior, for your encouragement.” Wen Er stood as well, replying softly.
The two of them said no more, walking back to the dormitory building side by side in silence, returning to their own classrooms before the afternoon classes began.
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