Chapter 53
After leaving the principal's office, Zhuang Chi, accompanied by the three, ran all the necessary errands—like retroactively filing for a leave of absence for the classes she had missed. It had to be said, in this regard, St. Blaisedon was a rather inflexible school.
Of course, after finishing her official business, she also paid a visit to the Xin Yan Club. Zhuang Chi's apology was met with a vehement protest that it was unnecessary. The club president, wiping away tears, shook his head forcefully and said, "Of course you don't need to apologize to us! Thanks to you, we've recruited a lot of new members! If anything, we should be the ones apologizing to you. If only we had made the Kuma costume more suitable for movement back then, like adding propulsion devices or something, boohoohoo..."
...That sounded less like a mascot costume and more like some kind of battle armor. Torn between laughter and tears, Zhuang Chi offered some words of comfort and realized something during their conversation.
"The person who kidnapped me was Lily... has this news not spread around the school yet?"
After leaving the Xin Yan Club, Zhuang Chi asked in a low voice. Ling Jing was the first to reply, nodding with a hint of indignation. "Yeah. At least, when I told my mom about it last night, I was strictly forbidden from spreading it. She was vague, just saying something about it having a bad influence. Really, why can't people tell the truth? I didn't see that princess considering the 'bad influence' when she was kidnapping someone."
"...I suppose I was only informed as an exception because of my position as Student Council President. It does seem like they intend to suppress the news," An Chen added with a sigh. "It's not entirely incomprehensible. After all, no matter what, she is a princess of A Country..."
It seemed there were political reasons involved. Zhuang Chi nodded in understanding. Just then, Gu Ximian stopped and glanced back over her shoulder, speaking pointedly, "As for whether this is St. Blaisedon's own initiative or due to some pressure from higher up... why don't we ask the person who's been following us this whole time?"
"..."
Zhuang Chi stopped as well, following Gu Ximian's gaze. She saw a familiar flash of gold hastily duck behind a nearby pillar—but because the blonde hair was too long and fluffy, it wasn't completely hidden, revealing a few strands.
...Olivia had indeed been furtively following them. Although she had turned and run when Zhuang Chi first called out to her, she had cautiously started trailing them from a distance again not long after, and had been doing so until now. Zhuang Chi had actually been aware of it for a while, but Olivia, despite following, would dodge out of sight with lightning speed whenever she looked back, leaving Zhuang Chi unsure of her intentions and hesitant to approach her.
But it was getting to the point where she couldn't pretend not to notice anymore. Zhuang Chi thought as she walked toward the pillar Olivia was hiding behind. Seeing the visible lock of hair tremble slightly as she approached, Zhuang Chi finally stopped on the other side of the pillar and said gently, "Olivia, please don't run away again this time, okay?"
"..." The person behind the pillar clearly went through a moment of internal conflict before slowly peeking out. Her usually bright and beautiful features now appeared dim. Olivia replied in a low voice, "...Okay, I won't run."
Why did she sound like she was bracing herself for a scolding? She just wanted to have a proper chat with Olivia. Zhuang Chi frowned, a little troubled. The other three had already gathered around, and Ling Jing, the most wary of Olivia, couldn't hold back first. "Why have you been following Zhuang Chi? And you ran away when Zhuang Chi called you before, but now you're back... What are you trying to do?"
"I... back then..." Stepping out completely from behind the pillar, Olivia anxiously clenched her fists and said softly, "I ran back then because my mind was a mess. I really wanted to see Zhuang Chi, but when I actually saw her, I suddenly felt... that maybe Zhuang Chi wouldn't want to see me. So I ran away instinctively when she called out..."
"And I came back now... because—" Olivia paused and took a deep breath. "Because I realized that running away won't solve anything. Even if Zhuang Chi doesn't want to see me, I should still... do what I have to do."
"What you have to do?"
After listening to her quietly, Gu Ximian suddenly interjected, "What do you mean by that? Does it have something to do with your sister?"
Upon hearing the word "sister," Olivia visibly flinched. She then timidly glanced at Gu Ximian, but immediately lowered her eyes as if she couldn't bear to look directly at her.
"...I was with Lily last night and this morning." Olivia's voice trembled slightly, but she did her best to suppress it and speak steadily. "I do have something to tell you. Regarding Lily wanting to accuse you of intentional injury, you don't have to worry. She's changed her mind."
Gu Ximian's gaze sharpened, and she slowly furrowed her brows.
"She probably didn't change her mind on her own, did she?" Saying this, Gu Ximian took a small step forward, a hint of vigilance brewing in her dark eyes. "Did you do it? Thank you. So, do you simply want to help? Or... are you perhaps trying to use this as a bargaining chip to get something in return?"
"For example, Zhuang Chi's forgiveness." Gu Ximian's voice was soft, but her tone grew colder. "If she explicitly states that she won't press charges, it would be a great benefit to your sister, wouldn't it? If that's what you're thinking, then I advise you to—"
She couldn't continue her sentence, because a hand suddenly reached out from the side and gently squeezed her fingertips. The pressure was light, as if offering a silent comfort.
Gu Ximian stopped and turned to look at Zhuang Chi, meeting a pair of eyes that were always clear and gentle.
She watched her for a long moment before finally turning her head away and taking a step back, a silent gesture of compromise.
Zhuang Chi smiled at Gu Ximian, then turned to Olivia—who now looked like a startled bird. Zhuang Chi thought for a moment, then decided to ask, "Olivia, about what Gu Ximian just said... what are your thoughts?"
Olivia looked up, her azure eyes heart-wrenchingly soft. "...I wasn't thinking that. I just felt that Lily shouldn't do that..."
"I see." Zhuang Chi's eyes curved into a smile. "Then thank you. I was worried about that."
Olivia shook her head, flattered. Zhuang Chi glanced at the three people beside her, who were momentarily silent but clearly all ears, then turned back to Olivia. "Do you want to talk with me alone?"
Ling Jing and An Chen immediately voiced their disapproval. Zhuang Chi ignored them for the time being, patiently waiting for Olivia's answer. Olivia hesitated for a long while before finally, slowly shaking her head.
"It's okay. What I want to say isn't something that must be said in private. It's fine if others are listening."
After saying this, Olivia seemed to have finally made up her mind. She stood up a little straighter and gave Zhuang Chi a graceful and apologetic bow.
"I'm sorry." Olivia lowered her head. "This whole incident was entirely my fault. If I had realized Lily's problems sooner, things wouldn't have turned out this way. I have no excuses, and I know this apology is useless, but... I'm sorry."
"As for Lily... just as you said, the royal family of A Country has heard the news. They'll probably discuss suppressing the news first and then find a way to have her return to the country." Olivia's gaze dimmed, and she shook her head slightly. "...All I can say is, I will not forgive her. I will do my best to see that she receives a just punishment."
This was more or less what Zhuang Chi had guessed. She had thought Olivia was following her to say these things. Zhuang Chi thought to herself that Olivia was truly a good princess and was considering how to comfort her and ease her guilt when she heard Olivia continue, "Regarding your gland, I know it's not something a simple apology can fix, so... I will take responsibility."
...Take responsibility? Zhuang Chi froze. First Gu Ximian, and now Olivia was saying such things? What kind of responsibility was she talking about? Not to mention how much this actually had to do with her... How did she plan to take responsibility?
"First, of course, my country will provide the best doctors and treatment plans. A Country's medical standards are very advanced, so it should be helpful." Hearing this, Zhuang Chi felt relieved, thinking this was the kind of responsibility she meant. But Olivia's next words made her eyes widen. "And then, during your treatment and afterward, until you find your other half, I will remain in the country, and stay... by your side."
"...If, unfortunately, your gland cannot fully recover, then at that time," Olivia grew progressively more nervous as she spoke, her hands unconsciously wringing together. She took a deep breath and said, as if burning her bridges, "if you are willing, then... in A Country, partnerships between two Alphas... are also recognized!"
"..."
Zhuang Chi was speechless, staring at Olivia in stunned silence.
"...W-wait a minute," after a bizarre silence, Ling Jing was the first to raise her hand, her voice a little faint. "That means... what I think it means, right? How is this like yesterday with Gu... no, could it be... can this already be considered a marriage proposal...?"
"Ah, ah... I think it means that too." An Chen was even more shaken than Ling Jing, his handsome face turning bright red. "Although I've heard that A Country is more open-minded in this regard, but... this situation seems rare among the royal family. Olivia, are you really..."
"This has nothing to do with me being royalty or a princess." As she spoke, Olivia's confidence seemed to surge, and her words became much more fluent. "I'm serious."
"—Please don't be serious?!"
Finally snapping back to her senses, Zhuang Chi shuddered in horror. What she had just heard was too unexpected. She hurriedly tried to persuade Olivia, "Don't say such foolish things, Olivia! Whether I find a partner or not, there's no reason for you to take responsibility for that—"
"...Are you unable to accept a relationship between Alphas?"
"That's not the reason...!"
Hearing the inexplicably dejected tone in Olivia's voice, Zhuang Chi felt her head was about to explode. She had no idea how Olivia's thoughts on "taking responsibility" had taken such a bizarre turn. She could only try her best to reason with her. "...Olivia, listen to me. Lily did something wrong. There's no such thing as 'a sister paying for her sister's debts.' You don't need to atone for her. You should live your life as you please. If you have someone you like, go after them, fall in love. Even if I really don't find a partner in the end, you don't need to throw your life away for it—"
"—Can't I choose you?"
Zhuang Chi clearly heard Ling Jing suck in a sharp breath. She stood frozen, staring into Olivia's emotionally turbulent blue eyes, unable to utter a single word. And Olivia, who had just said something so shocking, slowly blushed, her hands nervously and shyly clutching the hem of her skirt.
"...I's sorry, I didn't mean to put you in a difficult position." The courage she had just mustered seemed to have run out. Olivia's voice grew quiet. "I wanted to say... I was always very happy when I was with you. You're a very comfortable person to be around. You went through such a terrible thing because of me, and I... I'm truly sad about it."
"So... whether you call it atonement or self-satisfaction, this is just my own stubborn wish. You don't need to feel any burden because of it. If you find someone you truly love, I will of course be happy for you..."
Olivia paused. Zhuang Chi noticed her seem to glance in Gu Ximian's direction before quickly looking away. It was so fast that she wasn't quite sure. After a brief pause, Olivia said softly, "...I just wanted to say today, to tell you, that this is an option you have with me. If you're willing, you can come to me anytime."
After speaking, Olivia lowered her head and ran off like a little deer.
Zhuang Chi and the others silently watched her back disappear from view. A strange quiet fell over the scene, making Zhuang Chi not dare to look at the others' expressions.
"...Of course that's not okay, right...?"
The first to speak was still Ling Jing. She seemed to have somewhat recovered from her confusion, but not completely, as her words were strange. "If she really agreed, wouldn't Zhuang Chi have to go to A Country! She'd have to learn their language first, and the name of that country is a mouthful—but then again, even if an Alpha can be with an Alpha, that... that doesn't mean Zhuang Chi has to be with Olivia!"
"...Hey, Ling Jing, what you're saying..." An Chen's pupils quaked, his face as red as a kettle about to whistle. "A-are you trying to say..."
"Don't get the wrong idea?! I'm just stating a fact! Am I wrong?!"
This was hopeless. These two were clearly not thinking straight after the shock. The more Zhuang Chi listened, the more outrageous it sounded. Amidst the back-and-forth bickering of the two Alphas beside her, what she grew more concerned about was Gu Ximian, who had been silent throughout the entire exchange.
Zhuang Chi felt inexplicably intimidated, but she still cautiously glanced at Gu Ximian. She didn't know if it was a coincidence, but Gu Ximian was also looking at her. There was no displeasure on her face; in fact, she looked very calm, as if Olivia had just said "The weather is nice today" and left. It was a stark contrast to Ling Jing and An Chen's bickering, but for some reason, it made Zhuang Chi, who had done nothing wrong, afraid to even breathe.
But Gu Ximian just looked at her, a certain emotion swirling in the depths of her dark eyes. In the end, however, she simply gave her a gentle smile. "You're so popular."
...How should I put it? That smile was just like the light inside a refrigerator.
School life suddenly seemed to have gotten a lot harder—at that moment, this thought surfaced in Zhuang Chi's mind, and she was absolutely certain of it.
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