When we arrived at the academy gates, students were steadily streaming out. It looked like today was a school day—and judging by the timing, classes had just ended.
So we decided to wait there and see if we could run into Lixia.
After a while, I spotted her childhood friend—the obsessed guy and his companions: the arrogant girl and the timid girl.
I figured they might know where Lixia was, which would save us from waiting aimlessly. So after informing Jacob and the others, I walked over to them.
"Hey there, kid."
"Is you! What do you want?!"
The obsessed guy immediately reacted with hostility the moment he saw me. Did I really do something that bad? I only lectured him a little. Looks like he didn't learn a thing. The arrogant girl and the timid girl behind him were also glaring at me.
"Nothing. I just want to know if Lixia is still in the academy."
The moment he heard Lixia's name, his expression turned even more aggressive, and he raised his voice.
"Why are you looking for Lixia?! Are you targeting her?!"
"Calm down. I just want to tell her who the employer is—the one trying to capture her."
"You know who it is?! Then tell me now!"
"And what would you do if I told you? You think you can handle it?"
He was desperate to know, but even if I told him, there wasn't much he could do. Killing wasn't an option, and without evidence, the law wouldn't help either. At best, the person involved could just stay cautious.
"I won't forgive anyone who tries to hurt Lixia! Tell me who it is!"
Hearing that, my love-brained thoughts kicked in. Did he like Lixia? Or was this just some childhood friend attachment? I hoped it was the former—the latter would just leave a bad taste.
I couldn't be completely sure, but if he said things like that to every friend, it would make him look like a careless flirt.
If he already liked someone but still said this kind of thing to others, that would be even worse. Maybe he didn't mean it that way—maybe he just wanted to help—but in the long run, that kind of wording could easily mislead people.
Girls, especially those longing for love, might hear something like that and think he likes them. After all, most guys are only gentle toward the person they like—like me—so it's not strange they'd interpret it that way.
The arrogant girl and the timid girl both looked even more displeased after hearing that. But after all that, what do his romantic entanglements have to do with me?
Honestly, I couldn't care less—even if he ended up getting stabbed, it wouldn't be my problem.
Anyway, since he refused to tell me where Lixia was, I figured I could just have him pass the message along.
"Fine, I'll tell you. But make sure you tell Lixia."
"No. There's no need to tell her. It'll only trouble her."
"If you're not going to tell her, then I'm not telling you."
"How can you go back on your word?!"
So what if I did? My condition was clear—he tells Lixia, then I tell him. If he refuses, why should I?
"Lixia has the right to know. If you won't tell her, then why should I tell you?"
"I'm protecting her! She just needs to live happily every day!"
"You think that makes you look cool? If someone hid something about you, would you be happy?"
I hate being kept in the dark. I want to know anything that concerns me.
There's always that classic dilemma—if your family only had a few months left to live, would you tell them or hide it?
I'd tell them. Better to face reality and cherish the remaining time than die without knowing. But that depends on the person—some can handle it, some can't. Everyone fears death.
But this isn't that kind of situation. Lixia's life is being threatened, and she doesn't even know by whom.
At that moment, the arrogant girl finally stepped in.
"That's enough. Shien intentions are good. Even if Lixia knew, she wouldn't blame him."
"That's exactly why she should know. If she knows she's being targeted but not by whom, she'll just grow paranoid. Wouldn't that be worse?"
"I…"
"Don't confuse hiding things with helping her. You're just satisfying yourself."
His so-called protection—keeping her in the dark while trying to solve everything alone—was nothing but self-satisfaction. He wasn't thinking about her feelings at all.
Maybe Lixia wouldn't even want revenge. Either way, the choice should be hers.
Suddenly, obsessed guy waved his hand as if trying to brush off everything I said and snapped at me.
"Enough! Are you even close to Lixia?! You're the one not thinking about her feelings!"
I froze.
Not because he yelled at me—but because someone like him accused me of not considering others.
Him—whose own childhood friend chose to leave because he never considered her feelings—saying that to me?
Am I supposed to just take that? No way!
"I think you're the—"
"Mr. Karen!"
I was cut off by a cheerful voice. We both turned toward the sound.
A blue-haired girl was waving happily at me from a distance, and I waved back.
It was the person I was looking for—Lixia.
She jogged over to us.
"Mr. Karen, I spotted you from far away. What brings you to the academy? Don't tell me—you came to see me? Just kidding."
She smiled playfully, but she was right.
"Actually, I came to tell you—"
"Don't say it! Don't tell her!"
Just as I was about to explain, the obsessed guy suddenly covered my mouth with both hands, warning me not to speak.
But that only made Lixia visibly annoyed.
"Get off!"
She shoved him away without hesitation.
"Lixia…"
He looked at her with a hurt, abandoned expression, calling her name like he had something stuck in his throat.
He looked pitiful—but Lixia didn't even spare him a glance. Seems like she truly despised him now.
Then she turned to me, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Mr. Karen, did you really come to see me?"
"I already know who the employer is—"
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Obsessed guy screamed like an idiot, trying to drown out my voice with sheer volume.
And it worked.
He also succeeded in earning a cold glare from Lixia.
After he finally stopped, Lixia ignored him completely and spoke quietly to me.
"...Mr. Karen, let's talk somewhere else."
She turned to leave, but he quickly grabbed her hand.
"Lixia, I'm coming too."
She tried to shake him off immediately, but he refused to let go. Her patience finally snapped.
"Let go! We're not anything anymore! Stop clinging to me!"
"Wait. No need to go anywhere. I'll say it here and leave."
I stopped her right away. From what she said, she had already decided to cut ties with obsessed guy. He clearly didn't want that—but at this point, there was no fixing it.
He turned pale, stunned by her blunt declaration, and reluctantly let go.
I had no intention of leaving with her either. If I did, he'd only grow to hate me more—maybe even turn into another fox-eyed knight.
Lixia looked at me, puzzled.
"It's okay if Shien hears this?"
"It's fine. This isn't a secret. What matters is that you know."
"I understand. Then… who is the employer?"
"Laje Turin."
The moment I said the name, both Lixia and obsessed guy froze, their faces filled with disbelief.
They clearly knew him.