Jaden's face, which always carried a gentle smile, showed no ripple.
No confusion, no questions.
It was as if being exposed by a mysterious, evil villain who could turn all of Paris upside down was just a trivial matter, as common as eating and drinking.
"Is that so?"
Jaden's voice remained gentle and calm, even carrying a hint of elusive curiosity.
"...Then,
why didn't you use your so-called 'All-Knowing One' to directly find the owners of Black Cat and Ladybug?"
He raised his black eyes, which always held a faint, gentle smile, and quietly gazed at the imposing, magnificent projection made of light and data before him:
"...Instead of coming to me?"
"...For you..."
"...They are your targets, aren't they?"
"...Do you think I haven't tried?" For the first time, Hawk Moth's electronically processed, cold voice carried an obvious emotion of annoyance and unwillingness! "...But, for some reason..."
"...No matter how many times I asked..."
"...The 'All-Knowing One' couldn't find them!"
"...So," His eyes, hidden beneath the silver mask, once again locked onto the still unperturbed young man, "...It found you."
"Oh."
Jaden nodded, as if unsurprised by this absurdly logical answer, "...So, what can I do for you?"
His exchange with Hawk Moth was so bizarre that it didn't resemble an unarmed citizen facing a terrorist capable of destroying all of Paris; rather, it was more like two cunning old foxes engaged in an intricate business negotiation.
"...You deliberately lost." Hawk Moth suddenly threw out an explosive accusation!
"...I didn't 'deliberately' do anything," Jaden's smile finally showed an obvious hint of displeasure.
"...But you rashly threw your Akumatization item and that important ring casually in the shop!"
Hawk Moth's voice was filled with cold accusation, "...That in itself was a fatal mistake!"
"...Who would have known that Ladybug would use such a despicable tactic as 'feinting'?"
Jaden spread his hands innocently and continued to reply.
"...So, you accomplished what you wanted to do," Hawk Moth's voice grew colder, "...You helped that girl eliminate her illness..."
"...But, none of the things I wanted ended up in my hands!"
"...This deal doesn't seem very fair..."
"...Deals are always fair," Jaden's smile returned to its harmless, gentle, and benevolent look, "...I did help you get the miraculous, but... it was fake."
"...And,"
"...After I confirmed that poor Marinette was really not Ladybug, but just a cosplayer, I originally wanted to rush back to the shop to protect our spoils,"
"...But you insisted that I take off her earrings!"
"...You made me miss the best timing!"
"...So, this blame..." He slowly delivered the final verdict in a tone that was absolutely, unequivocally, and sincerely firm, "...Is entirely yours."
—"You!!" Hawk Moth's magnificent projection, made of light and data, fluctuated violently due to extreme anger!
—"The moment you clashed with her! You should have realized that she wasn't the real Ladybug at all!"
—"So! You should have returned to your post immediately! Instead of slowly walking over like an idiot! To take off some damn earrings!"
—"So! It's entirely your fault!"
Just as this bizarre, childish "responsibility-sharing" meeting, akin to an argument between elementary schoolers, was about to spiral completely out of control, the man who had been silently serving as an emotionless background on the tablet screen finally spoke.
"Hawk Moth,"
Gabriel's cold and authoritative voice, like a basin of icy water, instantly extinguished the flames of anger in the hearts of the two "elementary schoolers" who were about to quarrel, "...Now is not the time for this."
Then, his sharp gaze once again fell upon the young man who had maintained a calm demeanor throughout.
"...So,"
Jaden also slowly shifted his gaze, filled with a gentle smile, back from the still violently fluctuating projection, "...What exactly do you want?"
"...Mr. Jaden," Hawk Moth's cold voice rang out again.
This time, he no longer dwelled on the damned issue of "responsibility," but directly revealed his true purpose:
"...You achieved your wish."
"...But I didn't get what I was supposed to get."
"...So, the previous deal..."
"...Must be voided."
"...You have to help me with one more thing."
"...Why?" The mask of pretense on Jaden's face, which always carried a gentle smile, was finally torn away completely.
Although his voice was still soft, it carried an obvious, cold hint of sarcasm, "...Everything I did was in accordance with my promise when I underwent Akumatization."
"...So,"
"...I don't need to bear any additional responsibility."
—"You!!"
"Mr. Jaden."
Gabriel's voice rang out again, like a cold shackle, clamping down on the argument that was about to get out of control.
Jaden took a deep breath, once again playing the role of the helpless.
"Alright, alright... So, Mr. Hawk Moth, what exactly do you want from me? What's the content of this new deal?"
Hawk Moth seemed quite satisfied with the feeling of being in control. He paused and announced, "In the time to come, I will continue to seek opportunities to Akumatization citizens and create more Akumatized Persons.
And I demand that you, Mr. Jaden, do not interfere in any way in a future battle led by me."
Jaden was stunned.
"You mean..."
"I mean," Hawk Moth's voice carried a hint of cruel pleasure, "In a future battle, whether you are drawn into it or not, no matter where the battle takes place in front of you, you must stand by and do nothing.
Even if you are unfortunately Akumatization again, you must exit as a 'loser'.
Until..." He paused, "Until I get their two miraculous."
This condition sounded utterly absurd.
Jaden's mind raced.
Not interfere? That sounds... like there's no downside for him, right?
It was practically giving him an officially certified "slacking-off license."
He originally didn't want to get involved in these troublesome matters. Was there any benefit for him?
This condition played right into his hands.
"What kind of deal is this?" he asked, genuinely puzzled, his face showing true bewilderment, "This doesn't seem to involve any loss for me."
"Of course, it does." Hawk Moth's voice turned somber, "As the price for your 'inaction,' and as compensation for the failure of the last deal, you need to... do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"I can't tell you about this favor yet." In Hawk Moth's image, his eyes seemed to gleam with a faint light, "When the time is right, and I need you, I will naturally contact you.
You just need to know that you must complete this favor. This is the core of our new deal."
So that's it.
Jaden instantly understood the other party's full intentions.
They were wary of him. They were wary of a "variable" who was out of control, retained his memories, and could even turn around and use the Akumatization power.
So, they used this so-called "deal" to put a binding spell on him.
Ostensibly, it was to keep him out of it, but in reality, it was to strip him of any future power to interfere in the battle.
And that unknown "favor" was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, ensuring he would obediently abide by this agreement.
This was an open scheme. An open scheme to trade a future, unknown, enormous cost for present, certain peace.
Jaden looked at the holographic projection, then at Gabriel's expressionless face on the screen. He quickly weighed his options in his mind.
The consequences of refusal would likely be endless trouble. Gabriel would view him as a huge threat, using various overt and covert means to deal with him, and his desired peaceful life would completely vanish.
If he accepted, he would gain a period of precious tranquility.
He could live like an ordinary student, enjoying the daily life of this world. The only cost was a future, vague "debt of gratitude."
For him, the future was full of infinite possibilities, and a "favor" was just a "favor"; there would always be a way to resolve it.
What's more... A subtle smile, unnoticed by anyone, curved Jaden's lips.
"I agree."
He spoke these three words calmly.
In that instant, he felt no sense of being forced into a corner.
On the contrary, he felt as if he had just won a crucial gamble.
He used an empty promise to gain the other party's apprehension and a temporary truce agreement, securing the most valuable things for himself—time and freedom.
As for that future "favor"? That could wait until the future.
Who could guarantee that, by then, the initiative would still be in their hands?
The door was gently pushed open, and the line of light separating the two worlds reconnected.
Marinette, waiting anxiously, her heart was almost in her throat.
Her gaze immediately locked onto Jaden as he walked in.
He looked... very calm, with even a faint, languid smile on his face, as if he had just gone in for a cup of tea, rather than having a mysterious secret talk with Paris's most feared fashion mogul.
He still held the cold tablet, its screen now dark. Adrien stood a little further away, looking at Jaden with a complex expression, his eyes full of inquiry and confusion.
And the burly Bodyguard stood behind Adrien like a silent statue, exuding an aura that warned people to keep their distance.
Jaden walked directly to Nathalie and handed the tablet back to her.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Jaden."
Nathalie nodded formally, took the tablet, her tone devoid of any emotion.
She turned to Adrien and said, "Adrien, it's time for us to go back."
Adrien opened his mouth as if to say something to Jaden, but under Nathalie's unyielding gaze and the invisible pressure from the Bodyguard behind him, it ultimately turned into an almost inaudible sigh.
He took one last deep look at Jaden, his eyes seeming to say, "We still have a lot to talk about," and then obediently followed Nathalie and the Bodyguard out the door and towards the elevator.
The elevator doors silently closed, and the figures representing power and pressure completely vanished. The world instantly fell silent, leaving only Jaden and Marinette.
Marinette nervously wrung her fingers, her blue eyes filled with worry. She cautiously looked at Jaden, like a startled little rabbit.
Jaden couldn't help but chuckle at her appearance. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. The soft touch in his palm relaxed his mood a bit.
"I told you, it's nothing," His voice was gentle, carrying a reassuring strength. "Come on, I'll take you home."
"After all," He looked around the empty, quiet corridor with mock seriousness, lowering his voice and saying in a half-joking tone, "It's nighttime now, and it's not safe for a cute girl like you to be out alone."
This was, of course, a complete lie.
Ever since Hawk Moth began to wreak havoc in Paris, the city's public safety had become incredibly good.
The street thugs and opportunistic robbers had long been scared witless by the Akumatized Persons who could destroy everything at will, terrified that if their robbery failed, they might provoke some unlucky soul going through a rough patch into becoming the next "Stoneheart" or "Stormy Weather."
Nowadays in Paris, let alone robbery, even pickpockets were almost out of a job, making it a model city where people could leave their doors unlocked at night and not pick up lost items on the road.
Marinette clearly hadn't thought that far. She was simply flushed by Jaden's intimate gesture and gentle words, her heart skipping a beat.
She lowered her head, softly hummed, and followed by his side like a docile kitten.
The two walked side by side on the way home from the hospital. Night had fully fallen, and the streets of Paris were lit by warm golden streetlights, stretching into the distance like a pearl necklace for the city.
Soft light emanated from the shop windows along the street, the air was filled with the scent of cooled cobblestones, and occasionally, the sweet aroma of crepes could be smelled from a street corner.
The evening breeze blew gently, ruffling Marinette's dark blue hair and dispelling most of the tension in her heart.
Walking quietly with Jaden like this made her feel as if she were dreaming.
She could feel him right beside her, and she could feel the faint breeze he created as he walked.
Silence spread between them, but it wasn't awkward; instead, there was a strange warmth.
Marinette mustered her courage several times, wanting to ask what had happened earlier, but the words caught in her throat. She was afraid of breaking this tranquility.
Finally, she couldn't contain her curiosity and asked in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "That… Jaden, just now… Mr. Gabriel, what did he say to you?"
Jaden turned his head, looking at her eyes that still sparkled in the night, and suddenly showed an exaggerated expression, as if recalling something unbearable. He let out a long sigh.
"Oh, don't even mention it, it was a disaster."
"Ah?!"
Marinette's heart instantly jumped. "He… he made things difficult for you?"
"Not at all."
Jaden waved his hand, and seeing her nervous expression, the smile in his eyes deepened.
He cleared his throat and said in a slightly dramatic tone, as if telling someone else's story, "That emperor of the fashion world, Mr. Gabriel, he thinks I… well, I have a lot of potential."
"Potential?" Marinette tilted her head, her face full of confusion.
"Yes," Jaden earnestly spouted nonsense. "He said he saw a unique and distinctive temperament in me, a contradictory aesthetic of elegance within decadence, and sharpness within laziness.
He thinks I was born to be a model."
Marinette's mouth was slightly agape, forming a cute "O" shape.
Jaden continued to embellish the story: "He immediately offered me terms, saying he wanted to make me the next Adrien—no, a supermodel who surpasses Adrien.
He wants my posters to cover all of Paris, and my name to resonate throughout the fashion world.
He also promised to invite the best designers in the world to tailor styles for me, packaging me as the most dazzling and top-tier fashion star."
He described it so vividly, as if such a signing ceremony had truly taken place in the hospital room just now.
Marinette was stunned by these words. Her brain struggled to imagine Jaden wearing haute couture and walking on a runway… The image seemed… not out of place, and even had a unique appeal.
"Then… then you…" she stammered.
"I refused," Jaden's answer was crisp and clear.
"Why?!" Marinette blurted out. This was Gabriel's invitation, an opportunity countless people dreamed of!
"Because,"
Jaden stopped, turned around, and looked at her seriously under the dim streetlights, "I think that would be too rigid."
He stretched, his body's lines extending beneath the thin fabric. "Every day I'd have to pose according to others' demands, wear uncomfortable clothes, and eat nothing to maintain my figure.
Life would be packed with schedules, and even sleeping in would become a luxury.
That kind of life…" He pursed his lips. "Just thinking about it is dreadful."
He paused, then added, "Besides, I don't want to be like Adrien."
Upon hearing this, Marinette immediately felt relieved. She remembered Adrien clumsily emerging from the trash can in the evening, and his fearful yet helpless expression when facing his father in the hospital corridor earlier.
Such glamour, yet behind it lay suffocating constraints.
"Hmm… you're right…" she whispered in agreement, her admiration for Jaden growing a little more.
In his eyes, a free and unconstrained life was far more important than worldly glory.
The two continued walking, and the conversation became lighter. The half-truthful teasing successfully diluted the heavy atmosphere of the secret meeting.
Soon, the familiar street corner appeared before them, and the rich, warm scent of butter and wheat in the air announced that they had reached their destination.
"We're here," Jaden stopped and pointed to the "Bakery & Patisserie" ahead, glowing with warm light.
"Ah… mm." Marinette reluctantly stopped. This journey was clearly short, yet she felt as if it had lasted a century, and she wished it would never end.
"Thank you, Jaden, for walking me home."
She lowered her head, not daring to look into his eyes.
"It's nothing," Jaden smiled, waved at her, "Go on in, get some rest."
With that, he turned and strode away gracefully, his figure gradually blending into the gentle Parisian night.
Marinette stood still, gazing in the direction he left until his back was no longer visible. Then she took a deep breath of the air mixed with the scent of bread and turned to run into the shop.
"Dad! Mom! I'm home!" She cheerfully greeted her parents who were busy behind the counter. Tom and Sabine smiled and responded to her.
She didn't linger, but like a nimble fawn, she pattered up the stairs, through the living room, and finally lifted the trapdoor on the floor, climbing into her little world in the attic.
"Thump."
The moment she closed the trapdoor, all the ease and joy on her face vanished without a trace.
Like a rag doll, she threw herself heavily onto the pink chaise lounge in her room, letting out a long groan filled with vexation.
"Ah ah ah ah ah——"
She buried her face in the soft cushion, her legs flailing weakly in the air, venting her frustration and exasperation.
Everything in the room was still so cozy and cute: the walls were covered with her proud design sketches, the workbench was piled with colorful fabrics and spools of thread, everything neatly organized.
Yet at this moment, these familiar objects, in her eyes, seemed to be silently mocking her clumsiness.
A small, fuchsia glow quietly flew out from her shoulder bag. It was Tikki.
"Marinette? What's wrong?" The little kwami flew to her side with concern, looking at her owner with its cute big eyes. "You look very sad.
Aren't you happy about coming back with Jaden?"
At the mention of that name, Marinette's body trembled violently.
She looked up, her face full of self-loathing and despair, and finally, to her best friend, she unleashed all the emotions she had suppressed throughout the journey.
"I'm such an idiot! Tikki! A complete, utterly hopeless idiot!"
Her voice was tearful, and she clutched her hair tightly with both hands. "You have no idea… how stupid I was… just now!"
"There was so much time!
From the hospital all the way to my doorstep, such a long walk, just the two of us!
So much time alone!"
Her words came faster and faster, as if she were confessing her crimes. "But what about me? What did I say?
What did I do?
Nothing!
Besides asking him like an idiot what he talked about with Mr. Gabriel, I couldn't say anything else!"
She sat up excitedly from the chaise lounge, pacing restlessly around the room: "My brain was like mush! I had a hundred things I wanted to say—I wanted to ask if he was tired, I wanted to tell him that being dark transformed wasn't his fault, I wanted to compliment him on how handsome he looked today, I wanted to talk about design… But when the words reached my mouth, my tongue got tied! Not a single word came out!"
She clutched her head in agony and squatted down: "I could only watch him change the subject with that joke, and then I was just like a parrot, only able to nod and say 'mm-hmm, uh-huh'!
I missed it! Tikki! I wasted such a good opportunity, all of it!"
Amidst the girl's complaints, filled with regret and frustration, the Parisian night officially began.