Diana stared blankly at Shia, sadness clouding her features. She looked utterly defeated, like a dejected puppy kneeling on the floor.

Her posture—duck-sitting with her legs folded underneath her—should have seemed innocent, but even now, her natural allure shone through.

However, the mournful aura surrounding her was almost suffocating to anyone watching.

As her best frenemy, though, Eden felt zero sympathy.

In fact, she even looked smug.

'Humph, that’s what you get for trying to steal my prize!'

She didn’t even need to fight anymore—her charming young man was now entirely hers.

Eden stretched out her hand and pulled Shia into her embrace.

Her voluptuous figure pressed warmly against his back, her chin resting on his shoulder. Her breathtakingly seductive face lit up with victorious delight.

“Hehehe… HAHAHA…”

She even let out a laugh that sounded like a villain reveling in their triumph.

Pinned against Eden, Shia couldn’t resist at all.

Against these two overwhelmingly powerful women, any attempt to fight back was futile.

Yet hearing Eden’s sinister laughter made him chuckle internally.

'Only these two charm queens could turn something like this into such chaos!'

But while Eden basked in her victory, Diana was no longer among the “players.”

The Academy Head, usually so bold and varied in her allure—sometimes pure, sometimes nurturing, sometimes dignified, and sometimes seductively wicked—was now a shadow of her former self.

Her elegant demeanor was gone, replaced with a sorrowful emptiness.

Her stunningly beautiful face remained calm, but an unshakable air of heartbreak surrounded her, radiating from every inch of her being.

She looked so pitiful, like a fragile flower on the verge of withering.

Her head hung low, sinking into the plush softness of her own chest, making her appear even more despondent.

Was this sorrow real? Or was it a performance?

Shia felt a pang of guilt looking at her.

He’d never seen her like this before, not once.

Despite Diana’s usual penchant for rubbing salt into others’ wounds, he found himself unwilling to see her in such a state.

She wasn’t meant to be like this. A figure like Diana shouldn’t 'emo'.

Instinctively, he took a step forward, wanting to console her.

But before he could utter a word, Eden intervened.

She leaned down, her breath hot against his ear as she whispered mischievously.

“Dear Shia~ Why waste your energy on that old hag?”

“Kindness is a lovely trait, but don’t be blindly kind, okay~?”

“Let’s go. My precious daughter is waiting for us at home~!”

With that, she tugged at Shia, trying to pull him away.

Shia could only watch helplessly as the disheartened Diana knelt before him, unable to get closer due to Eden’s firm grasp.

The woman he wanted to comfort was right in front of him, yet the mischievous queen behind him wouldn’t let him move a single step.

'What kind of absurd melodrama is this!?'

In that moment, Shia felt the weight of the universe’s malice pressing down on him.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he was truly in the world he thought he knew, or if he’d somehow stumbled into a matriarchal society full of villainous women.

It was all so bizarre.

Eden gave Diana one last mocking glance before strutting away with her prize—Shia, her supposed “son-in-law.”

Shia, though being dragged along, kept glancing back.

Diana, usually so bold and carefree, now looked as though all the color had drained from her world.

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Her once proud and commanding figure now slumped, shoulders drooping as if weighed down by invisible chains.

Shia’s heart ached at the sight.

Even if Diana sometimes deserved a bit of a lesson, this felt too harsh.

To see someone so lively and spirited brought so low was like a knife twisting in his chest.

As the distance grew and the door finally closed, cutting off his view of Diana, Shia couldn’t shake the image from his mind.

Bang!

The door’s muffled thud was soft, yet it sent a chill down his spine.

Diana remained kneeling, unmoving.

The sorrow in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by something much sharper.

Her hands, resting at her sides, clenched into fists.

She silently etched this humiliation into her heart.

'Eden?'

'You think I’ll let this go?'

Diana’s lips curled into a faint, playful smile, her expression a mix of intrigue and menace.

Did she really feel that heartbroken?

Not necessarily.

This was far from over.

---

Outside, on the bustling campus streets, Eden led Shia by the hand. Her steps were bold and confident, her usual seductive air tempered with a touch of restraint.

Shia followed reluctantly, his brows furrowed in frustration.

“You went too far back there,” he said flatly.

“Oh, I know,” Eden replied with a victorious smirk, completely unapologetic.

Shia’s frown deepened.

“That’s it? That’s your attitude?”

“You knew exactly what would hurt her, and you did it on purpose.”

Eden waved dismissively.

“Come on, don’t frown—it’ll ruin your handsome face.”

“I’m serious,” Shia pressed, his tone firm. “You’re not even the least bit remorseful?”

“Mm-hmm, I heard you~”

Eden’s lazy response only made her seem more carefree.

Shia felt a surge of irritation.

He had to do something to make her take this seriously.

Suddenly, he yanked her hand, pulling her forward with unexpected force.

Eden, caught off guard, stumbled as Shia dragged her toward a secluded area.

The sound of her high heels echoed like rapid rainfall on the pavement.

“Hey! Slow down, what’s the rush?” she complained, her usual sultry tone now laced with playful annoyance.

Shia ignored her protests, determination written across his face.

They soon arrived at a familiar grove, shrouded in thick foliage. The bustling sounds of the campus faded, leaving only silence.

“Bang!”

Shia slammed his hand against the wall behind her, his movement so forceful that the surface seemed to tremble slightly.

Eden blinked in surprise, finding herself pinned against the cold, unyielding wall.

Shia’s face drew closer, his expression exuding an unexpected confidence.

Eden raised an elegant brow, her curiosity piqued. A wall slam? In the grove?

The scene felt oddly familiar.

Who would’ve thought the little guy had gotten so adept at this?

It was a near mirror of a past encounter, the same boy, but a different victim.

And the reactions couldn’t have been more different.

Compared to the trembling tsundere princess from before, Queen Eden, with her vast (albeit theoretical) experience, showed no fear at all.

Her slender fingers reached up, lazily twirling a strand of hair that had fallen against her chest. She tilted her head slightly downward, her eyes lifting to meet Shia’s with an amused glint.

“You seem quite practiced at this,” she teased, her sultry voice laced with seduction. Her gaze was as tantalizing as her tone, like a gentle yet undeniable invitation.

No, it wasn’t an invitation—it was consent.

Her other hand snaked up to hook around Shia’s neck, pulling lightly.

The small space between them vanished entirely in an instant.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com