Chapter 26: Chapter 25
Two or three days after the whole "high fever" incident, Joanna Kennedy belatedly realized that Simon Lockwood’s attitude toward her had changed.
It wasn’t the old, unpredictable, hot-and-cold change. This was a softening that anyone with eyes could see.
According to the plot, she should have been thrilled.
But Joanna Kennedy wasn’t happy at all right now!
’Can someone please tell me if a top student’s only way of showing friendliness is by tutoring you?!’
When school finally let out, Joanna Kennedy tried to sneak away but was once again blocked at the classroom door by Simon Lockwood. "Go back. You can leave after I’ve gone over your mistakes with you."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
With a long face, Joanna Kennedy glared at Simon Lockwood, fuming but not daring to speak. Faced with his firm, expressionless gaze, she had no choice but to concede. "Oh..."
’She swore, if she didn’t have to maintain her character persona, she would have walked right past Simon Lockwood with her head held high!’
’These stupid math problems! Whoever wants to do them can do them!’
Alas, she was just a weak, pitiful, and helpless villainess, so she could only listen to Simon Lockwood and struggle valiantly in her "battle" with the math problems.
Ever since she came to this world, she had only been playing around and doing missions; she hadn’t studied at all. She got a major problem wrong several times in a row, to the point where even she was getting annoyed. But Simon Lockwood patiently explained it to her again and again.
Joanna Kennedy stared at his side profile as he earnestly explained the problem, feeling a swirl of complicated emotions.
When Simon Lockwood turned to ask if she understood, Joanna Kennedy composed herself, blinked, and said with a firm gaze, "I get it."
Simon Lockwood said, "...Explain it to me, then."
’He’s not being serious, is he?’
Joanna Kennedy stammered, "I don’t think that’s necessary."
One second, two seconds.
Simon Lockwood stared at her, his face impassive. Joanna Kennedy caved. "Fine, there’s still a tiny little bit I don’t get."
She pinched her thumb and index finger together, leaving only a sliver of a gap, trying to prove she really only misunderstood a tiny bit.
Her attitude was dismissive, her demeanor careless. She showed no desire to improve.
Simon Lockwood’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Do you even want to listen at all?"
"Nope," Joanna Kennedy said, acting as if she didn’t notice he was angry. Her tone was lazy. "Go ahead and explain."
Simon Lockwood placed his pen on the desk, making a soft but deliberate sound. Joanna Kennedy waited a moment, but when she didn’t hear him start explaining, she looked up in confusion, only to find that his face had turned cold.
"...What’s wrong?"
"Joanna Kennedy." Simon Lockwood said her name. "I don’t like long-distance relationships."
His tone was flat, yet it sent an inexplicable tremor through her heart.
Joanna Kennedy froze. Something felt different.
She wasn’t stupid. She knew what Simon Lockwood meant, and it was precisely because she understood that she felt a sense of panic.
’Actually, she’d vaguely sensed something from the moment Simon Lockwood had started pulling her aside to tutor her. But out of a sort of blind faith in the plot, she hadn’t thought too deeply about it.’
After speaking, Simon Lockwood stared at Joanna Kennedy. She pretended to have a sudden realization, grinning smugly. "I get it! You want me to get into the same university as you, don’t you?"
Simon Lockwood said nothing, just watched her in silence.
Joanna Kennedy’s heart sank further, but she didn’t let it show on her face. She sighed. "Your grades are so good. There’s no way I can get into the same university as you."
"There’s still time. I’ll help you study," Simon Lockwood said.
Joanna Kennedy shook her head. "No, I don’t want to. I still want to have fun."
Seeing Simon Lockwood’s face darken, she quickly added, "It’s fine if we’re not in the same school! I can apply to a university in the same city as you. Distance won’t be a problem."
After she finished, Joanna Kennedy looked at him expectantly.
Simon Lockwood met her gaze for a few seconds with a grim expression, then turned and left.
Joanna Kennedy sat alone in the middle of the classroom, staring at Simon Lockwood’s back until he was out of sight. Only then did she slowly blink her stinging eyes.
A cold wind blew in from the window, lifting a corner of the bound math worksheets. Feeling the chill, Joanna Kennedy pulled her fingers into her sleeves, lowered her gaze, and breathed small puffs of warm air into her palm.
After what could only be described as an unhappy parting, Joanna Kennedy had assumed that, given Simon Lockwood’s cold personality, he would go back to ignoring her like before.
To her surprise, it was as if Simon Lockwood had forgotten everything. The next day after class, he once again cornered her to go over problems, showing a resolute determination to turn her into a top student.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’Dude... people with different paths can’t make plans together.’
The days spent studying always seemed to pass slowly. But no matter how slow they felt, winter break still crept up on them.
Ever since she started dating Simon Lockwood, Joanna Kennedy had cut back on hanging out with her crowd of questionable friends.
Recently, however, Joanna Kennedy had started frequently accepting invitations again—The Crimson Hall, The White Hall, Riverbend. She went wherever the fun was, and she always tried to drag Simon Lockwood along.
Simon Lockwood went once. While Joanna Kennedy was out of the private room, some rich kid made snide remarks to Simon, mocking him for having a pretty face that let him latch onto someone from a wealthy family.
After that, no matter how many times Joanna Kennedy asked him to go out with her, Simon Lockwood never agreed.
A young man’s pride is always more fragile than at any other stage of life. Joanna Kennedy had been through it, so she understood.
[What is going on?!] The newly upgraded and returned 166 exclaimed with heartfelt emotion, faced with Joanna Kennedy’s reckless behavior and Simon Lockwood’s compliance. [How long was I gone? What the hell happened?!]
[Sigh. It’s going to sound narcissistic for me to say this, but I have to say it.] Joanna Kennedy sighed, theatrically placing a hand on her forehead. [I think Simon Lockwood... has fallen for me.]
The male lead had fallen for the villainess.
was so thunderstruck by her words it was practically fried to a crisp. [Impossible. Absolutely impossible.]
[Uh-huh. If you don’t believe me, then don’t.] Joanna Kennedy shrugged.
In any case, she was currently doing her best to derail the plot by showing Simon Lockwood that she was nothing but a spoiled, unreasonable, and unambitious heiress.
pulled up the progress logs for the recent period and went silent after reviewing them.
Half an hour later, it made up its mind. It was time to cut through the mess with a single stroke. While the plot hadn’t gone too far off the rails, it was going to do something drastic.
informed her mercilessly: [Your family is going bankrupt ahead of schedule.]
Joanna Kennedy’s eyes widened. ’Wait, what did you just say?!’
She was furious. [I’m not the one derailing the plot, so why are you making my family go bankrupt?!]
’If you’ve got the guts, go mess with the male lead!’
said faintly, [Because you’re the side character.]
Joanna Kennedy: [...]
Recently, something interesting had happened in the wealthy circles of Aethelburg—a piece of high-society gossip, you could say.
The Jennings family had, with great fanfare, acknowledged an illegitimate son and were even holding a special banquet for him to "formally join the family." Many people were invited to witness the event, and as one of the great families, the Kennedy family was on the guest list.
At the banquet, Joanna Kennedy used the excuse of going to the restroom to slip away from her parents. She found a sofa in a corner, sat down, and started eating from a plate of small cakes.
Her eyes darted around the banquet hall.
[Why isn’t Charles Jennings here yet?] Joanna Kennedy asked 166.
called her an idiot. [The main character always makes a grand entrance at the end. Don’t you get it?]
[Yeah, yeah, I get it.]
Joanna Kennedy was still half-heartedly bickering with 166 when, in the next second, the banquet fell silent. She looked toward the main entrance of the hall.
