Chapter 54: Chapter 54: A Pretty Sasaeng Fan?
"He seems quite thoughtful, to remember something like that for you," Cecilia said.
Estelle nodded in agreement. "He does take very good care of me. I just wasn’t too keen on having a dorky guy following me around at first, but I gradually got used to it."
Cecilia nodded understandingly, then changed the subject. "I got approval from the department head for my leave today. I booked a six o’clock flight back to Veridia."
"Huh?" Estelle yelped, quickly shutting down the girl group dance tutorial on her computer. "What date is it even? The department head approved your leave?"
Cecilia arched an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look.
Seeing this, Estelle rolled her eyes. "Figures. Everyone’s a slave to money. So you’re not going to watch Beatrice Lynn face her punishment? I was looking forward to going with you."
’Running three laps around the field while shouting "I’m an idiot"... The thought alone is hilarious. It’d be such a shame to miss it.’
Cecilia pulled out her suitcase and said while packing, "I’m not going to. She’ll never go through with a punishment like that."
’A pampered, high-and-mighty heiress like Beatrice Lynn values her pride above all else. She might accept other punishments, but she will absolutely never go through with this one.’
’She’d probably find it less painful to just get stabbed.’
"You’re that sure?" Estelle asked, feeling like they’d been short-changed. "Doesn’t that mean the bet was for nothing?"
Hearing this, Cecilia laughed. "If she actually did it, she’d have to spend the rest of her college years living down the joke. And if someone recorded it and posted it online, it would stick with her forever. But if she doesn’t do it, everyone will forget about the bet in a few days. Beatrice Lynn isn’t a genius, but she’s not so dumb she can’t figure out something that simple. That’s why I’m sure she won’t do it."
"Besides, the bet wasn’t a total loss. From now on, just call her Beatrice Lynn when you see her. I said it before: if she doesn’t do it, she gets a new name."
Estelle smiled and shook her head. "Fair enough. It’s a shame we miss the show, but she already made enough of a fool of herself today."
Cecilia had booked a first-class seat on the six o’clock flight. Estelle walked her to the school gate and hugged her, reluctant to let go. "You’ll be gone for half a month. I’ll be all alone in the dorm room."
Cecilia patted her back soothingly. "I’ll see you after the National Day holiday. Just text me if anything comes up. I’ll bring you back some souvenirs."
"So if Shawn Lane comes looking for you again, I’ll just say I have no idea where you are, right?" Estelle asked.
Cecilia pursed her lips, unconcerned. "Say whatever you want."
Estelle sighed. ’I can’t help but feel a little bad for Shawn Lane, but you can’t force feelings. At the end of the day, I’m firmly on Cecilia’s side.’
On the way to the airport, Cecilia told her younger sister that she was coming home that day. In response, her sister sent her a picture of an evening gown with a plunging V-neck.
"Do you like it, Sis?"
Cecilia smiled as she looked at the picture of the dress. ’My old self was extremely conservative. I would never have even considered a dress with such a deep V-neck.’
’But this time, I just want to live more freely. God was willing to give me a second chance, so I have to live as a new version of myself.’
’To hell with all the rules. My happiness is what matters most.’
So she replied, "The neckline isn’t low enough. It would probably look better if it were lower."
"Any lower and it’ll show your belly button, Sis."
Cecilia’s smile widened. "Well, this works too. It’s gorgeous. I’ll wear it when I get the chance."
After arriving at the airport, Cecilia first grabbed a quick bite in the first-class lounge, then used the priority lane to board her flight.
The moment she sat down on the plane, a palpable sense of apprehension washed over her.
’Because I’m about to see my mother, who isn’t even forty-five yet.’
She opened her WhatsApp chat with her mother. The most recent message was a birthday greeting from her mom, sent on Cecilia’s birthday back in April.
As she scrolled up, she saw it was just a stream of one-sided messages from her mother. She hadn’t replied to a single one.
’Mom, my flight gets in tonight.’
’Mom, what are you up to? I have a surprise for you tonight.’
’Mom... ’
In the chat box, Cecilia typed and then deleted, retyped and then deleted again. After several failed attempts, she closed the dialogue box.
As she was lost in her own world, someone suddenly sat down in the seat beside her.
Cecilia instinctively turned her head and saw a man completely disguised with a hat, mask, and sunglasses. The moment he sat down, a pleasant, woodsy scent of pine washed over her.
A person who looked like an assistant followed him, stowed his carry-on bag, and then handed him a thick folder.
The assistant and their team then headed back to the economy cabin.
The man casually picked up a pair of noise-canceling headphones, put them on, and projected an unapproachable, "do not disturb" aura. Cecilia glanced at him, surprised.
The man casually opened the folder, which was filled with dense text. Cecilia unintentionally glanced over and was surprised to see character names from *Heavenly Destiny as Phoenix*.
Cecilia turned to look at him again.
The man caught a glimpse of Cecilia from the corner of his eye, and behind his sunglasses, his gaze brightened.
’This stalker fan today is actually pretty good-looking.’
"I can give you an autograph, but you have to promise me you’ll stop this stalking behavior."
Gideon Hale opened his mouth and said something that struck Cecilia as completely bizarre.
Cecilia stared in astonishment as Gideon Hale swiftly pulled a blank sheet of paper from his folder and gracefully signed his name.
He then offered it to the bewildered Cecilia.
Cecilia looked at the Ghost Talisman on the paper. ’What is this even supposed to be?’
’Who is he?’
Seeing that Cecilia wasn’t taking the autograph, a flicker of impatience crossed Gideon Hale’s brow. He glanced around cautiously, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he lowered his mask and whispered, "You want a picture together, right? Hurry up. This is your only chance."
’If she weren’t so pretty, I wouldn’t have the patience to deal with a stalker fan.’
"I don’t know who you are," Cecilia said calmly.
Gideon Hale’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You’re saying you don’t know who I am?"
Cecilia frowned and studied his face for a long moment. ’He looks vaguely familiar. I must have seen him in some show, but I’ve only been twenty again for a short while. I really can’t recall which male actors are popular right now.’
Seeing her reaction, Gideon Hale awkwardly pulled his mask back on and muttered unhappily, "Then why were you staring at me?"
Exasperated, Cecilia reached over and plucked the noise-canceling headphones off his ears. Just as he was about to erupt, she explained, "You took the wrong pair. These are mine!"
Gideon Hale: ...
Cecilia slipped on her headphones, adjusted her seat to a comfortable angle, then turned her head and closed her eyes.
’It’s a three-hour flight. I need to get some rest.’
Mortified, Gideon Hale stared at the back of Cecilia’s head. He glanced around, at a complete loss, before finally lowering his head and pretending nothing had happened.
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