Vol 4. Chapter 17: Familiar Sourness

Inside the classroom, Aesphyra kept her head down and did her own thing, as if she hadn’t seen Vinny standing by the door at all. Or rather, as if she didn’t care—like what she had in her hands was so important.

No—maybe it wasn’t that what she was doing was important.

Maybe it was simply that there was no one she needed to deliberately care about.

Vinny’s movements and expression stiffened all at once. Every possibility he’d imagined, every line he’d prepared—at this moment, he didn’t even know where to start.

He’d thought of so many outcomes.

This was the one he’d never imagined.

But with so many people in the classroom, Vinny couldn’t exactly do anything too rigid. He couldn’t just block the doorway and refuse to move. He could only step forward and enter the room with Shicodale.

For some reason, Vinny forced himself to walk up the tiered seats. He felt like every gaze in the classroom had fallen onto him. Even if that wasn’t true at all, he was abnormally sensitive right now.

When he passed by Aesphyra, clinging to the last shred of hope and luck, the breathtaking silver-haired girl was exactly the same as before—as if the one walking past her wasn’t Vinny, but some completely unfamiliar male classmate she didn’t recognize at all.

No reaction.

Vinny knew it. The instant he entered the classroom, Aesphyra had noticed him. With Aesphyra’s sharpness, there was no way she hadn’t sensed his presence. And now it was even more certain—she’d known from the start that he’d come in, but she didn’t care at all. Not a single reaction. Like she was facing a stranger she’d never met.

Vinny pressed his lips together. He didn’t even know what stubbornness he was acting on, but he deliberately lingered in front of Aesphyra’s desk for one extra beat—

Then still walked past.

That “keep your distance” aura—her expression, her attitude—made it impossible for Vinny to say even half a word.

He felt like a chunk of lead was jammed in his throat, heavy and suffocating. A kind of torment he couldn’t put into words.

Even if he forced himself to gather the courage to explain what happened yesterday, a flash of memory cut through his mind—being coldly rejected by Mirexia in front of everyone, being laughed at like a clown.

And that was only a tiny thumbnail of the past ten-plus years of his life.

He’d been through far, far too many things like this.

Human coldness was the thing he had tasted the most. And the more you experience it, the more you fear it.

He was afraid his feelings had always been one-sided. Afraid that the fragile stir of affection and heat he’d finally managed to grow would crumble into nothing the moment it faced reality.

That feeling—

It was like an ice sword piercing straight through his heart. Bone-deep cold. Heart-ripping pain.

The courage he’d raised was crushed in an instant by the bitter life he’d lived for more than ten years.

That saying really wasn’t wrong.

Happy people are healed by their childhood for their whole lives.

Unhappy people spend their whole lives trying to heal their childhood.

They passed each other like that.

Neither of them said a single word to the other.

This had never happened before.

Aesphyra—no matter when she saw him, she always came over to tease him a few times, provoke him, make him mad, squeeze Virtue out of him for fun.

This was the first time she’d ignored him.

The first time she’d been this cold.

Vinny didn’t know what he was feeling right now. He only knew that after he sat down, everything felt unreal. He couldn’t take in a single thing. The teacher told him to stand up and answer a question, and he just blanked out—he couldn’t say a word.

But since he’d improved a lot recently and his exam scores were pretty good, the teacher didn’t scold him much—just told him to focus in class, then let him sit back down.

And Aesphyra never looked at him once from beginning to end.

Even when he was called up and couldn’t answer, she didn’t glance his way at all.

Not even that usual teasing look.

Like he didn’t exist.

Like everything between them was fake—an illusion, a dream that never happened, something that never existed.

Vinny opened his mouth.

In the end, he said nothing.

He just sat there silently at his seat, staring as if he was still here—when in truth, his soul had long since gone who-knows-where.

Class ended.

The morning classes were over.

With Shicodale accompanying him, Vinny drifted out of the classroom in a daze, like he still hadn’t come back to himself.

“Vinny... are you really okay?” After class, once they stepped outside, Shicodale looked extremely worried about Vinny’s state.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.” Vinny stayed quiet for a moment before answering, then heavily shook his head—despite the fact that what he was showing had absolutely no persuasiveness.

“Really?” Shicodale clasped both hands at her chest. Those deer-like eyes were full of worry—she clearly didn’t believe him.

She felt that ever since dinner last night, Vinny had been off. But Vinny didn’t seem willing to say what had happened, so all she could do was guess.

“Dale, let’s go back first,” Vinny said, his voice coming out with some effort. “Go back, eat, and rest properly. We still have class this afternoon.”

“Vinny, are you hungry?” Shicodale blinked, confused. “Okay, I understand—but... we don’t have class this afternoon, Vinny.”

“Notice?” Vinny was a little dazed. Yesterday he’d been getting dragged around by Milian and hadn’t paid attention to any notice.

“Yes. Today is Ainolin Festival, so it’s a half-day break. That’s what the notice said.” Shicodale recalled it. “And then this afternoon the academy is also holding a free cooking class. It seems like it’s specifically teaching how to make Ainolin Festival chocolate. Even if you already know how, you can go—materials are provided by the school. But it’s only open to girls.”

My blood pressure spiked—so guys can’t join, huh??

“So boys can’t participate?” Vinny asked, sounding rather weak.

“It says the cooking teacher is afraid boys will blow up the kitchen,” Shicodale said, thinking hard.

“By the way, Vinny—what even is Ainolin Festival chocolate?” Shicodale asked, curious.

“That... Dale, you know what Ainolin Festival is, right?”

“Yes. Vinny told me before. I roughly know.”

“Right. Giving chocolate is closely tied to what the festival is for. To put it simply—girls will personally make chocolate and give it to the boy they like. That represents her feelings. As for what kind of feelings... I don’t need to spell it out, do I?”

“Eh—eh?!” Shicodale’s pretty eyes widened. She’d learned something new. “So that’s why girls need to make chocolate.”

“Yeah. Because something made by hand definitely doesn’t represent the same thing as something bought outside,” Vinny said.

“Then... Vinny, have you received chocolate from other girls?” Shicodale asked very carefully.

“Me?” Vinny pointed at himself, speechless. “Dale, do I look like someone who gets chocolate from girls?”

“If I really got any, I’d already be showing off until the whole class knew.”

“So... Vinny, is it because you didn’t receive even one girl’s chocolate for Ainolin Festival that you’ve been gloomy and distracted all day?” Shicodale felt like she’d found the reason Vinny was in a bad mood, completely unaware that if it were anyone else, Vinny would think they were deliberately stabbing him in the heart.

“Dale, that was brutal, okay??” Vinny couldn’t help it. “Even if it’s true, can you not say it that directly? What if the other classmates hear it??”

“But Vinny... the fact that you didn’t get chocolate from girls—everyone should already know that,” Shicodale said, puzzled.

Vinny covered his chest again, looking wounded. It was like Shicodale was saying, ‘Everyone already accepts it as a default fact that you won’t receive girls’ chocolate. Isn’t it supposed to be like that?’

Even though Vinny knew this little dummy didn’t mean it that way. It was all unintentional.

“Dale, what are you saying?? This young master is a spirited, elegant, towering, top-tier handsome man—how could I possibly not receive girls’ chocolate!” Vinny protested.

“Today isn’t even over yet. Why are you concluding that so early? What are you rushing for? What are you so anxious about?”

“Uh...” Shicodale shrank her neck, flustered. “Vinny, I’m not anxious...”

“......” Vinny fell silent.

“What I mean is... Vinny, since you care so much about receiving handmade chocolate... then I can make one and give it to you.” As Shicodale spoke, a faint blush drifted onto her cheeks, like an unripe fruit.

“Dale.” Vinny pressed his lips together.

Even though Shicodale was genuinely a girl, her public identity was still male.

Great. Didn’t get any girls’ chocolate—ended up getting a boy’s chocolate first.

“Dale, can you make chocolate?”

“No.”

“Then how are you going to make it?”

“I can go learn!” Shicodale said brightly, overjoyed that Vinny was willing to accept her chocolate.

“But Dale—boys can’t enter the Ainolin special cooking class.”

“It’s fine! I can buy a book and learn! I’ll definitely make it before tonight!” Shicodale said seriously.

“Thank you, Dale.” Seeing how earnest and sincere Shicodale was toward him, Vinny was genuinely moved.

At least—right now, there was someone willing to put thought into him.

His mood improved a little.

After the two of them went back to the dorm and ate lunch, Vinny wanted to go out for a walk—to clear his head and think about some things. On the way, he ran into Ferdi.

“Oh? Vinny, bro—on a big festival day like this, you’re not staying in the dorm properly. Where are you going?” Ferdi asked. “What are you doing wandering around the streets? Waiting for love?”

“What’s it to you? I am waiting for love. So what?” Vinny rolled his eyes at Ferdi.

“Then I think you can go back now. You’ve been wandering for ages and you’re still empty-handed—not even one box of chocolate. I’d say you’ve got no chance,” Ferdi joked.

“And you?” Vinny raised a brow and shot back. “Aren’t you empty-handed too?”

“I’m not out here to receive chocolate,” Ferdi grinned.

“Then what are you out here for?”

“Hey, Vinny bro, you don’t know there’s a cooking class today teaching students how to make chocolate?” Ferdi said.

“Of course I know. But are you a girl? You’re going too?” Vinny sized Ferdi up and down.

“Who said I’m going to learn to make chocolate?” Ferdi smiled mysteriously. “Ah, forget it—I won’t tell you. You’re really weird. You’ve clearly got girls chasing you, and it’s even the top school beauty. Yet you’re still walking around with that miserable face. Why don’t you go find that imperial princess?”

“Tch. What’s it to you? I’ll do whatever I want.”

“Vinny bro, what’s wrong with you today? Your tone’s not great.” Ferdi clicked his tongue. “Whatever—I don’t have time to deal with you. I’ve gotta hurry to the Third Teaching Hall.”

Ferdi rushed off.

“Third Teaching Hall?” Vinny frowned.

So this cooking class was being held at the Third Teaching Hall?

Whatever. It had nothing to do with him anyway.

But even as he thought that, Vinny didn’t know what was wrong with him—like he was possessed, he still headed toward the Third Teaching Hall.

Just to watch the commotion.

That was what Vinny told himself as he arrived. The moment he got close, he caught the smell of sugar and milk. Which classrooms were holding the event was obvious—even just from the noise. From left to right, it was a whole row of classrooms.

Even girls who already knew how to make chocolate would come here. Tools, worktables, and ingredients were all prepared—free—and there were professionals guiding them. Coming here was clearly the best choice.

Vinny didn’t enter through the front door. He looked through a window instead.

Inside, it was in full swing. Many girls were busy at small cooking stations, stirring milk and powders together, while the cooking teacher moved back and forth, guiding their motions and steps.

Mm. It really was lively.

For some reason, Vinny kept watching, and {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} he found the process of making chocolate pretty interesting. He should’ve been the type who had no interest in cooking stuff at all.

After watching for a while, Vinny was about to leave—

But at that moment, he accidentally glimpsed a familiar silver figure inside the classroom.

That was...?

Vinny froze, staring in disbelief, then realized he hadn’t seen wrong.

Among the girls making chocolate, that striking and refined silver-haired girl was unmistakably there.

Today, Aesphyra had unusually tied her long hair into a high ponytail with a black ribbon, seemingly for convenience while making chocolate. Her movements flowed smoothly, not like a beginner at all.

Aesphyra looked like there was nothing she wasn’t good at.

Even with cooking, she was dazzling.

Or maybe for an unrivaled genius like her, something like this was child’s play—learn it once, and you know it.

Vinny pressed his lips together.

So during class, she didn’t say a single word to him—and after class, she came straight here to make chocolate??

There hadn’t been the slightest sign of it before.

So... who was she making Ainolin Festival chocolate for?

The moment that thought rose—

For some reason, that familiar sour sting surged up in Vinny’s chest again.

You didn’t even need to think about it. It had to be for some beauty, right?

That woman was a cold-blooded green-eyed killer. If she wasn’t chasing some campus beauty, where would she get the motivation for this??