Chapter 30: Take Your Head Off

Inside the Old Classroom.

Aytin still maintained the position of pinning Cerese beneath him, both hands pressed firmly against the floor.

At this moment, the air seemed to freeze, suffused with a subtle yet ambiguous tension that was hard to describe.

Cerese lay on her back, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

She could clearly feel the weight and warmth of Aytin’s body pressing down on her.

Looking at Aytin’s face, so close and so near, her heart pounded like a drum.

Her mind went blank, and instinctively, she closed her eyes gently, as if silently waiting for or bracing herself against something.

Seeing the flushed cheeks of the beautiful girl beneath him, her soft red lips pursed lightly, and that utterly defenseless, vulnerable expression as if inviting anyone to pluck her heart—Aytin’s Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed.

A sudden, intense urge to kiss her surged up within him.

It wasn’t really Aytin’s fault; anyone in his position, facing a scene like this, would find it difficult to suppress such feelings.

But in the end, reason prevailed.

“Sorry!”

Aytin awkwardly climbed off Cerese and quickly put some distance between them.

He then reached out his hand toward Cerese, who was still lying on the floor.

Cerese’s character was deeply misogynistic, a bottom-tier personality, and though her impression of him had improved significantly, forcibly kissing her now would almost certainly mean mission failure.

Hearing his voice, Cerese slowly opened her eyes, the flush on her cheeks still lingering.

Even she hadn’t noticed the fleeting flicker of disappointment that flashed deep within her heart.

She pursed her lips slightly but eventually reached out and gently took Aytin’s hand, using his strength to pull herself up from the ground.

“Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

Aytin looked at Cerese’s slightly pale face with concern.

“I’m… fine.”

Cerese instinctively avoided Aytin’s gaze, shaking her head softly, her voice barely audible.

“That was close just now. We almost got caught by them.”

Only then did Aytin breathe a sigh of relief, a trace of luck coloring his words.

“So… what do we do now?”

Cerese took several deep breaths, working hard to suppress the unsettling flutter in her chest.

She lifted her hand to carefully smooth down her disheveled uniform skirt and collar, trying to regain her usual composure.

“Under these circumstances, there’s no way we can attend today’s training class anymore. To be safe, we should just go home.”

Aytin pondered briefly, his gaze sweeping the empty classroom doorway.

After all, Quintina—who had an almost obsessive fixation on witches—was currently searching the academy with her companions for Cerese.

“But… what about Senior Quintina?”

Cerese’s delicate brows furrowed tightly, worry flickering across her face.

She knew well that simply running away wouldn’t solve anything.

“We can’t just keep hiding like this…”

“The reason Quintina wants to harm you is because she was misled by that doctored video. Once we clear up this misunderstanding, the problem will be solved at its root.”

Aytin nodded.

“But… the video was altered by Rufus. How are we supposed to clear up the misunderstanding?”

Cerese’s expression instantly darkened.

She bit her lip, her voice tinged with helplessness and a hint of resentment.

Was she really supposed to go beg Rufus to reveal the truth?

“I already have a preliminary plan to clear this up. But today’s not the right time to execute it; we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

At that moment, a reassuring smile lifted the corners of Aytin’s mouth.

He turned toward Cerese, speaking with absolute certainty and confidence, making her a promise.

“Don’t worry, I’ll restore your innocence.”

“Okay. I believe you.”

Seeing Aytin so calm and confident, as if everything was under his control, the heavy stone in Cerese’s heart seemed to loosen somewhat.

After all, this black-haired youth had brought her miracles more than once, and she trusted him completely.

Afterward, Aytin led Cerese, carefully using the academy buildings as cover to avoid areas where Quintina and her group might be active, moving quickly along a secluded path.

It was training class time, and the whole academy was quiet and deserted, with almost no students wandering around.

So Aytin and Cerese managed to slip out of Saint Diyashi Academy’s main gate without much trouble.

Just like that, Aytin escorted Cerese all the way back to her home.

“Don’t think too much about today. Get a good rest. Save your energy—tomorrow will be quite the show.”

Outside Cerese’s quiet front door, Aytin stopped, looking at the still somewhat pale girl’s face, gently reminding her.

After speaking, Aytin turned to leave.

But as he took a step forward, he felt someone gently grab his wrist from behind.

Slightly puzzled, he turned around and saw Cerese lowering her head slightly, one hand shyly clutching his wrist.

“Aytin… could you… stay… with me tonight…”

Cerese’s voice was soft and hesitant.

She didn’t know why she suddenly made such a request—she just knew that at this moment, she didn’t want to be apart from Aytin.

“Isn’t that… inappropriate?”

Aytin was taken aback by her words, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

“My mom… she’s been working overtime a lot lately… and at night… I’m all alone at home…”

Cerese didn’t look up, but the grip on Aytin’s wrist tightened slightly.

Her voice remained low but carried a barely perceptible plea.

“It’s not that I’m worried about that… it’s more that a boy staying overnight at a girl’s place might cause gossip.”

Aytin awkwardly scratched his nose and laughed nervously twice.

“But… Aytin, you don’t seem like the kind of guy who cares much about what others think.”

Aytin still hesitated.

He really didn’t mind how others viewed him, but he had to consider Cerese’s situation.

He was trying to figure out how to decline politely without hurting her feelings.

[Master, you really are a blockhead! This is such a golden opportunity! Being alone with Cerese is the perfect chance to boost your relationship! Just say yes!]

Nearby, Ruby was desperately agitated, buzzing around Aytin’s head like a little bee.

“Do you… actually… dislike me, Aytin?”

Seeing Aytin still hesitant, Cerese’s eyes dimmed slightly.

She lowered her head and cautiously asked in a small voice.

When the girl looked up again, her beautiful eyes shimmered with moisture, her expression pitiful, like a little animal about to be abandoned any second.

“All right… I’ll trouble you tonight then.”

Facing that gaze, Aytin’s heart softened instantly.

He was always helpless against girls who showed vulnerability and begged quietly.

In the end, he relented.

“I should be the one apologizing… so much happened today, and I felt really anxious and uneasy…”

Cerese’s face immediately brightened with a faint smile.

She quickly explained in a whisper.

“But with you here, Aytin, I feel especially safe… so, please, stay tonight.”

“No trouble at all. As long as you feel safe.”

Aytin smiled gently, seeing Cerese finally relax.

Ruby, beside them, clenched her tiny fists excitedly and gave Aytin a big thumbs-up.

Her face beamed with the thrill of “Master, well done, mission accomplished!” and her wings fluttered rapidly in excitement.

Aytin understood Ruby’s exaggerated gestures and hints, and he rolled his eyes at the holographic sprite.

Mission accomplished, my foot!