Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Impossible, Absolutely Impossible
“Tell me what’s going on here.”
Sophia in front of him was completely different from her at the banquet.
Those glasses were like her seal, making her stern again.
Light beams illuminated dust particles dancing about, giving the office a cinematic quality.
“Late five times this month, and this time it’s because of Violet again?”
Sophia sighed.
She’d hoped that after the banquet, Philin could completely farewell this twisted relationship.
But now it seemed there was no improvement at all.
They’d clearly talked for so long on that balcony.
What on earth had they discussed!
“This time I was delayed by something this morning.”
“What thing?”
Sophia leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, her expression serious.
“Let me guess—making breakfast for some girl?”
Right guess, but the girl wasn’t who the teacher thought.
“Philin, I’m not criticizing you.”
Sophia removed her glasses.
Last night at the banquet, Philin’s behavior in front of Sophia had made her feel sorry for him.
“You and Violet really have no future. If you keep obsessing, you’ll only hurt yourself in the end.”
Sophia moved closer to Philin, her voice becoming much gentler.
“It’s not that I’m saying you’re not good enough—it’s just that Violet probably likes boys from similar backgrounds, and her family will definitely want someone of equal social standing.”
“And look—Violet completely ignores you. She’s never actively sought you out, never initiated a conversation with you.”
At school, Violet’s attitude toward Philin was the same in every version of the story and rumor.
Equally cold.
Sophia felt Philin’s devotion simply wasn’t worth it.
“She has no feelings for you at all. You’ve been one-sidedly liking someone else. Do you understand?”
Sophia didn’t want to be so blunt since it was hurtful.
But Philin had no one to care for him now and needed an elder to guide him.
Before Philin could answer, Sophia saw Violet’s figure outside the window.
Her pink hair was as brilliant as cherry blossoms, with slightly curled ends.
Her tall figure in the neat academy uniform could easily be used in recruitment posters.
Only that cold expression always kept people at a distance.
Violet had already been accepted to an academy in the Royal Capital, but since classes at Saint Andrews Academy weren’t finished, she still needed to attend.
She was now the school’s treasure—being accepted early to a Royal Capital academy was important promotional material for the school.
“You sit here and reflect on what I said. I’ll come back to ask you about it.”
Sophia opened the door. She wouldn’t make the foolish mistake of giving Philin and Violet a chance to be alone again.
It was best not to let them meet at all.
“Miss Violet, is there something you need?”
Sophia approached Violet, her face showing the smile reserved for good students.
Violet must want to find her, but seeing Philin in the office, she didn’t want to enter.
“Teacher Sophia.”
Violet curtsied to Sophia, her pale pink hair swaying gently with her movement.
Those amber eyes still held their usual coolness.
“I’m waiting for Philin.”
Sophia paused, then resumed her smile.
“Oh, oh, waiting for someone.”
There must be a girl with the same name as that brat Philin.
If Philin heard this, he’d definitely get the wrong idea and think Violet was waiting for him.
“It’s already noon. Have you eaten?”
Violet shook her head, then glanced at the office.
“When Philin comes out of the office, I’ll go eat with him.”
“Miss Violet, there’s no student named Philin in my office—just a boy with the same name.”
“That’s him.”
The young lady’s expression remained that same cold look, not like she was joking.
Sophia stood there stunned. Those three short words short-circuited her brain.
Violet, waiting, Philin, eating.
Why did this have such a huge impact?
What had they talked about that night?
Could it be?
It couldn’t be!
Sophia suddenly looked up, pulling Violet aside.
“Violet, tell me—I’ll handle this for you.”
Sophia glanced back to make sure the office door wasn’t open, then continued in a low voice: “Does Philin have some kind of leverage over you?”
This sort of thing had happened before.
People driven by unrequited love sometimes did crazy things.
If Philin had gone mad and was using some leverage against Violet to threaten her into being his girlfriend or something, that would be terrible!
“No, teacher.”
Violet tilted her head slightly, seemingly confused by Sophia’s words.
Sophia’s anxious heart settled down a bit.
Good thing Philin hadn’t done anything illegal.
“I’m the one who wants to have lunch with Philin.”
Sophia’s heart jumped again.
She couldn’t understand this.
What was happening?
Was she still drunk from last night and hadn’t sobered up?
Violet—the ice queen beauty whom countless suitors couldn’t get a single response from.
Today she actually wanted to wait for Philin to have lunch.
Could it be that she’d really been moved by Philin’s devotion?
No way!
“I’ll call him.”
Sophia opened the door and shut it tightly.
“Teacher?”
Philin turned to look at Sophia’s strange behavior, equally puzzled.
Sophia knew clearly that if Philin learned this news, his mouth would stretch to the back of his head with joy.
His heart, which might have been dimming somewhat, would probably light up like dust on the table being blown away by a fan after hearing this news.
Sophia didn’t want to see Philin, fallen into love, spend all his savings on Violet and end up freezing to death on the streets.
“Philin, listen to me. If one day Violet invited you to lunch, what would you do?”
“Violet wouldn’t invite me to lunch.”
“I mean hypothetically.”
“Of course I wouldn’t go. Teacher, I really won’t have any involvement with Violet now.”
Sophia looked at Philin’s sincere, pure eyes, and the scales in her heart began to tip again.
She couldn’t keep Philin in this office for the rest of his life.
She also couldn’t let Violet keep waiting outside.
“Violet is asking you to lunch. She’s right outside.”
“Asking me to lunch?”
Sophia carefully observed Philin, afraid he’d go crazy with joy and start jumping around.
Fortunately, he didn’t.
Philin opened the door and saw Violet, but didn’t show his usual smile.
“Something wrong?”
Violet saw Philin’s figure, a strange emotion flashing in her eyes.
“Lunch.”
“What lunch?”
Violet used both hands to mimic the shape of a lunchbox.
Philin understood.
Previously, all lunches had been brought by him for Violet.
Siraphel paid for ingredients, and he cooked.
After Violet’s contract expired, she’d been absent from school, then was grounded by Siraphel until coming to school today.
So this young lady still didn’t know he really wouldn’t bring her lunch anymore.
“I didn’t bring your lunch.”
Philin spread his hands.
“Go eat at the school cafeteria yourself.”
Violet’s eyelashes froze in mid-air, forgetting to blink.
Showing the same expression was Sophia, whose entire body was pressed against the door eavesdropping.
…