Chapter 132: Comparison
“Corvus and I were childhood sweethearts, you seem to know that already.”
Agnes pursed her lips, her eyes filled with a hint of sadness.
“It’s not really a secret. He started pursuing me back in school, confessing his feelings, but I rejected him, saying I wanted to focus on my studies. It should have ended there, and I even told him clearly, but his family and mine were very supportive of his pursuit, so it became what it is now…”
A simp with backing was no longer a simp.
What troubled Agnes was the involvement of their families.
On one hand, encouraged by their families, Corvus’s advances became more aggressive, making her avoid him, even moving into the academy’s dormitory to escape.
On the other hand, the pressure to marry from her own family intensified, and it seemed the two families had conspired to push them together.
Agnes was afraid her family would force her to marry someone she didn’t love.
Her life would truly become a tragic drama…
“So, Corvus has been pestering you?” Lena suddenly asked.
“It was pestering a few months ago, now it’s harassment. You must have seen the glass bird earlier, that was his doing.”
Agnes shook her head, sitting on the bed and lying down, her long, water-blue hair spread across the sheets.
Lena was mesmerized, admiring Agnes’s beauty.
“He won’t give up. He’s been here five or six times in the past few days, during the day, during my lunch break, even in the middle of the night. If it weren’t for the gate, he might have barged in. Fortunately, Professor Witch intervened and sent him away.”
Lena frowned. “What are you going to do?”
Agnes fell silent, the events of that rainy night flashing through her mind, her face paling.
Corvus had confessed his feelings under the pouring rain, holding flowers, kneeling on one knee, reciting cheesy lines.
His heartfelt confession had been met with Agnes’s rejection.
Repeatedly rejected, Corvus had lost his patience, his words arrogant and self-righteous, like a madman.
He had accused her of being ungrateful, ruining what should have been a joyous occasion for both families.
She had called him selfish, only thinking about himself, never considering her feelings.
Their argument had escalated into a shouting match.
When Corvus had crossed a line, Agnes had slapped him.
And then, a chase had ensued…
Agnes would never forget how fast she had run, Corvus unable to catch her, she had even lost her shoes in the process, drenched to the bone…
“I won’t accept Corvus. He’s too arrogant, always seeking validation, and if anyone disagrees with him, he’ll use all sorts of twisted logic to force you to compromise. His possessiveness is suffocating, even if we were married, I would be under his control…”
Agnes’s voice was filled with sorrow.
She was truly at her wit’s end, the memory of that night haunting her, causing sleepless nights.
Faced with the pressure from both families, the coercion from her former childhood friend, no one could help her, she could only save herself.
The most painful thing was her family’s insistence on her marriage, like a death knell.
She could accept anything, except her family’s distrust.
Corvus had disguised himself too well, acting so charming and refined, like a perfect actor. No one believed the darkness hidden beneath his handsome facade, no one believed her accusations, especially since she had been a troublesome student…
Sigh…
Agnes sighed, her expression gloomy. “If there was room for negotiation, I wouldn’t have to hide.”
“Then why not find a boyfriend?” Lena suggested.
“I’ve tried, I’ve even gone on blind dates, but it’s not working…”
Agnes said with a wry smile, her gaze drifting towards Lena, admiring her elegant figure and long, shapely legs.
“Why not?” Lena asked patiently, her eyes sparkling. “There are many good men in the world, finding someone who truly loves you among your admirers shouldn’t be difficult, and it’s just a temporary solution, to make Corvus give up.”
Her words, although disregarding moral considerations, were logical.
But Agnes shook her head stubbornly.
“I can’t use their feelings to solve my own problems, it’s just a temporary fix. A fake boyfriend wouldn’t fool Corvus, he might not have the best personality, but he’s not stupid, and we’re both professors, his achievements far surpass mine…”
Agnes admitted her inferiority in this aspect.
Becoming a professor wasn’t easy; she had dedicated her time and effort to her research, and so had Corvus.
“Well…”
Lena was exasperated.
This wouldn’t work, that wouldn’t work, what was she supposed to do?
Why not just beat him up? Scare him into submission?
Lena’s specialty was brute force, not strategy.
As she would say: Why bother with all the trouble, just crush them, fight if you can win, if not, then resort to any means necessary.
Should she ask Agnes?
Lena opened her mouth. “I can…”
Agnes glared. “You can’t!”
Why the immediate rejection? She hadn’t even said anything yet.
Seeing Agnes’s puffed-up cheeks, Lena chuckled. “Professor, you have such cute expressions, I should record this precious moment…”
“If you do, you can only watch it yourself, it’s my private photo, if it leaks, you’ll be in trouble.”
Agnes’s eyes were filled with mock anger, her lips, slightly parted, incredibly alluring.
Her collar slipped, revealing her ample bosom.
“Very delicious, very fresh,” Lena said, her eyes narrowed, as if savoring a delicacy.
“Stop staring, we’re both girls, can’t you look at your own?”
“It’s different.”
“How is it different?” Agnes adjusted her collar, her slender hands like soft jade, her eyes beautiful. “Don’t let the conversation die, talk to me…”
Her voice was soft, as if reluctant for Lena to leave.
Agnes’s heart was heavy, and she was still recovering, needing someone to confide in.
“I came here to talk to you, what else?”
Lena smiled, sitting down on the bed.
She was only ten centimeters away from Agnes, close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Agnes’s body tensed, a blush spreading down her neck.
She turned away, suddenly unable to meet Lena’s gaze.
“Um… Lena, are you really willing to listen to my rambling?”
“Of course.”
“It’s very boring, no flowers or jewels, no heroes or dragons, just my life story, even so, you’re still willing to listen?”
Lena’s breath was warm against Agnes’s neck, making her shiver.
Agnes closed her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering.
Lena’s heart ached for her.
“…I believe everyone has the right to be heard, and listening is a form of respect.”
“Corvus wouldn’t say such things, he would only spout nonsense.”
“Heh, comparing me to him is an insult.”
“You have a way with words, Lena, I’m starting to like your directness.”
Agnes was happy, finally someone understood her suffering, a light had appeared in her life.
Although Lena’s motives weren’t pure, she was still here to help, unlike Corvus.
Humans were strange creatures.
When someone even more annoying appeared, the original annoyance became less irritating in comparison.
Comparison highlighted the difference, and Lena was far more appealing than Corvus.
