Chapter 133: Two Kinds of Gentleness
“So, what… Tell me more about your plan.”
“It’s simple. Lena, you just need to act as my girlfriend, and then appear before Corvus at the right time, the right place, and with the right image.”
Agnes explained after a moment of thought.
Lena remained calm, her expression unchanged…
Wasn’t this the classic “fake dating to get rid of a simp” trope?!
Lena tapped her head, feigning difficulty. “It doesn’t have to be me, anyone else would work too. My being a girl makes it less believable.”
But hadn’t she just rejected the fake boyfriend idea?
“I believe Lena is the perfect candidate for this, a unique honor,” Agnes said seriously.
“But… I… sigh…”
Lena thought Agnes should at least give her a reason.
Agnes’s expression darkened. “Lena, are you unwilling…?”
Her downcast eyes and disappointed look were truly heartbreaking.
Her words made Lena feel guilty, and she had no choice but to agree. “If Professor needs me, I’m naturally willing to help.”
“Lena, you’re so kind,” Agnes smiled warmly, like the morning sun.
“Not really, kindness is just a facade, I’m actually quite wicked.”
“Really?”
“Yes, ask Angel if you don’t believe me.”
Lena insisted.
She wasn’t gentle when bullying girls; she was a villain, a ruthless “bulldozer.”
“Pfft, you’re changing the subject, Lena.”
Agnes giggled, her mood improving. Having adapted to Lena’s rhythm, she felt like she could talk forever.
This was Lena’s doing.
Agnes could sense Lena controlling the conversation, setting the pace, keeping it going.
A simple chat had become surprisingly enjoyable thanks to Lena.
Agnes was delighted by Lena’s attentiveness. “We should be discussing how to deal with Corvus, shouldn’t we?”
“…My mistake.”
Lena’s expression softened, a sense of understanding developing between them.
“Then, Professor, can you elaborate on your plan?”
“I haven’t fully developed it yet, just a rough outline…” Agnes said apologetically. “But Lena, you can practice with me first, to avoid any mistakes.”
“Practice?”
Lena scoffed, as if such a thing required practice, it would tarnish her reputation as the empire’s top lesbian.
Wasn’t it just acting?
She could easily pull off a convincing performance.
“No, Lena, you misunderstand.” Agnes interrupted Lena’s vanity, suddenly becoming shy. “You’ll be cooperating with me, I want you to act as my girlfriend, that way, Corvus might give up.”
“?”
Lena stared blankly.
Agnes, seeing Lena’s dumbfounded expression, couldn’t help but chuckle. “My original plan was to use your influence to intimidate Corvus.”
“Everyone knows the Falmouths, only a fool would provoke them, and your power far surpasses anything Corvus can handle. He’s a shrewd and selfish person, he wouldn’t ruin his future for a woman, it’s illogical…”
Indeed.
A highly regarded talent of the empire wouldn’t be swayed by mere lust.
Although Corvus was an exception, he should still know how to protect himself, like ants relocating before a storm.
“I don’t disagree with your proposal, Professor,” Lena leaned back against the bed, “but you’ve chosen the wrong approach. Now isn’t the time for sentimentality, you have to be ruthless, a clean break is the best solution.”
“Did I choose wrongly…?” Agnes, seemingly misunderstanding Lena, sat up, her voice filled with emotion. “As long as it works, as long as it fools Corvus, he won’t bother me again. If Lena and I act more intimately, and I take the initiative, and I also have a ‘secret weapon,’ he will be punished if he persists…”
Lena suddenly asked, “What about you, Professor?”
“Eh…” Agnes’s voice faltered.
“Your reputation will be ruined because of me. I can endure the public’s scorn and accusations, but you can’t, Professor. You’re pure and innocent, once you’re associated with me, you’ll be like a white canvas stained with paint, never to be clean again.”
It would be a stain on her reputation.
After all, Lena’s reputation was notoriously bad. Associating with her would be like joining the devil’s camp.
“Lena…”
Agnes was truly touched.
She hadn’t expected Lena to be so considerate…
“It’s okay, compared to Corvus’s harassment, I think I can handle the pressure.”
“Easy for you to say, Professor, you’re oversimplifying things.”
Lena didn’t want Agnes to be caught in an endless storm of gossip.
Moreover, she was already engaged. This would only worsen her reputation as a promiscuous woman, causing public outrage.
Imagine, dating two of the academy’s most beautiful women, a pure idol and a beloved professor, and with her engagement to Diana looming, the gossip would be endless…
Just thinking about it made her head spin.
“Ahem… let’s try a different approach.”
She had to dissuade Agnes from this plan, or find another solution.
Lena said calmly, “I’ll just kill Corvus.”
After all, dead men tell no tales, and they certainly couldn’t harass Agnes. Kill him and feed him to the ghouls, a simple and permanent solution.
“If I wanted to kill Corvus, I would have done it myself, I wouldn’t need your help, Lena,” Agnes said with a wry smile.
She had her reasons. Their families were close, and Corvus was her childhood friend. Killing him was impossible, hiring an assassin even more so.
Agnes didn’t think it had escalated to that point yet.
Perhaps years of teaching had instilled a sense of morality, preventing her from acting rashly or breaking the law.
Otherwise, what would be the difference between her and the lawless Corvus?
“He almost raped you, and you’re still defending him?!”
Lena was exasperated by Agnes’s words.
What gentle older sister? She was just a soft-hearted fool!
But Lena didn’t dislike this type; it was part of Agnes’s charm…
“How about a compromise? If Corvus makes any inappropriate advances, I’ll deal with him, and you won’t interfere. In return, I’ll pretend to be your girlfriend, and you can use your ‘deterrent strategy’ and ‘secret weapon’ to make him give up… Let’s see who’s right and who’s wrong,” Lena said seriously.
“Deal.”
Agnes nodded, a smile blooming on her face.
“As expected, Lena, you’re a very kind person…”
