Seeing the heroes finally appear, Hawk Moth, who had briefly lost connection in his lair, immediately reconnected.
A new thought, filled with greed and command, harshly injected itself into Mr. Pigeon's mind.
"Mr. Pigeon! Stop playing your boring tricks!" Hawk Moth's voice was urgent and authoritative, "It's them!
Do you see the earrings on that girl's ears and the ring on that boy's hand? Get them for me!"
He had noticed a tiny detail in the video Alya filmed—as the battle was about to end and the two were close to detransforming, they both subconsciously glanced at the parts of their bodies making a sound, which were precisely the earrings and the ring!
So that was it! The items were right there!
"Coo! Just what I intended!" Mr. Pigeon, having received the command, had his elegant enjoyment of listening to the epic narration interrupted, and a surge of anger rose within him.
He completely blamed this anger on the two meddlesome heroes who had suddenly appeared and disturbed his "artistic creation."
"You two annoying pests!" he shrieked, "How dare you interrupt the inspiration between me and my personal voice actor! My children, tear them to shreds!"
The battle erupted instantly!
Mr. Pigeon stood motionless, like a general strategizing his moves. With a wave of his arms, the vast, sky-darkening "pigeon sea" behind him, composed of countless pigeons, immediately split into two torrents, like two gray giant pythons, biting towards Ladybug and Cat Noir respectively!
Cat Noir swung his staff, twirling it into a silver whirlwind, constantly knocking away the incoming pigeons. But the pigeons seemed endless; once dispersed, they immediately regrouped, their attacks relentless.
He couldn't find an opportunity to get close to Mr. Pigeon, let alone use his one-time-use "Cataclysm."
Ladybug was even more agile; she spun her yo-yo at high speed in front of her, forming a red and black circular shield that blocked all of the pigeon flock's attacks.
She tried to find a breakthrough, but the pigeon flock's formation changed unpredictably, sometimes forming a solid wall, sometimes sharp blades, making it difficult for her to get close.
"Coo coo coo!" Mr. Pigeon laughed triumphantly, even having the leisure to show off the pigeon whistle on his chest, which served as his token, "You can't hit me!
Do you want the little butterfly that brought me miracles? It's right in here! Too bad, you'll never get it! Coo coo!"
Hawk Moth, watching this scene from afar, was once again speechless. He felt his mood today was like riding a roller coaster.
This idiot! He was brazenly telling his weakness to his opponents!
Meanwhile, at the edge of the battlefield, Jaden was carefully retreating with Chloé, shielding her behind him.
"Hey..." Chloé clutched his arm, nervously watching the battle scene, which resembled a fantasy movie, "Can they...can they win?"
"Hard to say." Jaden's eyes were exceptionally calm; he precisely evaluated the battle situation like the most professional battlefield analyst, "Although Mr. Pigeon himself has little combat power, his control over the pigeon flock is too strong.
The heroes are completely overwhelmed by numbers and cannot get close to his main body. If they can't find the key to break the situation, they will eventually be defeated due to exhaustion."
He looked at Ladybug's slightly anxious expression, knowing that she must also be troubled by how to use "Lucky Charm" at this moment. On such an open tower top, with almost no usable props, it was truly hard to say what useful thing Lucky Charm could conjure.
It seems our heroes need a little "outside assistance."
"Stay here." Jaden told Chloé.
"What are you going to do?!" Chloé tried to hold him back.
"Of course... do what I should do." A mysterious smile appeared at the corner of Jaden's mouth.
He gently but firmly pulled away Chloé's hand, then, instead of retreating, he advanced, actually walking towards the smug Mr. Pigeon.
"Hey! Mr. Pigeon!" He called out loudly; his voice wasn't loud, but it clearly cut through the flapping of the pigeons.
Mr. Pigeon, who was directing the battle, turned his head at the sound and, seeing his "personal voice actor," immediately showed an excited expression: "Coo coo! Mr. Jaden! What's wrong? Do you have new inspiration?"
Jaden didn't answer immediately. He just looked Mr. Pigeon up and down with an expression full of pity and mockery, then, with a sharp tone completely different from the "Abyssal Declaration" just now, full of disdain and belittlement, he slowly spoke:
"I just suddenly realized that my evaluation of you just now might have been... a bit too high."
"Coo?" Mr. Pigeon was stunned.
King of the sky?
Master of Paris?
The sole king of a new era?
Jaden scoffed, shook his head, "No, I retract those words. Those terms, used on you, are an insult."
"Look at you," he pointed at Mr. Pigeon, his contempt undisguised, "What kind of king are you? You are nothing but a pathetic parasite, trembling behind your 'children.'
All your power comes from them. Without them, you are nothing."
"Coo coo! You're talking nonsense! They are my friends! They are my family!" Mr. Pigeon was stimulated by this sudden belittlement and became agitated.
"Friends? Family?" Jaden laughed even harder, his laughter filled with cold sarcasm, "Then ask them, do they want to follow a 'king' like you, who only hides behind giving orders and doesn't even have the courage to fight personally?
Look at those two heroes; although they are in a difficult situation now, at least they dare to face danger! And you?
You just stand here 'cooing' like a coward!"
I... I didn't!
"You think you control them; in reality, you are controlled by them."
Jaden's voice was like the fangs of a venomous snake, precisely biting into Mr. Pigeon's most fragile self-esteem, "You leave them, and you turn back into that wretch.
Your 'throne' is nothing but a false birdcage built from fear and dependence. You don't deserve the title of 'king.' You..."
Jaden paused, then spoke word by word in a judgmental tone:
"...You are just a self-deceiving... caged bird, trapped in your own fantasies."
"—Coo-waaahhhh!!!"
This evaluation, full of personal insult, like the most malicious curse, instantly shattered all of Mr. Pigeon's psychological defenses!
He had clearly been changed by that epic narration just now! He had clearly been sublimated! How dare this guy... how dare he say that to him!
"You shut up! Shut up!" Mr. Pigeon shrieked in anger. Due to his intense emotional fluctuations, his control over his pigeon flock experienced a momentary, fatal lapse!
He even subconsciously dispatched a small group of pigeons, charging fiercely towards Jaden, who dared to insult him!
He exposed a weakness!
Ladybug and Cat Noir, these two heroes, had understood that the time was near when I came out and they heard my words, so how could they miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
"Now!"
Ladybug's yo-yo, like a cannonball, instantly shot through the gap in the pigeon flock's formation caused by the chaos, precisely wrapping around the pigeon whistle on Mr. Pigeon's chest!
"Don't even think about it!" Mr. Pigeon reacted, immediately directing the surrounding pigeons to block the yo-yo.
But it was too late.
The moment his attention was drawn by the yo-yo, another black figure, like a phantom, appeared behind him! It was Cat Noir! He had silently circled behind Mr. Pigeon at some unknown point!
"Cataclysm!"
The black cat's paw, gleaming with destructive energy, fiercely struck the exposed, unguarded pigeon whistle!
"Crack—!"
A crisp shattering sound rang out. The pigeon whistle broke into pieces!
The purple-black butterfly flew out, easily purified by Ladybug, who was already prepared.
"Goodbye, little butterfly."
"Miraculous Restoration—!"
With a crisp shout, a soft, pink light swept across all of Paris.
The rampaging pigeon flock instantly returned to their docile state, cooing and flying away in all directions.
All damaged buildings were restored to their original state. And the seemingly severe wounds scratched on Jaden by the pigeons healed rapidly in the light, leaving no scars.
The battle ended just like that.
"Well done, My Lady!" Cat Noir excitedly ran over, wanting to fist-bump Ladybug.
Ladybug, however, only briefly fist-bumped him before immediately running towards Jaden and Chloé, who were still standing there.
"Are you two okay?" she asked with concern, her gaze lingering on Jaden for a few extra seconds.
"We're fine," Jaden replied with a smile, "Thanks to you two."
Just then, Chloé looked at Jaden, who was standing in front of her, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
She had truly been frightened by his belittling of Mr. Pigeon just now, but she was equally deeply impressed by his courage, remaining so calm even when in danger.
Especially at the end, even though he was injured, he didn't even frown.
"Hey..." she said softly, her tone less arrogant, with a hint of concern she hadn't even noticed herself, "Were you... were you really okay just now?"
Jaden turned his head, looked at her blue eyes filled with worry, and suddenly smiled.
"What? Your Majesty, are you starting to worry about your knight?" he said teasingly.
"Who... who's worrying about you!" Chloé's cheeks instantly flushed, and she immediately retorted stubbornly.
Jaden didn't tease her further, only softly saying, "I told you, I would make you a queen."
This sentence, combined with the thrilling battle just now, broadcast live across the city, and his knightly act of "sacrificing for the queen," made Chloé's heart skip a beat uncontrollably.
"Alright," Jaden patted the dust off himself, "The farce is over. We should go, down to the tower, to accept your first coronation as Queen."
He was referring to the reporters from various major media outlets who were waiting below the tower, practically going crazy.
The next few hours were a bittersweet "media storm" for Jaden and Chloé.
They were brought down from the Eiffel Tower like heroes. Flashbulbs were like daylight, and countless microphones almost poked their faces.
Mayor Bourgeois was the first to rush over, crying and laughing as he hugged his beloved daughter, then tightly grasped Jaden's hand, repeatedly thanking him, the "brave young hero who saved the mayor's daughter," with the most enthusiastic and sincere words.
In front of the cameras, Jaden appeared composed, while Chloé perfectly played her role as "Queen." She was arrogant and reserved, but when mentioning Jaden's "bravery," she would appropriately reveal a hint of the tenderness of a "protected person."
Their images, through this live broadcast, instantly spread throughout Paris. Jaden, from a mysterious "voice acting master" only known in small circles, became a city-wide recognized young hero who stepped forward in times of crisis.
And Chloé successfully transformed from a "mayor's daughter" who only showed off into a brave, noble "Miraculous Queen" who maintained her composure in times of crisis.
By the time they finally escaped all the reporters and got into the car to go home, dusk had already settled.
Jaden checked the time and felt that the "afternoon tea" that had been delayed this afternoon could perhaps... continue in a different way.
He took out his phone and sent a message in the class group chat:
"@Everyone, after a night of fright, I'm sure everyone's hungry, right? To celebrate Paris's return to peace, and for the triumphant return of our class's two 'Queen' and 'Knight.'
I propose upgrading afternoon tea to a celebratory dinner. The location is still Marinette's bakery, and I'll cover all expenses. Those who are free can come over now."
This message, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a thousand ripples.
"Wow! Kim is treating! I'm on my way!" —From Kim.
"My system analysis shows that tonight's energy intake will be very beneficial for mood recovery. I'm going too." —From Max.
"Celebratory dinner? Sounds good! Count me in!" —From Nino.
And on the girls' side, it instantly exploded.
And in Juleka's boathouse, she also saw this message. She carefully took out the cherished painting, modified by Jaden, and gently caressed the butterfly on it. A gentle smile curved on her lips.
"A celebratory dinner... that's nice."
Rose, Alya, Mylène... every girl, upon seeing this message, showed undisguised joy and anticipation on her face.
A crisis caused by pigeons ultimately evolved, in a way no one expected, into a grand celebratory carnival for the entire class, deepening everyone's bonds.
And Jaden, the undisputed protagonist of this evening, would officially ascend his "throne" as the class's core member tonight.
As Jaden's "celebration dinner" message, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirred up a thousand ripples in the class group chat, the Dupain-Cheng bakery was about to usher in its liveliest and most unusual night ever.
Tom and Sabine had just watched a terrifying live broadcast on the news of the entire "hostage crisis" involving two of their daughter's classmates on the Eiffel Tower.
They were just relieved that the crisis had been resolved when Marinette, like a small whirlwind, rushed down from the attic.
"Papa! Mama!" Marinette's face was still flushed with excitement as she held her phone up to her parents. "Jaden… the boy who saved Chloé today!
He invited the whole class to our shop for a celebration party! And… he's paying!"
Tom's tall frame froze for a moment, then a big, sunflower-like smile bloomed on his honest face.
"Oh, ho! That's fantastic! To celebrate the brave children's triumph, all the pastries tonight are on me! Free!"
"Tom, don't get too excited," Sabine gently patted her husband's arm, then smiled at Marinette and said, "Go on, child, tell your friends they're welcome. Mama will prepare some special Chinese pastries for you."
With her parents' support, Marinette immediately replied in the group chat with a "hearty welcome" emoji.
Immediately after, the entire bakery entered a warm yet busy "battle-ready" state.
Tom hung out the "Closed Today" sign, then eagerly rushed back into the kitchen to start kneading his best dough.
And Sabine, smiling, took out her treasured glutinous rice flour and red bean paste from the storeroom.
The warm yellow lights in the shop made the exquisite French desserts in the glass display case look even more enticing.
The air was filled with the sweet and warm scent of butter, caramel, and baked bread.
This aroma seemed to dispel the gloom and panic that had shrouded Paris all day, bringing the purest, most reassuring sense of security.
Not long after, the first guests arrived.
"We're here!" Alya led the way, pushing open the shop door, and the crisp sound of wind chimes rang out. Following her were the equally excited Rose, Alix, and the slightly shy Juleka and Mylène.
"Wow! It smells so good!" Rose took a deep breath as soon as she entered, a happy expression on her face. "It feels like just smelling this scent makes all the fright from today disappear!"
"I agree!" Alix nodded coolly, but her gaze had already swept over the chocolate éclairs in the glass case several times.
The girls chattered excitedly, surrounding Marinette, who was still wiping her hands on her apron.
"Marinette! Did you see it? The news replay! Jaden… he was so handsome!" Alya excitedly grabbed Marinette's shoulders and shook her vigorously. "Oh my goodness! I bet every girl in Paris now wants to be Chloé!"
"I… I saw it too…" Marinette's face was as red as a ripe apple, she said softly. Of course she saw it; she was there at the scene, in another identity. The impact of that moment on her was ten thousand times stronger than for any audience watching through a screen.
"He's not only handsome, but also… very gentle," Juleka added quietly from the side, in her uniquely low voice.
She remembered the scene where Jaden corrected her painting, and her eyes revealed a look of almost devout admiration.
"He can see the deepest things in people's hearts."
"Yes, yes!" Mylène also nodded vigorously. "He's so brave, and he cares so much about each of us…"
The girls' lively discussion was soon interrupted by the arrival of the second batch of guests. The trio of Nino, Kim, and Max also rushed in with great fanfare.
"Hey! We're not late, are we?" Nino shouted as soon as he entered. "Heard tonight's hero is treating? Then we can eat our fill!"
"My system analysis shows," Max pushed up his glasses and said earnestly, "that after experiencing high-intensity mental stress, consuming an appropriate amount of sugar and carbohydrates helps the rapid secretion of dopamine, thereby achieving the effect of pleasing the body and mind.
Therefore, tonight's gathering is very scientific."
Just then, a low, luxurious engine sound approached, slowly stopping at the bakery's entrance.
Everyone's conversations simultaneously ceased. They all turned their gaze towards the door.
A sleek black extended limousine, shimmering with a faint glow under the warm yellow lights, quietly stood there. A Bodyguard in a black suit and sunglasses respectfully stepped out of the driver's seat and opened the rear door.
The first to emerge from the car was Chloé.
She had changed out of the somewhat disheveled clothes she wore during the crisis. Now, she was wearing a finely tailored, Chanel-style white jacket paired with an elegant black mini-skirt.
Her golden hair was impeccably styled, and her face wore perfect makeup. She held her chin high, her haughty Miraculous Queen demeanor appearing more justified and… more radiant than ever before.
She didn't immediately walk in but stood by the car door, as if waiting for something.
Then, Jaden stepped out of the car.
He was still wearing his school uniform, only the sleeves of his shirt were casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong and well-defined forearms. There was no particular expression on his face; he still had that calm yet slightly lazy look.
But when he stood there, beside the luxurious car and Chloé, a peculiar aura naturally emanated from him.
It wasn't the ostentation of wealth, nor the oppression of power, but a composed serenity that comes from having weathered storms.
It was as if no matter how splendid or chaotic the surroundings, he would always be the center of the storm, the most stable, unmoving presence.
Inside the shop, everyone stared in awe.
"Oh my goodness…" Rose couldn't help but exclaim softly, "The two of them standing together… they really look like a Miraculous Queen and her knight…" "Absurd!" Chloé heard this remark, and though she said so, the corners of her mouth uncontrollably curved upwards into a small, triumphant smile.
She cleared her throat and walked into the bakery with an elegant stride, like a Miraculous Queen surveying her territory.
"Hmph, this space really is… pitifully small. However, seeing that the pastries smell quite good, I suppose I'll grudgingly stay for a while."
And Jaden, following behind her, smiled and politely nodded to Tom and Sabine, who came forward to greet him. "Uncle and Auntie, good evening. I apologize for the intrusion."
"Oh! No intrusion! Not at all!" Tom enthusiastically stepped forward, gave Jaden a bear hug, and then clapped him heartily on the shoulder. "Good boy! What a brave hero!
Thanks to you today for protecting so many children in our Paris! Come on! Come in and sit down! Take whatever you want to eat!"
Sabine also came over, carrying a plate of freshly made, steaming osmanthus cakes, and looked at Jaden with loving eyes. "Quick, try Auntie's cooking. You must be exhausted after a busy day, aren't you?"
Facing these overly enthusiastic parents, Jaden merely smiled gently, accepting their kindness one by one.
The celebration dinner officially began in such a wonderful and lively atmosphere.
The long tables in the shop were pushed together, laden with a dazzling array of mouth-watering desserts: macarons, canelés, éclairs, opera cakes… and Madame Sabine's specially made, exquisite Chinese pastries.
In the air, the sweet aroma mingled with the joyful laughter of the young men and women, forming the most beautiful symphony named "Youth."
Jaden, deservedly, became the conductor of this symphony.
He didn't act like a hero, aloofly accepting everyone's praise; instead, he was like the most considerate host, looking after everyone's feelings.
He would discuss the latest electronic music with Nino and his friends, and he would listen attentively as Max explained the new functions of his small robot.
He would walk over to Juleka's side and quietly compliment her gothic-style necklace choice for the day, causing a faint, almost imperceptible blush to appear on her face, which was usually hidden behind her hair.
He would proactively hand Mylène a cup of hot milk, telling her, "You were scared today; drinking something warm will help you sleep better." That gentle gesture moved Mylène to tears.
And Chloé, like a true Miraculous Queen, occupied the most prominent position at the head of the long table.
She constantly ordered Sabrina around, telling her to fetch this and hand that, her mouth full of how "calm and composed" and "radiant" she had been in front of the cameras today. But everyone noticed an interesting detail—no matter how animated her conversation, the seat beside her reserved for Jaden remained empty.
Moreover, her gaze would inadvertently drift towards the figure moving through the crowd.
Finally, when Jaden walked over with a glass of lemonade and sat beside her, she let out a satisfied "hmph."
"Hey," she said in a voice only the two of them could hear, feigning nonchalance, "You… performed pretty well today. You didn't embarrass me, your Miraculous Queen."
"Oh really?" Jaden took a sip of water and smiled, retorting, "I thought my greatest achievement today was successfully highlighting Her Miraculous Queen's radiance?"
"Good that you know!" Chloé's chin lifted higher, but in her blue eyes, a bright sparkle, which she herself didn't even realize, flickered.
And Marinette was like a happy and busy little bee.
She helped her parents carry plates and pour drinks, a sweet smile constantly on her face.
But her heart was like a balloon pulled by a string, and the other end of that string was tied to Jaden.
Her gaze always involuntarily followed him.
She saw him smile at Juleka, saw him hand Mylène milk, saw him talk quietly with Chloé… With each scene, a complex emotion, mixed with sweetness, contentment, and a tiny, almost imperceptible hint of sourness, welled up in her heart.
Just then, Alya came over to her, carrying two plates of cake.
"How's it going, my lady?" Alya nudged her with her elbow, teasing softly, "Seeing your 'knight' chatting with other 'princesses,' are you feeling a little jealous?"
"N-no, not at all!" Marinette's face immediately turned red. She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to arrange the cakes on the plates.
"Still saying no? Your face is as red as a tomato." Alya couldn't help but laugh at her expression. "But seriously, Jaden… he was really handsome today. Marinette, you really need to hold onto such a good man!
Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll make a move, she thought to herself.
Marinette didn't answer. She just looked up, once again in Jaden's direction.
Just then, Jaden also felt her gaze, turned his head, and met her eyes.
He gave her a gentle smile, as serene as moonlight.
In that instant, Marinette felt her entire world burst into the most brilliant fireworks with a "boom."
As the dinner party reached its climax, Jaden stood up.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
He raised the glass in his hand, filled with clear soda water.
"Today is a very special day," he began slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears. "We experienced panic, and we witnessed bravery.
We saw the city's scars, and we felt each other's care."
He glanced at Chloé beside him, then at Marinette across from him, and finally, his gaze swept over every classmate present.
"So, this toast, I think, should first be for the heroes."
"He said, 'To Ladybug, to Cat Noir, thank them for once again protecting our city.'"
Everyone followed, raising their glasses and shouting the heroes' names.
"And then, this toast," he put down his glass and raised it again, "is for our 'Miraculous Queen.'
For her, who, in such a moment, still chose to believe in her 'knight,' and bravely stepped forward in front of everyone."
Chloé's cheeks once again flushed uncontrollably. She awkwardly tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear.
"Finally," Jaden's face broke into a sincere, heartfelt smile, "this toast, I want to dedicate to everyone here. To ourselves."
"Because what happened today made me realize that perhaps none of us are born heroes.
We will be afraid, we will shrink back, we will make mistakes. But as long as we are together, as long as we are willing to show just a little more courage for each other…"
He raised his glass high, towards everyone.
"…Then, we are the strongest team."
"Cheers!"
"To us!"
The crisp clinking of glasses, the vibrant cheers of the young men and women, mixed with the warm, sweet aroma of the bakery, drifted together into the quiet, star-lit night sky of Paris.
As Jaden's words, "To us!" faded, the lively atmosphere in the bakery reached its climax. The crisp clinking of glasses and the heartfelt cheers of the young men and women intertwined into the most moving melody.
Jaden smiled as he drained his soda and placed the empty glass on the table. He didn't linger in the focus of the girls' gazes, which were either adoring, curious, or shy, but naturally turned and walked towards Nino's table.
"What? You have time to come over so soon?" He pulled out a chair, sat down casually, and looked at Kim and Max.
"Ah... that..." The three of them stammered a bit when he asked.
Kim was the first to react, scratching his head and chuckling, "We... we finished our tasks early! Yes! Finished! As soon as we heard there was a celebration, we rushed right over!"
"That's right," Max also pushed up his glasses, agreeing, "The Markov system iteration was completed much earlier than expected."
"My speakers are tested too!" Nino quickly added.
Jaden looked at their obvious excuses and just smiled, not pressing further. He knew that although these few seemed carefree, they were all good-hearted.
He took out his phone and casually sent a message to Nathan and Marc: "The celebration has started, aren't you coming?"
Meanwhile, in different corners of Paris.
Nathan was in his home studio, staring at a blank canvas, his brows furrowed.
The vibration of his phone pulled him out of his creative block. He saw the message from Jaden, then looked at the lively photos and videos in the group chat, and sighed inwardly.
He opened his private chat with Marc and sent a message: "Jaden asked why we're not going."
Marc replied almost instantly: "Just say we really have something to do. Sorry."
Nathan looked at the chat box and ultimately didn't reveal what he had actually heard. That day, in the classroom, Kim's whispered mumble, "Ivan... really dropped out, it's all our fault..." had been heard by both him and Marc.
They knew that the Nino trio didn't really have something to do; they were just feeling guilty and remorseful, thinking they didn't deserve to attend such a joyful gathering.
And he and Marc also didn't want to go to that place and face a potentially awkward atmosphere.
So, Nathan edited a reply and sent it to Jaden: "Sorry, Jaden. We still haven't finished with the comic club stuff here, so we probably can't make it today. Have fun, everyone."
Jaden saw the reply and had guessed about seventy to eighty percent of the truth. He replied, "Alright, then good luck to you two talented individuals," and put away his phone.
He looked at Kim and the others, who were currently wolfing down food, and suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, our new classmate, Adrien, why didn't he come?"
"Adrien?" As soon as he heard the name, Nino bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Forget about him!
That guy, he's as obedient as a cat, listening to his old-fashioned father!
When everyone was worried about you two today, he just slipped home without saying a word!"
"Exactly! He has no sense of team spirit at all!" Kim also complained, "I thought he was so cool, but he's just a mama's boy!"
"From a behavioral logic standpoint," Max added solemnly, "when the team faced an external threat, his priority was to avoid risk and ensure individual safety, which indeed does not align with the optimal solution for group collaboration."
Jaden listened to their complaints and just smiled, offering no opinion. Then, as if casually bringing it up, he asked, "How about... we invite him too?"
The three of them paused, looked at each other, and seemed a bit hesitant.
"Why invite him?" Nino pouted.
"The more the merrier," Jaden's tone was calm, "And, perhaps... he has some difficulties we don't know about?
Give him a chance, and give us a chance to understand him, wouldn't that be good?"
Hearing Jaden say this, their hostility diminished considerably. After all, Jaden had resolved their embarrassment today, and they didn't want to refuse him.
"Alright..." The three hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Then... let's try inviting him."
So, Jaden opened his phone again, and in the class group chat, he @-mentioned the ID that hadn't said a single word until now, then attached a lively short video from the bakery, with the text: "@Adrien Agreste, the celebration is underway, want to come join us?"
Agreste Mansion.
Adrien had just returned from school and was immediately pulled into a new advertising shoot, which lasted for several hours. At this moment, he was physically and mentally exhausted, wanting nothing more than to throw himself onto the soft sofa.
He poked at the food on his plate without much appetite, his mind still replaying everything that happened at school today. On his first day, no one cared about him, and by leaving early, he surely left a terrible impression on everyone.
"Sigh..." He sighed.
At his feet, Plagg was ungracefully stuffing an entire camembert cheese into her mouth, eating with her mouth full. "Why are you sighing again?"
"Plagg, what do you think I should do tomorrow?" Adrien asked, troubled.
"Just do what you have to do," Plagg replied thoughtlessly, switching to a different flavor of cheese and continuing to feast.
Just then, Adrien's phone rang. He picked it up and instantly froze.
It was a message from Jaden, inviting him to the celebration. In the video, it was the lively classmate gathering he had dreamed of, filled with laughter.
He wanted to go! He dreamed of going!
But... could he still go out now? His father had just given him the freedom to go to school, and if on the very first day he pushed his luck and asked to go out to a party at night... Adrien's heart instantly sank.
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Agreste Mansion, in the secret room filled with white butterflies.
Gabriel had already de-transformed. He wasn't furious about Mr. Pigeon's latest failure.
He had long known that failure was inevitable for that foolish pigeon.
But this failure was not without value.
Through the perspective of that silly pigeon, he finally confirmed the truth behind his previous uncontrolled butterfly. That young man named Jaden, in the depths of his soul, indeed harbored a profound darkness and loneliness that he couldn't see through.
Midway, upon hearing Jaden's "Abyss Declaration," he could feel that those words were not just a voiceover, but a revelation of some true emotion within the young man's heart.
This made him feel a hint of... unease, and an even stronger hint of... curiosity.
He was just wondering if he should do something more to test that interesting young man, when suddenly, he felt a familiar, faint negative emotion.
This emotion came from... downstairs. It was so close that he didn't even need to transform to clearly sense its source.
It was Adrien.
It was his son, feeling lost and dejected.
Gabriel's body reacted before his mind. He immediately left the secret room and went to Adrien's bedroom door.
Nathalie was also there, and seeing Gabriel appear, she reported, "Sir. Adrien... didn't seem to have a very pleasant day at school today."
"Understood," Gabriel simply said, then raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.
"Knock knock."
Inside, Adrien, who was sulking on the sofa, heard the knock and his father's voice, and jolted in surprise, instantly sending Plagg back into the ring.
Gabriel pushed the door open and saw the undisguised disappointment on his son's face, and also saw the lively celebration video on his phone screen.
He understood everything.
He walked over to Adrien, looked at the young man named Jaden, who was surrounded by everyone in the video on his phone, his eyes becoming somewhat complex.
"Do you want to go?" he asked.
Adrien suddenly looked up, unable to believe his ears. He wanted to say "yes," but was afraid of making his father angry.
Gabriel looked at his son's longing and fearful expression, and a cold corner of his heart seemed to be gently touched.
Perhaps, letting this caged canary occasionally experience the warmth of the outside world wasn't a bad thing. After all, his new plan also required Adrien to integrate more into the role of the "bait."
So, he said something that shocked both Adrien and Nathalie:
"Go."
Adrien was completely stunned. He thought he had hallucinated.
"Nathalie will arrange a car to take you there," Gabriel added, his tone still calm but leaving no room for doubt, "But remember, you must be home before eleven o'clock."
"...Yes! Father!"
A huge, incredible surge of joy instantly overwhelmed Adrien. He leaped up from the sofa and gave his father a big, strong hug!
"Thank you! Father! Thank you!"
This time, Gabriel didn't push him away. He just stood quietly, letting his son embrace him. Then, he slowly raised his hand and gently patted his son's back.
When Adrien, in that familiar black car, arrived back at the bakery, the celebration inside was already in full swing.
As he pushed open the door and appeared before everyone, the lively atmosphere in the shop froze for a moment.
Everyone's gaze, in unison, focused on him, the "latecomer."
"Hi... everyone." Adrien, a little nervous, raised his hand and greeted them.
"Woah! Look who it is!" Nino was the first to exclaim, "Our young master, finally decided to emerge from his luxurious castle?"
There was still a hint of lingering resentment in his words.
Adrien's face instantly flushed. He knew everyone must be angry about him leaving early that afternoon.
Just as the atmosphere was about to turn awkward, Jaden stood up.
He carried a glass of juice and walked over to Adrien, handing him the glass.
"Welcome to the party," he said with a smile, a smile devoid of any blame, only pure welcome, "We were just discussing whether to save you the biggest slice of opera cake."
Jaden's simple, kind gesture instantly defused the subtle hostility in the room. Seeing that Jaden had said this, Nino and the others also couldn't keep their sour expressions.
And Adrien, as if grasping a lifeline, gratefully accepted the glass of juice. "Thank you... Jaden."
At this moment, in his heart, Jaden's image instantly elevated from "a somewhat cool classmate" to "a great benefactor who saved me from dire straits."
With Adrien's arrival, the celebration dinner became more complete and more enjoyable.
In the time that followed, the young men and women played "Truth or Dare," proposed by Alya.
Alya's first question was directed straight at Jaden: "Jaden! Truth! Were the things you said to Chloé today truly heartfelt, or were you just acting?"
This question instantly ignited everyone's gossip-loving souls. All the girls, including Chloé herself, perked up their ears.
Jaden just smiled, then replied with a half-truth, ambiguous tone:
"Every word I spoke, at the moment it was uttered, was sincere."
This answer, a "standard response," neither affirmed nor denied, yet left infinite room for everyone's imagination, drawing a chorus of satisfied or disgruntled cheers.
This joyful celebration lasted until late into the night. As everyone reluctantly said goodbye, their relationships had, without them realizing it, become closer and stronger.