In the evening in Paris, the ripples on the Seine River were shattered by the sunset, turning into thousands of flowing gold foils.
The streets after school had shed their daytime hustle and bustle, taking on a lazy and warm hue.
Jaden walked unhurriedly on the sidewalk, his single-shoulder bag slung over him, feeling the breeze on his cheeks and enjoying this unique tranquility.
"Is that... Jaden?"
A voice, perfectly sweet with a hint of cautious probing, came from beside him.
Jaden stopped and turned his head.
What met his eyes was a flawlessly sweet face, long brown hair meticulously braided into two pigtails, neatly draped over her shoulders.
A pair of emerald green eyes, currently looking at him like a startled fawn, with a touch of shyness.
Lila.
"It's me." Jaden returned a gentle smile, "Lila, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Ah, that's great, I didn't mistake you."
Lila seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, a brighter smile blossoming on her face, making her appear even more harmless and approachable.
"Nothing special, just wanted to say hello. Today in class, I feel like... everyone doesn't seem to like me very much."
As she spoke, she lowered her gaze slightly, her voice dropping. Her long eyelashes cast a dim shadow beneath her eyelids, a look that would evoke anyone's protective instincts.
"No, that's not true."
Jaden's voice remained gentle, as if comforting her, "You just arrived today. Everyone just doesn't know you yet. After a few days, when you get familiar, it will get better."
This was the most standard, foolproof diplomatic rhetoric, expressing goodwill without making any substantive promises.
"Is... is that so?"
Lila looked up, her green eyes glistening with a hint of moisture, appearing full of gratitude and hope.
"Thank you, Jaden, you are truly a gentle person."
As if gathering great courage, she added, "Actually... Caline also asked me to.
She said you have a good relationship with everyone in class, and she hopes you can... help me a bit, so I can integrate into the class faster."
She brought up the teacher, which was undoubtedly a brilliant trump card, making it impossible to refuse.
(Caline... really knows how to cause me trouble.)
Jaden sighed helplessly in His heart . But he still wore that humble smile on his face and nodded.
"Since it's the teacher's request, I will do my best."
"Really? Thank you so much!"
Lila's face broke into a surprised, unfeigned smile. She even happily spun a small circle on the spot, her pigtails drawing graceful arcs in the air.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the two parted ways at the next street corner.
Jaden walked towards his apartment, not looking back.
What he didn't know was that the moment he turned to leave, the smile on Lila's face extinguished instantly, like a light switch being turned off.
She stood quietly, watching Jaden's retreating figure disappear around the street corner.
Her originally innocent-looking green eyes now gleamed with a dangerous and excited light.
(So that's it... So that's it...)
The corners of her mouth slowly curved into a cold arc, tinged with understanding.
Everything that happened in the gymnasium, she had seen clearly from the shadows.
She saw everyone's panic when The Collector appeared, but only the young man named Jaden, his eyes held no fear, only the calmness of an observer.
She saw his composed expression after talking with Gabriel, facing Marinette and Alya's complex worries.
That was not a reaction a young man should have; it was the composure of someone in control of the situation.
That self-assured look, that attitude of having everything under his thumb, was remarkably similar to how she herself acted when lying and deceiving people.
(So, we are the same kind of people.)
A strange thrill rose in Lila's heart, the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.
(No, he hides deeper than me, and his disguise is more perfect.)
She remembered the voice in that video and the gentle, humble Jaden she knew daily; they were like two different people.
(Everyone thought it was just a voice-over, just a joke... But only I know that was a part of him, his true fangs hidden beneath a gentle mask.)
This brief meeting, this tentative conversation, further confirmed her suspicions.
"Jaden..."
She softly uttered the name, her tongue seeming to savor a delicious prey.
"What secrets... are you hiding? It's truly... so intriguing."
The last ray of sunset sank below the horizon, and night began to envelop Paris.
Lila turned and merged into the deepening twilight, her green eyes gleaming with a hunter's light in the darkness.
Upon returning to his apartment, the first thing Jaden did was toss his backpack on the sofa, then head into the kitchen to start washing vegetables and cooking.
The crisp sound of running water and the gentle clatter of knife against cutting board dispelled some of the irritation accumulated during the day.
Soon, a small, nutritionally balanced, fragrant special "fairy meal" was ready.
He carried the small plate to the corner of the living room, where Plag was boredly circling in the air.
"Dinner time."
"Oh oh!" As soon as he heard the words "dinner time," Plag immediately perked up, his indigo-blue body transforming into a streak of light, instantly appearing next to the plate.
He picked up a tiny fork and began to eat with satisfaction.
Jaden sat by, quietly watching him eat.
"Hmm..."
Plag, while chewing a small piece of fruit, looked up at Jaden with his big, round eyes, "You don't seem to be in a very good mood today?"
"Yeah." Jaden didn't deny it. He leaned back on the sofa, rubbing his forehead a bit tiredly, "I had a few words with someone who wasn't very pleasant."
"Unpleasant person?"
Plag stopped his movements. His senses were much sharper than a human's, "Could there be danger?"
"Don't worry, no danger."
Jaden's voice held absolute confidence. He stretched out a finger and gently tapped Plag's little head, "Besides, have you forgotten my two hidden Bodyguards?"
As soon as he finished speaking, something in the room's shadows seemed to subtly stir.
The faint outlines of a sleek, jet-black giant panther and an iron python covered in metallic scales flashed by, then silently merged back into the darkness.
After Jaden created them, he had them transform into invisible shadows, lurking around him 24 hours a day, just in case.
Hearing Jaden say this, Plag finally relaxed completely, nodded, and continued to bury himself in his delicious meal.
For him, as long as Jaden was safe, everything was fine.
Meanwhile, on another street in Paris.
...So, the fact that he didn't agree with Gabriel proves that he still prefers his current life!
He'll still go to school with us, leave school with us, and on weekends, we can still go out and play together!"
Marinette was holding Alya's arm, chattering non-stop like a happy little bird.
Her face was radiant with a bright smile after the rain, and her blue eyes sparkled with beautiful fantasies of the future.
"We can even... even go on a picnic together, go to the movies together, and then... and then... Oh dear!"
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed a lovely pink, and she was too shy to continue.
Alya looked at her friend, who was completely lost in romantic fantasies, with a blank expression, feeling her temples throb. She was utterly speechless.
"I say."
She finally couldn't help but interrupt Marinette's fantasy, "Then why didn't you just throw yourself into Jaden's arms when you were crying so sadly in the gymnasium just now?"
Marinette's cheerful little steps suddenly stopped.
Her body froze as if a pause button had been pressed, and her entire being stiffened.
She slowly, frame by frame, turned her head to look at Alya, her face filled with the shock of "What kind of outrageous things are you saying?"
"Can... can you even do that?"
"Of course you can!"
Alya, with an expression of "disappointed in your lack of ambition," leaned into her ear, imparting her "experienced advice."
"Listen up, when people are sad and upset, any reaction they make can be forgiven!
What's more, Jaden is so gentle. When he saw you crying so miserably, he definitely wouldn't refuse you!
Maybe he'd even hold you and comfort you properly!"
Alya's words made Marinette's face flush crimson with a "boom," spreading from her cheeks all the way to her earlobes.
In her mind, she uncontrollably started playing a scene of herself, tear-streaked, throwing herself into Jaden's warm embrace. Her heart pounded "thump-thump," almost leaping out of her throat.
(That... that would be too...)
"I... I would never use such a trick!"
Although Marinette was extremely flustered inside, she still put on a brave front, stubbornly retorting.
Alya looked at her friend's contradictory expression, pouted, and was about to continue teasing her when her attention was drawn to an argument coming from not far ahead.
By a park bench, Mylène, Rose, Juleka, and Alix, four girls, were gathered, seemingly discussing something important.
...So it's decided! This weekend, let's ask Jaden out!"
It was Alix speaking, her hands on her hips, Her tone cool and full of undeniable straightforwardness.
"On Juleka's boathouse, playing guitar while feeling the river breeze... it sounds so romantic!"
Rose clasped her hands together, a sweet, dreamy smile on her face.
Juleka, holding her drawing board, lowered her head and quietly added, "I... I can draw it..."
Her voice was soft, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her anticipation.
Only Mylène looked a bit worried: "But... will Jaden agree? Will it bother him too much?"
"What's there to bother him about!" Alix waved her hand dismissively, "If you like someone, you have to make a move!"
"Hey!"
Alya and Marinette heard their plan, exchanged glances, and immediately rushed over in tacit agreement.
"You guys can't do this!" Alya walked directly in front of them, adopting the stance of a leader.
"Yes, you can't!" Marinette also followed beside her, nodding vigorously in agreement.
The four girls were stunned by this sudden "roadblock."
Rose was the first to react. She smiled sweetly and explained, "We don't mean anything else, we just want to continue teaching Jaden to play the guitar. He seemed very interested last time at the boathouse."
"It was you guys last time!"
Alya immediately retorted, pointing at Rose and Juleka, "You've already been alone with him in the boathouse! This time, it should be someone else's turn, shouldn't it?"
"Exactly, exactly!" Marinette nodded frantically beside her.
"Then... what do you want?" Alix raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms, ready to debate to the end.
Just as a war for the "Jaden Weekend Usage Rights" was about to erupt, it was the gentlest Mylène who finally proposed a compromise.
"How about... we take turns?"
This suggestion unexpectedly received everyone's approval.
After a not-so-intense but well-reasoned "friendly negotiation," the six girls finally reached a "peace agreement"—to establish a rotating schedule for inviting Jaden.
And the first slot for this week was successfully snatched by Alix, who reacted the fastest and acted the most directly.
Alix let out a clear cheer, playfully snapped her fingers, her face beaming with an undisguised winner's smile.
She knew that when it came to execution, no one was her match.
She glanced around at her friends, some of whom showed varying degrees of disappointment, and proudly lifted her chin.
"Alright, since it's decided, I'll make a move first to brainstorm my 'Perfect Weekend Battle Plan'!"
With that, she made a face at everyone, then like a gust of wind, she skipped away with her characteristic light steps, leaving only a string of bell-like laughter echoing in the evening park.
"Well, our sporty girl is already eager to prepare."
Alya watched Alix's energetic figure, arms crossed, and gently nudged Marinette beside her with her elbow,
"Look at her impetuous manner, what kind of plan could she come up with?"
Marinette was slowly recovering from the disappointment of "her turn being pushed back." She looked in the direction Alix left with some worry, and quietly asked Alya: "You think... Alix's plan won't have any problems, right?"
"Don't worry,"
Alya patted her shoulder reassuringly, a confident, knowing smile on her face,
"With Alix's straightforward personality, the plans she can come up with are nothing more than dragging Jaden to go rollerblading, rock climbing, or some extreme sport.
Do you think a situation where you're all sweaty and out of breath can create any sweet, romantic atmosphere?"
Hearing Alya's analysis, Marinette's eyes lit up, finding it very reasonable.
Alya continued: "So, letting her go first doesn't matter. It'll just set an example for us to see Jaden's reaction to these types of activities.
We can use this weekend to observe carefully, and then formulate an even better plan."
"Then... who's second?" Mylène asked softly, her gentle nature not suited for competition.
"After Alix's 'date' this weekend is over, we'll decide who's second."
Alya suggested.
This idea was immediately approved by Juleka, Rose, and Mylène.
By observing Jaden's interaction with Alix, they could indeed make their own plans more targeted.
So, the girls nodded, reaching an agreement.
As the sky grew darker, the streetlights in the park flickered on one by one, casting soft orange halos on the forest path.
The girls said goodbye to each other and went home. Mylène walked alone to the bus stop;
Rose naturally took Juleka's hand, the two girls, different in personality yet intimately close, walked home together;
Alya watched as everyone else left, then called out to Marinette, who was still spaced out.
"Hey, let's go! What are you still standing there for, planning to spend the night?"
"Ah? Oh oh, coming!" Marinette snapped back to reality and jogged to catch up with Alya.
On the way home, Marinette's curiosity finally couldn't be suppressed.
She leaned close to Alya, looking at her with sparkling eyes, and asked expectantly: "Alya, what's your plan? Tell me quickly!"
Alya turned her head, looking at her best friend's curious expression, and deliberately played coy.
She smiled mysteriously, putting a finger to her lips in a "shush" gesture.
"It's a secret, it's a secret." She said playfully, "If I tell you in advance, there won't be any surprise."
"Oh, just tell me!" Marinette whined persistently.
However, no matter how much she cajoled Alya remained tight-lipped.
Finally, when they parted at her doorstep, Marinette couldn't get a single word out of her best friend, so she pouted, looking back every few steps as she entered her family's bakery.
In Marinette's room, warm light filled the entire attic.
After dinner and washing up, she threw herself onto the soft bed like a lazy fish.
"Phew..." She let out a long breath, burying her face in the pillow.
A small red figure quietly flew out of her satchel and landed by her pillow.
"What's wrong, Marinette?"
Tikki shook its small head, asking concernedly, "Still worried about the weekend?"
"Hmm..."
Marinette's muffled voice came from the pillow,
"It took so much effort to set the rotation order, and Alix is first, and Alya is being so mysterious, I don't even know what they'll do..."
"But you agreed in the end, didn't you?"
Tikki said with a smile, "I believe you'll come up with a better plan than all of them!"
"That's true..."
Encouraged by Tikki, Marinette regained a bit of confidence.
She turned over and lay on the bed, just about to continue chatting with Tikki, when a subtle "beep beep" sound, audible only to her, suddenly came from her earlobe.
It was her earring sending a communication request.
Marinette's expression instantly became serious. She sat up, muttering to herself with some confusion:
"It's Cat Noir... So late, what's wrong now?"
Meanwhile, in Agreste Mansion.
Adrien went straight to his room as soon as he got home, gently closing the door.
He threw his backpack on the floor and sank into the overly large, yet somewhat lonely, bed.
The black Kwami, Plag, flew out of his shirt pocket, hovering in mid-air, his voice full of complaints: "Seriously, your father doesn't give you any chance!
I knew it, you should have hit harder in the gym just now!"
"My father is always like that."
Adrien's voice didn't betray much emotion, but if you listened closely, you could detect a subtle sense of relief.
He stared at the ornate crystal chandelier on the ceiling, muttering, "But... knowing he's not Hawk Moth, I feel a lot better."
This discovery, for him, was like a heavy cloud that had long hung over His heart finally being dispelled.
Although his father was still strict and cold, this at least proved that he was not the villain who had been causing chaos in Paris.
He sat up from the bed, His gaze firm.
"Plag," he said.
"What? Unless there's camembert cheese, don't expect me to..."
"Claws out."
"Hey! I haven't finished..."
Plag's words were interrupted by a green flash, and he was instantly sucked into the silver ring on Adrien's finger.
A nimble figure flashed across the room, and the superhero—Cat Noir, clad in a black bodysuit and cat ears—stood silently by the window.
He skillfully drew out the metal staff from his waist, extended it, and quickly operated on the screen.
"Found it."
He looked at the video on the screen, a smile playing on his lips.
"Hey, Ladybug,"
He pressed the send button, attaching a message: "There's something important you absolutely have to see."
In Marinette's attic room, a pink light flashed, and Ladybug, clad in her red and black polka-dotted bodysuit, had replaced the troubled girl from moments before.
She opened her yo-yo, and the communication screen immediately displayed the message from Cat Noir.
"This is..." She clicked on the video.
In the video, there was an ancient and mysterious book, with strange symbols imprinted on its cover.
The message from Cat Noir read: "The spellbook, the one Master Fu lost."
spellbook?
Ladybug looked at the symbols in the video, understanding none of them.
But she still understood the importance of this book. Master Fu should be able to read it!
With this book, if she gave it to him... would that mean that in the future, after reclaiming the peacock miraculous from Hawk Moth, Master Fu would be able to repair it?
(In her opinion, the Peacock was Hawk Moth's subordinate, and that brooch would eventually be reclaimed.)
After repairing it, it could be given to Jaden, perfectly intact!
This thought made her heart skip a beat. She immediately messaged back: "How do you know?"
Cat Noir's reply came quickly: "Gabriel's Akumatization was because his son, Adrien, took this book.
I saw Adrien hiding in the gym, so I asked him what book he took, and then I took a picture of it.
As for the book's origin, Adrien said his parents found it unexpectedly while traveling when they were young."
This explanation was logical and reasonable.
Marinette and Adrien's thoughts were completely aligned—since Gabriel was dark transformed by Hawk Moth, he himself could absolutely not be Hawk Moth.
"I understand." Ladybug replied, "Thank you, Cat Noir, this is very important."
Ending the communication with Cat Noir, Ladybug quickly transferred the video to her phone, then detransformed.
"What did Cat Noir say?" Tikki curiously flew over.
Marinette didn't say much, she just handed her phone to it, letting it watch the video itself.
"This... this is!"
Tikki saw the spellbook in the video and was so excited it could barely speak,
"This is great! Marinette, we have to deliver this to Master right away!"
"Yes, we need to send it over quickly."
Marinette nodded, but then showed a troubled expression. She pointed to the homework on her desk,
"But... look, I still have so much homework left to do today..."
She slumped her small face, resting her chin on her hands, and let out a long sigh: "It seems I won't be able to deliver it tonight..."
Tikki looked at her expression and secretly chuckled.
It took the memory card from Marinette's phone, holding it with its tiny hands.
"Alright, alright, since our great hero needs to fight for homework, then this glorious mission is entrusted to me!"
With that, it saluted Marinette, then transformed into a red streak of light, flying out from the balcony and disappearing into the deep Parisian night.