Lila watched quietly from the side, Her emerald green eyes sparkling with undisguised amusement, as if enjoying a good show.
She seemed to be watching a wonderful stage play, anticipating how the protagonist would respond to this sudden, sharp questioning, and how this interesting scene would unfold.
Jaden met Kagami's gaze, which seemed to want to see through him, his gentle smile unchanged, as if Her sharp accusations just now were merely a breeze across a lake, leaving no ripples in His heart .
"Disguise? Sincerity?"
He repeated these two words softly, with a hint of playfulness in His tone, "Kagami, do you think a single painting can fully express a person's inner world?"
"Yes."
Kagami answered decisively, without any hesitation.
Her worldview, like the sword she wielded, was precise and direct, allowing no room for ambiguity or vagueness.
"When a person is immersed in creation, all their defenses are lowered. At that time, they are their truest self."
She paused, Her gaze falling once again on Jaden's blank canvas, Her tone growing more certain: "Your classmates, Nathan and Marc, their paintings match their true selves. But you... you are completely different."
"What about you, Kagami?" Jaden didn't refute Her, but instead changed the subject, throwing the question back at Her.
"What?" Kagami didn't understand his meaning, a hint of confusion appearing on Her cool face.
"I said, what about you?"
Jaden's voice remained gentle, yet it was like a delicate key, attempting to pry open Her tightly locked heart.
"Why did you stop me at this moment? And why do you force me to explain all this?"
He took a small step forward, closing the distance between them, his dark eyes so profound they seemed to see through everything.
"As I said a few days ago, we will have a long time to get to know each other. After all, we are classmates.
If you are confused by my paintings, you could have waited until I left, and then slowly looked at these discarded drafts by yourself here.
Perhaps you would remain confused; but perhaps, you would find the answers you seek in these paintings."
His voice wasn't loud, but every word clearly struck Kagami's heart.
"But you didn't. You chose the most direct and intense way — confronting me face-to-face.
So, Kagami, what was it for?"
What was it for?
Kagami was stunned by the question.
Yes... what was she doing it for?
Was it to uphold Her principle of "the painting is the person, and the person is the painting"?
Was it to adhere to the creed she had been taught since childhood: "never lie, and despise lies"?
Or... was it for this person in front of Her?
This young man named Jaden, he was different from everyone she had ever met.
He was gentle and approachable in front of his classmates, and he behaved calmly and confidently in front of Gabriel, living a life of his own that she had never experienced.
Although Adrien appeared glamorous on the surface, she could sense that he, like Her, was tightly controlled, and that was not true freedom.
But Jaden was different.
He was like an elusive wind; no one could bind him.
In Her heart, Kagami had come to regard him as a benchmark, a symbol of the freedom and strength she yearned for.
However, such a person, in the very act of painting, which best embodies sincerity, was filled with a confusion she couldn't understand.
She didn't understand.
Why would a person like him be confused?
"Disguise" — that was the only explanation she could think of.
Because she herself was a person living in "disguise."
From childhood, she had lived within everything Her mother arranged for Her.
What clothes to wear, what classes to take, all required Her mother's permission.
She had never had Her own world; everything she did was to gain Her mother's approval.
When she saw Jaden, she felt he belonged to a world completely different from Her own.
But now, she saw the same "confusion" in him as in herself, which made Her feel a betrayal-like turmoil.
Was that composure she admired in him also just... a disguise?
Jaden quietly watched the changing expressions on Her face, watching the confusion, struggle, and disappointment in Her eyes.
He knew that his question had touched the deepest conflict within Her.
"You're pursuing me," he finally spoke, with a nearly inaudible sigh in his voice, as if summarizing for Her,
"You merely want to get an answer from me that you can believe in."
Without waiting for Her reply, he gave Her an "answer" that she could accept.
"Perhaps, it is precisely because I hold the highest respect for these two heroes that I cannot tolerate even the slightest flaw in my brushwork.
This almost obsessive pursuit, to outsiders, must seem like 'confusion'."
This explanation sounded flawless.
After speaking, he no longer paid attention to Kagami, who was deep in thought, or Lila, who was watching with relish from the side. He simply turned and walked towards the classroom door.
"Um... Kagami, are you alright?"
Seeing Jaden leave, Lila immediately dropped Her amused expression and put on a gentle, concerned face. She leaned closer to Kagami and softly comforted Her, "Jaden might just be... just in a bad mood today, don't take it to heart."
However, Kagami seemed not to hear Her at all.
Her gaze followed Jaden's retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
Then, she also turned and left the art room without a word.
Lila looked at the empty art room, savoring the short but highly informative confrontation, feeling it was even more exciting than any play she herself had directed.
She hummed a little tune and happily followed them out.
When Jaden returned to the classroom, he was somewhat bewildered by the sight before him.
The classroom, which should have been empty due to the cancellation of afternoon classes, was now completely full.
All the classmates, except Marinette, were sitting quietly in their seats, and the atmosphere was strangely unusual.
Didn't they say... there were no classes?
Kagami and Lila, who arrived shortly after, also looked puzzled at the scene.
Ms. Caline, standing by the podium, saw the three of them return and immediately waved to them: "Jaden, Kagami, Lila, quickly return to your seats."
After the three sat down as instructed, Ms. Caline cleared Her throat and announced in a somewhat hesitant tone: "Students, we have just received an urgent notice from the school. Our class will be having a special social practical lesson this afternoon, which requires everyone's collective participation."
"Teacher,"
Alya raised Her hand and asked, "Didn't we not have class this afternoon?
Also, Marinette isn't here yet. Should we call Her back?"
Before Ms. Caline could answer, a sweet, deceptively concerned voice came from beside Jaden.
"Marinette is definitely racking Her brains for tomorrow's class election right now,"
Chloé said, resting Her chin on Her hand, feigning thoughtfulness, "How can we disturb Her at such a crucial moment? Alya, you should think more about your good friend."
All the classmates' eyes turned to Chloé.
Chloé felt everyone's gaze and immediately put on a wronged expression, Her voice becoming tearful: "You... why are you all looking at me like that? Is it wrong for me to care about my classmates? Teacher..."
Her demeanor left everyone at a loss for words.
Everyone knew in their hearts that this sudden "social practical lesson" was, in all likelihood, connected to Her.
Ms. Caline could only helplessly mediate: "Alright, alright, Chloé also meant well.
Since that's the case, Marinette won't participate this time.
Now, everyone please stand up, form a line, and we will take the bus to today's practical location — the City Hall."
City Hall?
This place name confirmed everyone's suspicions.
All the classmates followed the teacher's instructions and boarded a luxurious bus parked at the school gate.
The bus drove smoothly through the streets of Paris and finally stopped in front of the magnificent City Hall.
The students got off one by one, marveling at the solemn and splendid building before them.
And when they walked into the central hall, with its extremely high ceilings, adorned with huge murals and crystal chandeliers, they were even more awestruck by the sight.
In the center of the hall, a small stage had been temporarily set up.
On the backdrop of the stage, in striking letters, it read: "Jagged Stone Exclusive Autograph Session."
And the legendary rock star, Jagged Stone himself, wearing cool sunglasses, was casually sitting on a chair in the center of the stage, holding his iconic guitar.
The entire class instantly erupted in excitement.
The Mayor, with his slightly protruding belly and an official yet enthusiastic smile, stood on one side of the stage.
His beloved daughter, Chloé, like a true princess, stood elegantly beside him, Her chin slightly raised, scanning Her "graciously permitted" classmates with a condescending gaze.
"Dear students, teachers,"
The Mayor took the microphone and began speaking in the voice they often heard on television, "Welcome to Paris City Hall! Today, I am very honored to invite you all to this special social practical lesson."
His gaze swept over the surprised and excited faces of the students, His heart filled with paternal pride.
"I know that the class is currently holding elections for class representatives. An excellent class representative not only needs outstanding academic performance but also a broad vision and a heart to serve their classmates.
My daughter, Chloé, voluntarily offered to take on this responsibility, which fills me with great comfort.
And to support Her enthusiasm, I have specially invited a heavyweight guest, the pride of our Paris, the rock star — Mr. Jagged Stone!"
Following the Mayor's gesture, all eyes converged on the person sitting in the chair.
Jagged Stone idly strummed the strings of the guitar in his arms, producing a series of discordant noises.
Listening to the Mayor's monotonous official rhetoric, he felt his ears were about to grow calluses.
He didn't even look up much, just lightly nudged Fanged, who was dozing at his feet, with his toes.
The alligator lazily opened one eye, then closed it again.
Jagged Stone's gaze swept casually over the students below the stage, over the Mayor's shoulder.
His eyes searched through the crowd, and soon, he locked onto Jaden, who was standing there, expressionless, showing neither the excitement of the other classmates nor the slightest bit of awkwardness, as if he wasn't attending a celebrity autograph session but merely taking a walk in the park.
Jagged Stone's lips curved into a smile.
Interesting fellow.
His gaze continued to move, but after searching the crowd, he frowned slightly.
He remembered there was also a blue-haired girl with pigtails, the girl who had helped him design his unique glasses, whose eyes sparkled with the fire of creativity.
But today, she wasn't here.
The Mayor's speech finally ended with enthusiastic (mainly officially arranged) applause.
Next came the crucial part of "winning over hearts" in Chloé's eyes — the autograph session.
Jagged Stone was pushed by Penny to the autograph table. Looking at the mountain of promotional cards with his portrait piled next to him, He signed resignedly, uncapped his pen, and began this boring "work schedule."
He mechanically signed one flamboyant name after another, then placed the card on the other side, the whole process expressionless, like a robot on a production line.
The students lined up, one by one, to receive this "benefit brought by the Mayor's daughter."
The boys who got autographs gathered in twos and threes, but their discussions had nothing to do with music or rock and roll.
"Hey, guys,"
Nino held the signed card, examining it carefully against the light, a greedy smile on his face,
"How much do you think Jagged Stone's autograph would sell for online?"
"At least enough for the new noise-canceling headphones I've been eyeing!"
Max had already pulled out his phone and was quickly checking market prices, "Perhaps... even a new collector's edition game set."
Kim also excitedly chimed in: "Really? That's awesome! I was just about to buy a pair of limited edition sneakers!"
On the other side, Nathan and Marc also held their signed cards and gathered around Jaden.
"Jaden, this... might sell for a good price."
Nathan said somewhat awkwardly, "Our recent expenses for paints and paper have been a bit high..."
Marc also nodded vigorously from the side.
For them, painting, while bringing infinite spiritual satisfaction, indeed kept their wallets constantly stretched thin.
This unexpected windfall would undoubtedly solve their immediate financial difficulties.
Only Jaden and Adrien had no reaction to this. Jaden didn't care about these things, and Adrien, with his family background, naturally didn't need to exchange this for anything.
Besides, he had never been interested in celebrity chasing.
The girls' discussion, however, was in a completely different direction.
"Alix," Rose asked, pulling Alix's arm, Her face full of anticipation, "What plans do you have for your date with Jaden this weekend?"
Juleka and Mylène also looked over curiously.
Alix raised an eyebrow mysteriously: "I've already prepared the plan, but I can't reveal it yet."
Although she said that, she actually had no idea.
Her initial thought was to take Jaden rock climbing. That sense of danger and excitement was what she liked most.
But... she also felt that it wasn't romantic enough.
Yet, she had no idea how to be romantic.
Was the first weekend date she had fought so hard for going to be wasted like this?
Just as everyone was immersed in their own little worlds, Lila, like a keen butterfly, seized the opportunity and fluttered to the side of the stage, beginning to launch Her most skilled "charm offensive" on Jagged Stone.
"Mr. Jagged Stone, your music is simply the light of my life! Whenever I feel sad, as long as I listen to your songs, I feel full of strength!"
She spoke Her carefully prepared lines in a tone full of adoration and praise.
Jagged Stone listened to the slightly exaggerated praise from the unfamiliar girl beside him, and although he was a little puzzled, out of politeness, he still chatted with Her.
And Kagami, holding the autograph card that was useless to Her, felt a bit lost.
She didn't know what it could be used for; she just saw that everyone else in the class was doing it, so she followed suit.
Alya stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the lively scene before Her, Her brows furrowing tighter and tighter.
She saw Her classmates holding Chloé's "granted" autographs, whispering about them, their faces showing genuine excitement and satisfaction.
She mistakenly thought that everyone had completely succumbed to this sugar-coated attack and had started discussing voting for Chloé.
A strong sense of crisis surged up. She couldn't let Marinette lose!
She immediately pulled out Her phone and called Marinette.
At this moment, in Marinette's attic, the sun was just right.
Marinette was sitting at Her desk, Her diary open, diligently writing something in it.
Those weren't Her own girlish thoughts, but rather the expectations for the class she had collected from Her classmates.
"Nino: Hopes to listen to music in the library."
"Rose: Hopes the classroom chairs can be replaced with softer pink cushions."
"Juleka: Hopes the hallway walls can be used to display our paintings."
She wrote each stroke meticulously, as if she had already been elected class representative and was fulfilling Her duties.
Tikki floated beside Her, watching Her focused and serious profile, and said sincerely, "Marinette, you will definitely be a very good class representative."
"I hope so."
Marinette looked up, a shy yet hopeful smile on Her face,
"After all, everyone in the class wants me to beat Chloé."
She paused, a hint of undetectable sweetness in Her voice, "Even Jaden... thinks so too."
At the mention of that name, Her cheeks flushed a lovely pink, and Her heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
Just then, Her phone rang. It was Alya.
"Marinette! Something big has happened!"
As soon as the call connected Alya's anxious voice, like a burning eyebrow, came through, "That Chloé, she dragged our whole class to the City Hall!
She actually invited Jagged Stone to hold an exclusive autograph session for us!
She wants to use this to win everyone over to vote for Her! Hurry up and get here! Otherwise, we're doomed to lose!"
Every word on the phone was like a heavy hammer, striking Marinette's heart.
"What?"
She sprang up from Her chair, all the sweetness and fantasy on Her face instantly vanishing, replaced by a burning fighting spirit,
"I will never let Her succeed!"
She almost instinctively put the diary full of plans back into the storage box, but in Her haste, she forgot to close the lid.
Tikki also quickly flew into Her crossbody bag. Marinette grabbed Her bag and rushed out the door without looking back.
What she didn't know was that shortly after Her hasty departure, a figure quietly emerged from the alley next to Her family's bakery.
That was Sabrina.
She was holding Her phone, on a video call. On the screen was Chloé's determined face.
"She's gone out, Chloé," Sabrina reported into the phone, lowering Her voice.
"Excellent." In the City Hall, Chloé watched Alya finish Her call, a triumphant smile on Her face.
Before boarding the bus, she had Sabrina find an excuse to stay behind and wait for instructions near Marinette's house.
Now, the prey had left Her nest. It was time for the hunter to enter.
The doorbell of the bakery rang with a crisp "ding-a-ling."
Sabrina took a deep breath, a shy yet harmless smile, rehearsed countless times, on Her face, and walked in.
"Good afternoon, Auntie Cheng," she greeted Sabine, who was busy at the cashier.
"Oh, it's Sabrina," Sabine looked up, returning a gentle smile, "Are you here to see Marinette?"
"Um... yes,"
Sabrina's gaze was a little evasive, and she stammered, following Chloé's instructions, "Before... before I borrowed Marinette's math book, and I have something to do today, so I wanted to return it to Her first. Is she upstairs?"
"What a coincidence,"
Sabine said apologetically while packing freshly baked croissants for a customer, "That child just went out, seems like there's some school activity."
She pointed in the direction of the stairs, "I'm a bit busy right now, so why don't you... go up and put the book on Her desk yourself?"
"Okay, thank you, Auntie!" Sabrina's heart brightened, and she quickly nodded in agreement.
She quickly walked up the stairs leading to the attic, feeling Her heart beat a little faster with each step.
Arriving at Marinette's room door, she gently pushed open the pink partition.
The room was empty, and warm sunlight streamed through the skylight onto the floor.
Sabrina took out Her phone, the video call with Chloé still connected.
"I'm in, Chloé."
"Good, hurry up and search!" Chloé's impatient urging came from the other end of the phone.
Sabrina began to frantically rummage through the room.
She opened the desk drawer; inside were a screwdriver and several cute pencil sharpeners;
She then pulled open the bedside table; inside were only balls of colorful yarn.
"What are you doing? What's the use of looking for this trash?"
Chloé's voice lost its patience, becoming sharp, "I want something that will make Her lose face! Something that will make Her unable to hold Her head up in front of the whole school! A diary, or some embarrassing photos! Not these insignificant trinkets!"
Chloé's scolding tightened Sabrina's nerves. She knew she couldn't delay any longer.
Her gaze frantically scanned the room, finally settling on the corner of the workbench—that pink, incredibly delicate-looking storage box, lying quietly there, its lid not even closed.
"Chloé, look,"
Sabrina aimed the camera at the box, "Her secret box... what do you think?"
"Hmm, that's more like it." On the other end of the phone, Chloé's voice finally held a hint of satisfaction.
Sabrina swallowed, reached out Her hand, and moved towards that Pandora's box containing all of Marinette's secrets. Her hand had just touched the thick diary, but before she could take it out—
"Click!"
A crisp sound rang out.
Sabrina felt Her wrist tighten, and a great force firmly clamped Her hand.
She looked down, only to see that the internal mechanism of the storage box had been triggered, locking Her hand and the diary together inside the box.
"Ah!"
She suppressed a gasp, Her face instantly turning pale.
She tried hard to pull Her hand out, but the mechanism remained motionless, instead tightening even more.
"What's wrong?" Chloé asked from the other end of the phone.
"My hand... my hand is stuck!" Sabrina cried out, Her voice tearful.
"What?"
Before Chloé could react, the Mayor's voice came from the video background: "Chloé, come over quickly, Mr. Jagged Stone is going to take a photo with you!"
"Got it, Daddy!"
Chloé responded impatiently, then quickly said into the phone, "I don't care how you do it, just finish it quickly, and then come to me immediately!"
With that, she hung up the phone with a "snap."
In the lobby of the City Hall, Marinette arrived on the scene, panting.
When she saw the lively scene before Her, and saw that almost every classmate held an autograph card from Jagged Stone, even Alya was no exception, she was completely stunned.
"Alya... why... did you take one too?" she asked, puzzled.
"We got it wrong, we all got it wrong." Alya saw Her arrive and breathed a sigh of relief.
"What do you mean 'got it wrong'?"
Marinette was even more confused, "Chloé... isn't she using this to bribe the whole class?"
Alya put Her arm around Marinette's shoulder, pulled Her aside, turned around, covered Her mouth with Her hand, and whispered an explanation to Her, "I misunderstood.
Look at everyone, they don't plan to vote for Chloé at all, they just want to sell this thing for money and then buy what they want."
Marinette followed Alya's gaze and indeed saw Nino and the others huddled together, excitedly discussing how many new headphones one autograph could buy.
"Then... what about Jaden?"
"Jaden,"
Alya smiled, giving Her a reassuring look, "He said it himself, he'll vote for you.
So you don't have to worry about anything now, just go back and prepare for tomorrow's speech."
"Then... didn't I come all this way for nothing?"
Marinette felt that Her soaring fighting spirit from just now was like a punch into cotton, leaving Her feeling a bit helpless.
"Not entirely for nothing,"
Alya conjured another autograph card from Her pocket and slipped it into Marinette's hand, "See, I even got one for you.
We can sell it online together then.
You're in design, and you have to spend money everywhere, so this can help you subsidize your household expenses."
Alya had an expression that said, "Look how supportive I am as a best friend."
Marinette looked at Her, a wave of warmth flowing through Her heart.
She gratefully accepted the autograph card on the surface, but inwardly, she was silently thinking: Actually... I don't seem to... lack money.
She remembered the special bank card issued by the city government, which no one could track.
As Ladybug, a considerable "salary" was deposited into it every month, an amount she couldn't even spend all by herself.
Just then, Chloé's impatient voice came from nearby.
Sabrina was walking quickly through the main entrance, Her head down.
Chloé pulled Her behind a marble pillar nearby, lowered Her voice, and demanded, "Why did you take so long to get here? Where's the stuff?"
Sabrina's face flushed crimson. She slowly and awkwardly extended the hand she had been hiding behind Her back.
There, the pink storage box, like a giant handcuff, was firmly clasped around Her wrist.
"How did you end up like this?"
Chloé looked at the absurd scene, unable to believe Her eyes.
"A... a little accident happened." Sabrina was on the verge of tears.
"Then hurry up and get it off!"
Chloé said furiously, "I'm still waiting to see Marinette's embarrassed face in public!"
"Chloé, listen to me,"
Sabrina took a deep breath and proposed a new plan she had thought of on the way, "If we forcibly break this storage box now, even if we didn't see what was inside,
Marinette will definitely think we did.
Then, what if she really doesn't care about anything and fights us to the end?"
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Chloé asked, frowning.
"We'll do this,"
A flash of shrewdness, uncharacteristic of Her usual timidity, flickered in Sabrina's eyes, "Later, we'll find an opportunity to ask Marinette to come out alone.
When she sees my hand like this, she'll understand that Her secret hasn't been discovered.
Then, we'll use this to threaten Her and make Her voluntarily withdraw from the election."
This was the only way she could think of to both preserve Her friendship with Chloé and not completely violate Her own moral bottom line.
Otherwise, she could have easily found something to open the box on the way.
Chloé listened to Sabrina's plan,
"Hmm," she nodded, "That's... not a bad idea."