Although only the two of them were left now, it didn't affect their plans.
With their current strength, as long as they didn't go to the third layer, they could pretty much tear through everything in their path on the first two layers.
"Then let's go on our own!"
Victoria urged, an eager light flashing in her gray eyes:
"My mana is starving for action! If I don't let off some steam soon, I feel like I'm going to go crazy!"
The two continued forward, but before they had walked very far, they both stopped in unison.
For an aqua-blue figure was standing quietly at the corner of the corridor ahead.
The afternoon sunlight poured through the corridor windows onto her, coating her iceberg-like aura in a faint warmth.
Noticing the two behind her, Vivian's gaze first fell on Greg, lingering for a moment, before shifting slightly to glance at Victoria standing beside him.
That glance was brief, as though she were merely assessing something.
"Where are you two heading?"
Vivian spoke, her voice as cool and crisp as ever, like a mountain stream bearing a natural chill.
"Er... Just strolling around with my Junior Sister to take a break. We've been staying in the laboratory for too long these past few days, so we came out to catch some fresh air," Greg answered.
Although he had conquered the dungeon with Vivian before and there was no need to hide things too much, if he mentioned the word "dungeon" right now and triggered unwanted topics, accidentally exposing that he had taken Vivian last time to conquer the second-layer Floor Boss using the item he got with Victoria and the others...
Victoria would definitely throw a massive fit.
Not only would he have to face her wrath, but he would also have to explain why he was acting together with the Student Council President—the mere thought of that scene gave him a headache.
Therefore, to avoid trouble, Greg casually offered a harmless lie.
As for Victoria, although she didn't know why Greg told this lie, it didn't affect their plans anyway, so she didn't expose him.
Vivian nodded, the gaze she directed at Greg seemingly softening a bit more.
During this time, she had naturally been keeping an eye on news about Greg.
She had long known that Victoria had become his Junior Sister, and she also knew he had been staying in the laboratory these past few days, working hard to prepare for the upcoming Hundred Academy Exchange.
In her eyes, all of this confirmed her suspicion.
The reason Greg was pushing himself so hard was to shine brilliantly at the exchange, accumulating enough prestige and capital for himself to eliminate any real-world obstacles that might oppose their union in the future.
He was working hard for the future of the two of them.
Therefore, she believed that all she could do right now was quietly support him from behind, without bothering him too much until he was truly prepared to remove the obstacles between them.
She didn't want to become a burden to him, nor did she want his efforts to go to waste.
She believed that when the time was ripe, Greg would announce everything.
"Mm... Do your best."
Although it was only three short words, coming from Vivian's mouth, their impact was no less than a heavy bomb detonating in the corridor.
One had to remember, she was that cold and distant Vivian Kahn, ice through and through.
For her to actually say the words "do your best" in a tone laced with warmth and encouragement to someone?
It was as if a corner of the iceberg had suddenly melted, revealing the warm earth beneath.
This scene brought no small shock to both Victoria and Greg.
Victoria's eyes widened as she looked at Vivian, then at Greg, her gray eyes filled with shock and confusion.
She even suspected if her ears were auditory hallucinating because of the constant explosions earlier.
So she directly grabbed Greg by the collar, pulling his head down, and leaned into his ear, asking urgently in a lowered voice that only the two of them could hear:
"Hey, how did you get on such good terms with the Student Council President? Is it because a scumbag like you voluntarily left the Student Council, fulfilling her wish, so now she's willing to talk to you like this?"
"Are you—"
Greg opened his mouth, the words "Are you sick in the head or something?" rushing to the tip of his tongue, ready to spill out.
But at the very moment he was about to say it, he suddenly paused.
Because after thinking it through carefully, this excuse was indeed much better than exposing that he had taken Vivian to conquer the second-layer Floor Boss using the item he got with Victoria and the others.
At least this excuse wouldn't ignite Victoria's fury, nor would it make her press for more details.
Moreover, this reason sounded quite plausible—after all, Vivian really might be in a better mood after getting rid of a nuisance like him.
So, he forcefully swallowed the insult that was already at his lips, and then praised:
"Are you a tapeworm in my gut or something? To actually understand me so well! That's really amazing!"
Victoria froze for a moment, her face instantly darkening as anger flared in her gray eyes: "Who are you calling names!?"
Greg: "..."
Vivian had originally just stood silently to the side, watching the interaction between the two.
However, her gaze inadvertently grew several degrees sharper, like an undercurrent hidden beneath a sheet of ice.
Because she noticed one thing: the speaking distance between these two was far too close.
Victoria was practically talking right against Greg's ear, her breath brushing past his auricle and her gray hair falling onto his shoulder, with almost no gap between them.
And although Greg had a somewhat helpless expression, he made no effort to create distance; instead, he slightly tilted his head to match her height so she could whisper in his ear more conveniently.
That natural intimacy, that unguarded physical contact, and that tacit understanding that only appeared between people with a very close relationship all gave Vivian a subtle sense of discomfort.
She had originally thought that Greg and Victoria were just ordinary senior and junior fellow disciples.
After all, she remembered Greg had once had conflicts with Victoria, and in her understanding, it should have been unlikely for Greg to get too close to a Junior Sister with a commoner background.
But now, seeing the intimate interaction between the two, Vivian suddenly felt that she might need to pay a little closer attention.
This level of intimacy had already far exceeded the scope of ordinary senior and junior fellow disciples.
Just as she was about to speak and subtly probe the relationship between the two—
"Th-That, Dear Sister!"
A figure suddenly appeared beside Vivian, interrupting her thoughts.
It was a girl with gorgeous red hair like burning fire, who was currently lowering her head slightly, her fair fingers gently twirling a strand of hair by her ear, her face bearing an expression completely different from her usual self.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and her gaze wandered slightly, as though she were gathering the courage to do something extremely difficult.
"Could you... go have afternoon tea with me? It's been so long..."
Lilith looked up, her burning amber eyes gazing at her sister with hopeful expectation.
Rate on N.U.
