Chapter 605
The Treasure Box transformed into a projector, needing no screen. Instead, it created a glowing, midair circle of light that seemed to defy comprehension. The images within were vivid and lifelike, exceeding any expectation.
After a moment of dizziness, Tiffany opened her eyes. The Treasure Box had transported her to a different timeline—her own classroom, but subtly altered. The setting was familiar, yet her classmates appeared younger, more naive, their youthful arrogance and recklessness palpable. All eyes were on her; mocking laughter erupted.
“Look, look! Pretty face Tiffany’s arrived!”
“Next up, Miss Kelley will show us 108 ways to chase a man!”
Their laughter filled the room. Tiffany, however, remained calm and composed, a faint smile playing on her lips. The laughter gradually subsided as they noticed her demeanor. She looked like the Tiffany they knew, yet something was profoundly different. Instead of the expected fiery embarrassment, she possessed an elegance, dignity, and grace that silenced them. Her gaze held warmth and tolerance, suggesting a gentle yet powerful nature, far too magnanimous for petty squabbles.
An uneasy silence settled over the classroom. Tiffany raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. The Treasure Box, it seemed, understood her perfectly; she was back on the day of her infamous bet with Ged.
Just then, a bold voice cut through the quiet.
“Hey.” A carefree, cocky young man spoke.
Tiffany turned to see Ged, his chin tilted haughtily. His tone was annoyingly smug. “Tiffany, want to challenge me to a match?”
For a moment, Tiffany felt dazed. She couldn't recall how long it had been since she last saw this silly, stubborn, prideful companion—their final farewell, his lifeless body growing cold, the blood staining his chest, the fatal wound from a metal shard piercing his heart. Yet here he was, alive and vibrant, ready to banter and argue.
A soft smile touched Tiffany’s lips; her icy eyes warmed with a long-dormant tenderness.
Chapter 605
“Alright,” she replied lightly. As she nodded, a stray lock of hair fell over her ear. Ged froze, momentarily stunned. The sunlight behind her cast a golden glow, highlighting her flawless skin, now flushed with a faint blush—a breathtaking picture. But it was the expression in her eyes—gentle and forgiving—that truly affected him. His planned provocation vanished.
He stared at her suspiciously, then pursed his lips. “Forget it. You’re so weak that betting with you would just be bullying. If you lost and started crying, it’d make me look bad.”
For the first time, the class tyrant, Ged, went back on his word. Tiffany didn't object, simply nodding gently, her smile unwavering. "Alright."
The onlookers were stunned.
Someone jeered. “Ged, that’s not like you. Since when do you care if someone cries when you bully them?”
“Yeah, is it because you can’t bring yourself to hurt her after looking at her face?” another added, whistling.
Ged waved dismissively, rolling his eyes. “Get lost!”
He couldn't bring himself to hurt her; those beautiful eyes didn't deserve tears. And the gentle warmth in her gaze, like sunlight streaming through the window, prevented him from teasing her. Instead, he felt an inexplicable urge to move closer to that light. He thought he was insane.
Scratching his head in frustration, Ged stormed out of the classroom.
The following days were relatively uneventful, though the troublemakers persisted. Pranks—snakes in her bag, dead rodents—continued, though none caused serious harm.
One day, Tiffany calmly read when she noticed a snake's head emerging from her bag. Without flinching, she pushed it back and reached for the zipper. Ged, however, noticed. His face darkened as he snatched the bag.
With a dramatic shake, the bag's contents spilled onto the desk. Ged grabbed the snake, holding it like a weapon. His voice was cold and angry. “Who did this?”
A bespectacled boy in the back chuckled. “Me. Not bad, huh? Found a real good one this time.”
“Good? My ass!” Ged cursed, shoving the snake down the boy's shirt. “Since you like it so much, enjoy it yourself!”
Ged's protective stance didn't go unnoticed.
Someone grumbled. “Ged, whose side are you on? Why are you sticking up for her?”
Chapter 605
Bullying Tiffany had become an unspoken pastime; anyone who didn't participate risked being ostracized.
Ged was momentarily stumped, but he straightened his back. “I just don’t like seeing a girl being picked on!”
He felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning, he saw Tiffany looking up at him with a bright smile. “Aren’t you protecting me?”
Just like before—like in the trial mountains, when Tiffany risked her life to distract a tiger while others hesitated, and Ged was the only one to chase after her, despite being no match for the beast; or the time she was hunted, and he shielded her with his body, refusing to retreat, even knowing he couldn't fight.
“What? Me? Protecting you?” Ged laughed, incredulous. He wanted to argue, but her gaze deflated his bluster. He sighed, almost resigned. “Alright, fine. I’m protecting you.”
Tiffany smiled softly. At that moment, the Treasure Box's voice echoed in her mind. “Master, the time I secured for you is up. You will be transported back in one minute.”
Time flowed differently in this dimension. Though a week had passed, Tiffany had only been there for ten minutes. Reunions were always fleeting.
She turned to Ged, smiling faintly. “I like the bracelet you gave me. I want you to know the girl wearing the reindeer mask was me. These are things I never got to tell you. And I’m sorry. I’m the reason you suffered.”