Chapter 24 Next Time You Go Out, Close the Door
+8 Pearls
Halford finally understood why Nigel had chosen to transfer to this school and join this particular class. In his effort to figure out Nigel’s true motives, Halford had gone through everything about the classmates–photos, family histories, hobbies, and other random tidbits–carefully analyzing it all.
There wasn’t anything special about them. They were all just average–average looks, average life stories, average family backgrounds.
To Halford, these people were the kind you’d see on the street and instantly forget. They left no impact.
The only exception was Lilith. Her family was distinguished and well–established, with connections everywhere. She could have chosen anyone she wanted, but she ended up with this group.
That intrigued him. He couldn’t help but laugh as he pointed at a photo on the screen. “They all look pretty boring, but maybe there’s more to them in person,” he said, flipping through a few more pictures. Then his finger stopped on one, and he muttered, “This Sydney girl looks decent.”
Nigel glanced at the photo briefly, clearly uninterested, and responded in his usual indifferent tone, “What do you think?”
Halford shrugged, slightly embarrassed. He’d made too much of it–Nigel had grown up with his grandparents and had been away from the city since he was eight. Afterward, he went to Baskwood for medical treatment, isolated from these people. It wasn’t like he had any real connections to them, or cared about one person over another.
And from an outside perspective, no one seemed like they could match Nigel.
Having known Nigel for years, Halford understood him well. Nigel had a refined taste, one that was hard to satisfy. He never settled for anything less than the best.
If something didn’t meet his high standards, he’d reject it or wait patiently for something better.
“So, why’d you transfer to this class?” Halford asked.
Without looking up from what he was doing, Nigel replied in his usual cold, emotionless tone, “I don’t know. Just looking for some peace, maybe.”
It made sense. Nigel had always hated socializing and crowds. He kept to himself, aloof and distant, giving people no reason to try to connect with him.
“Who cares if something small like this gets done right or not?” Halford said, pretending to be moved as he played his game, sniffling exaggeratedly. “It’s so touching that even while you’re sick, you’re still thinking about little ol‘ me. What a good friend. Come give me a hug.
Nigel didn’t even acknowledge him, turning away with a muttered, “Go play your game somewhere else. I’m going to sleep.”
Halford was about to flop onto the couch in the next room when he heard Nigel’s voice, clear and firm.
“Next time you go out, close the door. Otherwise, I’ll kill you.”
“Come on, seriously…” Halford grumbled.
During the first two days of National Day, Lilith had finished all her homework. With nothing else to do, she wasn’t sure how to spend her time.
So, she decided to have the driver take her to the back mountain. There, she sat on the large lawn, working on a model kit–a birthday gift from Liana. Liana had spent almost half her allowance to buy it for Lilith.
It was a massive ship with a complicated structure, and it had never been completed because of its size.
Fortunately, it came with an instruction manual. Lilith followed the steps carefully, working piece by piece. By the end of the afternoon, she had only managed to finish about a third of it.
Some sharp edges had left red marks on Lilith’s palm and fingers. She blamed it all on her clumsy hands. After gathering up the remaining pieces, she packed them back into the box, planning to resume assembling the model the next afternoon.
Chapter 24 Next Time You Go Out, Close the Door
+8 Pearls
Reflecting on the time Simba had lunged at her, Lilith was surprised by how little fear she had felt. In that moment, she had almost been indifferent to whether she lived or died. Life had felt overwhelmingly exhausting, and her instinct to survive seemed to have faded completely.
But now, it was clear that the whole thing had been a misunderstanding.
She felt a twinge of guilt for misjudging the lion’s intentions. Wanting to make it right, Lilith decided to check on Simba. She found him being walked by his caretaker, his belly round from what was likely a recent meal, his movements lively.
The moment Simba saw her, he started calling out from a distance. She walked closer and gently petted his head, and Simba responded by sticking out his tongue to lick her cheek, his warm and soft touch leaving Lilith’s face damp.
For some reason, Lilith’s thoughts drifted to a wild cat she had spotted at school a few days ago. She wondered if she could adopt it, if the opportunity arose.
Her thoughts then shifted to the puppy from her past life, the one that had passed away. She thought about her own uncertain future, about the inevitable end awaiting her. She quickly pushed the thought away–better not to dwell on it. Throughout the entire seven–day National Day break, Liana had stayed with her grandparents, not traveling anywhere. Every day, she was spoiled with delicious food, and by the time she returned, she’d gained a little weight. As soon as she got back, she started complaining to Lilith about needing to lose a few pounds.
Lilith pinched her cheek, enjoying the softness of it. It felt so pleasant to touch. Suppressing a small, selfish thought, she smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll make sure to bring you some low–fat meals starting tomorrow.”
The first class of the afternoon began without any warning, no announcements or preparations. Philbert walked in with a new student.
The man who entered had a wide, bright smile that revealed a row of white teeth. His deep–set eyes and handsome face radiated energy, exuding confidence and vitality. He spoke animatedly, making the room feel bold and open with his presence.
Lilith recognized him instantly. He was Nigel’s close friend. She had read about them in a financial magazine during her college years. The article had detailed how they co–founded a company, and her roommate had even joked that their faces were so perfect for the camera they could easily star in movies. At their young age, they had already become highly successful entrepreneurs, reaching the peak of their careers.
But when Lilith researched their backgrounds, it was clear how much easier success must have been for children born into such influential, privileged families.
According to the article, Halford had spent most of his life abroad, only briefly returning to the country when he was 20 to start working.
Lilith’s eyes were fixed on the man at the front of the room. He had a screen hovering just above his head, almost invisible, glowing faintly with a white light.
If the events of the original story played out, Halford wouldn’t be involved for many more years. When he did appear, it would be only as Nigel’s close friend and business partner–a secondary character with little influence on the plot, existing mainly to enhance Nigel’s role.
So why is he here? Why did he enroll in this regular class with Nigel?
Lilith’s head throbbed, too many thoughts colliding in her mind. It was like being trapped in a fog, unable to clear her thoughts or figure out where to begin.
But from the smiling face in front of her, she felt a flicker of something deeper–a sense of fate, unpredictable and powerful, reminding her of its presence once again.
