Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

After leaving the hospital, Xi Ma boarded the return hover car and began to contact the senior management of the Academy to report the situation.

...

"You didn't handle this matter well," came the calm yet pressuring voice from the other end, making Xi Ma feel as if his hands were trembling.

It was Xi Ma who had unearthed Valke in the Northern Ninth District, so the Academy had always arranged for him to maintain contact with Valke. However, in the recent handling of the matter concerning Valke's friend, due to his negligence, it led to the outcome today. Should Valke's future be ruined, not only would it be a blow to Valke himself, but Xi Ma's career path would also come to an end.

Edith Academy was a significant force, where teachers were carefully selected and treated extremely well. At the same time, it was highly competitive. Previously, Xi Ma had been a low-ranking presence among the teachers, not particularly renowned. It was because he had discovered Valke that his reputation surfaced and his status and treatment within the Academy climbed rapidly.

If Valke were to rise to the top in the future and become a bigwig in Sequence 7 decades later, then Xi Ma, as the discoverer, would also receive respect from all sides and enjoy a comfortable latter half of his life.

"Previously, when you realized Valke's friend was getting into trouble, you weren't vigilant. You should have either nipped it in the bud and pulled his friend out as well, bringing him into an Academy-arranged life. Not only would that have been a great favor to Valke, but it would also have securely tied him to the Academy."

"But you failed to do so. Maybe it was because you thought it was troublesome, or maybe you felt that he was not a good friend, etc. That's somewhat understandable."

"However, you should have immediately cut Valke off from contact with the other party after the incident and carried out ideological education to ensure he completely severed ties with them."

"Doing things halfway and not fully has been disappointing."

"I... am truly sorry... I have let down the expectations of the board of directors..." Xi Ma said, nearly trembling with his words.

After a long silence, the voice finally came through from the personal terminal.

"Bring Valke to the hospital within the Academy. The board will contact friends in the Central Star Domain to inquire if there is a solution."

"Yes."

After answering, six seconds passed before the call finally ended, and Xi Ma slowly set the personal terminal down. At that moment, he was sweating profusely, as if he had been through a great battle, which in fact was the case. The directors of the Academy were top-ranked big shots in the whole Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, not someone a common person like him could probe.

After two days of rest, Valke was transferred back to Edith Academy for treatment, and news of his injury gradually spread throughout the Academy.

——

In the afternoon, Edith Academy, Twilight Orchestra activity room.

The dark-haired Tilan was wearing a black dress today. Underneath the dress, her slender legs were wrapped in grey stockings with grey-pink diamond lines on the sides. The color contrast with the stockings wasn't too sharp, giving off an overall soft and comfortable appearance.
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The hem of the skirt was also adorned with purple diamonds. These purple accents were lively and complemented the black dress. The top of the dress fitted her well, highlighting Tilan's waist curve. There was a V-shaped pleated decoration on the chest, while the neckline had a row of vertical buttons extending to her neck, which was elegant as a Black Swan's.

If someone a bit heavier were to wear this outfit, it probably wouldn't look as good, but when Tilan wore it, it was as if everything was meant to be this way, giving the impression of a figure stepped right out of a painting.

"Just as I expected," Deloris, sitting in front of the young girl, looked at Tilan dressed up exquisitely and nodded slightly.

This gorgeous dress was sponsored by Deloris, who herself was the heiress of the luxury brand 'Incense Workshop' and naturally had no shortage of outstanding designers at her disposal.

"It must have been quite expensive, thank you, Deloris." The young girl was sitting at the table, with celadon tea cups in front of them containing amber-colored clear tea.

Because it was indoors, Tilan was not wearing shoes. Her deeply grey-stockinged legs, with one toe lightly touching the floor and the other slightly arched, her heel resting on the crossbar beneath the chair.

Deloris shook her head slightly, shifting her gaze away from the endearing dark-haired young girl to look around the activity room filled with signs of life.

The surrounding decor was not stern or minimalist, with sofas and tables and chairs favoring a round, cute, and comfortable design that gave a relaxing feel.

"When you established the club, why didn't you tell me in advance? Now you're only telling me," she complained mildly, an emotion rarely seen from this young lady.

"Because it was quite rushed at the time, and I hadn't settled on a name or theme, besides, besides, I was also a little embarrassed," Tilan admitted, feeling like it aligned with her occasional adolescent behavior—something she didn't want her close friend to witness, but eventually, she couldn't keep it a secret, so she informed Deloris now.

"Alright then." Seeing Tilan's cute and shy demeanor, Deloris couldn't hold any grievances, nor did she continue to press for answers.

"So, how many members does the club have now?"

"Currently, there are four, you and me, then there's Annelli and Yalian, who won't often participate in club activities."

"Yalian? You mean the Yalian I'm thinking of?" Deloris was slightly surprised.

"Yes, he even left some seeds, now serving as potted plants for the activity room," the girl pointed at the glass-covered plants sprouting on the windowsill of the room.

"So he joined too. It seems Tilan's charm is not insignificant," Deloris teased, her feelings rather delicate—as if a treasured secret of hers had just been discovered by someone else.

"Are we still recruiting?"

"Yes, we should recruit at least ten people, otherwise it'll be too quiet," she mused to herself, considering the academy's requirement for club membership numbers.

"I'll ask a few friends I know well," Deloris pondered for a moment. Rather than recruiting unknowable strangers, it would be better to have friends who were familiar and of good character join.

"Thank you, Deloris," the girl nodded slightly, tilting her head, then remembered something.

"Though it's not very formal, it would be better if they were interested in the legacies of the Twilight Era."

"Isn't it an orchestra? I thought Tilan wanted to sing. I've never heard Tilan sing before," Deloris associated with a more dangerous realm.

"Ah, well, I'm not really good at music," the girl's eyes shifted to the side, as lying was too much for her.

"Alright then, but it's not a bad idea to have some musical instruments in the activity room."

The two sat at the table, sipping tea and continuing to discuss the future arrangements for the club. During this time, Deloris shared many management tips with Tilan—the well-bred young lady had been exposed to family affairs from a young age and was experienced. However, she didn't want to taint Tilan with these worldly concerns, so she rarely mentioned them in her presence.

...

"In conclusion, constantly compromising with members is not beneficial, as it not only risks becoming insignificant and overlooked, but also a persistent compromise erodes the core principles and diminishes solidarity."

"Everyone joined for that core principle or purpose, and if you compromise so lightly on it, it will embarrass the initial resolve they had when they joined."

"Therefore, Tilan, when necessary, you must also be strict to gain credibility,"

"Be gentle, but do not discard your principles. Always trying to be the good person, and failing to correct wrongs, will ultimately harm both sides."

"I understand," the girl's smoky eyes closed briefly, then opened to gaze at the view outside the window.

She had understood early on that constant concession would not lead to others' understanding; instead, they would take more and more, pressing step by step, and when resistance eventually came, they would blame her for the conflict.