The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness

Chapter 39, Stubbornness

“No—I’ve sweated for the academy, I’ve bled for St. Maria! You can’t treat me like this! I want to see the principal! I want to see the pink bear!”

—

In the vast training ground, Kellen let out a heart-wrenching roar.

“Want to see the dean? I’ll take you to see the dean right now, but I’m afraid the Pink Bear is in no position to help himself either!”

Kaede grinned maliciously, using his formidable power to slam Kellen down to the ground, the thick ropes in his hands flying swiftly as he bound him tightly.

A sturdy tortoise shell knot.

Along with that, he kicked Kellen’s backside several times with force.

You b*stard.

Just a moment ago, I stood up for you like that, supported you like that, and you turned out to be a bandit?

You deceived my feelings!

Kaede felt as if he had transformed into a merciless machine, the next step being to tie up the Pink Bear and burn him along with this scoundrel!

“Wait—wait a minute, I still have something to say!”

Seeing Kaede had already taken off his stinky sock, preparing to stuff it in his mouth, Kellen let out a terrified shout at the last moment:

“Let me say one last thing!”

“One last thing? Very well, let me hear your last words.” Kaede sneered, temporarily loosening his grip.

“I…”

Kellen took a deep breath, then looked at Mu’en, whose hair was standing on end, revealing a tragic smile:

“This time I’ve fallen, but it’s okay, my beauty, I will definitely come back to marry…”

Crack.

A chill surged.

Brilliant ice crystals instantly formed, freezing Kellen, who still wore a nauseating smile, into a popsicle.

Celicia shot him a cold glance, “What a filthy thing to hear.”

“…”

Standing not far away, Mu’en quietly took a step back, shrinking her neck.

It felt like Celicia was in a rather foul mood.

“Since the truth is now clear.”

Celicia’s icy gaze swept over the “heroes” below, who had been so lively just moments ago, now rendered utterly silent,

“And it seems no one has raised any objections, then… Teacher Kaede, the rest is up to you. I won’t disturb your class any longer.”

“No, no, it’s me who should be thanking you.” Kaede forced a bitter smile.

He had always hated being interrupted during his classes, but what could he say at a time like this?

Moreover, compared to teaching, he was now more eager to settle the score with the Pink Bear.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Celesia nodded politely, then shot Mun an intense glance:

“Mun Campbell, come with me.”

“Oh, okay.”

Mun nodded blankly.

Just as he was about to follow Celesia out, he was called back by Teacher Cade.

“Um, Mun…”

Mun turned around, only to see Cade, who usually appeared stern and fierce, scratching his head with an awkward expression:

“I… misjudged you earlier. Um… I’m sorry.”

“Hmm?”

Mun raised an eyebrow.

Teacher Cade… was apologizing to him?

After a moment of confusion, Mun snapped back to reality.

Although Cade had a bad temper, he was indeed the straightforward type.

Otherwise, his earlier reaction wouldn’t have been so intense.

“It’s alright, Teacher Cade.”

After some thought, Mun chose to forgive him.

After all, Cade was just a bit impatient, and he hadn’t actually taken any real action against Mun, which showed he was indeed upholding his duties as a teacher.

Compared to him, the others…

Mun glanced at the people in the audience, then followed Celesia away.

……

……

Outside the training ground, watching Celesia walk ahead, Mun found himself at a loss for words, so he could only ask awkwardly:

“By the way, Celesia, why did you suddenly show up here?”

And it was such a coincidence; it didn’t seem like a mere chance encounter.

“Why?”

Celesia stopped in her tracks, then turned around, her slender brows arching high like a sharp sword.

“Should I just not show up and let you be foolishly killed?”

“…”

Mun felt her words pierced through him like a sword, leaving him feeling cold in the chest.

But he had no retort.

Because he indeed did the stupidest thing at that time.

Whether it was the post-incident investigation or reporting to Professor Plank, there were countless easy ways to expose the identity of the Kolun Mountain bandit. Yet he chose the dumbest option of acting publicly, not only putting himself in the eye of the storm but also possibly ruining the little reputation he had managed to improve during this time.

“However, that punch of yours was really no problem.”

Celicia suddenly said, her tone unexpectedly carrying a hint of relief as if a father had just discovered his son was actually a normal person:

“If you hadn’t thrown that punch, I’m afraid Duke Campbell might really have to consider giving up on you as his son.”

“Can we not bring this up anymore!” Mu En retorted with tears in his eyes.

Suddenly, birds perched on the ornamental trees by the roadside, and Celicia shot them a cold glance, causing the birds to fly away in panic.

“It was Ariel who called me here,” Celicia suddenly said.

“Uh?”

“She said you were confessed to by a male cousin and told me to hurry over to enjoy the show.”

“Damn.”

The warmth that had just risen in Mu En’s heart was quickly extinguished.

He had initially wanted to feel touched that Ariel, someone who disliked him, would actually come to help him.

But it turned out that guy still had feelings for Celicia, so he just wanted to drag her over to see him make a fool of himself.

You really are something, oh protagonist Feng Aotian, are you planning to pursue two people at the same time?

But it seems neither line has much hope.

“Thank you, Celicia, you’ve helped me again.”

Mu En sincerely expressed his gratitude.

Upon reflection, it seemed he had always been helped by Celicia.

Clearly, feeling guilty, he should be the one making amends.

“If you feel sorry for me, then try to stir up less trouble in the future.”

Seemingly seeing through Mu En’s thoughts, Celicia said coldly.

“Hehe…”

Mu En could only respond with a wry smile.

He didn’t want to cause trouble, but trouble always came looking for him.

Including this time…

“You seem very unhappy.”

“Eh?”

“Clearly, the matter has been resolved, the misunderstanding cleared up, and that perverted male cousin who might continue to harass you has been caught, yet you seem quite unhappy.”

Celicia tilted her head and scrutinized him, suddenly saying.

“…Is there?”

“Your face is almost wrinkled like an old woman.”

“Oh, I see.”

Have I really lost control over my own expression without even realizing it?

“Actually, it’s not that I’m unhappy, I just…”

Mu En lowered her gaze to the ground and spoke softly:

“I’m just a bit lost.”

Clearly, I’ve changed so much.

Clearly, even the senior praised my efforts.

Clearly, I thought many things had already changed.

But…

At times like this.

There are still people who refuse to believe in me.

There are still people who won’t give me a little more time.

There are still people…

Hiding behind the crowd, showing me malice.

In this way…

It makes one unconsciously wonder, what one’s actions really…

“Mu En Campbell!”

Celicia suddenly raised her voice, interrupting Mu En’s thoughts.

Looking up, she found Celicia’s gaze cold, as if looking at a pile of combustible trash.

“You seem to… be stuck in a rut.”

“Hmm?”

Mu En was a bit confused.

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t seriously think that you can make everyone like you.”

“No, I just don’t want others to have malice towards me anymore, I just don’t want others to hold prejudices against me…”

“What you’re saying is nonsense.”

“Eh?”

Mu En was taken aback.

He didn’t expect such a rude remark to come from Celicia’s mouth.

“What do you think of me?” Celicia suddenly asked.

“You…”

Mu En was about to respond, but suddenly became alert.

A girl, out of nowhere, asking you such a question…

You have to answer carefully.

“The black silk fits you well… um!”

Celicia retracted her knee, her gaze cold:

“Answer again.”

“Perfect.”

Cradling his abdomen and curling up like a shrimp, Mu En trembled and held up his thumb.

“Simply perfect.”

“But even if I, the perfect one in your eyes, the imperial princess, the student council president, adorned with countless halos, consider my appearance decent, there will still be many who dislike me, even hate me.”

Celicia said:

“Just like the president of the news agency, Mingote, who every day is attacking my scarecrow, wishing for me to fall ill and die on the spot, so he can sell his sensationalist newspapers.”

“You know this too?” Mu En was shocked.

“Ha, that most valued confidant of his has actually long since joined the student council; he just doesn’t know it yet.” Celicia sneered.

“…”

Mu En shuddered.

So terrifying, this woman is so terrifying.

“Wanting to change your external image, wanting to be liked, is understandable, especially for you, Mu En Campbell, but you shouldn’t add the prefix ‘everyone’.”

Celicia looked at Mu En and continued:

“Just being bitten by a few insignificant little bugs, yet sulking like a child who had their candy stolen, Mu En Campbell, this version of you is even more disgusting than a few months ago.

At least a few months ago, if someone insulted you, you would definitely point your finger at their nose and retort, ‘My father is a duke, who do you think you are?’”

“…”

Mu En opened his mouth silently, like a fish out of water.

“Moreover, it’s not just the people who dislike you; your change itself could also become a source of malice.”

“Change itself?”

Celicia’s words left Mu En somewhat puzzled.

If a spoiled rich kid like him, who has done nothing but bad deeds, suddenly turns good, wouldn’t that be a good thing for everyone?

At least that’s how it is in this academy.

“I really can’t tell if you’ve had a complete personality change or if you’ve just become a different person altogether.”

Seeing Mu En’s bewildered expression, Celicia let out a subtle sigh:

“You’ve severed ties with your past too cleanly, Mu En Campbell.”

“Eh?”

Mu En was still in a fog.

But Celicia seemed to have lost her patience, turning to walk ahead.

As she walked, she suddenly turned back, looking at Mu En behind her.

“What are you still following me for? Do you think I need you to escort me?”

“Then I…”

“Go do what you need to do. Don’t tell me you’re just going to slink away like that; if you do, I’ll be furious with you.”

“Oh, oh.”

Mu En scratched his head foolishly, as if finally remembering what he was supposed to do, and turned to leave in the opposite direction.

But after just a couple of steps, he suddenly turned back, looking at the silver-haired girl who was as cold on the outside as she was warm on the inside, just like always.

“Celicia.”

“Is there something else?”

“You were really cool just now.”

“So?”

“I feel like I’m about to fall in love with you.”

“About to?”

Celicia raised an eyebrow:

“But didn’t you say before that you were already in love with me?”

“That was…”

Mu En smiled awkwardly.

“A little different.”

“But I don’t love you.”

“Ah.”

“Get lost.”

“Oh.”

“Get lost quickly.”

“Mmhm.”

……

……

After Mu En left.

Viola, the secretary of the student council with a bun hairstyle, appeared out of nowhere and curiously asked:

“President, aren’t you going to tell him about that matter?”

“Why should I tell him?”

“But the reason we came to find him was to remind him about that matter, right?”

“Am I his mother? Do I have to remind him about everything?”

Though she said that, Celestia’s gaze remained fixed on the document in her hand.

——“Report on Aemon Biandi’s Abnormal Behavior”

“I was originally planning to remind him.”

Celestia sighed.

“But seeing his foolish expression, it’s better to let him suffer a bit.”

“Eh? But what if he encounters danger…”

“If he dies, then he dies. What does it have to do with me?”

Celestia casually tore the report into pieces and tossed it into the trash can.

Without looking back, she left.

But if it’s not your concern, why be angry?

Watching Celestia’s retreating figure, Viola stuck out her tongue but swallowed the second half of her sentence that was on the tip of her tongue.

It just felt like saying it… would suddenly make the president seem very scary.

……