Hint

On the poster, the bold and flamboyant characters for “Bonfire Party” were placed at the very top.

Below it was a huge bonfire, and many young men and women stood around it, their expressions showing that they were very happy.

Collins noticed the promotional poster in Victoria’s hand and showed a trace of surprise on his face, but thinking of what Senior Sphinx had just said when inviting him to the bonfire party, the appearance of this poster was not so unexpected.

Maybe he had been too focused when writing the basic program and didn’t notice that there were other things on the table.

Collins explained this to himself and didn’t show much embarrassment on his face.

“This?”

Victoria met Collins’ gaze.

Collins could not read the meaning behind Victoria’s shy eyes at all.

Since he couldn’t figure it out, Collins could only answer honestly.

“Mm, it’s the bonfire party five days from now. It’s kind of a tradition at our school. Basically, anyone with a friend of the opposite s*x likes to go there to strengthen their relationship, but I probably won’t go.”

Collins said this with a bit of self-mockery, while turning his gaze back to the materials in front of him.

He didn’t see Victoria take a step back, her expression when looking at him completely changed.

Collins might not find the appearance of this flyer particularly suspicious, but Victoria was not someone who could be fooled so easily.

She was also a magical elite. Even if her emotional intelligence was as low as Collins’, she was extremely skilled when it came to reasoning based on logic.

Logical deduction one: Since Collins said he wouldn’t go to the bonfire party and even showed a certain degree of dislike toward it, why did he keep this flyer in his lab?

Logical deduction two: Even if he kept it in the lab, why was it placed on his workbench, hidden under a pile of documents—as if he deliberately concealed it but also deliberately let Victoria find it?

Logical deduction three: Why did Collins clearly describe what would happen at the bonfire party and emphasize that he was single and wouldn’t go?

Based on all this, Victoria felt that Collins might have deliberately hidden this flyer under the thick stack of papers for one reason only—so that she would see it.

And after seeing it?

To go to the bonfire party with him?

And then, perhaps, to suggest starting a relationship?

Victoria blushed and stepped back shyly.

This girl, who was still in her innocent phase, suddenly felt that maybe Collins had feelings for her—but since he wasn’t good at expressing emotions, he used this indirect way to invite her to go to the bonfire party with him.

Victoria remembered that her butler told her Collins hadn’t made many demands about payment when he accepted her research assignment.

Logically speaking, a genius of Collins’ level wouldn’t work for free.

Unless…

No, no, now’s not the time to think about that.

Victoria shook her head vigorously, perhaps too vigorously, because the quiet room suddenly echoed with an unusual sound.

Collins looked up in confusion.

This inexperienced young man met Victoria’s gaze, and immediately after that, she stepped back again, her face completely red.

Of course, Collins had no idea what happened to Victoria.

But he did notice her tightly clutching the promotional poster.

Could it be… this poster shocked Victoria?

Collins still remembered how furious Victoria looked when he once called her a “single dog” stuck in the lab.

Collins thought for a moment and said a little awkwardly:

“Well, sorry you had to see that. If you think the poster is too suggestive, just throw it in the trash.”

Victoria trembled slightly.

That tone… sounded strangely familiar.

A strange scene flashed in her mind.

Victoria remembered when she tried to give a love letter to her beloved senior, but at the last moment, painfully pulled it back.

She vaguely recalled it was an afternoon.

The lazy sunlight fell from the clear glass, slanting into the corridor.

The areas hit by sunlight were bright, while the areas shaded by the wall were dark.

The originally uniform corridor was divided by the light into patches of brightness and shadow.

Victoria walked on the marble floor, breathing quickly as she looked at the boy bathed in sunlight, as if glowing.

She liked him, though she didn’t know when that feeling had started.

But for a teenage girl, seeing a handsome, gentle boy who was almost like her dream—her mind became filled with nothing but his image.

When her emotions could no longer suppress her feelings, Victoria thought she should end it with her senior.

No matter what the result of the confession was, she would accept it.

Her steps began to move forward.

The alternating light and shadow crossed her tender cheeks, creating a unique emotion.

The senior heard her footsteps and turned slightly.

When his gaze fell on her, a slight change appeared on his face.

Then came the sound of hurried footsteps.

The owner of those footsteps rushed forward and hugged the glowing boy tightly.

Her breathing grew tight.

Victoria could still remember the face of that girl—the one who smiled brightly at the senior she admired, using clear body language to declare her exclusive claim.

At that moment, Victoria smiled faintly, clutching the love letter tightly in her hand.

Along with the letter, her pounding heart was squeezed.

The senior escaped from his girlfriend’s grip and gently asked Victoria, who was not far away:

“Were you looking for me?”

Victoria was silent for a moment.

When the hostile gaze fell upon her, she shook her head.

“It’s just a coincidence. Please don’t misunderstand, senpai.”

Only Victoria knew how much it hurt to say those words.