Hate

“Hold the handkerchief on your face, or that palm print won’t fade for at least a day.”

Collins took the handkerchief.

The cold medicinal liquid touched his cheek, and the burning pain flared up even more fiercely.

Collins’ expression twisted bit by bit.

Aikefis understood—this expression wasn’t just from the pain.

What really made his face twitch was what his sister had just done.

“I… where did I go wrong?”

There was a trace of resentment in Collins’ tone.

Aikefis knew Collins had a good upbringing, but even with such manners, his face still twisted in anger, and his voice carried a heat of rejection.

Everyone gets angry.

At this moment, should she stand by Collins’ side and criticize his sister for being ungrateful and ill-mannered?

No…

“You shouldn’t have dismissed your sister’s efforts.”

“I didn’t! I only meant it for Mo Yue’s own good.”

“But what you think is good, isn’t what your sister wants.”

A hand pressed on Collins’ shoulder.

Aikefis leaned in close.

The rich scent of a young woman filled Collins’ nose.

The intimate distance clearly crossed the boundary of friendship.

Collins leaned back, trying to put space between them.

“You know something, junior?”

“I’ve always really hated you.”

Collins opened his mouth.

The shy look disappeared, replaced by growing confusion.

His face was full of incomprehension.

Aikefis’ gaze softened, but the look in her eyes was not that of a human.

She looked at him the way one might look at a lower life form—a creature completely beneath her own status.

In Aikefis’ eyes, Collins was a monster—not human.

“Do you know how much I gave up just to become the top student at this academy?”

“Do you know what kind of determination it takes for someone like me, with no background, to surpass the children of noble families and those with powerful bloodlines?”

There were too many moments of hesitation and struggle in her memories.

For just one alchemy ingredient, Aikefis could live on one bowl of instant noodles a day for a week.

To remember every word her mentor said, she filled her room with handwritten notes.

This woman, who had nothing but herself to rely on, worked harder than anyone to succeed.

But Aikefis never cared how much she suffered.

She didn’t mind hardship.

She truly believed that hard work would be rewarded.

“And then you came along and took my position as top student.”

“You should know what kind of glory that title brings.”

“It’s not just fame—it means access to the academy’s best resources.”

Her gentle tone was full of restraint.

Aikefis’ voice was cold and jealous, yet she suppressed those feelings, speaking in an overly soft way.

“When I became the top student, my life became a little easier.”

“I didn’t have to take odd jobs just to afford one or two magical materials.”

“I didn’t have to fight those noble brats for access to lab equipment.”

“I had my own lab. I had enough subsidies.”

Collins didn’t dare look into Aikefis’ eyes.

“If… if you had talked to me about it first, I wouldn’t have minded the title of top student going to you…”

Aikefis’ hand struck his face, just like Mo Yue’s had.

The loud slap echoed in the hallway.

Collins raised his head and looked at her.

Aikefis stared at her own hand in surprise, then forced a bitter smile.

She shook her head weakly, as if trying to shake something loose from her mind.

“This… is what I hate about you, junior.”

“I…”

“No need to explain, junior.”

“Do you think I came all the way here just to beg you for a few resources and a title?”

“Do you think I’d bow my head, saying I can’t afford to lose the position, begging you to step aside?”

Collins pressed his lips together.

“I got to where I am not because I can endure hardship, and not because I’m especially talented.”

“It’s because I’ve always believed I’m not worse than anyone.”

“As long as I work hard enough, I will achieve more than anyone else.”

“Even you.”

“I don’t think I’m any worse than you.”

“If you can take something from me, I can take it back from you.”

Faced with Collins’ strength, Aikefis had no intention of bowing to him.

Proud as she was, she would never submit.

“But… you don’t think like that, do you?”