Chapter 1118 – #265_Rising Stars – DeepL
#1112
1.
My hot night with Amelia was cut short.
Instead, I boiled some hot water in the bathtub I’d recently purchased and we soaked together.
“How was it, Siu?”
I don’t know if it was the heat of the lukewarm water or the fact that I was feeling a little embarrassed now that I was awake.
Amelia asked, her cheeks turning a rosy color.
“What can I say, it was the best.”
“Wasn’t it a shame it was short?”
Yevin had said that sex wouldn’t be a problem once she was past the second trimester, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t push her mother.
Amelia wasn’t a virgin enough for him to put all his energy into her like he used to.
So the whole situation was a very short one, about two hours in total.
“It’s more about Amelia and the sprout than that.”
He kissed the nape of Amelia’s neck and rubbed her belly, and she smiled in a small gesture.
“But what do you think about things like this?”
“What do you mean, like this?”
“The… concept of a skit script.”
Normally, I’d chalk up the cringe, the laughs, and the acting skills to overwhelming nostalgia and Amelia’s genius.
But that was the case today.
Her skits often have outlandish settings, don’t they?
It’s something that even Xiu, who’s been trained in adult content in this life, doesn’t see coming.
He wondered how the stuck-up, sexually ignorant, orthodox witch, Associate Professor Amelia, could have come up with such an idea.
Amelia, who had been spouting outrageous lines (written by herself) with the expression and air of a stern associate professor less than half an hour earlier, was very embarrassed and revealed the source.
“When I think about what Xiu would like, I get all kinds of inspiration.”
Surprising in more ways than one.
The fact that the cheesy cuts are purely Amelia’s freestyle.
“I guess I don’t have a very good image.”
“Because Xiu is a huge perv.”
“And you, Amelia?”
“I’m asking the obvious, aren’t you the chaste, high-minded, orthodox witch that Xiu is so scared of?”
Amelia jokes, her tone playful.
“I’m only doing it because I love him.”
“They say a wise man lets a woman pretend he doesn’t know she’s lying. I can’t believe this is your kind of thing, Amelia…. I’m surprised again.”
I joked again, and Amelia puffed up her cheeks like a golden pufferfish.
“It’s not my taste, it’s Xiu’s.”
“Eh, I’m not that deep.”
“That’s because Xiu is a pervert.”
“Aww, that’s too bad. If I’d known that, I could have gotten along with the associate professor pretty quickly.”
At that moment, Amelia, who had been playfully flirting, let out a small gasp, “Xiu!
“The bud just moved!”
“Really? He’s finally showing Daddy!”
Sprout stomped his foot to break up the argument.
“I guess he’s not like Amelia when he was a kid, he’s very shy and quiet, and he never shows his dad.”
“Sprout says he likes his mom better than his dad. Here, Xiu. Put your hand up here.”
“Oh!”
“Cheeky, huh?”
With their mouths hanging over their ears, the 18-hour vacation passed slowly.
2.
A witch lives for magic.
This seemingly unquestionable statement is actually somewhat contradictory.
Witches don’t live “only” for magic.
They love, they strive to make a fortune, they strive for honor and social recognition, and they enjoy food, entertainment, and fun.
Magic may be at the top of their priority list, but they rarely treat their bodies like machines.
Daphne Digrit, the Green Witch, a member of the Winepub Society and a researcher in the Fundamentals Department of the Hessian Magical Society, was reminded of this when her latest project left her exhausted.
“Mr. President, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes.”
“My resignation.”
President Xin Xiu had just returned from vacation and was immediately diving into his research.
In front of him, Daphne placed a single sheet of paper and a thick stack of papers on the table.
The thin one was his resignation letter, and the thick one was the finalized version of the overtime he had left behind.
She could feel the stares around her.
The sound of a gasp, a sucking in of breath, and a wide-eyed look of surprise.
Xiu quickly waved her hand to form a sound barrier.
“Ms. Daphne, do you think it would be better if we moved to another room to talk?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
As they trudged to the president’s office, Daphne reconsidered her decision.
In fact, she’d thought about it many times.
Whether or not to punch out a basic researcher who had become known for his murderous work ethic.
Daphne was not alone in this internal conflict, which was shared by the other researchers in the department.
I hadn’t been home in a while, and I hadn’t felt comfortable in my accommodation.
There are no breaks, no vacations, no breathing space, just vigils.
Until now, I was convinced of the potential of the Hesed Society and the charisma of its president, but I was convinced when I saw Xinxiu leave overtime yesterday for a vacation.
The president is a genius sociopath who only knows how to manipulate people.
I can’t keep working for this monster.
Xiu pushed a cup of coffee toward Daphne and sat down.
“This is sudden.”
“Yeah, I just decided yesterday.”
“Hmm…. Do you mind if I ask why?”
“Well, it seems to me that you and I have different values, and I decided that continuing on would only drive us further apart.”
Daphne felt newly nervous as she gave her prepared answer.
This was Xinxiu, who had become semi-memeasured as “the devil” among the basic researchers because of their struggles together.
Instead of the scary, high-pressure image, she had a strong impression of him as a comrade-in-arms who worked together to accomplish tasks.
“Hmm.”
However, there was an indescribable sense of authority in his slightly frowning, jaw-clenched eyes.
I almost wanted to say, “I’m sorry~” and retract my statement.
Hagiya’s impression was blurred by her daily humility, but the person in front of her was an earl.
She’s a monstrous witch who’s been crowned an earl for less than a decade.
And if rumors are anything to go by, she’s got a long backstory.
“It’s a shame, Daphne, because you were such a supportive person, always doing exactly what was asked of you, and I benefited from your sharp points about things I hadn’t seen.”
Daphne clamped down on the heel of her foot that was about to fly up at Xiu’s rueful addition of praise.
No!
I have to hold it together here.
I have to resist the fulfillment of his approval, the soft bass of his voice, the deep look of regret in his eyes.
Hadn’t I fallen for the same trick time and time again?
“Thank you.”
He nodded wordlessly and tucked his resignation into his arms.
“I’d love to hold on to it, but it looks like you’ve made up your mind, so I can’t force you. I’ll get it to you later today, and you can stop by Human Resources and return the lab supplies and room key you were issued.”
“Yes, thank you for the map, even if it was only for a short time.”
“Are there any societies or institutes you have in mind? I can write you a letter of recommendation if you need it.”
An earl’s letter of recommendation works everywhere.
Any academy or institute is a free pass to work at, except maybe the Jin Li Jin Ming academy, which I don’t get along with very well….
“It’s okay. I dropped out in the middle of the project, so it’s no big deal if they get a letter of recommendation.”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that, and I hope we can work together again, you’ve done a great job.”
“Okay, I’ll take my leave then.”
With that clerical farewell, I took Xiu’s leave, stopped by Human Resources, and exited the Hesed Society…..
The gorgeous afternoon sunlight, which I had only recently been able to see through the window, bathed my body.
“Aaah….”
Daphne’s throat tightened.
It was a lump in her throat, half self-pity, half liberation at finally breaking free of this tiresome bondage.
“This is life.”
But right now, the feeling of liberation prevailed.
3.
Heading Home and Catching Up on Sleep Daphne didn’t wake up from her late nap until 11:00 the next day.
She’d gotten 16 hours of sleep, which made all the difference in the world.
“Mmmm…. Good.”
After waking up stiff from her long sleep with a strong espresso, Daphne pulled out the list she’d made before falling asleep last night.
It was a list of things to do.
Personal study is personal study, but now that she hasn’t even peeked at the magic ‘mah’ for a while, it’s time to play like a student who’s done with exams.
Prioritizing comfort, I throw off the raggedy dress I’ve been wearing for days and change into the most gorgeous outfit in the dress room.
Immediately, I rushed to the Levana public bath to warm up.
“Hot…. Good….”
As I soak in the scalding hot water and sip on the chilled champagne, I can’t help but exclaim in paradise.
“Mmmmmmm, cool.”
After drying off, he was treated to a luxurious aesthetic, which consisted of a full body massage with various scented candles and oils.
Afterward, I headed straight to the wine bar in Lenormand Town, where I crunched on some salted olives to replenish my salt deficit and waited for my friend.
“Who is that, isn’t that Daphne? I thought she was dead because I couldn’t see her face.”
“Olivia, don’t even talk to me. Do you know what I’ve been up to?”
The friend who had been waiting by appointment was Olivia Trege.
She’s one of the vice presidents of the Truth and Reconciliation Society, which means she’s a witch, but she’s also a classmate of Daphne’s at Trinity Academy, so she’s one of her closest friends.
She’s also the reason Daphne was so reluctant to give Xiu a letter of recommendation.
It’s true that she doesn’t care, but it would be awkward if she got a letter of recommendation from him and actually went to the institute with Olivia’s help.
When we met, we exchanged bijoux (kisses on the cheek) and sank into the couch.
“Order whatever you want.”
“If you remember how picky I am about wine, that’s not something I would say frivolously.”
“Because today is the day we celebrate my great Exodus.”
“Exodus?”
“I defeated the Hesed Society.”
“Really? Well, I was wondering how long you’d be there.”
Daphne didn’t see the brief gleam in Olivia’s eyes as she answered nonchalantly.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Olivia asked covertly, tilting her head slightly.
