Chapter 788: Chapter 29: No Need for Assistance (Part 2)

Interpersonal relationships aren’t love games, there’s no system where completing daily tasks gets you a +1 in affection or critical moments change your relationship easily. Without quantifiable metrics, how do you judge if someone is a friend or foe?”

Alandia said, perplexed, “I don’t understand your metaphor. What is a love game?”

“It’s…”

Gongsun Ce made every effort to elaborate in elegant language one of his beloved pastimes. Dawn Knight pondered for a moment, then said, “Does this mean you’re dating virtual women on a computer?”

Gongsun Ce slumped despairingly over the desk: “Ah, yes, yes. Truth be told, I actually have an electronic wife. She’s got an amazing figure, sports pigtails, has a gentle and kind nature, and wakes me up every morning saying, ‘Gongsun Ce, it’s time to get up.’ Everything would be perfect if only I could touch her.”

“You’re so used to solving problems with lies that you don’t want to show your true feelings,” Alandia commented.

“Whatever, do you care? You try to be sincere to everyone, only to realize that nobody appreciates it.”

Gongsun Ce poured sugar and milk into his coffee, turning the liquid a chocolate brown. He stirred it slowly, wanting to say something yet unsure of what to say.

Here it goes again. The feeling had been recurring since the Crown Prince’s case ended, a sense of contradiction that he couldn’t quite describe. He realized that this woman’s way of living was at the polar opposite of his own. They always wanted to correct each other’s views, to mold them into something more like themselves because they both loathed each other’s nature.

Yes, loathe. He really detested the way Dawn Knight conducted herself, and he was sure Alandia detested him as well. Yet, he found debating and arguing with her, chasing cases here and there… not entirely unpleasant.

This feeling was truly contradictory, much like this country. He hated many things about this place but somewhat enjoyed the unusual life.

Gongsun Ce finished his coffee and put the cup down on the table: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out for a stroll and be back soon.”

“Please don’t go too far.”

“Alright, alright…”

·

Gongsun Ce wandered the streets of the Inner City District for a few minutes, feeling a bit bored—bored because he couldn’t quite find his sense of existence.

Though he promised to help his brother, he hadn’t done anything truly meaningful over these three weeks. Alandia could solve all the cases on her own, and his brother didn’t need his help while repairing armor. Gongsun Ce merely followed them, spouting nonsense like he always did before.

A glib charm hanging around, whose absence wouldn’t change anything.

“♪”

He whistled loudly, trying to distract himself with all sorts of random thoughts. He stopped in front of a clothing store window, considering whether he should buy himself an English-style outfit as a memento. The glass’s reflection showed his face and, faintly, the shadow of someone approaching him.

He turned around, and a blonde-haired girl in a black dress stood not far away, curtseying gracefully like a noble lady. The visitor seemed familiar, but Gongsun Ce couldn’t quite recall her identity.

“Do you remember me, Mr. Gongsun?” The girl in the black dress smiled.

It took Gongsun Ce a moment to align this person with his memories, and he was genuinely surprised.

“You are… Jane Della?”

The knight’s aide he remembered was an unremarkable, ordinary woman dressed in rustic, coarse clothes, her blonde hair tied into two braids. Her expressions were crude when she got emotional, much like a village girl.

But now, she wore a black dress with white trim, black suspenders wrapped around her legs, with shoulders to elbows of her smooth skin exposed, veiled only with thin gauze. Her braids were undone, she wore light makeup, a snake-shaped earring dangled from her right ear, and a purple flower adorned her hair. Her face was the same as before, but her whole image had transformed.

Gongsun Ce found it hard to equate her with the woman from before, wondering if the change in attire really made such a significant difference, altering even the entire demeanor of a person?

Jane lifted the skirt’s hem and spun around: “I’m glad you remember me, sir. What do you think of this outfit?”

Gongsun Ce squinted his eyes: “Not bad. Much prettier than before.”

“Thank you for the compliment. I’ve always liked pretty clothes… but I couldn’t dress like this before. You know, I was Alandia’s aide and came from a poor background. I couldn’t dress like an indecent woman; it would’ve attracted gossip.”

“Thankfully, I’m not a knight anymore.” She lowered her gaze, “I can live in a different way now, freer than before… Oh, I’m really sorry; I haven’t talked to anyone in a while, so I tend to go on and on without realizing it. I hope I haven’t bored you.”

“No, no, not at all. Mr. Gongsun, I’ve never considered anyone’s words too many.” Gongsun Ce pushed up his glasses, “So, may I ask what brings you here?”

“I’ve come to apologize to you, Mr. Gongsun.”

Jane’s words took him by surprise. She bowed her head, looking quite ashamed.

“At that time, my mind was clouded by jealousy and prejudice, and malice led me to commit such foolish acts. Over time, I’ve calmed down and realized my mistakes… I don’t dare ask for your forgiveness, sir. I just wanted to apologize as a way to put an end to that incident.”

Jane bowed deeply and then raised her head, looking at him pitifully with watery eyes. Gongsun Ce initially intended to say something sharp, like telling this slandering, gossiping woman to quickly get lost for having the nerve to show up in front of him, but seeing her like this, he couldn’t help but soften.