After parting ways with them, Jaden didn't choose to head straight home.
The thrilling battle in the gymnasium and the weariness of arriving in this world left his spirit feeling an unusual fatigue.
This wasn't physical exhaustion, but an unknown sense of lassitude.
He needed a quiet place to process everything that had happened today and to recalibrate his position in this world.
He strolled into a small park near the school.
It was already evening, and the setting sun generously cast its last golden-orange glow over Paris, bathing the ancient buildings and tranquil lawns in a warm halo.
The air was filled with the faint scent of grass, earth, and distant coffee shops, replacing the restless, adolescent smell of the school.
Jaden found a bench far from the main path and sat down.
This spot was perfectly shaded by a lush plane tree, forming a small, private patch of coolness.
He let out a long sigh, tossed his backpack casually at his feet, leaned back against the cool wooden seat, and looked up at the dappled, fragmented sky filtering through the leaves.
Today's events replayed rapidly in his mind, like a fast-forwarded movie.
From Kim's prank to Ivan's Akumatization, and then the appearance of Ladybug and Cat Noir... everything was largely similar to the 'original work' in his memory.
However, the biggest variable was himself.
He was no longer a passive observer, but a musician who had quietly plucked a string.
The 'strategy' he offered was ostensibly to help the heroes resolve the crisis, but its deeper purpose was to plant a seed of 'trust' and 'reliability' in Mylène's heart, and even in the hearts of the other girls present.
Yes, to conquer them.
This was his goal after coming to this world: to enjoy a peaceful and happy life.
The real fun lay in turning these vibrant, lovely, and diverse girls from the anime into a landscape that belonged only to him.
Guiding Mylène was to demonstrate a calmness and gentleness beyond his age in front of the girls, sowing the seeds of goodwill in their hearts, and laying the foundation for future developments.
At this thought, a sense of satisfaction welled up, dispelling his earlier fatigue.
He closed his eyes, feeling the evening breeze caress his cheeks, with the distant sounds of children's laughter and pigeons cooing in his ears.
This rare tranquility, like a lullaby, slowly relaxed his tense nerves.
Unconsciously, his breathing became steady and deep, and his consciousness sank into a brief and peaceful darkness.
After an unknown amount of time, a gentle, slightly hesitant call, like a feather tickling his eardrum, woke him from his light slumber.
"Um… Jaden? Is that you?"
Jaden's eyelashes trembled, his consciousness slowly surfacing as if from the deep sea.
He slowly opened his eyes; the evening light was no longer harsh, but soft and hazy.
His vision gradually sharpened from blurry, and two familiar faces came into view.
It was Marc and Nathaniel.
The introverted writer and the gentle artist now stood side by side in front of his bench, with a hint of uncertainty and restraint on their faces.
"Ah… it's you."
Jaden sat up straight, sleep still lingering in his voice, giving it a lazy huskiness.
He rubbed his eyes and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"We… didn't disturb you, did we?"
Nathaniel pointed at him somewhat awkwardly, "You seemed to be asleep."
"It's fine."
Jaden waved his hand, pointing to the empty spot beside him, "Sit."
The two exchanged glances and sat down as instructed.
Nathaniel sat on his left, and Marc on his right, sandwiching him in the middle.
A subtle, ineffable feeling instantly surged in Jaden's heart.
He subconsciously leaned back against the chair, creating a small distance between himself and the two on either side.
His mind involuntarily flashed back to the jaw-dropping plot twists in the later stages of the original anime—these two seemingly pure artistic youths would develop a relationship beyond friendship in the future.
"It… shouldn't have reached that point yet, right?"
He muttered to himself, forcefully suppressing the hint of disdain and awkwardness in his heart.
For now, they were at most like-minded creative partners, and he didn't need to overreact.
"So," Jaden cleared his throat, bringing the conversation back on track, his gaze sweeping over their faces, "you two specifically came to find me, it shouldn't just be to wake me up, right?"
Marc seemed to be organizing his words.
Finally, Nathaniel, who was relatively more outgoing, spoke up, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness and distress.
"Actually… we came about Ivan's matter."
"Ivan?" Jaden raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
Nathaniel sighed and began to recount what had happened after they parted ways at school.
And his narration almost vividly constructed an entire comical and headache-inducing scene in Jaden's mind.
When the mayor announced early dismissal, Kim, Lino, and Max, those three guys, did not go home immediately.
Instead, they 'flocked' around the still somewhat disoriented Ivan, grandly leaving the school, ostensibly to 'accompany him for a walk and help him recover his spirits.'
The group walked along the Seine River, Ivan keeping his head down, silent.
Kim, feeling guilty, kept trying to make conversation the whole way, and the atmosphere was so awkward it could freeze.
Just then, Lino, the optimist, suddenly noticed that Ivan's lips were actually curving upwards.
Yes, Ivan, who had just transformed back from a rock monster and looked incredibly dejected, was actually secretly smiling.
"Woah, bro!" Lino exaggeratedly clapped Ivan on the shoulder, "Did something good happen? Why are you smiling so happily? Quickly share it with your brothers!"
At his words, Ivan's face instantly flushed crimson, and he stammered for a long time, unable to utter a single sentence.
"Spill it, spill it!" Kim also leaned in, eager to make amends, and at this moment, he was more enthusiastic than anyone.
Under their interrogation, Ivan finally spoke in a voice smaller than a mosquito's: "Just now… Mylène… she smiled at me."
"Woah—!!" Lino and Kim simultaneously let out an exaggerated cheer.
"Brother, this is great news!" Lino, like a professional relationship counselor, said, "A smile! Do you know what a smile means? It's a signal of friendliness! It's acceptance! It's forgiveness! It's the budding of love!"
"Exactly, exactly!" Kim nodded frantically from the side, "I told you Mylène was interested in you! See! Was I right!"
Max calmly pushed up his glasses from the side: "According to social behavior database analysis, after experiencing a shared traumatic event, the probability of a female smiling at a male who shows a vulnerable side representing 'goodwill' is 45.7%, and the probability of it representing 'sympathy and comfort' is…"
"Stop, stop, stop!" Lino interrupted him, "Max, don't use your data to ruin this wonderful atmosphere! What's needed now is emotion! Passion! And to press on with the advantage!"
He turned to Ivan, with a look of disappointment: "Ivan! Brother! The opportunity is right in front of you! You must seize it! Resolve the misunderstanding, elevate the relationship, it's all happening tomorrow!"
"But… but…" Ivan recoiled repeatedly in fright, "I… I don't know what to say…"
"That's not hard at all!" Kim patted his chest, as if he were a reincarnated Casanova, "I'll help you say it! Then he thought of something else, no, no, no, you should still go yourself! That way it shows sincerity!"
"What exactly should I do?" Ivan was almost in tears because of them.
Lino was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Ivan, is there anything you're good at? Something that can show off your personal charm!"
Ivan thought for a long time before weakly saying: "I… I like to write poetry… sometimes… I also hum songs to myself…"
"That's it!!!" Lino and Kim shouted in unison, as if Columbus had discovered a new continent.
"Sing! Write a love song!" Lino was so excited he almost jumped, "Girls fall for this the most! Romantic! Deeply emotional! Irresistible!"
"That's right!" Kim echoed, "I guarantee, if Chloé heard me sing a love song for her, she would definitely…"
"She'll make you disappear from Paris." Max coldly exposed his fantasy, then said to Ivan, "However, Lino's proposal is theoretically feasible. Marc, analyze it."
He pulled the small robot Marc out of his pocket. Marc's propellers spun, its blue heart-shaped button glowed, and it said in its emotionless electronic voice: "Data analysis initiated… Retrieving global online literature, film, and TV series databases… The success rate of 'a male confessing his feelings to a female he likes by singing an original love song,' provided the target female already has an initial good impression of the male, is 67.3%. Recommended for execution."
"Hear that!" Lino said triumphantly, "Even Marc says it'll work! Ivan, what are you still hesitating for? This is your destiny!"
Under the encouragement and instigation of his three friends (and one robot), Ivan's already shaky defenses completely collapsed. His mind was filled with Mylène's shy smile, and an unprecedented surge of courage rushed to his head.
"Alright… alright!" He clenched his fists as if making an oath, "I… I'll write it tonight! Write a song! Tomorrow… tomorrow at school, I'll sing it to Mylène alone!"
"Excellent!" "That's more like it!" "Good luck, Ivan!" The three burst into enthusiastic cheers. With their send-off, Ivan turned and left with a tragic, no-turning-back momentum, heading home to prepare for his "grand plan."
Meanwhile, Marc and Nathaniel were standing not far away. They listened to the entire farce and felt their scalps tingle. They tried to go over and offer a word of caution, feeling that this approach might be too rash, but the three were as enthusiastic as a volcanic eruption and wouldn't listen to any dissenting opinions. Their faint voices of reason were instantly drowned out by the fervent slogan of "for a brother's happiness."
Seeing that they couldn't stop them, the two reluctantly bid farewell to the three still excitedly discussing their "battle plan." They wanted to find a quiet place to draw and sketch to relieve their frustration. As luck would have it, they coincidentally ran into Jaden, who was sound asleep on a park bench.
"That's… how it is." Nathaniel spread his hands, his face full of the expression "we tried our best, but we were powerless." "They seem determined to make things happen between Ivan and Mylène. We couldn't really say much more."
Marc added from the side: "We feel like this is a bit… too fast. Ivan, he… we're worried he'll mess things up. So, after seeing you, we wanted to ask for your opinion. After all, today at the gym, it was you…" He paused, seemingly searching for the right word, "…you were the calmest."
After speaking, the two looked at Jaden, one on each side, with eyes full of expectation and inquiry, hoping to get some judgment and advice from him.
Jaden listened to the entire, comedy-like retelling. On the surface, he remained calm, but inside, his heart was already in turmoil, with countless "well done" curses mixed in the waves.
Stealing my girl! These brainless guys actually dared to steal his girl! An unknown fire rose in his heart. He had put in so much effort today, offering advice, saving the day, and putting on a show of gentle comfort. He had finally established an initial image in Mylène's, and even Rose's and Julie's, minds—one that was a bit lazy, but understanding, willing to help others in difficult times, reliable, and gentle—laying the first brick for his subsequent "conquest" plan.
But what happened? In the blink of an eye, these pig-headed friends jumped out, ready to hand over the "favorability" territory he had painstakingly built to that simpleton Ivan?
What kind of international joke was this! He admitted that Mylène and Ivan were indeed a couple in the original work. But now, he was here. So in this world, how could the person he fancied slip away right under his nose?
Annoyed. Extremely annoyed. This annoyance surged in his heart, but not a single ripple showed on his face. He knew that anger was a sign of incompetence, and it was also very easy for Nathaniel and Marc to notice.
He rubbed his brow, forcefully suppressing the flame named "anger." Then, he suddenly thought of something, a brilliant idea flashed in his mind, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve into a subtle, cold smile.
This was an opportunity. These pig-headed teammates, far from stealing his girl, had personally handed him a ladder—a ladder that would allow him to climb directly into Mylène's heart.
As his thoughts churned, his expression had already returned to the calm of an ancient well. He looked up at the two art boys in front of him, who were still waiting for his "wise counsel," and slowly began to speak, his voice as flat as if he were asking about the weather today:
"You two, have you ever heard Ivan sing?"
This question made both Marc and Nathaniel freeze.
"Ivan sing?" Nathaniel frowned, recalling carefully, "It seems… never. He rarely even speaks loudly, let alone sings."
Marc also shook his head: "I transferred classes midway, so I'm even less familiar with him. I've never heard him sing at all."
The expected answer. Jaden sneered inwardly. In his mind, like a high-definition recording, the scene from the original anime, a truly epic disaster, clearly appeared: Ivan standing in front of Mylène, playing music on a boombox, then screaming hysterically in a voice that was a mix of opera, rap, and a pig being slaughtered—
"Mylène—! Don't be afraid—!!!"
"Mylène—! Don't be heartless—!!!"
That singing was simply a public execution of the auditory nerves, a sonic weapon capable of shattering all glass within tens of meters.
Thinking of this, Jaden's last bit of annoyance vanished, replaced by a sense of calm composure, as if he were watching a good show unfold.
"Really?" He said, feigning deep thought, as if pondering a profound question, "Never heard him… hmm."
"Does… does that matter?" Marc asked, puzzled.
"Is his singing ability very important?" Nathaniel also pressed, "It's mainly about sincerity, right? Lino said so."
Jaden didn't answer their questions directly. He merely looked up at the setting sun, which had completely dipped below the horizon, the evening glow in the sky dyed a magnificent violet. He slowly stood up and brushed the dust from his pants.
"My thoughts?" He said softly, standing up from the bench and walking a few steps forward, then turning around and giving the two a smile, "My thoughts are, let's wait until tomorrow."
He paused, leaving them in suspense, and then slowly added: "Tomorrow, all misunderstandings will naturally be resolved.
Perhaps… another misunderstanding will unfold in a way no one expects, he thought to himself.
With that, he gave the two no further chance to ask questions. He turned, waved nonchalantly, and walked out of the park, blending into the dazzling lights of the Paris streets that were gradually coming to life.
"Goodbye."
He already knew the outcome. Tomorrow would be Ivan's social death, and it would also be his… perfect stage for saving the damsel in distress. He wouldn't stop Ivan, but after that, he would completely capture Mylène's startled heart in a gentler, more considerate, and irreplaceable way.
On the bench, Marc and Nathaniel exchanged bewildered glances.
"He… what does he mean by all misunderstandings will be resolved? Isn't that just a confession?" Marc felt his brain wasn't working fast enough.
"I don't know." Nathaniel shook his head, his gaze following Jaden's retreating figure, his eyes filled with confusion and curiosity, "But I have a feeling… Jaden, he seems to know something that none of us do. He looks… not worried at all about what will happen tomorrow, and even… a little expectant?"
The two fell silent. The evening breeze blew through the park, carrying a hint of coolness. They suddenly felt that going to school tomorrow might be even more exciting than watching a monster battle today.