<b>Chapter </b><b>605 </b>
<b>The </b><b>Treasure </b>Box transformed into a projector, but it didn’t require <b>a </b><b>screen</b>. Instead, it created a glowing circle <b>of </b>light that seemed <b>to </b>defy <b>their </b>understanding, materializing in midair.
The images disyed within the <b>circle </b><b>were </b>vivid and lifelike, more <i>real </i>than they could have imagined.
<b>Tiffany </b>opened her <b>eyes </b>after a brief moment of dizziness.
She had been transported into an entirely new timeline by the Treasure Box<b>. </b>
As she blinked, she found herself in a familiar ssroom. Nothing in the surroundings had changed, but the faces of her ssmates seemed younger, more naive, marked by the arrogance and recklessness of youth.
All <i>eyes </i>were on her<b>, </b>mockingughter erupting from every corner.
“Look, look! The pretty face Tiffany <i>has </i>arrived!”
“Next up, Miss Kelley will show us 108 ways to chase a man!”
They allughed.
Tiffany stood in the center of the ridicule. She <b>was </b>calm andposed, with a faint smile.
Theughter began to fade as everyone took note of her demeanor.
Though she looked just like the Tiffany they remembered, something about her <b>was </b>entirely different. Instead of the fiery embarrassment they expected, she stood with elegance, exuding an air of dignity and grace.
Her gaze carried warmth and tolerance as if she were a gentle yet powerful figure. She seemed too magnanimous to engage in petty squabbles with them.
The ssroom fell into an uneasy silence.
Tiffany raised an eyebrow, her smile growing wider.
It seemed the Treasure Box understood her well. The day it had sent her to <b>was </b>none other than the day of her infamous bet with Ged.
<b>just </b>then, a bold voice broke through the quiet
“Hey.” It <b>was </b>the voice of <b>a </b>carefree, cocky young man
Tiffany turned around to see Ged, his expression haughty as he tilted his chin at her. His tone was annoyingly smug as he said, “Tiffany, want to challenge me to <b>a </b>match
For a brief moment, Tiffany felt dazed.
She couldn’t remember how long it had been since shest saw this silly, stubborn, and pridefulpanion.
Thest time she <b>saw </b>him <b>was </b>also their final farewell.
She had watched as his body grew cold, as his life slipped away. She remembered the blood soaking his chest, the gaping wound from <b>a </b>metal shard that had pierced his heart.
But now, here he was alive and vibrant, standing before her. His presence was full of energy, ready to banter and argue<i>. </i>
A soft smile graced Tiffany’s lips, her icy eyes warming with <b>a </b>tenderness she hadn’t felt in a long <i>time</i>.
08:15 Mon, Dec 2 buu.
“Alright<b>, </b>she replied <b>lightly</b>.
As she nodded<b>, </b><b>a </b><b>stray </b>lock of <b>hair </b>fell over her ear, framing her <b>face</b>.
Ged froze, momentarily stunned.
The sunlight streaming in from behind her cast <b>a </b>golden glow around her <b>figure</b>. Her wless skin flushed with <b>a </b>faint blush, creating <b>an </b>achingly beautiful picture<b>. </b>
Yet, none of that struck him as much as the expression in her eyes. She looked gentle and forgiving.
The words of provocation on the tip of his tongue suddenly disappeared. He couldn’t bring himself to <b>say </b>them.
Ged froze, staring <b>at </b>Tiffany with suspicion. He pursed his lips and said, “Forget it. You’re so <b>weak </b>that betting with you would just be bullying. If you lost and started crying, it’d make me look bad.”
For the first time, Ged, the ss tyrant, went back on his word.
Tiffany didn’t object. She nodded gently, her smile unwavering Alright.”
The scene left the onlookers stunned.
Someone jeered. “Ged, that’s not like you. Since when do you care if someone cries when you bully them?”
“Yeah, is it because you can’t bring yourself to hurt her after looking at her face<i>?</i>” another added with a whistle.
Ged waved dismissively, rolling his eyes. “Get lost!”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t bring himself to act. He felt that those beautiful eyes of hers didn’t deserve to shed tears.
And the way Tiffany looked at him, with such gentle warmth, like the sunlight streaming through the window. He couldn’t even muster the will to tease her. Instead, he felt an inexplicable urge to move closer to that light.
Ged thought he was insane.
Scratching his head in frustration, Ged stormed out of the ssroom.
The following days were rtively uneventful, but troublemakers persisted
From pranks like tossing snakes into <i>her </i>bag to slipping in dead rodents, petty acts of bullying continued, though none caused serious harm.
One day, Tiffany sat at her desk, calmly reading when she noticed a snake’s head emerging from her bag
Without a flinch, she pushed it back in and reached for the zipper. However<i>, </i>Ged noticed. His face darkened as he snatched the bag from <i>her </i>hands.
With a dramatic shake, the bag’s contents spilled onto the desk.
Ged grabbed the snake, holding it up like a weapon. His voice was cold and angry. “Who did this”
A bespectacled boy in the back chuckled. “Me. Not bad, huh? Found a real good one this time.”
“Good” My ass” Ced cursed and stormed over, shoving the snake down the boy’s shirt. “Since you like it so much, enjoy it yourself!
Ged’s protective stance didn’t go
unnoticed
Someone grumbled. “Ged, whose side are you on? Why are you sticking up for her?
08.15 Mon, Dec 2 D
Bullying Tiffany had be an unspoken pastime. Anyone who didn’t join in risked beingbeled an outsider.
Ged was momentarily stumped, but he straightened his back and retorted, “I just don’t like seeing a girl being picked on!”
As he spoke, he felt a tug on his sleeve.
Turning, he saw Tiffany looking up at him with a bright smile. Aren’t you protecting me?”
Just like every other time.
Like the time in the trial’s mountains when Tiffany risked her life to distract a tiger while everyone else hesitated. Ged had been the only one to chase after her, despite knowing he was no match for the beast.
Or the time she was being hunted, and Ged had shielded her with his own body. Even though he knew he couldn’t fight, he refused to take a single step back.
“What? Me? Protecting you?” Ged let out a shortugh as if the very idea was unbelievable. He was eager to argue his case.
But when his gaze met hers, his bluster deted. He sighed, almost resigned. “Alright, fine. I’m protecting you.”
Tiffany smiled softly.
At that moment, the Treasure Box’s voice echoed in her mind. “Master, the time I secured for you is up. You will be transported back in one minute.” All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.
Time in this dimension flowed differently.
Though a week had passed here, Tiffany had only been in this timeline for a brief ten minutes.
Reunions were always fleeting.
She turned to Ged and smiled faintly.
She said, “I like the bracelet you gave me. I want you to know, that the girl wearing the reindeer mask was me. These are things I never got <i>to </i>tell you. And I’m sorry. I’m the reason you suffered.”
3