Lionel deftly pulled a leather notebook with worn edges from his coat, flipped to the page bearing He Xi's name, and somehow produced a short charcoal pencil.
"My analysis was right after all. 'Information avoidance behavior—fits the typical traits of a big shot.'"
He tapped the page with the pencil tip, sounding utterly convinced. "You just love hiding things! You were clearly a teaching assistant, yet you never told me; you clearly have ties to the princess, yet you insisted you were just a passerby!"
As he spoke, he scribbled a new line into the notebook, muttering under his breath, "Exceptionally skilled at disguise and concealment... displays abnormal resistance toward the favor of those above him—an extremely scheming mind."
When he was done, he drew a heavy circle around it, then snapped the notebook shut in satisfaction, wearing the absolute certainty of someone who had seen straight through He Xi.
Seeing him like this, He Xi shook his head helplessly.
He had said that earlier only to see whether the princess was simply grateful for his guidance, or whether she had other motives.
Now, it seemed reality had proven the latter.
He just did not know what exactly she wanted from him.
"Come on, let's eat. I'll have Bruce come over."
On a path elsewhere.
Aislin walked at an unhurried pace, while Stun trailed half a step behind her and reported in a lowered voice.
"Your Highness, the intelligence regarding Lidona has been confirmed. She truly has an unusual relationship with that Dream Weaver."
"Those who previously tried to use her to curry favor with him all provoked her intense disgust. Two of them were even directly ordered by the academy to leave."
"So if we hope to find a breakthrough through her, I'm afraid the chances are slim."
Aislin