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"Is it because of Fang Li from Jie Long?"
The question hung in the air, causing a slight frown to crease on Sylvia's brow.
"Fang Li from Jie Long?"
The Rusalka girls were momentarily stunned, then huddled together in hushed whispers.
"That name sounds familiar," Miluse murmured.
"I feel like I've heard it somewhere too," Paivi echoed.
"I don't remember anything," Monica confessed.
"Could it be some newly debuted star?" Talia speculated.
Sylvia felt a wave of discouragement wash over her as she heard that.
The Rusalka girls still clung to the same old thought patterns; they weren't exactly the sharpest tools in the shed.
Finally, Mahulena remembered, "That's one of the champions from last year's Gryph Festa, a partner of Jie Long."
Miluse and the others finally recalled.
"One of Jie Long's partners? Fang Li?"
Miluse scrunched her nose and opened a space window, searching for Fang Li's image online.
As the image appeared, Monica gasped.
"Isn't that the guy who went on a student date with Sylvia last time?"
The atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically.
"Um…"
Miluse, followed by the rest of Rusalka, instinctively covered their mouths and shrank back, afraid to speak.
Only Sylvia and Petra remained, their gazes locked with each other.
Sylvia wore a serene smile, while Petra's expression remained impassive.
"A date?" Petra mused, almost to herself. "Now that you mention it, I almost forgot about that."
"You're lying," Sylvia countered, her smile unwavering. "You must have already investigated all of Fang Li's information. I can't believe Benetnasch hasn't gotten involved!"
"Since you know about this, could you please consider the consequences?" Petra said unemotionally. "You should know how serious the repercussions would be if your relationship with him was exposed. I shouldn't need to explain further, should I?"
However, Sylvia calmly stated the unexpected.
"If it really can't be helped, then I'll just retire from the spotlight."
The girls from Rusalka erupted in disbelief.
"Retire?!"
"Wait… wait! I can't pretend I didn't hear that!" Miluse exclaimed, pointing at Sylvia. "Are you serious about retiring?"
The other girls echoed her sentiments, a flurry of questions and exclamations filling the room.
"Are you kidding?"
"Is it really just for a man?"
"I… I…"
Sylvia watched their reactions and a quiet amusement began to bubble within her.
For Rusalka, who saw her as a lifelong rival, this revelation was undoubtedly a major shock.
"I won't agree to you running away! Sylvia Lyyneheym!" Miluse declared, frustration evident in her voice. "We haven't even defeated you yet! You can't just retire!"
The other girls nodded vigorously, their voices a cacophony of concern and disbelief.
Sylvia chuckled softly.
She knew the Rusalka girls weren't inherently bad.
They were simply misguided, resorting to underhanded tactics in their desperation to surpass her. Their actions, while questionable, weren't born out of malice.
Their current reaction to her declaration further solidified her belief in their underlying kindness.
However, Sylvia wouldn't compromise on certain things.
"I chose this stage for my own purposes and aspirations," Sylvia said with a gentle smile. "While I still desire to share my music with the world— it would be meaningless otherwise— I realize there are other avenues to achieve that goal."
But that wasn't the most important thing.
"The most important thing is that I have someone I like now," Sylvia declared, her voice clear and resolute.
"I like him very much, and I won't sacrifice this relationship for trivial matters."
Her words sent another wave of shock through the room.
"Like… like?!"
The Rusalka girls blushed furiously, their innocent reactions amusing Sylvia.
Petra spoke again.
"…I didn't expect you to admit this so openly," She said with a sigh. "Is that man truly that important to you? Is he worth this?"
Sylvia placed her hands on her hips and laughed lightly.
"You should already know the answer to that question, shouldn't you?"
The certainty in her tone finally elicited a wry smile from Petra.
"In that case, it would be quite rude of me to interfere," Petra declared decisively. "After all, hindering a girl's romance is inexcusable. I wouldn't do something like that."
Sylvia smiled inwardly.
(You're lying…)
If anyone should understand, it would be her.
As the leader of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, Petra wouldn't hesitate to utilize any means necessary to protect the academy's interests.
Her sudden acquiescence was likely a calculated move, born from a fear that Sylvia might actually retire and the awareness that Fang Li was Fan Xinglou's disciple.
Interfering would not only offend Banyuu Tenra, a force even the Integrated Enterprise Foundation feared but also risk losing Sylvia altogether.
Given the circumstances, Petra chose to remain neutral, her noble sentiments masking a more pragmatic calculation.
However, Sylvia chose not to expose her. She simply smiled and said, "What about the vacation?"
"I approved it," Petra replied directly. "I just hope you'll be mindful of your public image and avoid any displays of affection in public."
"Understood," Sylvia replied with a satisfied smile gracing her lips.
She then waved goodbye and walked out of the office, leaving behind the still blushing Rusalka girls and a contemplative Petra.
"It seems I'll have to meet this man if I get the chance," Petra mused to herself.
And Fang Li remained blissfully unaware of the events that had unfolded within the walls of the Superintendent's office.
(End Of The Chapter)