"Olivia?"
Frank Castle was surprised. Sunny Fox had already run out, her eyes gleaming, blending into the crowd of onlookers and watching the scene with relish. Olivia White wore a pure white long dress, the ends of her waist-length hair tied with a red ribbon, like a graceful lady from ancient times. Now, being publicly confessed to, her porcelain-like, delicate face showed a hint of helplessness. She bowed to the young man kneeling before her. "I'm sorry."
The young man's face flushed crimson. He stood up in disappointment, but facing Olivia White's gentle and polite rejection, he couldn't muster any anger, only leaving dejectedly. The surrounding students were accustomed to this.
"How many is this this month?"
"The sixth, I think."
"Fewer than last month, haha!"
"Let me count... the number of people the Literary Campus Belle has rejected over the years could line up from our Academy of Arts all the way to Capital City Network!"
Frank Castle sat in the dessert shop, listening to the discussions outside, and only then did he realize that Olivia White was also a student at Capital City Academy of Arts. It was a bit embarrassing to admit; he had spent days practicing in Silverwood Studio, and daily interactions with Olivia White, yet he had never bothered to ask where she studied. Frank Castle knew that Sunny Fox also had many admirers at school and was known as the "Martial Campus Belle." He had just heard some students call Olivia White the "Literary Campus Belle," so that meant Olivia White and Sunny were the Literary and Martial Belles? Frank Castle couldn't help but smile; it was quite fitting. He looked at Olivia White, who stood outside, slightly uncomfortable amidst the onlookers. Frank Castle hesitated a bit. Would going over and greeting her now make her even more awkward?
"Olivia!"
Frank Castle was still pondering when Sunny Fox squeezed through the crowd and directly took Olivia White's hand. Seeing Sunny Fox, Olivia White's watery eyes showed surprise. "Sunny."
"I'm eating dessert inside. Come on, let's go together!" Sunny Fox put her arm around Olivia White's shoulder, not allowing refusal, and pulled her directly into the dessert shop. She even waved back at the dispersing crowd. "Disperse, everyone! What's there to see?" The Martial Campus Belle's reputation was formidable, and the crowd instantly scattered.
"Olivia, I haven't seen you these past few days. Where have you been?" Sunny Fox affectionately pulled Olivia White, leading her to Frank Castle. "Bro, let me introduce you: this is my good friend, Olivia White!"
Olivia White froze upon seeing Frank Castle, her cheeks flushing. "Frank?"
Frank Castle stood up, smiling. "Olivia, I didn't realize you were also studying at Capital City Academy of Arts."
Sunny Fox was baffled. "You two know each other?"
"I practiced singing at Olivia's grandfather's recording studio," Frank Castle briefly explained how he met Olivia White.
Sunny Fox's sharp almond eyes widened. She looked at Frank Castle, then at Olivia White. "You're my brother, you're my best friend, and you knew each other without me introducing you. Wow, you two are truly fated!"
Olivia White's face grew even redder. She buried her head, her delicate fingers fiddling with her dress. She dared not speak. Only the slightly upturned corners of her lips revealed the joy in the shy girl's heart.
"Why are you standing? Sit down!" Sunny Fox boisterously pulled Olivia White down. It was a rectangular table, with two people sitting on each side. Whether Sunny Fox intended it or not, Olivia White's seat was directly opposite Frank Castle. Olivia White looked up and saw Frank Castle looking at her gently. The blush on her delicate face instantly spread to her translucent earlobes.
"Olivia, why is your face so red? Must be the heat. I'll order you an ice cream! My brother's treating!" Sunny Fox directly yelled towards the distant counter, "One 'Perfect Match'!"
The staff quickly brought two ice creams. Sunny Fox smilingly handed one to Olivia White and the other to Frank Castle. "You eat it," Frank Castle said to his sister. Sunny Fox's large eyes sparkled with mischief. "Bro, this is this dessert shop's signature item, a 'Perfect Match'—two ice creams, symbolizing lovers finally getting together. If you don't eat it, you've come to our school for nothing!"
With Sunny Fox's explanation, Olivia White's head almost sank into her chest. The redness from her earlobes spread to her fair neck, like an evening glow in the sky.
"Sunny, don't talk nonsense," Frank Castle quickly stopped Sunny Fox.
"Oh, Bro, you're so verbose! Just eat it!" Sunny Fox directly used her hand, bringing the ice cream to Frank Castle's mouth, her large eyes fluttering. With his sister being so cute, Frank Castle could only take the ice cream. Seeing Frank Castle eat, Olivia White also opened her small mouth and gently bit into the pure white ice cream peak, her eyes soft as spring water. Sunny Fox glanced at her best friend, a triumphant smile of a successful scheme on her face.
The three chatted while eating, and Frank Castle also learned how his sister and Olivia White met. Sunny Fox had idolized Frank Castle since childhood and also loved playing musical instruments, but she had a lively personality. When she won an award for performing in a school play in high school, she found acting interesting. So, for college, she chose the Drama Department at Capital City Academy of Arts, while Olivia White was in the Music Department. The two were originally unacquainted. However, besides studying acting, Sunny Fox still enjoyed playing instruments and joined the classical music club. On her first day in the club, she encountered Olivia White being confessed to by a male student. Olivia White refused, but the student persisted. Sunny Fox stepped forward and kicked the male student away. The two girls met through this, and the "literary" and "martial" pair surprisingly harmonized, gradually becoming best friends.
"Sunny, you never told me you had such a good friend," Frank Castle asked Sunny Fox after listening to her story.
Sunny Fox rolled her eyes at him. "Bro, you have the nerve to say that? Back then, you only had eyes for that Amelia bitch. Even if I told you, you wouldn't remember!" She glanced at Olivia White beside them, then added, "Olivia, even though my brother is blind in love, he's really a good person! He's very devoted in relationships!"
Frank Castle said sternly, "Sunny, don't say things that could be easily misunderstood. I treat Olivia like a sister, and Olivia treats me like a brother."
Olivia White's body stiffened, and the ice cream in her hand almost dropped to the floor. Sunny Fox glared at Frank Castle in exasperation. Bro, why are you so uncooperative? I'm trying to help you! Frank Castle smiled faintly, subtly changing the subject.
Olivia White silently listened to the siblings chat. As Frank Castle was about to leave, she suddenly spoke: "Frank, why haven't you come to the recording studio anymore?"
Frank Castle sat back down, explaining, "Olivia, I've troubled you and Professor White enough these past few days. Now that the second episode of the show has finished recording, I shouldn't bother you anymore." If it weren't for Celeste Monroe asking Professor Charles, Frank Castle wouldn't even have been qualified to enter Silverwood Studio. Moreover, Professor Charles only agreed to lend it to Frank Castle for a few days. People had already helped him; he couldn't push his luck and endlessly trouble others. And Olivia White... he couldn't bring harm to her. Frank Castle had already decided: he would find other recording studios to practice singing and would buy some gifts to visit Professor Charles another day to express his gratitude.
Olivia White lowered her head, biting her soft lips. After a moment, she suddenly looked up:
"Frank, my grandfather is ill."