Hearing the commotion at the door, the four turned around.

"Lily!"

Discovering Celitia had returned, Shanie jumped up from the sofa with a start.

"You're finally back!"

She gave Benita a meaningful look, and Benita quickly picked up a basin of flower petals from the coffee table and walked up to Celitia:

"Welcome back!"

Benita reached out and scattered the petals, covering Celitia with them.

Rebecca, who had just come out of the kitchen carrying a plate of steaming hot food, and Linda, who was holding a large cake, smiled somewhat awkwardly at Celitia.

The two were nervous: Celitia wouldn't be angry about them barging in like this, would she?

"Enough, enough."

Seeing that Benita was about to scatter another handful of petals on her, Celitia quickly waved her hands to stop her.

She wasn't angry, just helplessly tapped her forehead, "What are you all trying to do?"

"We already said—we're celebrating everyone successfully finishing an exam."

Shanie grinned, "Linda brought a big cake from home, and she insisted we all share it!"

Celitia had heard them mention that Linda's family ran a bakery that was quite well-known locally.

"What's there to celebrate about finishing an exam?" Celitia couldn't help but roll her eyes at Shanie, "You're talking as if you could pass with a perfect score."

Shanie scratched her head and laughed foolishly: "Then we're celebrating for Lily!"

Celitia sighed.

Even if they didn't say it outright, Celitia understood in her heart that the four had gathered here because of the morning's events.

They were probably worried that she would be too lonely staying in the villa by herself.

Celitia felt they were making a mountain out of a molehill—what was wrong with being alone? How could she possibly be afraid of loneliness?

But she ultimately couldn't bring herself to refuse their kind intentions.

Being watched by those four pairs of eyes that were both expectant and nervous, Celitia sighed again:

"Alright."

Having passed this hurdle, Shanie and Benita both exhaled in relief, and Rebecca and Linda visibly relaxed as well.

They had bought lots of food, and with Rebecca cooking, they had prepared a table full of sumptuous dishes.

The enormous cake was placed in the center, emanating a mouth-watering aroma.

Shanie boldly brought over two large bottles of wine and set them on the table:

"This is craft wine I brought from home. Tonight we must eat and drink well!"

Here we go again!

Celitia's eye twitched.

Shanie looked like such a petite, cute girl—how was she an alcoholic like an old man?

Could she please not corrupt her junior classmates?!

If they ever met Florence, wouldn't they hit it off immediately and be able to drink arm-in-arm until dawn?

Simply unthinkable.

"Everyone drink just a little."

Celitia tried to grab one of the bottles to hide it, but Shanie was quick and snatched the bottle to her side first.

"I know," Shanie grumbled dissatisfiedly, "always acting so old-fashioned when Lily is the same age as us."

Celitia coughed dryly.

Age and such... better not to mention it.

Wine glasses were gradually filled, the rich dark liquid swaying in the cups. Celitia hazily remembered the celebration banquet when Sophia had accidentally gotten drunk.

And in the bathroom, that hazy, beautiful scene, and the deep kiss that nearly suffocated her.

Yet at today's dinner table, all the people from that celebration were present, but Sophia's figure was conspicuously absent.

Thinking of this, Celitia's heart ached faintly.

As if guessing what Celitia was thinking, Shanie hurriedly raised her wine glass:

"Don't think too much. Enjoy the present moment. Come on, cheers!"

The five raised their glasses together and drained the first cup.

With one drink down, the atmosphere heated up, and Benita immediately became more talkative:

"It's indeed a pity that Princess Sophia isn't here today. After she finishes being busy, should we hold another small banquet?"

"I agree!" Shanie immediately chimed in, "Don't worry, Lily. Princess Sophia will definitely come back. Don't pay attention to Charlotte's attempts to sow discord!"

Benita nodded: "Right, and those inexplicable rumors aren't worth caring about either."

Speaking of this, Linda angrily slammed her hand on the table: "That Calvin guy really pissed me off!"

"It's okay. Calvin only dares to think such things in his head," Rebecca consoled her, "The friendship between Miss Celitia and Princess Sophia won't be destroyed so easily."

Hearing their words, Celitia's body stiffened slightly, her hand gripping the wine glass unconsciously tightening until her knuckles were pale and distinct.

She lowered her eyelashes, her voice very light: "Are you all that confident about things between me and Sophia?"

Even Celitia herself had no confidence in this.

Suppressing the urge to draw closer to her, she had struggled to pull away bit by bit, maintaining a safe distance.

But when Sophia was truly about to leave and head toward the distant place she should go, Celitia clearly perceived the black fire burning fiercely in her chest.

Saying she wanted to let go with her mouth, but not thinking that way in her heart at all.

Selfish.

Greedy.

Jealous.

Even she herself found it frightening.

"Of course!" Linda continued pounding the table, her voice getting louder, "I will always support Princess Sophia and Miss Celitia!!"

Rebecca raised her hand: "Me too!"

"Not only do I support you, I can help too!" Shanie, with alcohol going to her head, vigorously patted her chest, "Tell me, what does Lily need me to do?"

Benita came up with bad ideas: "Kidnap Charlotte and scare her so she never dares approach Sophia again? Or threaten that Calvin to stop his wild fantasies?"

Celitia couldn't help but complain: "Are you planning to become terrorists?"

"Hic~" Shanie hiccupped, "Terrorists? What does that mean?"

"Just kidding," Benita smiled slightly at Celitia, "what we mean is, if you have any troubles, you can tell us about them. We'll definitely try to support you."

"As long as you're still willing... to consider us your friends."

Rebecca said hopefully: "Although we don't dare presume to call ourselves friends of Princess Sophia and Miss Celitia..."

Linda continued with full momentum: "We're absolutely your number one support team members! So you must work hard no matter what! If you break up, we'll really cry!!"

"You all..."

Celitia didn't know how to respond.

Their feelings were very warm, very warm.

Since her rebirth, Celitia had originally decided that being alone was enough.

But walking this path, unconsciously, so many people had gathered around her.

Even if she couldn't walk toward the future they hoped for...

With their support, perhaps she too could struggle out of the quagmire and stride toward some distant place again.