In the warm and sweet air of the bakery, Tom and Sabine watched the four girls rush down the stairs like a whirlwind, waving goodbye with a smile.
"Mom, Dad, we're heading out for a bit!" Marinette's voice still carried a trace of imperceptible panic before she rushed out the door.
"Be careful on the road!" Sabine gently reminded them, her gaze following their figures until they disappeared around the street corner.
Tom wiped the flour from his hands, walked over to his wife, looked at the bustling Paris street scene outside the glass door, and sighed, "Ah, young people are so energetic. It's like they have endless stamina."
Sabine smiled and nodded, her eyes full of love and a hint of understanding: "Yes, especially when there's someone special in their heart. Come on, dear, we have a whole oven full of croissants to serve our customers."
She gently patted her husband's back. They exchanged a smile and turned back to their busy work stations, leaving the girls' worries to the brilliant Paris sunshine.
Meanwhile, inside the Lair, shadows covered everything.
Gabriel was standing in front of the round window, his brow tightly furrowed.
He hadn't transformed, but was wearing his usual white suit. On his tablet screen, the imperious message sent by Chloé clearly displayed: "Hawk Moth! Jaden is currently on a date with that pink-haired idiot! I don't care what method you use, immediately! Right now! Destroy it for me!"
A complex and deep annoyance flashed in Gabriel's eyes.
"A date..." he muttered softly. The word sounded so out of place coming from him.
This matter indeed put him in a difficult position.
From the perspective of his plan, Jaden establishing close relationships with other girls was not only not a bad thing for him, but rather a good thing.
After all, a "Rewrite" entangled by numerous emotional threads is far easier to guide and control than a lone wolf with no attachments.
From this perspective, he should even encourage this "let a hundred flowers bloom" situation.
But the problem lay with Chloé. Her negative emotions were like an inexhaustible spring, ready to provide him with material for Akumatization at any time.
But precisely because of this, he constantly had to "coax" her, soothing her perpetually erupting need for control and jealousy.
Because ever since learning the truth, Gabriel's interest in performing Akumatization on ordinary citizens had greatly diminished, and every action became more "purposeful and strategic."
The destruction created purely for emotional release was, in his view, nothing more than time-wasting overtime—meaningless, perfunctory work.
And what Gabriel feared most now was "overtime."
More critically, Chloé's request was too direct and too foolish. Akumatization on a passerby to ruin Jaden's date?
Thinking about this... Gabriel couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
The actions of past Akumatized Persons flashed through his mind.
Most of them, once empowered by Akumatization, seemed to have their brains turn into single-core processors, single-mindedly rushing toward the object of their obsession.
And expecting them to keep a secret? That was simply a pipe dream.
He could almost foresee the ridiculous scene: as soon as the Akumatized Person appeared, when questioned by Ladybug, they would immediately shout, "Hawk Moth sent me!"
Then everything would be over.
The fragile and subtle illusion of "collaborator" between him and Jaden would instantly shatter.
After all, the whole world knew that Hawk Moth was after the miraculous of Ladybug and Cat Noir.
More importantly, this would immediately raise Jaden's highest level of alertness, destroying all his previous groundwork and disguise.
No, absolutely not.
A look of determination flashed in Gabriel's eyes.
He turned off the tablet screen, deciding to temporarily ignore Chloé's message.
When she asked again, he would fob her off with a universal excuse: "Paris is calm today, the citizens are peaceful, and there are simply no negative emotions strong enough for Akumatization."
This reason now sounded surprisingly reasonable.
Ironically, this "calm and peaceful" situation was entirely his own doing.
Because under his degree of "indulgence," many of the people who underwent Akumatization, while venting their personal grievances, incidentally "cleaned up" many societal scoundrels and evil forces.
Some families even moved out of Paris entirely because of this, and even petty street theft had nearly disappeared.
Ironically, as the biggest "source of chaos" in Paris, he had instead raised the city's public security to an unprecedented level.
Trying to capture negative emotions strong enough from this "calm and peaceful" environment at this moment was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
He then turned, took steady steps, left the Lair, and returned to his Design Studio.
In the luxury suite on the top floor of the Paris Grand Hotel, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the sky before a storm.
Chloé was curled up on the velvet sofa, irritably swiping her phone screen.
News, social media, entertainment gossip... none of it was what she wanted to see.
And the chat window was empty; there was no reply from the other party.
"What the heck? Why is the efficiency so low!"
Dissatisfied, she threw her phone aside, picked it up again, repeating the action like a golden little beast trapped in a cage.
Meanwhile, Sabrina was diligently helping her with her homework, and An Sabrina next to her was doing the same thing.
On the other side of the room, An Chloé was elegantly flipping through a fashion magazine, glancing at her counterpart from this world out of the corner of her eye, a look of undisguised contempt curving her lips.
"I say, me from this world,"
she began lazily, her voice carrying a natural sense of superiority, "Why are you suddenly interested in such boring news broadcasts? Are you hoping to see news about that guy on there?"
"None of your business!" Chloé bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, glaring fiercely back.
An Chloé glared back without showing weakness. The gazes of the two identical-looking but vastly different blonde girls met in the air, as if sparks were flying.
Moments later, both simultaneously and with great mutual understanding, let out a cold snort and haughtily turned their heads away.
An Chloé's mind, however, was rapidly calculating.
Her counterpart in this world had unbelievably bad taste. That guy named Jaden, although decent-looking, couldn't compare to her Alternate Adrien in any way.
What puzzled her even more was why Chloé was so certain she could ruin Jaden's date? Could it be... she thought of Paris's "Traditional Art"—Akumatization.
But she absolutely did not believe her counterpart in this world had the ability to command an Akumatized Person.
"She must be hiding a secret from me."
An Chloé thought to herself.
Her gaze unintentionally swept past Sabrina, who was buried in her homework, and then looked at An Sabrina, who was also helping beside her. A thought quietly sprouted in her mind.
In this world, she might not be able to do anything to her own counterpart, but Sabrina... that was a different story.
She needed to find an opportunity to properly "consult" the lackey of this world.
However, now was not the time.
She carefully concealed the calculation on her face, lest the other her notice.
Chloé, meanwhile, completely failed to notice the subtle actions of her counterpart; all her attention was focused on her impotent rage toward Hawk Moth.
"What the hell? How much time has passed? Can't he even handle one unlucky person?"
She cursed internally, her fingers impatiently tapping on the armrest of the sofa.
Just then, an urgent news bulletin interrupted the phone screen.
"...Latest news, attention citizens, we have just received reports that an Akumatized Person has appeared near [redacted location],
nearby residents are asked to evacuate immediately. Our heroes—Ladybug and Cat Noir—are expected to arrive on the scene soon..."
On the screen, a blurry figure flashed past.
Chloé's eyes instantly lit up.
"Hmph."
She smugly lifted the corner of her mouth and picked up her phone, as if all her previous irritation had vanished into thin air,
"It's a bit late, but at least he didn't disappoint me."
However, what she didn't know was that this Akumatized Person was not one created by Hawk Moth's Akumatization at all.
On the other side, Rose felt like she was walking on clouds; every step was light and filled with an unreal sensation.
Jaden's warm palm enveloped her hand, and that solid warmth was the most reassuring strength she felt.
She kept her head down, only able to see her pink shoetips and Jaden's black sneakers alternating as they moved along the sidewalk.
Her cheeks were burning hot, and even her ears had turned a lovely pink. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest like a startled fawn, almost leaping out of her throat.
"What's wrong? Still shy?" Jaden's gentle voice sounded above her, carrying a light smile.
He stopped and turned slightly. Rose also stopped, not daring to look up at him.
"N-no..." she refuted softly, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz.
Jaden chuckled softly. Instead of exposing her stubborn denial, he gently lifted her chin with his other hand, forcing her to meet His gaze.
In those deep, dark eyes, a gentle, shimmering light, as if it could drown a person, was brimming.
"Look,"
He directed His gaze to a uniquely decorated boutique on the street. "That shop's window has a silk scarf that matches the color of your dress today. Shall we go in and take a look?"
Rose's eyes followed his guidance. It was a small and exquisite shop, with various beautiful handicrafts and accessories displayed in the window.
Among them, a light pink, sheer silk scarf with silver floral patterns shimmered softly in the sunlight. Her attention was immediately drawn to it.
"Okay... okay."
Jaden led her inside. The wind chimes in the shop rang out with a series of clear sounds.
He patiently accompanied her as she browsed the shop, from handmade music boxes to hairpins inlaid with beautiful stones, and then to various cute keychains.
Whenever Rose picked up a small item and showed a curious and delighted expression, he would appropriately offer praise.
"This bunny keychain is very cute, just like you."
"The color of this pen is very special; it feels perfect for writing lyrics."
Rose's initial shyness and reserve gradually melted away in such a relaxed and sweet atmosphere.
She began to actively pick up things to show Jaden, asking for his opinion, and the smile on her face became brighter and more genuine.
Eventually, they bought the pink silk scarf and a small, wooden guitar pendant.
As they walked out of the shop, Jaden naturally took the small bag from her hand, his other hand still holding hers tightly.
"Where to next?" he asked.
"Hmm..." Rose tilted her head, thinking, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I want to check out the department store over there. I heard a super delicious ice cream shop just opened!"
"Okay, whatever you want."
The mall was bustling with people, and the dazzling array of goods was overwhelming. However, Jaden's gaze rarely lingered on those items; most of his attention was on the girl beside him.
He would take her to see the latest fashion styles, listen to her comments on those beautiful dresses, and then tell her, "I think the one you're wearing now looks the best, simple and lively."
When they passed a cosmetics counter, he stopped, pointed to a lipstick, and said to her, "This color really suits your skin tone."
Then, without waiting for Rose to react, he said to the counter lady, "Please wrap it up."
When Rose held the beautifully packaged lipstick, her face filled with bewildered surprise, Jaden just smiled, "For you, a gift."
In Rose's heart, countless fireworks seemed to bloom instantly, so dazzling that she could barely open her eyes.
She had never imagined that a date could be like this.
It wasn't the tense and awkward silence she had imagined, but rather full of meticulous thoughtfulness and continuous surprises.
Every action, every word from Jaden, was like a warm current flowing into the softest part of her heart.
Then they each held a double-scoop ice cream and sat in the mall's resting area.
Rose licked her cone in small bites, but her eyes kept secretly glancing at Jaden beside her.
He also ate ice cream gracefully, occasionally getting a tiny bit of cream on the corner of his mouth, then casually wiping it away.
Even such a simple action made Rose's heart pound.
After leaving the mall, Jaden took her to a quiet coffee shop and chose a window seat.
Soothing jazz music flowed through the shop, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee.
Rose held the warm latte in both hands, feeling completely enveloped by a tremendous sense of happiness.
She looked at the boy across from her, who was quietly watching her, her heart full of a thousand words, yet she didn't know where to begin.
She had never been so happy as she was today.
This happiness wasn't the boisterous kind she shared with Juleka and the others, but a deep, inner contentment and joy.
"What are you thinking about?" Jaden asked softly, breaking the silence.
"I'm thinking... I'm really happy." Rose mustered her courage, looked directly into his eyes, and said earnestly.
Jaden smiled, a smile like a spring breeze that dispelled the last trace of gloom in her heart. "I'm happy too."
He paused, leaning slightly forward, his dark eyes appearing exceptionally deep under the light, as if he could see through all her thoughts.
He asked the question again:
"So, have you thought of the answer now?"
Rose's heart skipped a beat. She knew what he was asking.
In this dreamlike date, she had clearly found the answer, and it was the same as her initial one.
She wanted... to be with him forever.
This thought was so bold, so fervent, that her cheeks uncontrollably flushed again.
She quickly lowered her head, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.
"Mm... I have." Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
"Then... can you tell me?" Jaden's tone was full of anticipation and encouragement.
Rose's heart was in turmoil.
She clutched the coffee cup in her hands, her knuckles slightly white from the effort.
Finally, she looked up, a sly and shy smile on her face.
"I have. But... I don't want to say it."
She stuck out her tongue, like a mischievous little girl who had gotten away with a prank, "It's my secret."
She wanted to keep this feeling, this love, hidden in her heart a little longer, to let it ferment and become richer and sweeter.
Jaden looked at her playful expression, first startled, then smiled helplessly and dotingly.
He didn't press further, just nodded: "Okay, then it'll be your secret."
The two of them sat quietly opposite each other, without saying anything more.
Meanwhile, not far from the coffee shop, at a street corner under a lush sycamore tree, the atmosphere was far from serene.
"I can't take it anymore Alya, I really can't!" Marinette, like an ant on a hot pan, gripped Alya's arm, her body anxiously swaying back and forth.
Her eyes were fixed on the coffee shop window not far away; those two figures were like two needles pricking her heart.
"Calm down, Marinette! Calm down!"
Alya tried to hold back her almost frantic best friend while continuously taking deep breaths herself.
To be honest, she wasn't doing much better.
Deep down, an emotion called jealousy was wildly growing.
Why? She and Jaden also had so many "secrets"; he would also say those ambiguous words to her.
But he had never openly had a real date, just the two of them, like this.
"When we go back, I must make him compensate me well! Double! No, triple!" Alya thought fiercely to herself.
But on the surface, she had to play the role of the rational "strategist" who supported her best friend.
"Look, they're just drinking coffee, they're not doing anything else. Right? Just drinking coffee."
She dryly comforted Marinette, also seemingly trying to convince herself.
Beside them, An Alya and An Marinette were also quietly observing.
On the way Alya had quickly briefed An Alya on the "situation" of this world.
When An Alya heard that there was a "Umbrella Incident" between Jaden and Marinette in this world, similar to Alternate Adrien and Marinette in her world, and that Jaden's actions were even more proactive and gentle, the expression on her face became very interesting.
"So... this Jaden is an 'upgraded' Alternate Adrien?" An Alya concluded.
At this moment, she looked at the gentle and elegant Jaden in the distance, whose every gesture showed consideration for the girl, and then at the nearby Rose, who was so happy she was almost melting, and she couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
An Marinette's feelings were even more complex.
She looked at the genuine happy smile on this world's Rose's face, feeling both envy and relief.
She then looked at "herself" beside her, who was going crazy over another boy. Perhaps... this world's Marinette, her choice, was not wrong.
This boy named Jaden, although not as sunny and dazzling as her Alternate Adrien,
His calm, gentle demeanor, and the unintentional reliability he exuded, indeed held a fatal attraction.
When he complimented a girl, his eyes were sincere; when he bought things, he didn't hesitate;
When he listened, he was patient and focused. He was like a perfect date, fulfilling all a girl's fantasies of romance.