That day, there was no further interaction between Armand and me. It seemed like he only wanted to tease me, and when I resisted and grew exhausted, he left on his own.
In the vibrant and sunny Paris during summer, I immersed myself in my studies and campus life, trying my best to forget the unpleasant experience with Armand in the dim storage room of that bar that night.
As a dual degree student in Film Performance and Fine Arts, I had an elective computer drawing course. However, being from the countryside, I wasn't very familiar with computers, which led me to face numerous difficulties in class and fear the mockery of my classmates.
One day, while struggling to learn computer drawing software in the library, a familiar voice sounded beside me, "Do you need any help?"
I looked up and found Armand standing next to me.
"Meeting you again, what are you doing here?" His voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
Nervously, I explained, "I'm studying computer drawing, but I've encountered some problems."
He looked at me, seemingly contemplating something, then displayed a somewhat helpless expression. Bending down, he quickly debugged the software on my computer, efficiently resolving my issues.
His eyes stayed on the computer screen, not looking at me. "You should be more confident and not be defeated by these trivial problems." A seemingly casual remark, but it truly encouraged me.
That day, the two of us spent a long time in the library. Computers were Armand's only passion outside of the piano, and when it came to this field, he appeared to have a desire to speak more. He told me about how computers had a revolutionary impact on human art and shared the history of computer research.
As we left the library, it was already dusk, and the golden glow of the setting sun bathed the entire campus. A serene and cozy atmosphere filled the surroundings as we walked side by side on our way home.
I spotted a little cat leisurely strolling ahead of us. Unable to resist, I stopped and joyfully recounted funny childhood stories. Armand listened attentively without interrupting. I spoke about the joyous times of my childhood, how I played hide-and-seek and chased after little animals in the form of a young wolf.
"You have a special affection for these little animals, don't you?" he gently inquired.
I nodded, replying, "Yes, I love being with them; they feel pure and innocent to me."
Armand raised an eyebrow, puzzled, and asked, "But you don't have the desire to hunt and eat them, which is quite unusual."
I explained that maybe it was because I am an Omega.
Armand refuted my statement, saying, "No, other Omega wolves cannot help but bite the necks of animals when they see them. It's an inherent instinct that flows in the blood of werewolves."
We continued walking together along the path until we reached the campus gate.
"Aren't you supposed to work at the bar tonight?" he asked.
"Yes, not today, though," I replied.
He fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "I can drive you home."
"No, it's fine, I can go by myself," I firmly declined.
His brow slightly furrowed, seemingly displeased with my response.
"Well, take care then," he still spoke with a cold tone.
I didn't want those female classmates to know that I lived with the prominent figure Armand; it would bring unnecessary trouble.
We both went back to the mansion, one after the other.
At night, just like many other nights, I sat in the garden with Lucien, counting stars.
Through this little boy, I learned more about the Montmorency family. Armand's birth mother passed away when he was young, and Cruella was his father Alexander's new wife. Armand disliked Cruella, but he treated his little brother, Lucien, kindly. Lucien was the son of Cruella and Alexander.
I hadn't seen Alexander in the house; he was away on business in China. Cruella's personality was naturally hysterical, and she showed even more mischief when Alexander wasn't at home. She had an inexplicable hostility towards me and deliberately made things difficult for me, but I didn't mind. After all, I knew my situation as a guest in their house, and having a place to live was already enough for me.
The night was tranquil and peaceful. I held Lucien in my arms, and he had already fallen asleep. I looked up at the sky, lost in thought. It turned out that Armand was also bearing the pain of losing his loved ones, just like me.
Perhaps the complex family relationships were the reason behind Armand's current aloof and somewhat awkward personality.