Using his masterful acting-spoiled skills—paired with teary, peach-blossom eyes that screamed "If you don't help me, you'll be murdering your boyfriend"—Vic finally wore them down and "copied" the summer homework.
In reality, Wednesday and Enid had long since taken high-definition photos of their completed assignments and organized them into categorized folders in a password-protected album on their phones.
As for whom this was prepared?
The answer was as obvious as a Nick Wilde joke.
When Vic used the Rabbit Talisman's super speed to "copy-paste" all the blanks in the blink of an eye—and finally realized this fact with a delayed reaction—
Overwhelming gratitude and relief instantly transformed him into an overly excited Golden Retriever.
"Sob... you guys are the best! I knew you wouldn't leave me to die!"
Choking up, he abandoned all image. He pulled Wednesday and Enid into a tight hug.
Without waiting for permission, he planted several loud, forceful kisses of gratitude—mixed with a bit of snot and tears—on their cheeks, foreheads, and even hair.
The sheer magnitude of movement and surging emotion rivaled a reunion scene of long-lost relatives.
A few minutes later, the following scene appeared on the streets of Jericho:
Wednesday, expressionless and radiating an aura ten degrees colder than usual, walked at the very front along the curb, eyes fixed straight ahead, pace fifteen percent faster than normal.
If one looked closely, several rather conspicuous light red strawberry marks dotted her pale, exquisite cheeks—
Evidence of Vic's overly emotional, heavy-handed smooching just moments ago.
Enid followed beside Wednesday, suppressing her laughter so hard the corners of her mouth twitched. She occasionally stole glances at the marks on her best friend's face before pressing her lips tight again.
Her eyes were filled with the struggle of "I want to laugh but I must not."
Vic trailed at the very back, head drooping, looking guilty and fawning. His eyes drifted frequently to the icy back in front of him.
His mind was frantically running simulations of "How to quell the Dark Queen's wrath."
Seeing Wednesday walk faster and faster, Vic finally mustered the courage to trot up. Carefully extending two fingers, he gently tugged the hem of Wednesday's dress.
"Wednesday... I was wroooong~"
His voice was soft enough to drip honey, the ending dragged out long, full of repentance and ingratiation.
Wednesday paused. Slowly, she turned her head. Her abyssal eyes landed calmly on Vic's face.
She didn't speak. She simply tilted her chin up slightly, making the strawberry marks even clearer in the sunlight.
Vic felt his scalp tingle under her stare. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
After a few seconds of silence, Wednesday spoke, word by word, in that unique voice—cool as shards of ice rubbing together:
"Victor Black."
She even used his full name.
"You had best pray devoutly that these marks vanish completely before the opening ceremony."
She paused, the corner of her mouth hooking into a faint arc that sent chills down Vic's spine.
"Otherwise, I will not hesitate to recommend a... highly active, keenly sensitive live specimen to the instructor during the upcoming human anatomy practicum."
Vic: !!!
He froze instantly, feeling a chill rise up his spine.
He could already see the terrifying scene: him lying on the dissection table, Wednesday holding a scalpel with a look of "scientific inquiry," gently asking him, "Does this hurt?"
"Gone! Definitely gone!"
Vic immediately pointed to the sky and swore, his tone unprecedentedly sincere.
"I'll use ice packs as soon as we get back! Apply magic potion! I guarantee they'll disappear without a trace!"
"Alright, alright, Vic didn't mean it~ Besides, you look kinda cute like this, pfft—"
Enid tried hard to purse her lips, but her shoulders shook, and her eyes curved into crescents as she attempted to smooth things over.
But that "pfft" completely exposed her true nature of enjoying the chaos, effectively pouring oil on the fire.
Seeing Wednesday's already cold face freeze over another three degrees, Vic's heart skipped a beat. His survival instinct kicked into overdrive. He desperately needed something heavy enough to divert the Dark Queen's attention.
His eyes darted around. Suddenly, he pointed at a hearse slowly pulling up to the curb—hard lines, pitch black, vintage styling that looked like it just drove out of a Gothic castle. His tone was exaggerated, like he discovered a new continent:
"Wednesday! Look! That car looks just like yours!"
Yelling, he practically pasted himself onto the window to increase persuasiveness, pretending to examine the scene behind the dark glass, continuing his flamboyant acting:
"Whoa! Look! The beautiful lady inside looks exactly like your mo..."
His voice jammed. The last syllable of "mother" was choked back, turning into a short, shocked "Eh?"
Because right in front of his eyes, without warning, the dark window rolled down silently.
Behind the glass was Morticia Addams' stunningly beautiful, moon-pale face, wearing a mysterious, inscrutable smile.
Her deep eyes landed with interest on Vic's face, which was practically stuck to the glass and written with shock.
Scanning the car further... Good lord, the whole family was there—
Gomez Addams, grinning and showing a mouthful of white teeth; Pugsley in the passenger seat holding Thing, looking curious; and Lurch in the driver's seat.
"Thank you for the compliment, Vic."
Morticia's red lips parted slightly. Her voice was lazy and magnetic, like vintage wine.
"Your mouth is as sweet as ever."
"Mother."
Wednesday greeted her calmly, without fluctuation.
Vic, whose brain was still processing the sudden "Family Portrait" impact, stared blankly and mumbled along: "Mother..."
Instantly, inside and outside the car, everyone's gaze snapped onto Vic.
Vic snapped back to reality. Swish—his face turned red all the way to his ears. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
He laughed awkwardly, dryly, not knowing where to put his hands or feet.
"Uh... I mean... Long time no see, Mrs. Addams! You look more radiant than ever!"
Morticia nodded elegantly. Her gaze then keenly landed on the faint red marks still visible on Wednesday's face.
As if just noticing them, she asked with perfectly measured concern:
"Wednesday, your face... what happened?"
Wednesday didn't even lift her eyelids. Her gaze slanted toward Vic, who looked ready to shrink into nonexistence. Her tone was as cold as a frozen lake.
"Color allergy. Reaction to a... massive quantity of yellow sludge."
Vic immediately lowered his head, feigning a sudden, intense scientific interest in the ant colony busy in the cracks of the sidewalk, focused as if counting their legs.
"I see."
Morticia nodded as if enlightened. A knowing, slightly teasing smile appeared on her face.
"And here I thought you were allergic to Vic's kisses."
Wednesday's face visibly cooled another few degrees. The surrounding air seemed to crystallize into ice.
Gomez let out a booming laugh from the car:
"Haha! Querida, I told you young people have their ways of expressing passion!"
Seeing the atmosphere sliding toward an even weirder direction, Morticia smiled and issued an invitation at the perfect moment.
"Alright, don't stand on the curb. Get in. We can drive you to school for registration."
Wednesday didn't object. She opened the back door and got in first, her posture as elegant and chilly as always.
However, as she got in, her elbow seemed to "accidentally" bump Vic, who was still frozen in place.
Vic grimaced, rubbing his sore ribs.
Under Enid's sympathetic "Good luck" gaze and suppressed laughter, he bit the bullet. Like a prisoner awaiting judgment, he dawdled into the car.
Thud.
The door closed, carrying this group of people—each with their own thoughts—toward the unknown, destined-to-be-turbulent new semester.