Chapter 198: Like in a Drama The room was dimly lit, the first rays of dawn barely creeping through the curtains.
Xin was roused from his deep slumber by a sudden, persistent rapping on his door.
Groggy and disoriented, he glanced at the clock –– it was just five in the morning.
Rubbing his eyes, he made his way to the door, his senses still fogged by sleep.
As he peered through the peephole, he saw Xiaxia standing on the other side, her expression a mix of worry and frustration.
He knew instantly what had brought her to his door at this ungodly hour.
Xin opened the door, but before he could fully swing it open, Xiaxia barged in, shutting the door behind her with a decisive thud.
Her eyes were wide with panic as she unleashed a torrent of accusing words, her voice escalating with each sentence.
"I told you, idiot Xin! I warned you that someone would see you with Seraphina!" Xiaxia’s tone was filled with desperation and anger as she paced back and forth, her hands gesticulating wildly.
"That girl is nothing but trouble! Now, your picture with her is circulating all over the internet, and I’m sure the whole school knows about it by now!"
Xin ran a hand through his hair, trying to process the situation. He hadn’t anticipated the consequences of a simple meal with Seraphina, and he thought that Xiaxia was only exaggerating.
"Calm down," Xin said, his voice steady, trying to quell Xiaxia’s rising panic. "It was just a simple meal."
Xiaxia shot him a withering look, her frustration evident. "Calm down?! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?! You’ve managed to attract the entire school’s attention, and not in a good way!"
With each passing moment, Xiaxia’s expression grew grimmer. "Maybe . . . maybe you could still transfer schools? Or perhaps take a year off and resume next year? Study in another zone perhaps?"
Xin felt the urge to roll his eyes and usher Xiaxia out of his door. "Stop with your unnecessary worrying. There’s nothing in those pictures that suggests Seraphina and I are in any kind of relationship. And I’m sure she has already explained it to everyone."
Xiaxia scoffed. "Explain it to everyone? She hasn’t been home all night, and she’s not in her room. And she doesn’t explain to anyone, EVER!"
Xin paused, concern flickering in his eyes. "She isn’t here?"
"Don’t you get it? It’s intentional," Xiaxia hissed, attempting to keep her voice low so as not to draw the attention of their mother, who was busy preparing breakfast in the adjacent room.
"Seraphina played you. She knew you’d be in trouble once everyone found out you two were alone together. But she still invited you to that lunch, and that picture just happened to be snapped in a private restaurant? Oh, please, she wanted you in trouble. I’m sure of it!"
Xin shook his head, disbelieving. Seraphina couldn’t be that conniving, not from what he knew of her during these past few days.
"And why would she do that?" he asked, searching for any rational explanation.
"Because she’s an evil bitch! She likes to toy with everyone. Thinks she’s superior to everyone else, and maybe she doesn’t want us in this house," Xiaxia retorted, her frustration boiling over into accusations.
Xin took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Stop with your allegations. Now, go away. I need to get ready for school."
"Y-you . . . you’re still going to school?" Xiaxia was utterly flabbergasted.
"Yeah."
"Yeah?!" Xiaxia exclaimed, her voice rising and drawing their mother’s attention.
"You two! What are you arguing about in there? Go get ready for school! You’re going to be late!" Evelyn’s voice echoed from the kitchen.
Xiaxia was forced to lower her voice, her eyes shooting daggers at Xin. "You really don’t grasp the gravity of the situation, do you?"
Xin remained silent. Truth be told, he wasn’t overly concerned because there was truly nothing between him and Seraphina.
What was there to be scared of?
Frustration etched across her face, Xiaxia struggled to find words to convince Xin to stay home to protect him from the brewing storm.
But she was at a loss on how to do that, and this sense of helplessness frustrated her beyond measure.
"Xin . . ."
"Go and get ready, Xiaxia," Xin said firmly, closing the door to put an end to the conversation.
Eventually, Xin and Xiaxia walked the familiar path to school together.
The sky above was painted in soft hues of pink and gold as the sun began its ascent, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood.
The usual sounds of birds chirping and distant traffic were accompanied by the hurried footsteps of students, backpacks slung over their shoulders, making their way to the school grounds.
Xin, usually composed and lethargic, felt a growing unease settling in the pit of his stomach.
As they approached the school gates, the atmosphere seemed charged with tension, and he became acutely aware of the curious glances and hushed whispers that followed him.
Every student they passed seemed to take a momentary pause in their conversations, their eyes locking onto Xin.
Some exchanged furtive glances, while others blatantly stared, their gazes like prying daggers. Whispers rippled through the air, reaching Xin’s ears in fragmented words.
"Isn’t that the guy from the picture?"
"That’s him, right? With Lady Seraphina?"
"Yes. He was with her in her car, too. Do you remember?"
"Aha! I know that the two of them have something going on."
"Who is he?"
"I don’t know. He’s a new face."
"He’s supposedly Xiaxia’s twin brother."
"Egh? Xiaxia has a twin?"
Xin’s steps faltered slightly, his lethargic face waning under the weight of the attention.
Xiaxia, too, sensed the change in the atmosphere and shot her brother a concerned look. She gripped his arm, offering silent support as they continued walking.
The situation escalated when they entered the heart of the school building. The hallway, usually bustling with the laughter and chatter of students, fell eerily silent as Xin and Xiaxia made their way to their respective departments.
Eyes followed their every move, and Xin felt an uncomfortable heat rise to his cheeks. It was as if he had become the main attraction in an unspoken drama, and he couldn’t escape the spotlight.