Chapter 199: In the Eye of the Storm A group of students gathered near the lockers, their smartphones out, capturing the moment.
The unmistakable sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air, punctuating the stifling silence.
Xin’s heart raced as he realized . . . that he had really underestimated Seraphina’s popularity in school.
Xiaxia’s grip tightened on Xin’s arm. Her worry was evident. She shot defiant glares at the onlookers, silently challenging them to say or do something.
Yet, the air remained thick with tension, and Xin felt like he was suffocating under the weight of judgment and scrutiny.
"Xiaxia, your department is in the opposite direction," Xin reminded his sister as he tried to disentangle his arm from her tight grasp.
"I’m not letting go until you’re safely in your classroom," she insisted, glaring and growling at everyone like a cat.
Xin sighed. "I’ll be fine," he said, trying to ease her worries.
"But Xin . . ." Xiaxia’s voice trailed off, her hand hesitantly reaching out toward her brother.
However, Xin had already started walking toward his building, leaving her standing alone at the fork in the path.
Her concern lingered in the air, her gaze fixed on his retreating figure, a silent plea for his safety. "I hope nothing happens . . ."
Xiaxia shook her head in disbelief, her fingers clenching her hair tightly in frustration. "What am I thinking?! Of course, something will happen! This is the evil witch we’re talking about!"
Her voice cracked with worry, her eyes wide with fear for her brother’s safety.
The other students nearby were taken aback by Xiaxia’s sudden outburst, their murmurs of concern filling the air.
They exchanged puzzled glances, murmuring that Xiaxia was crazy, but Xiaxia paid little attention to their reactions. Her thoughts were solely focused on Xin, her mind racing with anxiety.
Despite her internal turmoil, Xiaxia didn’t hesitate.
Without a second thought, she dashed after Xin. She couldn’t let him face whatever danger lay ahead alone.
With her heart pounding in her chest, she sprinted towards his building.
As Xin finally reached their classrooms, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of being under a microscope. All her classmates hushed and looked at him with pity, while some had mirth in their eyes, grinning like he was going to die.
Xin was now the center of a storm, and the eye of judgmental gazes bore into him, leaving him feeling rather uncomfortable.
Xin settled into his chair, glancing over to find Victor, his usually jovial friend, sitting beside him with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
An uneasy feeling settled in Xin’s gut –– something was clearly amiss.
The absence of Victor’s usual warm greeting did not go unnoticed by Xin. Anxious, he mustered the courage to ask, "Is something wrong?"
Victor’s frown deepened, and he fixed Xin with a stern gaze. "What’s your relationship with Seraphina?"
Xin’s brows furrowed, taken aback by the sudden intensity of Victor’s inquiry. He took a deep breath, attempting to navigate the conversation. "It’s not what you think."
Victor leaned closer, his expression so serious that it felt
alien on his usually easy-going face. "You can’t deny the pictures, Xin. You were with Seraphina in a restaurant, just the two of you. What were you doing?"
Surprised by Victor’s accusatory tone, Xin felt that this wasn’t him. "It’s not what you think."
Victor sighed, his exasperation evident as he looked up at the ceiling. "Xin, I wouldn’t blame you if you liked Seraphina, but you should’ve been more discreet. You should’ve been careful around her. Do you even realize the trouble you’re getting yourself into?"
Frustration laced Xin’s voice. "Seraphina and I aren’t romantically involved." Why does everyone think otherwise?
Victor stifled a laugh, his tone biting. "That car incident, everyone believes Seraphina was just being kind. But this –– not once, but twice that they caught you alone with her, and this time in a private restaurant. That’s called a date, Xin."
The weight of Victor’s words hung heavily in the air, leaving Xin to grapple with the implications of his actions.
Xin didn’t know that a simple lunch between a man and a woman would automatically be a date.
"Don’t exaggerate things," Xin responded, his voice trying to mask the growing unease within him.
"I’m not," Victor retorted, his tone insistent. "Seraphina has never been alone with anyone before. She’s always avoided that, and nobody has ever even gotten inside her car, let alone shared a meal with her in a private restaurant."
Xin was left speechless, the weight of his unique position sinking in. He realized he was the first person with whom Seraphina had shared such moments.
The realization brought a mix of emotions, leaving him both honored and perplexed.
Attempting to brush off Victor’s concerns, Xin turned his attention to his art materials, trying to focus on the upcoming class. "Do you really think someone like Seraphina would have any interest in someone like me?"
Victor’s expression remained skeptical. "Then what were you doing with her in that restaurant?"
"We . . ." Xin hesitated, suddenly aware that he hadn’t planned how to explain his relationship with Seraphina. Shouldn’t he have consulted with her first and strategized their response together?
Simply revealing that they lived together, let alone explaining their artistic collaborations and nightly art sessions, seemed far too intimate to disclose to others.
Victor, however, appeared to sense Xin’s unease and jumped to a conclusion, his eyes widening with realization. "Wait . . . Diamond Palace . . . the Feys owned it. Xin, don’t tell me . . . Seraphina is living together—"
Before Victor could finish his sentence, Xin swiftly covered his friend’s mouth with his hand, his expression hardening into a stern mask. "Not so loud," he cautioned, his voice barely above a whisper. "Others might hear you."
Victor’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he pushed Xin’s hand away from his mouth, leaning in closer to him, his voice low and intense. "Wait a minute . . . You and Seraphina . . . living together?"
Victor hadn’t thought about that possibility before because . . . there was simply no way that would happen! They were talking about Seraphina here!
But now . . .
The unspoken implications of their living arrangements left Victor wide-eyed, forcing Xin into a silence laden with unspoken truths.
"You really are living with her?" Victor’s eyes widened even more, searching Xin’s face for confirmation.
. Xin met Victor’s gaze, a moment of hesitation flickering in his eyes before he nodded slowly.
His voice, barely audible, came out in a hushed admission. "She owns the place, so sometimes she stays there."