By late afternoon, the rumors had evolved again.
Now, three dominant theories were circulating on the SIU forum.
Theory One:
Lin Xuan had secretly started dating the American exchange student.
Theory Two:
Chen Yu had declared war.
Theory Three:
Lu Feng had somehow joined the battlefield.
Lin Xuan stared at his phone for a long moment before locking the screen.
Ridiculous.
Across the art building courtyard, students gathered in clusters, their conversations rising and falling like waves.
And somewhere in those conversations –
Allie Reed's name kept appearing.
Lin Xuan slipped his phone into his pocket just as someone called his name.
"Lin Xuan!"
The voice belonged to Professor Liang, the Dean of International Studies.
Which meant trouble.
The older man hurried toward him, waving a mahogany-colored folder, his face set in a practiced, administrative smile.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
Lin Xuan inclined his head politely.
"Dean Liang."
"I need a favor."
Of course he did.
"What kind of favor?"
The dean smiled the way administrators smiled when they were about to assign work no one wanted.
"You're aware of the Welcome Ball tomorrow evening?"
Lin Xuan had not been aware.
But he could already tell he was about to be involved.
"Yes."
"Good. It's a vital event for our image. We have several board members attending, along with international delegates."
The dean clapped his hands together.
The silence that followed was heavy. Lin Xuan blinked once, his expression flat.
"You'll be escorting Miss Allie Reed."
"…I will not."
Dean Liang laughed.
"That wasn't a question."
Lin Xuan's expression cooled slightly.
"With respect, Dean, that would worsen the situation."
"Yes," the dean agreed immediately.
Lin Xuan paused.
"That is precisely why we're doing it."
The dean adjusted his glasses.
"Miss Reed's arrival has caused…unexpected attention. The university would like to turn that attention into something more positive. If you appear together formally, it looks like a curated university program. If you don't, it looks like a scandal. My hands are tied."
"By forcing a public appearance."
"Exactly."
"That will only fuel rumors."
"Perhaps," the dean said cheerfully. "But it will also show that the university supports her."
Lin Xuan considered arguing further.
Then I decided it would be inefficient.
"…Very well."
"Excellent!"
"Oh, and dress nicely. There will be donors attending."
Of course there would.
The dean hurried away before Lin Xuan could object again.
A slow clap sounded behind him.
Lin Xuan didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Lu Feng.
"You," Lu Feng said, walking up beside him with a grin, "are in trouble."
Lin Xuan glanced at him.
"You heard that?"
"I heard everything."
Lu Feng threw an arm casually around his shoulders.
"You have to take Chicago to the Welcome Ball."
Lin Xuan removed the arm immediately.
"Do not call her that."
"Why not? She likes it."
"You have spoken to her twice."
"Three times," Lu Feng corrected proudly.
Lin Xuan frowned.
"That seems excessive."
Feng laughed.
"You're jealous."
"I am not."
"Sure."
Feng leaned against the courtyard railing, watching students pass by.
"You know she had a rough morning, right?"
Lin Xuan's gaze sharpened.
"Explain."
"Chen Yu and her little army cornered her outside the Liberal Arts Building."
"I heard."
"Did you?"
Feng studied him carefully.
"She handled it better than I expected."
"How?"
"She didn't cry."
"That is not a high standard."
"Trust me," Feng said, "for someone dropped into this circus? It is."
Lin Xuan said nothing.
Lu Feng tilted his head.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"You gave her the crane card."
"Yes."
"And now half the campus thinks she belongs to you."
"That is their mistake."
Lu Feng grinned.
"Still…you don't like me hanging around her."
Lin Xuan looked at him.
"I did not say that."
"You didn't have to."
Lu Feng chuckled.
"Relax, Ice Prince. I'm just helping your exchange student survive the wolves."
Lin Xuan's voice remained calm.
"She does not need rescuing."
"Maybe not."
Lu Feng shrugged.
"But she definitely needs allies."
Lin Xuan considered that.
Lu Feng was loud.
Annoying.
Unpredictable.
But he was also loyal.
And oddly effective at disarming people.
"…Continue walking her to class," Xuan said finally.
Feng blinked.
"Oh?"
"It may discourage further confrontations."
Feng burst out laughing.
"You're unbelievable."
"What?"
"You're assigning me as her bodyguard."
"It is practical."
Feng shook his head.
"You like her."
"I do not."
"Sure."
Before Lin Xuan could respond, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Lin Xuan."
Chen Yu stood a few steps away, her posture elegant and composed.
Her friends hovered behind her like silent shadows.
Feng whistled softly.
"Oh boy."
Chen Yu ignored him completely.
Her attention was fixed on Lin Xuan.
"I heard you wanted to speak with me."
"I did."
Feng leaned against the railing again.
"This should be good."
Xuan's gaze remained steady.
"You confronted Allie Reed this morning."
Chen Yu's expression didn't change.
"I spoke with her."
"You threatened her."
"I advised her."
"You warned her to stay away from me."
Chen Yu smiled faintly.
"I warned her not to misunderstand her position."
Lu Feng muttered, "Yikes."
Lin Xuan's voice remained calm.
"Do not do it again."
Chen Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're defending her."
"I am preventing unnecessary conflict."
"She accepted something she shouldn't have."
"She accepted help."
Chen Yu's smile thinned.
"You don't understand how this looks."
"I understand perfectly."
Chen Yu stepped closer.
"Then you should know people are watching."
"I am aware."
"And you're still taking her to the Welcome Ball?"
Lu Feng nearly choked.
"Oh, this just keeps getting better."
Chen Yu turned sharply toward him.
"What?"
Feng grinned.
"The dean assigned Ice Prince here as her escort."
Chen Yu's expression hardened.
For the first time –
Real anger flickered in her eyes.
Lin Xuan's voice remained level.
"This discussion is over."
Chen Yu held his gaze for a long moment.
Then she turned and walked away.
Her friends followed quickly behind her.
Lu Feng exhaled.
"Well."
"That went well."
Lin Xuan didn't answer.
Because he knew something Lu Feng didn't.
Chen Yu would not forget that conversation.
Not easily.