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墨書 Inktalez
Since that "tutoring" session at the library, my interactions with Shen Yu have noticeably increased. Sometimes in the cafeteria, he would naturally sit across from me with his tray; other times, he would stop on the way to wait for me to walk a bit together; and occasionally, he would even message me to ask if I had resolved any study-related issues.
This change did not escape the notice of our classmates. Soon, gossip about Shen Yu and me began circulating in campus forums and various gossip groups.
"Let’s dig into the story of Shen Yu and Lin Qi—complete with pictures!" (The accompanying image was a photo of Shen Yu and me studying together at the library, taken from an angle that made us look quite close.)
"What’s Lin Qi’s background? How did she manage to catch Shen Da Shen’s attention?"
Speculations and discussions flooded in. Walking down the hall, I could feel the probing, curious, and even slightly envious gazes directed at me. I had always been low-key, and suddenly becoming the center of attention filled me with unprecedented pressure and unease.
My roommate and friend, Su Xiaoxiao, stood up for me: "These people are so idle! Why take pictures? Qiqi, just ignore them."
I forced a smile and shook my head. "I know, it’s just... a bit uncomfortable." More importantly, I didn’t know what Shen Yu thought about it. Did he find me troublesome? Would he distance himself from me because of this?
This worry lingered in my mind for several days. I began to subconsciously avoid places where Shen Yu might appear and responded to his messages cautiously.
Until one afternoon, I was stopped in the lobby of the teaching building by a few girls. The leader was Zhou Man, the belle of the Art Department, who had openly expressed her feelings for Shen Yu.
"Lin Qi, right?" Zhou Man crossed her arms and scrutinized me with undisguised hostility in her eyes. "I heard you’ve been getting close to Shen Yu lately?"
I was taken aback by their aggressive stance and took a step back. "We’re just ordinary classmates."
"Ordinary classmates?" another girl scoffed. "Ordinary classmates don’t tutor each other alone or wear each other’s jackets. Lin Qi, you’ve got some skills."
Their words left me speechless, my face flushed red as I struggled to find a retort. Just when I felt helpless, a cool voice interrupted.
"What are you doing?"
It was Shen Yu. He had appeared behind us at some point, his expression serious as his cold gaze swept over the girls.
Zhou Man quickly adopted a pitiful expression upon seeing him. "Shen Yu, we just wanted to chat with Lin..."
"Chat about what?" Shen Yu stepped closer to me, naturally positioning himself protectively behind me. His movement was subtle but carried an undeniable sense of protection. "When did it become your business to inquire about my affairs?"
His tone was icy and commanding. The girls felt intimidated under his gaze and fell silent.
Shen Yu turned his attention to Zhou Man, his voice growing even colder: "And what relationship I have with Lin Qi is none of your concern. Stay away from her from now on."
With that, he no longer looked at them and took hold of my wrist, leading me away from the scene.
As he pulled me along, I stumbled slightly to keep up with him; his palm felt warm against my wrist—too warm. My heart raced as my mind went blank.
It wasn’t until we reached a secluded corner that he finally stopped and released my hand.
"Did I scare you?" He looked at me, his gaze softening back to its usual warmth.
I shook my head, then nodded slightly, feeling a warmth in my eyes.
He sighed and raised his hand, as if to touch my head, but ultimately just brushed away the nonexistent dust from my shoulder. "I'm sorry for putting you through this."
"It’s not your fault..." I murmured.
"It is," he interrupted me, his tone firm. "I should have thought this through and handled things better."
He looked into my eyes, seriousness etched on his face as he said, "Lin Qi, you don’t need to pay attention to those rumors. I will take care of it."
In that moment, looking into his determined gaze and hearing his protective words, all my anxiety and grievances vanished in an instant. He stood before me, shielding me from all the storms. This feeling of being chosen and protected gave me immense comfort.
The troubles brought by gossip seemed less unbearable under his defense because I knew he was there for me.
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