Chapter 13: The Jealous Streak

Everything would be fine if Bai Xue didn't suddenly start clinging to him instead of Lu Zhixuan.

"Zhao Rui, you're surprisingly nice!" Bai Xue giggled, linking arms with him as they walked across campus.

Shen Yu stiffened, his entire body going rigid. "I—I'm always nice!" he lied through his teeth, flashing a strained smile.

Bai Xue beamed. "Really? Because I remember a certain someone who used to glare at me every time I talked to Lu Zhixuan."

Shen Yu coughed awkwardly. "Character qgrowth?"

Bai Xue laughed, completely oblivious to his inner turmoil. Shen Yu, however, could feel the weight of someone's stare pressing into his back. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Across the courtyard, Lu Zhixuan stood with his hands in his pockets, watching them. His gaze was unreadable, but there was something unsettling about it—calm, yet sharp. Shen Yu swore the temperature around him dropped several degrees.

Bai Xue tugged his sleeve. "Are you even listening?"

"Huh? Yeah! Of course," Shen Yu said quickly, shaking off the creeping anxiety. "What were you saying?"

She pouted. "I was saying you should help me pick out a gift for the cultural festival raffle."

"Uh—sure?" Shen Yu replied, only half-processing her words. His focus remained on Lu Zhixuan, who was still watching them, expression unreadable.

Later that afternoon, Shen Yu found himself cornered in the hallway.

He had been on his way to the library, minding his own business, when a shadow loomed over him.

"You're awfully close with Bai Xue these days."

Shen Yu swallowed hard and turned to find Lu Zhixuan standing just inches away, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.

"Wha—? N-No! I was just being polite!" Shen Yu stammered, backing up against the wall.

Lu Zhixuan tilted his head slightly, stepping forward until their faces were mere inches apart. "Polite?" he echoed. "Then why is she holding onto you like that?"

Shen Yu's throat went dry. "I—"

Before he could finish, Lu Zhixuan reached out and—so casually it was almost infuriating—brushed a strand of hair from Shen Yu's forehead. His fingers were cool against Shen Yu's burning skin.

"You like the attention?" Lu Zhixuan asked, his voice quieter than usual, almost dangerous.

Shen Yu's breath hitched. His heart pounded so loudly he was sure Lu Zhixuan could hear it.

"Of course not!" Shen Yu blurted out, his voice cracking slightly.

Lu Zhixuan studied him for a moment before a smirk curled at his lips. He took a step back, stuffing his hands into his pockets as if he hadn't just singlehandedly fried Shen Yu's brain.

"Good," Lu Zhixuan said simply before walking away, leaving Shen Yu standing there, utterly dazed and confused.

Shen Yu let out a shaky breath, gripping his chest. What the hell just happened?

More importantly—why did it feel like he had lost some sort of invisible battle?

And why was his heart still racing?