Chapter 49: The Heart's Betrayal

Despite Shen Yu's best efforts, the rumors refused to die. If anything, Lu Zhixuan seemed to be doing everything he could to fuel the fire. It was as if he enjoyed watching Shen Yu squirm, enjoying the way the gossip swirled around them like a storm that wouldn't pass.

"Walk with me to class," Lu Zhixuan would say, his voice intentionally loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, his gaze never leaving Shen Yu's face.

Shen Yu, trying to remain unaffected, would look away, but the whispers never stopped.

"Why are you standing so far away? Come closer," Lu Zhixuan teased, smirking, knowing exactly how to push Shen Yu's buttons.

Shen Yu would scowl, but it was clear to anyone who was paying attention that he wasn't as immune to Lu Zhixuan's presence as he liked to believe.

And the worst part?

Shen Yu's heart betrayed him every single time.

It was a small, annoying flutter, but it was enough to make him question everything. Every time Lu Zhixuan spoke to him, every time his gaze lingered just a little too long, Shen Yu felt his heart race.

Bai Xue seemed to notice the shift before Shen Yu did. After school, they sat under a tree in the quiet corner of the campus. Bai Xue casually stretched out, soaking in the afternoon sun, while Shen Yu tried to pretend that his life wasn't being slowly turned upside down.

"You're falling for him," Bai Xue said bluntly, breaking the silence.

Shen Yu, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly choked. He sputtered, his face flushing a deep red. "I—what?! No! I—"

Bai Xue didn't look the least bit surprised by his reaction. She simply raised an eyebrow, giving him a knowing look that spoke volumes.

"Then why do you turn red every time he looks at you?" she asked, her voice gentle but insistent.

Shen Yu groaned, burying his face in his hands, as if he could hide from both his emotions and the inevitable truth that Bai Xue had so casually pointed out.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he muttered, feeling the weight of the situation settle over him. He hadn't asked for this kind of attention. He hadn't asked for Lu Zhixuan to worm his way into his life like this. And yet, here they were, tangled in a mess of rumors, teasing, and emotions he didn't know how to handle.

"But it did," Bai Xue said softly, her tone a little more sympathetic than he had expected. "And maybe... it's not a bad thing."

Shen Yu hesitated, lifting his head just enough to glance at her through his fingers. "I'm not... I can't be. Not with him."

"Why not?" Bai Xue asked, her eyes searching his face. "You've been acting like you're immune to him, but it's obvious you care more than you're willing to admit."

Shen Yu wanted to argue, wanted to push back, but her words rang true, and that was the part that terrified him. He had been denying it for so long—his heart's reaction, the way his mind would wander whenever Lu Zhixuan was near, the way it felt when their hands brushed, the way he started to feel... something that wasn't disdain or annoyance.

"Because it's Lu Zhixuan," Shen Yu muttered. "Because he's... him."

Bai Xue chuckled, a quiet sound that seemed to carry a weight of understanding. "You've always been good at denying things, haven't you?"

Shen Yu swallowed hard, fighting the urge to admit what he had already known deep down. "I'm not falling for him," he said, but it came out less convincing than he'd hoped.

Bai Xue simply shrugged. "If you say so."

But even as she said it, Shen Yu knew she didn't believe him. And worse, he wasn't sure if he believed himself anymore.