Chapter 4: Tensions Rise and Allies Emerge

Mei Lin's thoughts were a storm of conflicting emotions as she made her way to class. Her encounter with Li Wei in the library had left her feeling strangely unsettled. He wasn't the cold, arrogant person she had assumed he was. That momentary flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, his admission of being misunderstood—it had chipped away at the walls she had built around her judgment of him.

But she couldn't let herself get distracted. Not by Li Wei, not by the rumors, and certainly not by her own mixed emotions.

As she entered the classroom, she noticed that the usual chatter had shifted. Her classmates had their heads together, whispering animatedly as their eyes darted toward her. The weight of their stares was suffocating.

Mei Lin walked quickly to her seat, trying to ignore the curious glances, but she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. The rumors were still spreading like wildfire, and now, her encounter with Li Wei in the library would only fan the flames.

Just as she sat down, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You okay?"

Mei Lin looked up to see Xiao Rui standing beside her, concern etched on her face. Her friend had always been a source of comfort, someone she could count on, but even Xiao Rui seemed tense today.

"I'm fine," Mei Lin replied, though her voice lacked conviction. She could tell that Xiao Rui wasn't buying it.

"You don't look fine," Xiao Rui said softly, sitting beside her. "People are talking more than ever. They saw you and Li Wei together in the library."

Mei Lin's stomach tightened. She hadn't even considered that their brief conversation would be seen by others, much less turned into fresh gossip.

"Let them talk," Mei Lin muttered, staring down at her notebook. "I don't care."

Xiao Rui frowned. "But you should care. Mei Lin, this is getting serious. People are saying all kinds of things—that you're stringing Li Wei along, that you're just playing hard to get, that you're—"

"Enough," Mei Lin cut her off, her voice sharper than intended. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I didn't ask for this, Rui. I didn't ask for any of this."

Xiao Rui was silent for a moment, her eyes searching Mei Lin's face. Finally, she leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know. But you're not in this alone. I'm with you, okay?"

Mei Lin felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. Xiao Rui had always been there for her, even when things got tough. It was comforting to know that, despite everything, she had at least one person in her corner.

"Thanks, Rui," Mei Lin said quietly, offering a small smile. "I appreciate it."

Before they could continue their conversation, the teacher walked in, and the class quickly fell into an uneasy silence. As the lesson began, Mei Lin tried to focus, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Li Wei. What was his angle? Did he really care about clearing up the rumors, or was there something else behind his actions?

She glanced out of the window, the sun casting long shadows across the courtyard. For the first time in a long time, Mei Lin found herself questioning the world around her. Maybe there was more to people than what met the eye—maybe even Li Wei.

---

The day dragged on, the hours slipping by in a blur of monotonous lessons and more whispered gossip. By the time lunch break arrived, Mei Lin was ready to escape the confines of the classroom. She headed for the school rooftop, a place where she often went to clear her head.

As she opened the door to the rooftop, she was surprised to find someone already there—Li Wei, standing by the edge, staring out at the skyline. His posture was as composed as ever, but there was a certain stillness about him that made Mei Lin pause.

She debated turning around and leaving before he noticed her, but it was too late. Li Wei glanced over his shoulder, his gaze locking onto hers.

"You again," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

Mei Lin bit her lip, her instinct to walk away warring with her curiosity. After their last conversation, she had more questions than answers, and the last thing she needed was another encounter that would complicate things further. But something about his presence—calm, yet conflicted—pulled her in.

"I didn't know anyone came up here," Mei Lin said, stepping onto the rooftop fully.

"I come here to think," Li Wei replied simply, turning back to face the city. "It's quiet."

Mei Lin nodded, moving to stand beside him, though she kept a cautious distance. She wasn't sure why, but the rooftop, with its sweeping view of the bustling city below, felt like the right place to be—not because of Li Wei, but because it offered a rare moment of clarity in the midst of the chaos.

They stood in silence for a while, neither of them speaking. Mei Lin could feel the tension between them, but it wasn't the same kind of tension as before. This was different—less hostile, more introspective.

Finally, Li Wei broke the silence.

"I've heard the rumors," he said, his voice low. "They're getting worse."

Mei Lin glanced at him, unsure of how to respond. She had expected him to be indifferent, maybe even annoyed by the gossip, but there was a subtle edge to his tone that caught her off guard.

"So have I," Mei Lin said, her voice quiet.

Li Wei's eyes flickered toward her, his expression unreadable. "And what do you think? About all of this?"

Mei Lin shrugged, though the movement felt heavy. "I think it's ridiculous. But people will believe whatever they want to believe."

Li Wei's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned back to the skyline. "People are predictable that way. They crave drama."

Mei Lin let out a soft laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Yeah. And we're the perfect targets."

A pause settled between them, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air. Mei Lin didn't know why, but for the first time, she felt like Li Wei understood her—like they were both caught in a web of expectations and misunderstandings, forced into roles they hadn't chosen.

"I don't care what they say," Li Wei said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence.

Mei Lin blinked, surprised by the force of his words.

"I don't care what they think of me," he continued, his eyes dark and serious. "But I won't let them drag you into this any further."

Mei Lin's heart skipped a beat. There was something intense in the way he spoke, something that made her chest tighten. She hadn't expected him to take a stand, to care about her reputation at all.

"You don't have to—" she began, but Li Wei cut her off.

"I know I don't," he said, his gaze sharp. "But I'm going to."

Before Mei Lin could respond, the door to the rooftop swung open, and a figure stepped out into the sunlight. It was Li Na, Li Wei's cousin, her face twisted in a mixture of curiosity and something darker.

"Well, well," Li Na said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Isn't this a cozy little scene?"

Mei Lin felt her stomach drop. This wasn't good.

Li Wei's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face his cousin. "What do you want, Li Na?"

Li Na's smile was anything but friendly. "Just checking in. I couldn't help but notice the two of you sneaking off together. People are going to start talking even more, you know."

Mei Lin tensed, but Li Wei didn't flinch. His voice was cold as ice when he responded. "Let them talk. I don't care."

Li Na raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his defiance. "Oh, but I think you do care, Li Wei. Otherwise, why would you be so protective of her?"

Mei Lin's pulse quickened. This was exactly the kind of confrontation she had been trying to avoid, but now it seemed inevitable. As Li Na's taunts grew sharper, the tension between them all escalated.

---

End of Chapter 4