Invitation

As soon as the class ended, Lia smoothly rose from her seat, shooting Jing Hao a quick, polite smile before slipping her notebook into her bag. She stood up, the quiet shuffle of her movements drawing the eyes of a few students around her. Without wasting any time, she began making her way toward the door, her heels clicking softly against the linoleum floor.

She had spent two hours sitting in on Professor Shi's class, but she hadn't bothered to inform Professor Qin about it beforehand. That realization was gnawing at her now. Lia knew she needed to check in with him to get his approval for her actions.

He was, after all, the department head—the boss around here. Tarnishing his reputation would not only be reckless, but it could also jeopardize her position. Professor Qin had gone out of his way to offer her the job after the semester had already started, and Lia didn't want to take his generosity lightly.

As she moved swiftly toward the exit, Jing Hao's expression shifted. His usual calm demeanor faltered, and for a brief moment, a flicker of panic crossed his face. It was as though he thought the girl of his dreams was slipping away before he had a chance to make his move.

"Wait! Where are you going?" he called after her, his voice louder than he intended.

Lia stopped and glanced back, her brow lifting slightly. She was already coming up with an excuse, the words forming on her lips as she turned to face him.

"You heard Professor Shi," she said casually. "I'm going to get a word with him in his office."

As soon as she said this, Yaya, who had been watching the whole interaction with a hawk's gaze, smirked. Her sharp eyes gleamed with contempt. "This slut just wants to seduce Professor Shi," she whispered loudly enough for the girls around her to hear. "She realized he's an even bigger fish than Jing Hao, never mind that he's ancient."

Her voice dripped with mockery as she added, "That's just how these promiscuous women are."

Meng Yi, who had been sitting beside Yaya, sighed deeply.

"Stop giving her attention," she said, her tone laced with annoyance. She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "That's what she wants."

Jing Hao, standing nearby, heard enough. His expression darkened, and he spun around to face the two girls, anger flickering in his eyes.

"She hasn't even said anything to you guys," he snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. "Why are you picking on her?"

Yaya's face turned red with frustration, her eyes narrowing as she tried to come up with a retort. "That's just what she wants you to think!" she shouted, her voice trembling slightly.

There was an edge of desperation in her tone now. For years, she had harbored feelings for Jing Hao. Ever since they were kids attending gatherings together, she had always believed he was the one she wanted to be with. Now, with Lia's arrival, it felt as though her position—the attention she had always hoped to receive from Jing—was being threatened.

Jing Hao, however, wasn't having any of it. His voice dropped, his tone firm and unwavering as he addressed Yaya. "She didn't even talk to you."

Yaya's face twisted in frustration, her voice rising in a whine. "She just wants your attention!" she spat, her eyes flaring with jealousy.

Lia stood by the door now, arms casually crossed over her chest, watching the scene unfold with a raised eyebrow. Her posture was relaxed, seemingly unfazed by Yaya's tantrum. She didn't need to engage with these petty, childish games. Her silence only seemed to infuriate Yaya more, though, fueling the girl's fury.

Ignoring Yaya's outburst entirely, Jing Hao turned his attention back to Lia. His voice softened, his earlier frustration dissipating as he spoke. "Lia," he started, his tone gentler now, "never mind her."

He hesitated for a second, as though searching for the right words. "My family is hosting a party at the Golden Banquet Hall tonight. Quite a few of the professors will be there, too—"

Yaya's eyes widened with disbelief as she cut him off, her voice rising to a shrill pitch. "Why are you inviting her?!" she demanded, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

But Jing Hao was undeterred. He finished his sentence without acknowledging Yaya's interruption. "—I hope you'll come," he said, his gaze steady as he met Lia's eyes. There was a hint of warmth in his expression, but also a challenge, daring her to accept his invitation despite the tension in the air.

Lia paused for a moment, her eyes flicking from Jing Hao to Yaya and then back again. She could feel the weight of Yaya's seething jealousy pressing down on the room, but it didn't bother her. After all, this was not the first time she had dealt with envious girls like Yaya. And it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Without saying much, Lia gave Jing Hao a small nod, neither confirming nor denying- only acknowledging, her expression calm and composed.

She uncrossed her arms and turned, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked out of the room. 

The echoes of her footsteps lingered in the air, a quiet reminder that Zhang Lia didn't need to raise her voice or engage in petty drama. Her presence was enough to stir the room.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Yaya's face crumpled into a mask of frustration, her shoulders trembling with barely contained rage.

She turned toward Meng Yi, hoping for some kind of affirmation, but Meng Yi just shook her head, clearly uninterested in fueling Yaya's insecurities.