She felt like the people around her were giving her strange looks!
Vivian Quinn walked into the classroom and quickly spotted a dejected-looking Ian Sterling.
"What’s with that look? Did I dig up your family’s ancestral graves or sothing?"
"Vivian Quinn, even if my uncle betrayed you, you can’t retaliate in the sa way!" Ian Sterling was seething. "You’re cutting off your nose to spite your face! How can you not see that?"
Vivian Quinn frowned. "What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word you’re saying."
"Stop playing dumb! The rumor is all over campus that you and Mason Landon are officially dating!"
"What?" Vivian Quinn actually laughed. "Who started that rumor?"
"I don’t know! But overnight, it’s beco accepted as fact. Everyone knows."
It finally dawned on Vivian Quinn. So what Hugh York had told her earlier wasn’t just baseless gossip!
"Ian, are you dense? You actually believe that?" Vivian Quinn gave him a disdainful look. "They say rumors die with the wise. I guess you’re not as smart as I thought."
Ian Sterling: "..."
His face lit up. "So there’s nothing going on between you and Mason Landon?"
"What could possibly be going on between us?"
Ian Sterling breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good. I was worried you’d do sothing rash, like grab so random guy to date just to prove you’re still desirable."
Vivian Quinn rolled her eyes. "Why don’t you do a favor and find out where this rumor started?"
"Why should I have to do it? Can’t you find out yourself?"
Vivian Quinn smiled. "Why use a sledgehamr to crack a nut?"
Ian Sterling: "..."
"Vivian Quinn, are you insulting ?"
"Are you going to do it or not?"
"No! You just insulted , why should I help you?"
"Fine. I’ll do it myself. And stay away from from now on."
Ian Sterling had no choice but to give in. "Alright, alright, I’ll look into it."
"Hurry up. I don’t want this rumor to get any more out of hand."
"I know, I know."
The first class of the morning was Mason Landon’s. The mont he stepped into the classroom, all eyes started darting between him and Vivian Quinn.
The female students looked at Vivian Quinn with a mixture of jealousy and envy.
Vivian Quinn pretended not to notice, focusing on the lecture.
Mason Landon also taught his class as usual, pretending nothing was amiss. It wasn’t until class was over that he spoke up. "Could I have a mont of your ti to address a personal matter? I’m not sure where the rumor about and Vivian Quinn started today, but I’d like to make a clarification."
Everyone instantly perked up, ready for the drama!
Mason Landon looked over at Vivian Quinn and said seriously, "It’s true that Vivian Quinn and I have known each other for a long ti. However, contrary to the rumors, we are not dating."
Vivian Quinn breathed a silent sigh of relief. ’It’s good that Mason is clearing this up now. It saves the trouble.’
The audience lost interest. They had been expecting so juicy gossip but ca up with nothing.
Then, Mason Landon suddenly smiled and continued, "But while we aren’t dating, Vivian and I are close in age and share many interests. I like her a great deal, and I’m actively pursuing her. I hope all of you will support in the days to co."
Vivian Quinn: "..." ???
After a few seconds of silence, the onlookers erupted into cheers, clapping and yelling, "Go for it, Mr. Landon!"
Vivian Quinn: "..."
Ian Sterling looked like he was about to explode. "Is Mason Landon out of his mind? A public confession? He’s completely disrespecting you!"
Vivian Quinn grabbed his arm. "Don’t be impulsive. If you rush up there and accidentally blurt out that I’m married, it’ll be a complete disaster. Calm down."
Ian Sterling could only sit back down, whispering, "Well, this is just great. He’s put you in a really awkward position. What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. I’m not in the mood to deal with this."
Over the course of the afternoon, the news that Mason Landon was pursuing Vivian Quinn spread like wildfire across Aethelgard University.
Everywhere Vivian Quinn went, she was t with stares.
She paid them no mind. As soon as her classes were over, she left campus and took a taxi back to Sycamore Bay.
Partway through the taxi ride, her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Mason Landon.
Vivian Quinn rejected the call imdiately.
Undeterred, he called again.
Vivian Quinn rejected it again, then promptly blocked his number.
She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes to rest, when a gruff voice suddenly sounded nearby. "Arguing with your boyfriend, young lady? Not even taking his calls?"
"No, he’s not my boyfriend," Vivian Quinn denied.
The driver laughed. "I’ve t plenty of young ladies like you. Love to get all pouty. It’s definitely your boyfriend."
Vivian Quinn: "..."
Her phone rang again. It was a different, unknown number. Vivian Quinn had a good idea who it was, but she answered it anyway. "Hello?"
"Vivian, it’s ," ca Mason Landon’s voice. "Why didn’t you answer my call? Did you block ?"
"Isn’t it obvious? I don’t approve of what you did today. If I answered your call like nothing happened, wouldn’t that imply I condone what you said?" Vivian Quinn said coldly. "Mason, I hate being put on the spot, and that’s exactly what you did to today."
"Vivian, I’m sorry." Mason Landon’s tone softened. "I admit, I was impulsive. But I had to make a move, otherwise there would never be a chance for us to go anywhere."
"You really think that was ’making a move’? You think that by making that decision on your own, we could actually get sowhere?" Vivian Quinn scoffed. "Mason, you didn’t show even the most basic respect. What makes you think I’d ever want anything to do with you?"
The voice on the other end of the line fell silent for a mont before speaking again, his tone heavy. "Vivian, you’ve never shown any compassion. Is it so wrong for to love you? But in your eyes, everything I do is wrong..."
"Your love makes uncomfortable, and that makes it wrong for ." Vivian Quinn rubbed her throbbing temples. "Mason, I’m sorry, but I really can’t accept this way you have of loving . Maybe it’s my problem, and maybe it’s unfair to you, but I want to be perfectly clear with you one last ti: We are not a good match, and I can never return your feelings."
"I want the rumors at school to stop here. Don’t let them go any further. Otherwise, blocking your number will be the least of your worries. I will fight back."
With that, Vivian Quinn hung up.
The driver in the front seat gulped. "Wow, young lady, you’ve got quite an intense personality. You even scared a little. A girl can’t be that fierce, you’ll scare all the n away."
Vivian Quinn gave a faint smile. "For the n I don’t like, the farther they run, the better."
"You’re pretty enough that you’re not short on suitors. You can afford to be picky."
Her phone suddenly rang one more ti. It was Ian Sterling.
Vivian Quinn swiped to answer. "Go ahead."
"Vivian Quinn, I found out what you asked to look into!"
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