The echo of the hallway seemed louder than usual.
Veronica's heels tapped against the polished marble like a countdown. Five steps from the door marked "Administrative Panel Conference Room." Four from the curious stares of students pretending to look at the bulletin board. Three from the half-buzzed whispers just out of earshot but fully meant for her to hear.
"Kissing in the dark… with her bodyguard? Bold."
"Or desperate."
Veronica didn't blink.
She pushed open the door with one smooth motion.
Inside, the mood was stiff. A long, walnut-wood table ran the length of the room. At its center sat Principal Zheng, face impassive but displeased. To his left: Mrs. Hu, head of student conduct. To the right: Student Council President Bai Jun, a silver-framed pair of glasses perched on his nose and a self-righteous gleam in his eyes.
Opposite them sat an empty chair.
For her.
Veronica walked in without pausing. She took her seat with the same grace she used when entering the ballroom the night before. Not defiant—but unreadable.
Exactly how a ghost should be.
"Miss Lin," Principal Zheng began, folding his hands. "You've been summoned here today regarding a matter of school conduct and public image."
Veronica tilted her head slightly. "The kiss?"
Mrs. Hu cleared her throat sharply. "The alleged kiss."
"Of course." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Alleged."
President Bai tapped a folder in front of him. "There's photographic evidence, Miss Lin. Multiple images are circulating on social media, some tagged with your name. Most have been taken down. One has not."
He turned his tablet toward her.
A crystal-clear still.
Veronica. In Lucas's arms.
The lighting was dim but golden. Her mask was tilted back slightly. His hand was cradling her jaw. They weren't kissing. But it looked like they had just finished.
Or were about to.
The angle was cruel. The implication is worse.
"It appears you violated the school's code of conduct on public decency. Not to mention the conflict of interest between a student and her hired protector."
Veronica didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she leaned back.
Cool. Calm. Unapologetically composed.
"Interesting photo," she said finally. "Lovely composition. Whoever took it has a good eye. Shall we discuss the angle and aperture settings? Or are we skipping to the character assassination part?"
Principal Zheng's brow twitched.
Mrs. Hu leaned forward, lips pressed thin. "This is no time for sarcasm, Miss Lin."
"I agree," said a voice from the door.
Everyone turned.
Lucas stepped in.
He wore the school's security lanyard like armor, black blazer fitted perfectly, eyes unreadable. He walked straight to Veronica and stood behind her chair. Silent, but present.
Like a wall no one could scale.
Bai Jun frowned. "Mr. Zhao, this is an internal disciplinary—"
"She's not alone," Lucas said flatly. "And I have something to add."
Principal Zheng sighed. "This better be relevant."
Lucas's gaze didn't waver. "The photo? It was taken during the blackout. Right before the power failed. At that moment, I pulled Miss Lin aside to shield her from possible harm. I didn't kiss her. I was checking if she had been injured. That's all."
"You were… cradling her face?" Bai Jun asked skeptically.
Lucas looked him dead in the eye. "I would do the same for any student I was assigned to protect if I thought they were drugged or targeted. Last night was a security breach. You can check the incident logs."
That was the truth.
A version of it.
Veronica watched the panel. Mrs. Hu looked unconvinced. Principal Zheng, as always, is calculating. Bai Jun was enjoying this far too much.
"And if," Bai Jun said slowly, "it was a kiss… What then? Would either of you admit it?"
Lucas leaned slightly forward. His voice dropped.
"I already did."
The room froze.
Heat flashed up Veronica's spine.
Lucas didn't even look at her. "I kissed her. I'm not ashamed of it. But it didn't happen at the gala. It happened later. Off-campus. In private."
"Lucas—" she started, startled.
He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. "Let me."
Mrs. Hu gawked. "You're saying this was… consensual?"
"Entirely." He met the principal's gaze. "And not on school grounds. You'll find no violations here. Just gossip and people who want to police something they don't understand."
Veronica's head buzzed.
Was he… protecting her by confessing to something else entirely? Creating a shield of truth-wrapped fiction?
Zheng studied them both. "I will review the footage and timestamps. But you understand, this could still result in sanctions. Miss Lin's academic future is a concern."
Veronica exhaled slowly.
Then smiled—cool and lethal.
"With all due respect, Principal Zheng, my future has never relied on this school. But I do expect my safety to be taken seriously. There was a drug at the gala. Someone wore a mafia symbol associated with a series of murders from New York's underground. If you're going to hold disciplinary hearings, I'd recommend you start with the girl who fainted… and the snake with the dagger tattoo hiding behind Serena Wu."
Silence.
Even Bai Jun looked taken aback.
Mrs. Hu blinked. "Excuse me, are you suggesting—?"
"I'm suggesting that if this board is interested in facts, you start asking better questions."
Lucas gave the faintest nod behind her, like a silent "well played."
Principal Zheng's lips twitched. He closed the folder slowly.
"This hearing is suspended, pending further review."
Veronica rose.
Lucas followed.
As they reached the door, Bai Jun called after her.
"One last thing, Miss Lin."
She stopped without turning.
"You seem very sure of yourself," he said, adjusting his glasses. "But confidence can be a double-edged sword. Especially when it becomes arrogance."
She glanced over her shoulder, smile untouched. "Good thing I'm used to handling blades."
And with that, she walked out.
But as soon as they were alone in the corridor, her poise cracked—just a little.
She exhaled shakily, pressing her hand to the railing.
Lucas was beside her in an instant. "You okay?"
"No." Her voice was quiet. "Someone's playing a deeper game. And I don't know all the rules yet."
He stepped closer.
"You're not playing it alone."
She looked up.
His expression was serious. Steady. Unshakeable.
Not cold.
Not obsessive.
Just… there.
It terrified her more than anything else.
Because, for once, Veronica didn't want to play the lone queen.
She just wanted to not lose him.