Chapter 6

The sound of my boots was the only noise in the oppressive silence, each step landing like a strike on everyone's raw nerves.

They watched me as if I were the leading lady making a grand entrance in an annual drama.

I walked past them expressionlessly. The closer I got to the office, the clearer the whispers became.

"Oh my god, Luna Elara is really here!"

"Dressed like that... is she here to declare war?"

"This is going to be good. Quick, open a SnapChat group and start a live stream!"

"Lila's still in Professor Kian's office. I saw her go in crying this morning, and she hasn't come out since."

I heard these voices, and a cold sneer flickered across my lips.

Excellent, the audience was all in place.

I reached the tightly closed wooden door.

The door's soundproofing was good, but I could still faintly hear suppressed, intermittent sobbing from inside.

It was Lila's voice.

I didn't knock.

Under everyone's gaze, I simply turned the doorknob and pushed the door open forcefully.

The moment the door swung open, the scene inside clearly reflected in my eyes, and in the countless peeking eyes in the hallway.

Inside the office, Kian stood by the sofa.

And Lila sat on the guest sofa, crying piteously, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

Kian held a tissue in his hand, leaning slightly forward, about to offer it to her.

His face was filled with annoyance and reluctance.

Hearing the door open, both of them simultaneously looked towards the entrance.

Lila saw me, and her crying ceased abruptly, like a cat whose throat had been squeezed.

A fleeting look of panic flashed in her eyes, quickly replaced by deeper grievance and tears.

The moment Kian recognized me, his whole body froze.

His outstretched hand remained suspended in mid-air, the tissue hovering, creating an almost comical awkwardness.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, observing the "deeply moving" scene before me.

I smiled, breaking the silence.

"Professor Kian, busy, are we? I hope I'm not interrupting."