Become a Knight Across the World

Chapter 279 Rumors

The new semester slipped by in an atmosphere that seemed calm on the surface but was actually rife with undercurrents.

Li Yuetian and Yun Yi seemed to have reached some kind of silent competitive agreement, with only one goal—to capture Lin Yue's attention.

Li Yuetian's method was to "bind academics to learning." He seized every opportunity related to learning, from explaining problems during breaks to discussing difficult issues after school, to tutoring on weekends, and he did it flawlessly, with reasons that made it impossible for Lin Yue to refuse.

His advantage of sitting at the desk in front of Lin Yue was fully utilized. With a turn of his head or a question, he could easily pull Lin Yue into a "study zone" where it was just the two of them.

Yun Yi's main approach is "frequent face-scanning" and "life care." He delivers milk and fruit, waits for Lin Yue to go home together after school, and even runs over during the ten-minute break between classes to ask her some trivial questions... With his sunny and handsome face, he calls Lin Yue "Sister Yueyue" affectionately and naturally, without any hesitation.

His frequent appearances at the entrance of Class 3, Grade 11, even drew the attention of students from the neighboring class.

The two are completely different, yet equally dazzling. One is the top student in the grade, and the other is a sunny and handsome junior. With such a high frequency and density of attention revolving around the same girl, it's hard not to attract attention.

Whispers gradually began to spread in the corridors, cafeteria, and even the toilet stalls of the second-year high school students.

"Hey, have you heard? Lin Yue from Class 3 of the second year of high school..."

"I know, I know, the one who's pretty and whose grades are improving fast?"

"Yes, yes, yes! She's amazing, she's got two boyfriends at the same time!"

"Huh? Really? With whom?"

"Who else could it be? The top student in the grade who sits in front of her! And that freshman who always comes to their class, I heard that boy even lives at her house!"

"Wow! That's explosive! I didn't realize you were so aloof, you're usually so cool..."

"Tch, just pretending to be high and mighty. She's keeping a top student by her side while living with a young, handsome guy. Tsk tsk, what a clever scheme!"

"I heard she was enjoying it quite a bit? Two guys were practically fawning over her..."

"What a slut! So young and already knows how to have fun..."

Rumors spread like wildfire, becoming increasingly outrageous and obscure with each passing tale. From "good relationship" to "ambiguous relationship," and then escalating to "two-timing," "cohabitation," and "scheming woman."

These malicious speculations and stigmatizing labels inevitably reached the teacher's ears.

In the afternoon, Lin Yue was called to the office by her homeroom teacher, Ms. Wang.

Ms. Wang is a middle-aged woman in her forties who is usually quite gentle with her students, but at this moment her face is ashen and her eyes are sharp.

"Lin Yue, close the door." Teacher Wang's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

Lin Yue closed the door as instructed and stood calmly in front of the desk: "Teacher Wang, you wanted to see me?"

"Don't you know why I'm talking to you?" Teacher Wang slammed her hand on the table, her voice rising. "Lin Yue! I've always thought of you as a diligent and motivated student! Your grades have improved so quickly, and I'm very happy for you! But look at what you've been doing lately! Huh?!"

Lin Yue frowned slightly, her eyes showing genuine confusion: "Teacher Wang, I don't understand what you mean. I've been studying diligently lately..."

Although I don't listen to the lectures all the time and sometimes daydream, there's no need to make such a fuss.

"Study hard?" Teacher Wang sneered. "Study hard enough to be glued to Li Yuetian every day? Study hard enough to have first-year students running to our class every day? It's causing all the gossip in the grade! Do you know how bad the impact is? Do you even care about the reputation of our No. 2 High School?!"

Lin Yue finally understood; the fragments of words that had drifted into her ears instantly connected. Her face remained expressionless, showing neither panic nor anger, but calmly stating, "Teacher Wang, Li Yuetian and I sit in front of and behind each other, so it's normal for us to interact during class. He's the top student in the grade, and when I have questions I don't understand, I ask him for help, and he's willing to help me. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"As for Yunyi, who is in the first year of high school, he is my younger brother. He was admitted to our school but did not have a dormitory, so he temporarily stayed in a spare room at my house. We are relatives. He came to see me in the second year of high school, sometimes to bring me something, sometimes to ask me something, that's all. I don't know why these things have become what you call 'sticking together' and 'gossip'."

Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant, her words were clear and logical, and she looked directly at Teacher Wang with an open and honest gaze.

Teacher Wang was taken aback by her overly calm attitude. Her anger seemed to subside a little, but her suspicions deepened: "Relatives? Staying here? Are you telling the truth? Then why are the rumors so nasty? Like she's two-timing you, living together..."

“I don’t understand why this is happening, but rumors stop with the wise, Teacher Wang.” Lin Yue interrupted her, her tone still calm. “I don’t know who is spreading rumors behind my back, nor do I care why they are spreading them. I only know that my relationship with Li Yuetian and Yun Yi is just a normal classmate relationship and a relationship of relatives staying together. There was no puppy love, no ‘two-timing,’ and certainly no so-called ‘cohabitation’ scandal. If you don’t believe me, you can check it out.”

Looking into Lin Yue's clear, unwavering eyes, and remembering that she usually did nothing but study and that her conversations with Li Yuetian were mostly about discussing problems, Teacher Wang's heart couldn't help but lean towards her.

But to be on the safe side, she kept a straight face: "Okay, I'll believe you for now. But there's no smoke without fire! As a girl, you should know how to keep yourself in line and be careful about your interactions with male classmates! Especially your younger brother in the first year of high school. Although he's a relative, he's not related by blood, and you live under the same roof. Don't you understand the importance of avoiding any awkward situations? Be more mindful of your behavior in the future! Alright, go back and write an explanation for me!"

"Okay, Teacher Wang." Lin Yue nodded, turned and left the office. Her back was straight, showing no sign of frustration or grievance after being reprimanded, only a hint of...trouble.

Teacher Wang watched her retreating figure, pondered for a moment, picked up the phone, first called Teacher Liu, Yunyi's homeroom teacher, and then asked someone to call Li Yuetian.

In the office, faced with the stern questioning and indirect probing from the two homeroom teachers, Li Yuetian and Yun Yi reacted very differently, yet they both ultimately confirmed Lin Yue's statement.

Li Yuetian's face was grim, but he tried his best to remain calm: "Teacher, Lin Yue and I are just ordinary classmates, sitting in front of and behind each other. She studies hard and is ambitious. As the class monitor and sitting in front of her, it is only right for me to help her. As for the rumors... they are pure nonsense! I will be careful to avoid any unnecessary contact."

He said he would reduce contact, but his eyes revealed resentment and worry. He was clearly more concerned about the impact and grievances that Lin Yue would suffer as a result.

Meanwhile, Yun Yi was even more agitated, his face flushed red: "What cohabitation? What two-timing? Who the hell is spreading these rumors?! Yueyue is my sister! What's wrong with me staying at her house? That's my brother-in-law's house, it's just empty anyway! What's wrong with me looking for her? Can't I even deliver some milk or ask for directions? Those gossipers are just bored out of their minds!"

He was furious, his words filled with defense of Lin Yue and anger at the rumors.

The two homeroom teachers exchanged a glance; their decades of experience gave them a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Lin Yue is probably truly innocent, but those two boys... are not innocent at all!

Especially Yun Yi, his reaction was clearly off. Although Li Yuetian tried to control himself, his nervousness and concern couldn't escape the teacher's notice.

"Alright, we understand the situation," Teacher Wang said sternly. "Regardless of the circumstances, the rumors have already caused a terrible impact! You two, especially you, be more careful in the future! Don't go to the second-year high school classes so often! Li Yuetian, when you help your classmates, be mindful of your methods and keep your distance! Go back and reflect on your actions!"

That evening, after returning home, Lin Yue looked at the several messages of explanation and apology sent by Li Yuetian and Yun Yi on her phone, as well as a few WeChat messages from classmates subtly inquiring about her situation, and felt a surge of annoyance.

She wasn't afraid of rumors, nor was she bothered to explain, but being dragged into this pointless vortex for no reason, being called in for a lecture by the homeroom teacher, and being gossiped about behind her back... it was really troublesome.

She hates trouble.

So she opened Li Yuetian's chat window and edited a few messages in an extremely tactful manner.