CHAPTER 89: GOING WITHOUT GIVING YOUR BOYFRIEND A KISS?

"Laura, this is a library—a place for quiet study.

Do you realize how disruptive your loud voice is to public order?"

Dyson’s tone was icy, laced with simmering anger, his presence commanding.

Instantly, the gossiping students fell silent, their whispers dying in their throats.

Laura was practically campus royalty—a notorious diva with an entitled attitude, someone no one dared to cross.

Even the faculty tread lightly around her.

Yet here she was, publicly called out, her face flushing crimson with rage.

Her sharp, dagger-like glare fixed onto Beauty.

"Senior Dyson, I was just worried you might be fooled by her fake innocence—"

"I’m an adult, perfectly capable of judging people for myself.

I don’t need anyone’s warnings," Dyson cut in, his voice firm.

"Beauty is my girlfriend now, and I trust her."

Though the confession came under such awkward circumstances, Beauty couldn’t help the warmth flooding her cheeks.

Her eyes, glistening with emotion, met Dyson’s—grateful, moved.

What was meant to humiliate her in front of the entire library had backfired spectacularly.

Instead of shame, she became the talk of the campus.

Within minutes, the news that the school heartthrob had publicly claimed her as his girlfriend exploded across the university’s forums and message boards.

Some girls were heartbroken, while others seethed, cursing her name a thousand times in their heads—some probably even stitching voodoo dolls in her likeness.

Though Beauty had made the list of the university’s top ten beauties, her ranking still trailed behind Laura’s.

The photo ranked second mainly because it was a candid shot without makeup and somewhat blurry from being taken without permission.

In the eyes of many boys, Laura was the unattainable little princess, while Beauty remained the untouchable "white moonlight" in their hearts—a goddess-like figure.

Everyone knew of her connection to the Marson family, so no one dared to pursue her.

"What’s wrong?

Are you upset that I suddenly declared you as my girlfriend in front of so many people?"

Walking along a secluded tree-lined path on campus, Dyson turned to her with a gentle gaze, his voice soft as he spoke.

"No, it’s just... I wasn’t expecting it.

I didn’t think you’d say that in front of Laura.

Were you just helping me out, or was it really."

"Of course it was real.

I’ve wanted to say it for a long time—I just didn’t know how to bring it up.

If anything, I should thank Laura.

If not for her, who knows how much longer I would’ve waited to confess?"

Fingers intertwined, they passed beneath the crabapple trees, dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and resting on their heads like a weightless, golden happiness.

Yet, for some reason, Beauty still felt an inexplicable hollowness in her heart, as if something remained unfilled.

Maybe this was the taste of first love—that ambiguous, indescribable flutter of emotions.

She remembered Hannah once saying that college wouldn’t be complete without a relationship.

Otherwise, it’d all be a waste.

She wasn’t sure if holding hands like this counted as being in a relationship, nor whether it meant her college life would now feel fulfilled.

"You didn’t ask me about my connection to the Marson family."

After a long silence, Beauty finally spoke, her voice slightly hoarse.

She cleared her throat lightly.

Above them, birds chirped intermittently from the treetops, their cheerful melodies weaving through the air like a lively symphony.

Yet at this moment, her heart was unusually calm.

"I don’t need to know," she said softly.

"No matter what ties you have with the Marson family, I refuse to believe you’re the kind of woman Laura described.

I know life there must have been hard for you.

Just hold on—once I’m able to, I’ll make sure you leave that place for good.

Then we can be together, okay?"

Dyson’s voice was always deep and resonant, like the low hum of a cell, even deeper than Lucas’s.

It was an unexpected contrast to his bright, youthful face.

Beauty nodded, a trace of bitterness rising in her heart.

Just as Laura had said—how could a man as cold, domineering, and unreasonable as Lucas ever let her go so easily?

Still, not wanting to dampen his spirits, she forced a bright smile, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons.

It was as if happiness itself was waving at them just ahead.

Despite the brief interruption caused by Laura, nothing could stop them from attending the concert together.

Beauty slipped out through a different exit, her face half-hidden behind a mask, successfully avoiding Laura and Lucas’s watchful eyes.

She cut through a narrow alley and spotted Dyson waiting at the crosswalk, dressed in casual attire.

The moment he saw her, his long legs carried him swiftly toward her.

Without hesitation, he took her hand, guiding her across wide asphalt streets and past several traffic lights.

Finally, they arrived at the concert hall.

Lucas had insisted she learn proper etiquette, often sending tutors to escort her to high-end venues like this—all to broaden her horizons, refine her tastes, and ensure she never embarrassed him in public.

The concert ended at 10 p.m., marking the first time she’d stayed out so late without returning home.

She wondered if Lucas knew.

Even if he didn’t, Laura had probably already tattled on her by now.

Who knows—maybe she’d even spilled everything about what happened at the library today.

What would his reaction be?

Anger?

Or maybe just cold indifference?

For nearly two hours, Beauty sat beside Dyson, her mind racing with these thoughts.

Outwardly, she appeared to be engrossed in the music, but her thoughts had long since wandered far away.

"Hey, what’s on your mind?"

Dyson, waved a large hand in front of her face, his lips curling into a faint smile, his eyes clear and bright.

"You’ve been distracted the whole way.

Worried he’ll give you a hard time for coming back so late?"

Beauty shook her head.

Pushed along by the crowd, she stepped outside and smiled softly.

"Lucas is always busy with work—he barely comes home.

He doesn’t bother with my affairs anyway.

Maybe he’s just tired of it all.

Let’s head back now."

Sensing her lingering unease, Dyson thoughtfully hailed a cab and escorted her all the way to the gates of the Marson family villa.

He wanted to walk her inside—after all, the estate was vast, and the dim streetlights at night made him uneasy about leaving her alone.

But Beauty refused.

"It’s fine.

Everyone here is part of the Marson household—nothing will happen to me.

You’re the one who has a long way home.

See you tomorrow!"

She waved at him and turned to leave, but a large hand caught her wrist.

Dyson grinned down at her, his voice low and teasing.

"Leaving without a kiss?"

Her ears burned red as she rose on her tiptoes, pressing a light kiss to his forehead.

The air between them grew thick with something unspoken.

Just as Dyson tilted his head to capture her lips, a blinding beam of light suddenly cut through the darkness, forcing them both to squint.