Chapter 180: lunch

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: lunch

The two of them eventually reached the university canteen.

By then, the lunch crowd had already begun filling the room.

Damian noticed the glances almost immediately.

He had become accustomed to them.

The rumors surrounding him and Vivienne had been circulating for days now—especially after the Founder’s Ball, when he danced with her in front of half the university.

By now, the rumor had practically become part of university life.

And last Sunday had only made things worse.

Vivienne’s engagement to Anthony was not a secret. So when Vivienne announced that she and Anthony broke it off during Sunday’s afternoon tea, that information quickly reached the rumor mill. From there, the stories had practically written themselves.

Mostly with him starring as the primary reason.

He disliked people making assumptions about something that didn’t exist.

And yet...

As he noticed another pair of students glance at them before quickly looking away, an entirely different thought crossed his mind.

If everyone already believed there was something between him and Vivienne...

Perhaps Christopher Archibald would hear about it too.

Perhaps he’d assume she was already involved with someone.

Perhaps...

He would stay away.

Damian immediately frowned at himself.

What am I thinking?

He shouldn’t be hoping that a stupid rumor would keep another man away from her.

That was ridiculous.

Still...

He couldn’t deny that the thought was oddly comforting.

Beside him, Vivienne seemed completely oblivious.

She glanced around the crowded room.

"There’s a table."

Damian followed her gaze.

A small table near the windows had just become available.

They made their way over.

Damian pulled out a chair.

"You go get your lunch first. I’ll save the table."

Vivienne nodded.

"Alright then. I’ll get mine first."

She placed her bag on the chair beside him.

"I’ll be back."

Damian nodded.

"All right."

Vivienne walked toward the food counters.

--

As she waited in line, Vivienne glanced around the canteen.

Her eyes wandered toward the entrance.

Then toward the tables near the windows.

Nothing.

No Christopher.

She looked once more.

Still nothing.

She eventually collected her lunch and returned to the table.

Damian was already seated.

"I’ll get mine now," he said, standing.

Vivienne nodded.

"Okay."

He walked away toward the counters.

The moment he was out of earshot, Vivienne quietly pulled out her phone.

She checked the screen.

Nothing.

Her smile faded slightly.

She opened he text messages.

Still no unread message from Christopher.

She stared at it for a moment.

He said he’d talk to me later.

Maybe he was busy.

He had classes.

And he was probably having lunch somewhere.

There was no reason to feel disappointed.

Still...

Her lips formed the tiniest pout.

She hadn’t heard from him since yesterday.

She could wait.

She probably should.

...

But she didn’t really want to.

Vivienne thought for a moment.

Then typed:

Hi. Have you eaten lunch already?

She stared at the message.

Then sent it.

A minute passed.

Her phone vibrated.

She immediately picked it up.

I’m going to have lunch soon.

Vivienne smiled.

So he hadn’t eaten yet.

She typed:

Are you getting lunch at the canteen?

His reply came a little later.

No. I’m having lunch outside campus.

Vivienne looked up.

She glanced around the canteen again.

Of course.

That’s why she hadn’t seen him.

She typed:

Oh. Where do you usually have lunch?

A moment later:

Usually somewhere just outside the university. There’s a small place near the main road.

Vivienne smiled.

Her first thought was immediate.

Oh, where is that?

She almost typed it.

Or perhaps—

Maybe you can show me sometime?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

That was too eager.

Much too eager.

She couldn’t exactly ask a man she’d only just started talking to if he would personally take her to his favorite lunch spot.

Even if she really wanted to know.

Vivienne stared at the screen for a few seconds.

Then she slowly deleted what she typed.

She could always ask another time.

Besides...

Something else suddenly came to mind.

The Polo Club.

Right.

She had never seen Christopher there.

But he had told her he was playing polo for the Sports Festival.

Maybe he belonged to another club.

She frowned slightly.

She would ask him later.

For now—

Her phone remained in her hand.

She smiled faintly at the screen, thinking about what to say next.

"Vivienne."

She looked up.

Damian was standing beside the table.

He had returned with his lunch.

His eyes flicked briefly toward the phone in her hand.

Then toward her face.

She realized she was smiling.

She immediately straightened.

"Oh."

She quickly locked the phone.

"You’re back."

"Yes."

He placed his lunch on the table and sat down.

Vivienne hesitated.

She felt slightly embarrassed.

Not because she was doing anything wrong.

But because Damian already knew she was interested in Christopher.

And she suddenly realized she was about to ask him something that might make that even more obvious.

Still...

Who else was she supposed to ask?

She cleared her throat.

"Damian?"

He looked at her.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

He picked up his fork.

Vivienne hesitated.

"Is Christopher in the Polo Club?"

Damian’s hand paused.

His brows drew together.

"No."

"Oh."

"Why?"

Vivienne gave a small smile.

"I’ve just never seen him there before."

Damian stared at her for a moment.

She was already thinking about him again.

Of course.

"Do you know which club he’s in?"

"No."

"Oh."

Vivienne nodded.

That was a little disappointing.

She glanced back down at her phone.

Then an idea came to her.

She opened a new message again.

Her fingers moved.

By the way, I haven’t asked you before. Which physical activity club are you in?

She sent it.

Damian watched her for a moment.

He didn’t say anything.

His expression had become slightly more serious.

Vivienne didn’t notice.

Her phone vibrated.

She looked down.

Fencing.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Fencing?

She smiled.

Then typed:

Oh, I see. I thought because you’re joining the polo competition, you were also in the Polo Club. I guess that’s why I’ve never seen you there before.

Christopher replied:

No. I’m with the Fencing Club. The polo tournament is separate.

Vivienne nodded to herself.

That made sense.

She typed:

Got it. Thanks for telling me. I’ll let you have your lunch now. Talk to you later.

A moment later, Christopher replied:

Sure. Enjoy your lunch.

Vivienne smiled.

She locked her phone.

Then finally looked up.