Chapter 316: boyfriend IX

Chapter 316: Chapter 316: boyfriend IX

Vivienne glanced at the clock.

It was already past noon.

She looked at her friends, then at Christopher.

"Uh... should we go have lunch now?"

Christopher nodded.

"Yes."

Before Vivienne could say anything else, Amelia suddenly spoke.

"Could we come along?"

Vivienne slowly turned her head and gave her a look.

Amelia tried not to laugh.

Christopher glanced at Vivienne first.

She looked back at him, suddenly a little shy, as though she wasn’t quite sure what to say.

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Sure. If you’d like to join us."

He looked at the others as well.

"You’re all welcome."

Claire immediately shook her head.

"Don’t mind Amelia."

Amelia laughed.

"Yeah, I’m just kidding."

She glanced between the two of them.

"We don’t want to third-wheel on you two."

Eleanor nodded.

"Exactly."

She smiled at Vivienne.

"You two go."

Amelia turned to Vivienne.

"We’ll see you later."

"Okay."

"And be back to the dorm a little earlier," Amelia added. "We need to get ready for the party."

Vivienne nodded.

"Okay."

Amelia glanced at Christopher.

He gave her a polite nod.

Claire waved.

"Have fun."

Eleanor smiled.

"Enjoy your date."

Vivienne’s cheeks turned pink.

"Bye, guys."

"Bye, Vivienne."

"See you later."

Vivienne waved once more before turning back to Christopher.

Christopher smiled at her.

"Shall we?"

"Yes. Let’s go."

Vivienne reached for his hand herself.

Her fingers slipped naturally between his.

Christopher looked down at their joined hands, then at her.

Vivienne smiled shyly at him.

"Let’s go?"

"All right."

They took a few steps before Christopher glanced down at the fencing bag still hanging from his shoulder.

"Actually..."

Vivienne looked at him.

"Would it be all right if I leave my bag in the dorm first?"

She looked at the large bag.

Then at him.

"Oh, yeah."

She hadn’t really thought about it.

He had been carrying all his fencing gear around since the morning.

"Of course. Let’s go there first."

Christopher smiled.

"Thank you."

They headed toward the men’s residence hall, still holding hands.

--

When they reached the men’s residence hall, Christopher stopped at the entrance.

"I’ll just bring this up."

He lifted the fencing bag slightly.

"Okay."

Vivienne released his hand.

"I’ll wait here."

"All right. I won’t be long."

Christopher gave her a small smile before heading inside.

Vivienne moved to the side of the entrance and waited.

She folded her hands in front of her and smiled to herself.

Waiting for my boyfriend.

The thought still felt strange.

And wonderful.

She glanced toward the doors.

I wonder where we’re going for lunch.

She was still thinking about it when she heard a familiar voice.

"Lady Beaumont?"

Vivienne looked up.

Two young men were walking toward the residence hall.

She blinked.

For a moment, she couldn’t quite place them.

Then she remembered.

Oh.

Damian’s friends.

Julian and Adrian.

Her stomach dropped slightly.

Please don’t come over.

She gave them a polite smile.

"Hello."

She hoped they would simply return the greeting and keep walking.

Julian, naturally, stopped.

"What are you doing here?"

Vivienne glanced toward the residence hall.

"I’m waiting for someone."

Julian looked at her for a moment.

Then his expression turned teasing.

"Oh?"

He glanced toward the building.

"Should we call Damian to come down?"

Vivienne froze.

Damian?

Why did they immediately assume she was waiting for him?

Her heart began beating a little faster.

Did he tell them something?

There were already rumors about her and Damian. And although everyone knew Anthony had been her fiancé, Vivienne had no idea what Damian might have told his friends about what had happened between them.

Especially after yesterday.

He had told her he wanted more.

She had told him she would think about it.

And then, that same evening, she had become Christopher’s girlfriend.

She hadn’t even told Damian yet.

Oh God.

And now his friends had seen her here.

They would probably tell him.

She felt a small twist of guilt.

Not because she had promised Damian anything.

She hadn’t.

But she still thought she should be the one to tell him.

Not his friends.

"No," she said quickly. "I’m not waiting for Damian."

Julian’s eyebrows rose.

"Oh?"

Vivienne gave him an awkward smile.

"I’m waiting for someone else."

Julian looked toward the entrance again.

"Ah."

Before he could tease her any further, the doors opened.

Christopher stepped outside.

His fencing bag was gone.

He spotted Vivienne immediately.

Then he noticed Julian and Adrian.

He walked over.

"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?"

Vivienne shook her head.

"It’s okay."

Christopher gave her a small smile.

Then he looked at the two men.

"Oh. Julian. Adrian."

Julian smiled.

"Hey, Archibald."

Adrian gave him a polite nod.

"Hello."

Christopher nodded back.

"Everything all right?"

Julian glanced at Vivienne.

"We were just saying hello to Lady Beaumont."

Adrian added calmly,

"We’ll let you two get on."

"Of course."

Julian gave Vivienne an amused smile.

"Enjoy your afternoon."

Vivienne smiled politely.

"Thank you."

The two men continued toward the residence hall.

Vivienne watched them for a moment before turning back to Christopher.

He was already looking at her.

"Let’s go?"

Vivienne reached for his hand, and they started walking.

After a few steps, Christopher glanced at her.

"How do you know Julian and Adrian?"

Vivienne looked up at him.

"Oh. Damian introduced them to me during the Sunday afternoon tea."

Christopher nodded.

"Oh, I see."

They continued walking.

Vivienne hesitated.

She wasn’t sure why, but suddenly she felt the need to explain.

Christopher hadn’t sounded suspicious.

He was simply asking.

Still, she remembered all the rumors surrounding her and Damian.

She didn’t want Christopher to misunderstand.

"And... about Damian..."

Christopher looked at her.

"I know there are rumors about him and me," she said carefully. "I just don’t want you to misunderstand."

Christopher remained quiet, listening.

"It’s just that... I’ve known him since we were younger. Our families have known each other for years. And then there’s the situation with Anthony..."

She gave a small, awkward smile.

"So it’s a little complicated."

She looked ahead.

"But the rumors aren’t true."

Christopher nodded.

"Okay."

There was no accusation in his voice.

No jealousy.

No interrogation.

Just understanding.

Vivienne relaxed.

"Okay."

After a moment, Christopher said quietly,

"Thank you for telling me."

She looked at him.

He gave her a small smile.

"But anyway..."

His gaze shifted ahead.

"Where would you like to have lunch?"

Vivienne smiled.

"Where do you suggest?"

Christopher thought for a moment.

"I remember I suggested Gild and Glaze to you last time."

Vivienne’s smile faltered for half a second.

"Oh."

Oh my God.

I was just there last night.

With Damian.

She absolutely did not want to go back there today.

"I already tried it before," she said quickly.

Christopher nodded.

"Oh. All right."

He glanced at her.

"Anywhere else you prefer?"

Vivienne thought for a moment.

Then she remembered something he had mentioned before.

"The place you told me about."

Christopher looked at her.

"The one you usually eat at?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"I’d like to try that one."

Christopher’s expression softened.

"All right."

He squeezed her hand lightly.

"Then let’s go."

Vivienne smiled.

"Okay."

And together, they continued across university.

--

To be continued.