Chapter 15

Shide's POV

As soon as we reached the university, all four of us went directly to the cafeteria since we were starving after the long drive back from the camp site.

"You guys find us a table, I'll go get the food for everyone" I said walking towards the counter.

I bought meals for everyone, and we all sat around the table. Everything was peaceful until the university bus reached the campus and other students started rushing in as well. While looking at the crowd, my eyes met Akira's. I wanted to show him how his plan to humiliate Shuyi had badly failed one last time again before he was finally expelled so I picked the peanut butter cake in my hand and brought it closer to Shuyi's lips.

"Baby I bought this just for you" I said as soon as Akira walked closer to our table.

Shuyi seemed stunned since he had no idea Akira was standing behind him. But before even Shuyi could even open his mouth, Akira snatched the cake from my hand.

"Isn't it funny how you claim to be lovers yet you don't even know your boyfriend is allergic to peanuts?"

I looked at Shuyi who seemed extremely nervous around Akira since he could any day leak Shuyi's pictures and ruin his life. I was about to ask Akira to leave us alone when someone shouted his name.

"Itou Akira! Your presence is requested in the principal's office urgently, please follow me"

Akira left with the person and Zack got closer to my ear and whispered "I bet if Akira wasn't getting expelled today, your fake relationship nearly got busted this time"

I felt embarrassed since I was with Shuyi in and outside of the university for the last couple of months and even then, I couldn't notice such crucial details about him. Shuyi might have understood what I was feeling by the look on my face and he tried to console me "Even my mom forgets I'm intolerant to peanuts, don't overthink it too much"

***

Shuyi's POV

I was walking towards the washrooms when I saw two guards escorting Akira out of the campus building. I stood there curiously watching as Akira walked out with an angry face and drove away.

"What is going on with him?" I asked one of the guards after Akira had left.

"He got expelled due to some misconduct"

As soon as I heard those words, my mind automatically felt at ease, however it was bittersweet since I felt a little bad for him too. "Stop feeling sorry for him Shuyi, he brought it upon himself" I whispered to myself. But how did this happen? I quickly ran towards the student parking lot where Zack and Shide were already waiting for me.

"Guys...!!!you...won't believe...what just happened!!" I said panting heavily.

Shide handed me a bottle of water "drink this first"

I took a sip and smiled "Akira just got rusticated!!" I shouted excitedly but both of them didn't seem surprised at all. "What's with that silent reaction?"

Shide looked at Zack and gave him a smile and then looked at me again "We know, Zack's mom made this possible by bringing Akira's offence to the authority's attention" He told me the whole story of how Mrs. Fan Jiang checked the CCTV footages that showed how Akira made those posters and distributed them around the campus.

"I'm so thankful to her and to you too Zack" I said giving him a quick hug. "However, the university does not expel students unless it's an extremely heinous offence. I expected Akira to get suspended with a warning for a few months if the board ever found out he was behind the posters, but expulsion, it's not very common."

"Exactly" said Zack. "My mother said all the directors decided on giving Akira an official warning and 3 months suspension, however one of the directors Mr. Gao convinced everyone in the meeting how the university should set an example for others by punishing the culprit strictly and avoid similar future incidents. He made many logical arguments until everyone eventually agreed to expel Akira, so actually he is the one you should thank the most"

"Wait a minute, Mr. Gao, as in your father?" I said looking anxiously at Shide. "You told me he was one of the directors a while back, did you convince him to help me?"

Shide smiled lightly and brushed my hair with him fingers. "I just told him how much stress and trouble that guy was causing to someone very important to me, rest he did himself"

"In that case, shouldn't Shide get a thank you hug too?" Zack said winking at me.

I looked at Shide who already had his arms open gesturing me to hug him. I awkwardly smiled and moved a little forward towards him but was interrupted by Yuxin calling out my name as she and Yue walked towards us.

"Shuyi!!! I heard that jerk was kicked out of the university today. The truth of the poster is already out and everyone is taking your side and finally blaming Akira. Aren't you happy?"

"Honestly, I just want to live an ordinary student life that I always dreamed of when I was preparing for the entrance. I never wanted to be a part of some college controversy, let aside be the main character in it."

"Why don't you participate in our university's music fest starting next week in that case? You once told me you used to sing and play guitar in high school." Zack tried to change the topic of discussion from Akira to lighten the mood.

"Really, you sing and play? I can always make space for a new member in my band if you're interested?" Yue excitedly said.

"Um...it's been a while since I've polished my skills though, plus I don't even have the confidence to get on the stage in front of so many people who are already talking about me"

"That's even better, it will show everyone how strong and composed you are even after all the drama with Akira" said Yuxin.

"Come on, I'll help you every step of the way I promise" Yue started persuading me.

I thought about it for a moment before finally deciding to give it a chance. "Alright, I can give it a try"

"Yayyy!! My band mates will love you just like I do"

"We all do....we all love Shuyi" said Shide with a straight face hardly showing any emotions that he was feeling, but he sure did make me red in an instant.

Yue glared back at him before turning to me again, "then, I'll see you in the music room tomorrow morning for practice?"

I nodded at him with a bright smile. I felt very nervous to perform after so long, but I knew I really missed those days when I played in the school band.