When love Found Us

The morning after the storm, the rumor mill at the academy was already turning. In a school where everyone’s future was mapped out in gold ink, a top-tier heir like Ren standing in the rain with a scholarship student was bound to turn heads. ​Mei sat at her desk, trying to ignore the pointed whispers and sidelong glances from her classmates. She looked down at her notebook, where a single pink tulip petal lay pressed between the pages—a quiet reminder that yesterday hadn't been a dream.
​When the lunch bell rang, she sought refuge in the old greenhouse at the edge of the campus, a forgotten glass structure overtaken by wild ivy. She didn't expect to find Ren already there, sitting on a rusted bench with his blazer discarded, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. ​"They're talking about you," Mei said softly, stepping inside. "About us. I'm sorry if I caused trouble for you." ​Ren didn't look up from his book immediately. When he did, his expression wasn't annoyed; it was weary. "Let them talk. My life is usually entirely scripted. It's almost refreshing to give them something unscripted to gossip about." ​He patted the space on the bench next to him. For the first time, Mei saw past his untouchable prince persona and realized he was just as trapped by his world as she felt out of place in hers.