Behind The Mask

Chapter 5 : Tension Builds

The morning had begun with its usual chaos—classmates rushing to their seats, the bell ringing, and the hum of idle chatter filling the air. But there was a new undercurrent to the buzz this time. The boys at Sanli Academy were talking about the new guy living in the dorm—Li Xin, who, despite his best efforts to blend in, had become the center of attention.

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Jia Li's POV

At the all-girls school just three blocks away, Jia Li was getting ready for her usual daily visit to Sanli Academy. She had gotten used to the short walk over, excited to see Zhang Wei, but today something felt different. The usual ease with which she could approach him had been replaced by a strange tension.

As she walked toward the gates, one of the boys from Zhang Wei’s circle greeted her with a smirk. “Hey, Jia Li, you should check on the new guy in Zhang Wei’s dorm. I hear there’s a new addition.”

Jia Li frowned, her curiosity piqued. “New guy?”

The boy, still smirking, leaned in a little closer, “Yeah, a guy just moved in with them. Could be fun for you to meet him. You know, see what the fuss is about.” His tone was teasing, but there was something else in his eyes. A knowing look.

Jia Li’s heart skipped a beat. A new guy? This wasn’t like Zhang Wei. He usually kept to his circle, and certainly, he wouldn’t just let anyone into his dorm. Not unless there was a reason.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she made her way to the dorm, her curiosity only growing with each step. The thought of meeting this “new guy” felt strange to her. But as she reached the door to Zhang Wei’s dorm, she hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was walking into something she wasn’t prepared for.

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Li Xin’s POV

Inside the dorm, Li Xin sat quietly in the common room, his mind racing. He had become acutely aware of the growing suspicion surrounding him. Zhang Wei and his friends weren’t exactly hiding their distaste for him, and he could feel the weight of their eyes on him every time they entered the room. But there was nothing he could do.

He couldn’t risk exposing his secret—not now, when everything was starting to feel like it was slipping out of his control.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Jia Li walked in, a soft smile on her face. Li Xin’s heart fluttered a little at the sight of her. He had seen her around campus before—Zhang Wei’s girlfriend, always surrounded by a group of girls, adored by everyone.

But now, here she was, standing in front of him. She looked at him curiously, almost like she was studying him.

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Jia Li’s POV

Jia Li stood at the door, her eyes taking in the new sight of Li Xin sitting on the couch, looking just a little out of place. There was a quiet intensity in his eyes, something about him that made her feel as though she was staring at someone who wasn’t quite what he appeared to be.

This is him, she thought to herself. The boy everyone was whispering about. The one who had joined Zhang Wei’s dorm without anyone expecting him. But she knew she had to get closer—had to figure out what Zhang Wei was thinking. There was no way he’d let just any guy move in with him, not without a reason.

She smiled softly, stepping forward. “Hey, you must be the new guy everyone’s been talking about,” she said, her voice warm but her eyes searching for something more.

Li Xin stood up slowly, his expression calm but his heart racing. Jia Li. Zhang Wei’s girlfriend. The last thing he wanted was to make things awkward, but he also didn’t want to be rude.

“Yeah, I’m Li Xin,” he said, trying to sound casual. “I just moved in today.”

Jia Li’s smile widened, but there was still a certain caution in her eyes. “Well, welcome to the dorm. I’m Jia Li. You’ve probably heard about me.”

Li Xin’s heart skipped again. Heard about her? Of course, he had. Zhang Wei’s girlfriend was known throughout the school for her beauty, charm, and popularity. Everyone knew who she was.

But now that she was standing in front of him, it felt... different. She wasn’t just the girlfriend of the school’s most arrogant guy—she was a person, a real person with warmth in her smile and something deeper in her eyes. Li Xin couldn’t help but feel the pull of her presence, and it unsettled him.

He forced a smile, trying to keep things normal. “I’ve heard a little. I didn’t expect to meet you like this, though.”

Jia Li’s eyes softened a little. “Well, I’m glad we did. I wanted to make sure you felt welcome here.” Her eyes flicked to the door, and she added, “Zhang Wei’s been... different lately. I’m not sure what’s going on with him, but maybe meeting new people will help.”

Li Xin’s pulse quickened at the mention of Zhang Wei. He didn’t want to get involved with any of the drama between them, but it was hard to ignore the fact that everything about Zhang Wei’s relationship with him had been charged with tension since day one.

Before he could say anything more, the door opened, and Zhang Wei stepped in, his piercing blue eyes locking on Li Xin and then flicking over to Jia Li. His expression darkened when he saw the two of them talking so casually.

“Jia Li, what are you doing here?” Zhang Wei’s voice was cool, almost bordering on cold. He didn’t like seeing her interact with the new guy, especially not like this.

Jia Li, not at all fazed by his sudden appearance, turned toward him with a playful smile. “I was just introducing myself to your new roommate,” she said, the edge of mischief in her voice.

Zhang Wei didn’t hide his irritation. “I don’t need anyone introducing themselves to him. He’s fine,” he said curtly, before turning his gaze back to Li Xin.

Li Xin could feel the tension rise between them, the unspoken challenge in Zhang Wei’s posture, but he refused to be intimidated. He had to keep his composure. There was no way he could afford to show any weakness now.

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Zhang Wei’s POV

Zhang Wei’s jaw clenched as he watched Jia Li and Li Xin exchange those soft smiles. His mind raced, his anger bubbling up. Why was she so comfortable with him? Why was she acting like this guy was someone worth getting to know?

He didn’t want to admit it, but the sight of Jia Li talking to Li Xin made something twist in his chest. A strange, uncomfortable feeling that made him want to step in and put an end to it.

“Jia Li,” he said again, his voice more forceful this time. “We don’t need to waste time with him. Let’s go. We have things to do.”

Jia Li raised an eyebrow at him, sensing the tension, but she nodded. “Okay, Zhang Wei. I’ll see you around, Li Xin.” With a final look at both of them, she turned and left.

Zhang Wei stood there, eyes locked on Li Xin. The silence was thick between them, and Li Xin could feel the weight of Zhang Wei’s gaze. He knew that Zhang Wei was just waiting for the right moment to challenge him, to show him who was really in control. But for now, he wasn’t going to back down.

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Cliffhanger: Zhang Wei’s jealousy intensifies as Jia Li grows closer to Li Xin, and the tension between the two rivals is only beginning to heat up. Will Li Xin be able to navigate the complex relationships in the dorm and survive the growing rivalry? And what role will Jia Li play in this unfolding drama?