The bad news is gone

Evander took a quiet sip of coffee. His work coat was off his shoulders and he was wearing only a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He wasn't wearing glasses and his hair was a bit messy, the other side of this man gave off a slightly mischievous masculine aura.

Ignoring the hungry eyes staring at him, Evander glanced at Dave who was sitting next to him. "Stop looking for trouble," he said.

Dave clicked his tongue dissatisfied. "I didn't mean it like that. I didn't mean to get Livy in trouble on purpose."

The jazz music in the cafe hummed faintly as the lights touched the winter breeze through the windows, this calmed Dave's mood a bit.

Just now, he got the news that he was expelled from the organization. Even when he came to headquarters to take care of some matters, everyone wouldn't let him in without a good reason. When he asked Evander, the man simply replied,

"You are in big trouble."

Finally after Dave knew the reason, it turned out to be a matter of where he got Livy drunk a few nights ago. Because of that now Livy was in trouble at university.

"Lend me your phone," Dave said.

Evander paid no heed to him.

"Come on, I have to call boss to apologize. I promised to help Livy out of trouble. I really didn't do it on purpose, ok. I don't fvcking know if some crazy person took her picture that night."

"It's too late." Evander set his cup on the table. "Even if you call him on my phone, he must know it's you, and he won't pick up."

"Damn!"

"Anyway problem solved, Arthur doesn't need your help at all." Evander continued, "And it's best not to disturb him for now, looks like he's not in good shape."

Dante's head felt tingling and he ruffled his hair. "What happened? His eyes relapsed? Where is he now?"

Evander shrugged. "In his office."

"It's still daytime, why aren't you working?"

Evander's gaze was straight ahead as he replied, "I went to take care of some things asked by him. I was busy fixing the problem you created. Did you think I was relaxing?"

He winced. He knew it was still Evander's working hours and when he ran into trouble, he only thought of dragging Evander here and asking him.

Damn it. He really accidentally gave Livy trouble because of his meeting that night. If he found out who the person who took the photo was, he would beat that person to death.

"I have to go back." Evander got up from the chair.

"Hold on," Dave interrupted quickly. "At least tell me which asshole posted the photo, let me deal with them."

***

Arthur sat in a swivel chair with his head leaning back, eyes closed while his hands were on his stomach. He waited for the pain reliever he took five minutes ago to take effect, letting it dissolve and roll up the throbbing pain in his head to fade away bit by bit.

The pill was no longer of use to him. One pill wouldn't work, so he had to swallow three at a time, and it made his heart race.

After another five minutes had passed, he opened his eyes, still finding hazy splotches everywhere. But the pain in his head had faded to a manageable weak throbbing. Indeed, the black spot in the corner of his eye didn't go away, it even widened to almost cover part of his vision and this was the worst. He knew. He realized. Every time he read the text, the letters would swim until they were in a disorganized mess—he had trouble reading them. Which actually happened because his eyes had been damaged.

He sighed.

——He took back the certificate of transfer of ownership of the university land where Livy studied. Which is currently one of his personal assets, before he finally transferred it on behalf of Livy.

Why did Arthur do this? He already had a ripe plan in his head.

At first, he never thought of adding to his business property in the education sector. It was only when he saw that Livy was comfortable taking her education there, did he begin to see how the business potential in the field of education was developing very well. This can be a lucrative asset. When he bought it, he gambled on a long-term investment and made a handsome profit. Which ultimately led to him transferring the ownership name of the land to Livy Hayes in the hope that the asset would get Livy on her feet when he is gone first.

Well. Arthur wasn't pessimistic, but with the sneaky shadow trying to take him down, he was just a bit wary.

The door was knocked and someone just entered. Even though his vision was blurry at this point, he could guess from the perfume that person was wearing, that it was Evander.

"How?" asked Arthur right to the point.

Evander sat down on the sofa, loosening his tie a bit before replying, "That young man has no other ill intentions. He doesn't know you or Livy. According to his confession, he just doesn't like the university and wants to tarnish its name. By chance he saw you guys and took a photo."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Can his confession be trusted?"

"I interrogated him myself and I have investigated his background. Actually he was a former campus journalist who was dropped out for spreading fake news and causing a stir on the university's global website five years ago. In the end, he was reported to the police because one of his stories caused a misunderstanding and caused the death of a college student. He just got out of prison."

Arthur didn't comment, he thought this was too preposterous.

However he felt relieved on the other hand. At first he thought that the person might be his past enemy who was looking to make trouble again. In the end, this conjecture was wrong. Still, this person had found the wrong partner to play with.

"Here's the information about the man." Evander handed him a file.

Arthur felt calmer and took the file. He tried to read its contents. As he had expected, the letters swam together before his eyes in a blurry black splotch, and he blinked rapidly, hoping that perhaps this time his eyes would brighten again. But they never did. They instead started slipping for the worse.

"Have you cleared it?" He massaged his eyes.

"For problems at the university, Amara has already taken care of it." Evander stopped for a moment and stared at Arthur's dark bags under his eyes. "For this man ... Dave said he would teach him a lesson."

Arthur's hand stopped. "Why? Did I forget to tell you not to see Dave?"

'He's really pissed off,' thought Evander, then coughed a little. "I accidentally bumped into him while outside."

"Accidentally?" Arthur's tone turned cold. "The fact is he's coming your way and you can't resist talking to him."

"Well, you know he didn't mean it badly."

"I told you that anything that bothers Livy I won't spare," Arthur snapped back, he slammed the paper in his hand with a crash. "I have given him a warning, during that time he never listens to me and do whatever he pleases."

Dave had indeed annoyed Arthur many times, but so far Arthur had always tolerated him. Somehow he was furious when it came to Livy.

"I know his actions are selfish. But I'm sure he didn't mean to get Livy in trouble," Evander said trying to persuade him. "Getting him out of the organization is too much, he is no stranger. We have known him for a long time."

Arthur sighed and picked up the paper again. "I don't want to discuss this matter."

Evander didn't chase after him. "Ok."

***

"Is the dean still busy?" Livy asked when she had been sitting in the waiting room for too long and the dean who had asked her to meet still didn't show up.

A young teaching assistant currently on duty in the dean's room smiled. "The dean is in a meeting. Can't be bothered. Would you like to go back first, then you can come in an hour?"

Livy had already skipped her afternoon class to meet the dean. Even her phone couldn't stop ringing because Sarah was giving her so many messages. Because she was so nervous, she didn't open them at all. She guessed that the content must be the same, that is, she would die in trouble.

Besides, how could someone take a photo without permission and just spread it around? Even in the news headlines on the university's website, they make a very inappropriate title. Does she really look like a rich man's mistress?

When she arrived at the university, she went straight to the dean's office. She didn't even dare to look at anyone and thought that everyone who whispered was talking about her. This almost drove her crazy.

If she really got kicked out of college, how would she deal with this?

Now she just wanted to cry for her life. Even after leaving her aunt's house, it turns out that she can still run into a lot of trouble. She just wanted to live quietly, she didn't want to trouble anyone, including Arthur. She wants to fight for her life with her own accomplices.

Just as she was thinking about going out and coming back later, the dean's office opened, and the teaching assistant was invited inside. After a while the assistant came out and said, "Good thing you haven't left, the dean asked you to come in."

"Thank you." Livy came into the room and fixed her appearance, she had to explain this matter well. She had to find a reason not to get kicked out.

She knocked on the door, the dean's voice from inside told her to come in.

The dean was already middle aged, she was a short and slightly chubby man. There were glasses on his nose. Currently he was wearing a brown shirt that contrasted with his rather light skin. When he saw her, he smiled kindly.

"You are Livy Hayes? Come in and have a seat," the dean asked.

Livy gulped. She entered and sat in the guest chair. On the desk is a wooden sign bearing Robin Smith's name.

"Don't be nervous. Sorry for keeping you waiting, I have an urgent important meeting with superiors. Am I interrupting your class schedule?" Before Livy could answer, Robin hurriedly continued, "It doesn't matter if your schedule gets disrupted, I'll be responsible for your lecturer later, ok. Are you okay with that?"

Livy couldn't understand why the dean was so friendly. It was good if the dean was friendly to the students, but wasn't she called here because she got into trouble?

"Umm ... that doesn't matter. But what did you call me for, Mr. Smith?" Livy asked feigning ignorance.

Robin gave a crisp laugh with a big smile, he pushed aside the materials on the table and placed both hands there in a relaxed motion. "Look, this isn't really an important issue. You are an outstanding student here, do you think the campus facilities are sufficient to support your education until graduation? What I mean is if there is something you need or you feel is lacking from this university, you can give me advice that good. I can consider it."

Campus facilities? Giving advice?

What's this? This is not a call because she committed a foul?

"If this question is difficult for you to answer, that's fine. You see, the dean's job is to help students get a proper education. I see that you might become the target of bullying from some people from the moment you enter. So, if that bothers you or makes your studies uncomfortable, feel free to tell me. Oh, or anyone else, you can tell some of the lecturers too. They can help you too."

The dean smiled with a row of white teeth. The smile didn't reach his eyes, but more like a business smile.

"Mr. Smith, I'm sorry, is this all you are going to tell me?" Livy hesitated.

"Yeah, that's all. Do you feel this is too much to do?"

"No, I just ..."

"Miss Hayes, I told you that the dean's job is to help students. Incidentally this is my way of making it easier for myself to identify the character of each student. Sometimes I do this."

Livy smiled awkwardly. "Oh, I see. But in my opinion, this is all fine. The learning facilities and supports are of a good standard. If there are any deficiencies, perhaps ..."

Livy paused, involuntarily glanced at the dean who seemed to expect him to continue.

"... maybe the library that the university has now is still not wide enough."

"Library?"

"Yeah, that's all, but that's just my thoughts anyway. Other than that I think it's fine." Livy smiled stiffly.

The dean looked relieved and he returned Livy's smile even wider. "Very well then, I will consider your suggestions in the future. You may return now, and thank you for coming."

***

'... thank you for coming.'

The dean's last sentence was ringing in her ears. She was still in a daze over what happened. She even forgot that she was nervous for fear that she would drop out.

She immediately took out her phone and called Sarah.

"Hello, Livy, my goodness, this little rascal. Where have you been? Are you coming to uni or not?!" Sarah answered angrily.

"I'm here, just came out of the dean's office." Livy sighed and looked left and right to see an empty bench and sat down.

"Oh, God, you're already here? What happened? How? What was the dean's response? The news about you has disappeared. It's even gone from the campus website. Is the dean still giving you trouble about that?"

Despite Livy's annoyance at Sarah's screams, she was more shocked by the words her best friend had said. She immediately stood up.

"Wait. News about me disappeared? The photos just got deleted? What do you mean?"

... to be continued ...