"Do you know Wayne Lane?"

The prominent figure of the academy. Too many people knew him; it would be strange not to.

But Hannah said, "I don’t know him."

She bowed her head to eat her food, not sparing a glance for Wayne Lane sitting opposite her.

Wayne Lane was watching her.

After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly began to introduce himself, "My name is Wayne Lane, student of the 1068th class."

It was such a simple introduction, yet it made several female classmates sitting at the same table swoon.

Hannah looked up at him, then greeted cheerfully, "Hello, senior."

It wasn’t the first time she had called him senior.

Nor was it the first time someone had called him that.

What was strange was that today’s greeting made him somewhat nervous.

He must have been nervous, otherwise why would his grip on the chopsticks suddenly tighten?

After that, they often ate together.

It wasn’t planned in advance; Wayne Lane could always accurately find where Hannah was sitting.

Once or twice was fine, but as time passed, people around the academy started spreading rumors that they were dating.

Even Hannah’s roommates and classmates took the initiative to give them personal space.

That day at lunch, Hannah only ate half her meal before putting down her chopsticks.

Seeing she had stopped eating, Wayne Lane put down his chopsticks as well, "Are you full?"

Hannah rested her chin on her hands and looked at him, "Senior, why do you keep bothering me?"

Bother.

A somewhat ambiguous word.

Wayne Lane didn’t answer, merely asking, "If you’re full, can we go to the combat room later?"

"What for?"

"To have a match."

If the person sitting across from Wayne Lane had been someone who liked him, they surely would have been angry enough to leave on the spot.

Or even possibly throw water in his face.

But Hannah wasn’t that person who liked him.

So she chose to skip that subject again, "Senior, do you know how everyone at the academy is talking about us lately?"

"How are they talking?" He didn’t really care about what others said.

Hannah didn’t care either, but she pretended to be very troubled, "They’re saying we’re in a relationship."

Wayne Lane paused, and the calm expression he had been feigning finally changed a little, "Early romance isn’t good."

He spoke very seriously.

Hannah tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, looking up at him, "Then why don’t you clear it up?"

Wayne Lane pondered for a moment, "If I clear it up, will you have a match with me?"

He was like a "mech maniac."

The kind who searched everywhere for a fight.

Hannah nodded, smiling, "Of course."

Probably reassured by her agreement, Wayne Lane was quick to promise, "Okay, I’ll clear it up with them."

The young Wayne Lane thought about things very simply.

He was the kind of person who was simple yet had his own principles, quite old-fashioned.

Like an eldest son who would sacrifice everything for the glory of his family in ancient times.

And the clarification he spoke of was to say in front of everyone at the weekly general assembly of the academy, "Hannah and I are not in a romantic relationship."

It was too direct.

Direct to the point that Hannah herself was taken aback.

She had only intended to give him a hard time, not expecting Wayne Lane to pull such a stunt.

The moment the words were spoken, all the students’ eyes fell on Hannah.

Hannah covered her forehead, wanting to hide her entire face.

And Wayne Lane on the stage was still looking at her.

The crowd was quiet for a few seconds, followed by applause and conversation.

The atmosphere of the meeting immediately became lively.

Because of Wayne Lane’s statement, gossip that was previously only among a small group of people was now known throughout the academy.

This included instructors, professors, and even the principal.