1. Sung En's Inner Conflict – Reassurance or Doubt?
The evening after the gathering, Sung En sat by her window, deep in thought.
✔ Joshua had rejected every noble offer without hesitation.
✔ He had made it clear—he had no interest in changing their engagement.
✔ He had even admitted his feelings for her.
"So why do I feel this way?"
She shook her head.
"No, I'm overthinking it. Joshua isn't the type to lie. He's already mine. This is just unnecessary anxiety."
And yet—she couldn't shake the memory of his expression when he spoke to Xin En.
It wasn't anger. It wasn't disgust.
It was cold. Distant. Guarded.
Like he was hiding something.
"No," she told herself again, clenching her fists.
"I trust Joshua. That's enough."
But deep down—she wasn't convinced.
2. The Growing Rumors – Joshua's Popularity
The next morning, Sung En stepped out of her dorm and was immediately greeted by whispers in the hallway.
A group of noble girls were gathered together, speaking in hushed voices.
"Did you hear? Joshua Lim rejected three noble family proposals last night."
"That's crazy! He's seriously committed to his fiancée, huh?"
"Ugh, that just makes him even more attractive."
"He's already a five-star hybrid at 17, and he's only going to get stronger… Imagine having him as your husband."
"I wonder if his fiancée is just for show? Maybe he's waiting for the right moment to change things."
Sung En stopped in her tracks.
She knew it was just gossip.
But it still made something in her twist uncomfortably.
Joshua had already chosen her.
He had already made his stance clear.
He had already rejected every other offer.
"Then why do I feel like I have to fight for him?"
She took a breath and walked away before she could hear any more.
3. Joshua & Wu Jian – A Private Discussion
Meanwhile, Joshua sat across from his agent, Wu Jian, in a quiet office within the academy.
Wu Jian tapped his fingers against the table.
"Xin En, huh? Didn't expect to hear that name."
Joshua didn't react.
"She's not important."
Wu Jian gave him a skeptical look.
"Maybe not to you, but she clearly has some kind of agenda."
Joshua stayed silent, but his mind was working.
Xin En had approached him in front of the nobles on purpose.
✔ She wanted to plant herself in his circle.
✔ She wanted people to assume they had history.
✔ She wanted to make Sung En doubt.
And she had succeeded.
"Keep an eye on her," Joshua finally said. "I don't want her interfering with my affairs."
Wu Jian smirked.
"Already ahead of you. I've got someone digging into her movements as we speak."
Joshua nodded.
He wasn't going to let the past repeat itself.
Not this time.
4. Sung En & Xin En – The Unexpected Conversation
Later that day, Sung En found herself face-to-face with Xin En.
It wasn't intentional—they had crossed paths near the academy's courtyard.
Xin En smiled warmly.
"Ah, Lee Sung En. We didn't get a chance to speak at the gathering."
Sung En stared at her, guarded.
"There was nothing to speak about."
Xin En chuckled lightly, covering her mouth with an elegant hand.
"Joshua is lucky to have such a devoted fiancée."
Sung En's expression remained neutral.
"I know."
Xin En tilted her head slightly.
"But I wonder… does he think the same?"
Something in Sung En hardened.
"I don't play these kinds of games, Miss Xin."
Xin En's smile never faltered.
"Of course not. I was only making conversation."
With that, she walked away, leaving behind a single thought in Sung En's mind.
"She's trying to mess with me."
And for the first time—Sung En felt like she was fighting for something that should have already been hers.
5. The Arrival of a New Rival – A True Competitor Appears
As the evening settled in, a new wave of excitement spread through the academy.
A new student had arrived.
Not just any student—a transfer from one of the top international hunter academies.
✔ She was strong.
✔ She was famous.
✔ And she had already expressed interest in Joshua.
Her name was Feng Yuxia.
✔ A noble from one of China's strongest elemental mage bloodlines.
✔ A prodigy, already bordering five-star status.
✔ A confident and charismatic woman who had never lost before.
And when she was asked why she transferred to their academy—
She had only one answer.
"To challenge Joshua Lim, of course."
The academy erupted in rumors.
✔ "A noble prodigy came just to fight Joshua?"
✔ "She's already one of the strongest in her generation…"
✔ "And she's gorgeous. Do you think she's interested in more than just fighting?"
Sung En heard the whispers.
She clenched her fist.
Xin En's words.
The noble girls' gossip.
And now—a strong, powerful woman openly pursuing Joshua's attention.
For the first time, she felt something she wasn't used to feeling.
Insecurity.
Joshua was already hers.
But why did it feel like she had to fight to keep him?