Urban System in America
Chapter 173 - 172: Establishing Diplomatic Relations

Chapter 173: Chapter 172: Establishing Diplomatic Relations

One of the girls even dramatically flopped her head onto the table.

Another whispered loudly, "If that’s not plot armor, I don’t know what is."

Rex smiled, eyes flicking to Elara.

She hadn’t noticed.

Or maybe... she had.

She shifted a little in her seat. Just a small, nearly imperceptible movement. Her fingers curled tighter around the edge of her tray. Her eyes didn’t lift. Her posture stiffened.

Yeah. She’d noticed.

He softened slightly.

Most people would have loved this attention—even bathed in it. But her? She looked like she was one misplaced spoon away from curling into a ball and rolling under the table.

Rex took a long sip of his shake, thinking.

Why does she keep doing that? Acting like she doesn’t belong here?

Didn’t she get it? This wasn’t some regular college. It was UCLA. One of the top.

Everyone here wasn’t just somebody—they were going to be somebody.

And Elara? She was here too. That said something already. She’d earned that seat.

And yet, this silly girl still didn’t have any self-confidence.

She sat there like she was just... borrowing space. Like she was afraid someone might come up and tell her she didn’t deserve to be here.

Rex frowned slightly, eyes flicking toward her as she quietly focused on her salad, as if the lettuce was the most fascinating thing in the world.

He didn’t know if her personality had always been like that—shy, reserved, constantly apologizing for existing—or if something had happened in her past to make her that way.

Maybe both.

Maybe neither.

But whatever it was, he didn’t like seeing it.

He didn’t like seeing anyone shrink themselves like that—especially not someone who clearly didn’t belong at the bottom. She was smart. Diligent. Observant. The kind of person who didn’t talk much, but when she did, it was worth listening to. And yet... she looked like she’d melt into her chair if anyone raised their voice.

It was strange, really strange. Everyone else in this university acted like they were the next president, CEO, tech disruptor, or Hollywood legend.

But Elara?

She acted like she was just hoping no one would notice she existed.

And for some reason, that bothered Rex more than it should.

He glanced at her tray again—still the cheapest food money could technically buy, even on a day when lunch was practically raining from the heavens.

Seriously? Not even a cookie? How can one survive without eating a cookie a day?

"You know..." Rex said casually, leaning slightly toward her. "You don’t have to be invisible to survive here."

Elara blinked and looked up. "H-huh?"

"You’re smart. You work hard. You belong here, just as much as anyone else." He said it lightly, as if commenting on the weather, but there was a steadiness in his voice. A quiet kind of conviction.

Elara stared at him, unsure how to respond. Her lips parted slightly like she was about to say something, then closed again. Her fingers tensed around her fork.

Then, very softly, almost too softly to hear, she murmured, "Thanks..."

Rex shrugged, like it was nothing.

From the outside, they probably looked like any two students having lunch.

But that didn’t stop the whispers.

And the glances.

Because somehow, Elara—quiet, glasses-wearing, Elara—was seated right next to Rex.

And not just next to him.

She had a fruit cup now. And chicken tenders. That were very clearly not on her tray originally.

Cue the slow-turning heads. Cue the drama. Cue... the Beauty Trio.

At the far table, three of the university’s most eye-catching girls sat with frozen forks and narrowed eyes.

Daisy, cool and composed as always, adjusted her bangs, brushing them off her face. She was silent at first—but her stare said it all.

She’d just ridden in Rex’s car this morning. That accidental hand touch when passing the seatbelt still haunted her. Not in a bad way. But not in a good way, either. It had definitely added... a vibe.

And now? Now this girl was sitting there?

Sophie, all curves and confidence, clicked her tongue and leaned forward. "Ay dios mío... Who is that chica? She doesn’t even wear mascara!"

"She’s in our class," Daisy murmured, eyes still fixed on the scene like a sniper. "Elara."

Sophie blinked. "Elara? The ghost? I thought she was a TA or something!"

Hannah, quietly chewing on a piece of grilled salmon, pulled out her phone and opened a spreadsheet.

"Her name’s Elara Lane. Business major. Our Classmate, that always quiet girl. GPA: 3.97. Attendance: consistent. No major social media presence. Doesn’t attend campus events." She paused, narrowed her eyes. "Low visibility. High potential threat."

"Threat?" Sophie repeated.

"To monopoly on Rex," Hannah said, sipping her lemon water. "She’s playing long game."

Daisy’s brows drew together slightly. "Or she’s just hungry and sat at the only open spot."

Sophie crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Still. Look at Rex. That smirk of his? That’s his ’I know what I’m doing’ face. He’s feeding her."

Back at Rex’s table, Elara had just frozen halfway through a bite.

She felt it. All of it. The pressure, the stares, the female gaze of death locking on the side of her head.

She cleared her throat nervously and leaned just an inch away from Rex.

"I-I can move if this is... awkward."

Rex leaned back with a lazy smile, sipping his milkshake. "Why would it be awkward? I’m just offering food. Not a proposal."

Elara’s face turned the exact shade of the ketchup bottle between them.

"I—I didn’t think it was that. I just... I wasn’t paying attention and the table was—"

"Relax." His tone was easy, breezy. "You’re fine."

From the trio’s table, Sophie leaned toward Daisy, whispering like a stage villain, "She’s blushing. That’s blush. You don’t blush like that unless—"

"She’s shy," Daisy cut in, a little too quickly. Then paused. "...and maybe a little cute."

Rex glanced toward the beauty trio’s table and gave them a small, casual wave.

Daisy nearly fell off her chair.

Sophie choked mid-sip, almost spluttering her blueberry smoothie across the table.

Hannah didn’t look up, like she wasn’t part of any of this chaos. (Though she did subtly scoot her chair a few centimeters to the side, as if distancing herself from the drama.)

"W-W-Why did you wave?!" Elara squeaked, her voice an octave higher than normal, practically vibrating with panic.

Rex turned back to her with a maddeningly calm grin. "Just establishing diplomatic relations."

Elara groaned and immediately buried her face in her hands.

She looked like she was mentally preparing to sprint into the recycling bin and close the lid behind her.

Rex leaned his elbow on the table, still smiling.

(End of Chapter)