**Chapter 3: Fallout**

The room was in disarray, with everyone talking at once. Tylil and Lucas were shouting at Kai, their faces red with indignation. Ray's eyes widened in horror as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had never intended for his relationship with Kai to be exposed, not like this. Kai's face was a deep shade of crimson as he tried to regain control of the situation. "Enough!" he bellowed, slamming his fist on the table. The room fell silent, with all eyes on him. Tylil took a step forward, his voice shaking with anger. "How could you, Dean Kai? You're supposed to be a role model for us, not some... some... predator." Kai's expression turned icy. "I am not a predator," he spat, his voice venomous. "And I won't be lectured by a student who knows nothing about me or my relationship with Ray." Ray felt a surge of embarrassment and shame. He had never meant for Kai to defend him like this, not in front of his students. He wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. Lucas shook his head. "This is a huge conflict of interest, Dean Kai. You can't just... admit to having a relationship with a student. What about all the other students who might be affected by your... favoritism?" Kai's face darkened. "I can handle my relationships and my duties as dean," he growled. "And I won't be bullied into apologizing for something I'm not ashamed of." The argument continued to escalate, with no one willing to back down. Ray felt like he was stuck in a nightmare, with no escape. He glanced around the room, searching for an exit strategy, but there was none. Just as it seemed like things couldn't get any worse, the door burst open and a stern-faced woman walked in. "Dean Kai, I need to speak with you," she said, her voice firm. Kai's expression turned guarded. "Ah, Chancellor Zhang. What can I do for you?" The chancellor's eyes scanned the room, taking in the chaotic scene. "I think we need to take this discussion somewhere more private," she said, her voice dripping with disapproval. Kai nodded, his face set in a determined expression. "Fine. Let's go." As Kai followed Chancellor Zhang out of the room, Ray felt a sense of trepidation. He had no idea what was going to happen next, but he knew it couldn't be good. He watched as Kai disappeared behind the closed door, feeling a sense of dread wash over him. Tylil turned to him, a concerned expression on his face. "Hey, Ray, are you okay? That was... intense." Ray nodded, still feeling dazed. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... great. Just what I needed. More drama." Lucas clapped him on the back. "Don't worry, Ray. We'll support you, no matter what happens." Ray smiled weakly, grateful for their support. But as he glanced at the closed door, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his life was about to get a lot more complicated.