Even though I called her that, she was still happy about it. "Being your housekeeper doesn't sound so bad, especially since you're so good-looking."

I didn't get it at the time, but when I finally did, we were already together.

Every now and then, I'd tease her about it. "So, you only wanted to be my housekeeper because I'm good-looking?"

My usually tough-as-nails girlfriend would blush instantly.

"Well, that's… not the only reason. I just… wanted to, that's all…

"Ugh, stop talking about it!"

I'd joke around, and she'd laugh—but now, everything was different.

The guy sitting next to Julia deftly cracked open a crab leg, carefully placed the meat on a plate, and slid it over to her. They were so in sync like they had done this a thousand times.

Sean, gnawing on a crab leg, looked at them with mock jealousy.

"Julia, you really know how to keep a man in line, huh?"

Julia rolled her eyes at him, but he just grinned and turned to the young man. "Robert, I've gotta learn from you. You've turned my tough-as-nails sister into someone so soft and sweet. That's some serious skill!"

"Sean, I think you're asking for trouble!" Julia finally cracked, unable to keep a straight face any longer.

Sean was the kind of guy who made friends quickly, and it wasn't long before he and Robert were chatting like old buddies.

"Hey, Robert, how did you and my sister get together? Was it fate, or just a lucky string pulling you two together from miles apart?"

Robert chuckled, not bothering to hide anything. "If I had to choose from your options, I'd say it was more like a lucky string pulling us together, with a bit of fate thrown in."

He didn't work in Chicago. That time, he was here on a business trip, attending a research project at a university.

"I'm in the science field too, but as an investor. I had my eye on a B-level experiment at your school, and that was when I met your sister. It was love at first sight."

He went on to describe how Julia had been wearing a simple lab coat and no makeup, but her eyes had this sparkle, like they were full of stars.

She explained her research project with such clarity and precision that he was completely captivated by her.

"After we started dating, I realized we had so many hobbies in common."

I quietly sipped my water, listening.

He talked about how they enjoyed tea together, played chess, and even cooked together.

"Julia is the smartest woman I've ever met. She even helped me solve a major problem that had stumped our lab."

By the end, I couldn't help but find it all a bit ironic.

Because I'm the one who taught her those things.

As for that problem, I had a pretty good idea what it was, so I asked him, "Are you talking about the X paradox equation?"

Robert nodded. "Yeah, that equation stumped a lot of people. You're familiar with it, too?"

Familiar? How could I not be?

That day, I had just finished a major project in the lab. My advisor insisted I take a few days off, worried that the constant high-intensity work might take a toll on my health.

I had barely made it back to my dorm when Julia showed up at my door, looking unusually troubled.

"Leon, are you on break for the next few days? Can you do me a favor? It's really urgent."

"Our lab needs a specific formula, but no one knows how to solve it. Can you take a look...?"

I'd never seen her so anxious before, and it tugged at something in me. Without a second thought, I agreed.

The calculations for that formula were incredibly complex, involving concepts I hadn't even encountered at my current level. But for her, I powered through, spending three straight days deciphering it.

When I finally handed over the solution, I got lost in the flood of her praise, forgetting to ask what it was for.

Now, looking back, I realize it was for another man.

So what was I to her, really?