I drunkenly pinched the aloof professor's butt.

"Nice little butt! Venmo me 50 bucks, and I'll take you on a deep dive into the mysteries of the human body," I said.

The next day, my fiancé, who had been ghosting me abroad for years, sent me 50 thousand dollars.

He also gave my butt a little pat.

On the lecture podium, the new aloof and restrained professor looked at me with a half-smile.

He said, "Come to my office after class.

"I'll take you on a deep dive into the mysteries of the human body."

In the office, the professor trapped me in front of him.

He said, "Didn't you have a wild time last night?"

Last night, outside the bar, emboldened by alcohol, I pinched the butt of a handsome passerby.

I even whistled at him like a flirt.

I said, "Nice little butt! Venmo me 50 bucks, and I'll take you on a deep dive into the mysteries of the human body."

I had an elective class the next day.

The new biology professor calmly put down his phone.

He had just sent me 50 thousand dollars and patted my butt.

I met his half-smiling eyes.

He said, "Come to my office after class.

"I'll take you on a deep dive into the mysteries of the human body."

"Oh crap!" I groaned.

I had hit on the professor of my elective class.

I rubbed my eyes in disbelief.

He looked so damn much like my fiancé, who had been ghosting me abroad for years.

I spent the rest of the class in paranoid disbelief.

As soon as class ended and I entered his office, he didn't even bother with small talk. He leaned in, trapping me in front of him.

"Lyman Donovan?" I backed up, landing on the desk.

I wondered when he got back.

Should I explain what happened last night?

"Yes," he said.

His voice was low.

His eyes were locked on me, holding back the emotions swirling within.

He hooked his big hand around my waist and pulled me forward, lifting me off the desk.

He smiled.

He asked, "Lilia, what are you backing away for?"

Then, with his proper and dignified face, he cheekily pinched my butt.

I froze, almost losing my balance.

My face turned bright red.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

Were we so close to each other?

He asked, "What are you blushing for?

"Didn't you have a wild time last night?"

I pushed him away. "Don't get so close to me."

He didn't budge. "Weren't you going to take me on a deep dive into the mysteries of the human body?"

Lyman leaned close to my ear.

His breath was warm.

He added, "Perfect timing. I have a project I'd like to explore with you."

I groaned.

My face turned red again.

Lyman was one of those people who was completely different from how he appeared.

He had the face of an aloof, restrained man, but it was all a front.

In short, he was both shameless and sneaky.

That night, using my father's influence as an excuse to oversee my studies, he forced me to move out of my dorm and live with him.

Of course, I refused.

He immediately threatened to call my father, so I reluctantly agreed.

Standing in his living room, I wanted to ask, "Who needs a house?"

I dug at the floor with my toes.

I said, "I'll sleep in the guest room."

Lyman bent down and looked at me with a smirk.

He asked, "Lilia, do you want to sleep with me?"

Of course not!

I was just reminding him he didn't need to give up the master bedroom for me.

I glared at him, but he just pinched my cheek.

I grabbed his fingers and bit down.

He winced, then laughed, "You little wildcat."

He carried my suitcase into the bedroom and even helped me make the bed.

Half an hour later, he brought me a glass of warm milk.

My eyes couldn't help but linger on the muscles visible under his pajama collar.

Show-off!

Who was he trying to seduce?

I lowered my head and focused on drinking my milk.

He asked, "Is the room a little warm?"

He tugged his collar open a bit more.

He even paced back and forth in front of me.

Such a tease.

My nose almost started bleeding.

With flushed ears, I quickly closed his collar.

I said, "It's not warm!"

Above me, I felt his intense gaze, lingering on me for a long time.

He said, "Lilia, it's been a few years since we've seen each other, and now you're acting all distant from me."

His voice carried a hint of sadness.

My heart skipped a beat.

He had left for further studies abroad right after graduating college, chasing after his unrequited love. With the pandemic, it had been over three years since we last saw each other.

And when I learned he had someone he loved, I buried the feelings that I had carried throughout my youth.

He got engaged to me because our families were close and it was impossible to refuse.

Now that he was back, it was time to discuss breaking off the engagement.

Thinking of this, I felt a bit bitter.

I said, "I'm not used to it.

"And besides, what are you even doing?"

Lyman tilted my chin up with his fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze.

His voice was low and soft.

He said, "I want you to look at me.

"You keep avoiding me.

"Why?"

I muttered, "Why did you come back?"

Lyman wiped the corner of my mouth with his thumb, catching a bit of the milky white liquid.

His eyes softened. "Because you're about to graduate, silly."

For a moment, I felt a pang of disappointment.

So, he came back to break off the engagement.

Then why was he still flirting with me?

I realized he was trying to get back at me for what happened last night.

What a vindictive man! I would not fall for his tricks.

In the morning, I rode with Lyman to school.

He insisted on driving me to the campus.

On the way, we ran into some classmates who stopped to say hello.

I panicked and dove right into Lyman's lap.

Without missing a beat, he silently rolled the window up a bit with one hand and gently held my head down with the other.

The space inside the car was tight.

His unique, cool scent filled my nostrils, especially since my face was so close to him.

It made my cheeks burn.

"Why isn't he driving yet?" I wondered.

I started to feel restless and shifted slightly, trying to find a better position.

While casually chatting with the student outside, Lyman reassured me with a few gentle strokes of his hand on my head.

"Mr. Donovan, is there someone else in the car?" the student asked.

I panicked.

If anyone found out I was in his car, it would be a huge scandal.

I could not let that happen.

I quickly buried myself deeper into the seat.

Lyman cleared his throat, his voice a bit huskier. "You're mistaken, just a stray cat."

It was getting really hot in here.

I could hardly bear it.

The tension seemed to stretch on forever.

Then no voices sounded anymore.

I asked in a muffled voice, "Are they gone?"

There was a moment of silence in the car.

I could only hear Lyman's shallow breathing.

He lifted my chin.

Now his voice was even raspier.

He asked, "Who are you talking to?"

I sensed something was off.

I slapped his hand away. "I'm going to be late, Mr. Donovan!"

Just as I reached to open the door, he pulled me back.

He frowned and sulked, "You're so cold to me now.

"You didn't use to be like this."

"I've grown up," I shot back.

I quickly looked him over.

His shirt was buttoned up, and his hair was perfectly in place.

Even his eyelashes screamed restraint.

"I don't like your uptight style. I prefer the wild type," I said dismissively.

Lyman narrowed his eyes.

I sensed his anger.

I yanked my hand out of his grasp, bolted out of the car, and sprinted toward my class.

During the lesson, I received a message from him.

I checked it out, and my mind went blank.

It was full of his abs pictures.

Each one was more suggestive than the last.

Startled, I quickly flipped my phone face down on the desk.

After a few seconds, I calmed down.

But I couldn't resist my LSP (Little Pervert Syndrome) tendencies. I ended up scrolling through each photo from top to bottom.

He had me completely figured out.

This wasn't me.

But one of the pictures caught my attention again.

His shirt lifted just enough to tease but not show everything.

"But isn't it lame not to go all the way?" I thought.

Then another picture caught my attention.

Eight-pack abs and Adam's apple paired with a tie.

Leading down to...

Could his pants get any lower?

In my head, I was cheering, "I want to see more!"

Then more messages from Lyman popped up.

[Say something.]

[Don't play dead.]

[I know you've seen it.]

[Wild enough?]

[Does this meet your taste?]

I didn't reply.

He sent a picture of a sniper rifle.

[Wait for me after school.]

No way was I going to do that.

Today was my crush Winford Lamb's birthday.

I promised I'd be there.

I texted back. [You're too old. I like sunshine boys.]

After school, I sneaked out with my best friend Michele Trujillo to the bar.

I sat in a corner, swaying to the music while Michele sang.

Winford came over and sat next to me.

He said, "Lilia, I have something to tell you."

I turned to meet his intense gaze.

I knew where this was going.

I scratched my neck, suddenly feeling guilty.

Lyman's texts came back to mind.

[Lilia, you're being naughty.]

His message seemed to press down on me.

"Lilia," Winford pulled my attention back, "are you listening?"

"Huh? What were you saying?" I asked.

He leaned in close to my ear, his voice soft and a bit intimate.

He said, "I've liked you for a long time.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Just then, Michele switched songs.

Winford's words echoed in the suddenly quiet room.

Everyone was shocked.

They all looked at me.

It was super awkward.

Logically, I should've been thrilled. After all, I liked Winford.

But his confession now made me feel uneasy.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about Lyman.

My neck itched like crazy.

"I..." I started to respond.

"You can't."

A cold voice cut through the air.

The door to the room swung open.

My heart skipped a beat, and I snapped my head up.

Lyman stood at the entrance with a sullen face.

He scanned the room before his eyes locked onto mine.

Step by step, he walked in.

Each footfall sounded like it was pounding on my skull.

I couldn't help but flinch.

"Mr. Donovan?" someone finally reacted, exclaiming, "What are you doing here?"

Lyman's stern face and formal suit were out of place in this setting.

He had an air of authority that silenced the room.

No one dared to breathe too loudly.

Winford stammered, "Mr. Donovan, we're just having a legitimate gathering."

"Mm," Lyman nodded indifferently, his gaze lingering on Winford's face a bit too long.

Winford felt the pressure.

His eyes flickered uneasily.

Finally, Lyman's eyes settled on me, deep and intense.

My brain flashed a warning: I'm screwed.

"I'm here to pick someone up," he said, motioning for me to come over. "Lilia, come here."

I groaned.

I couldn't because he called me in front of everyone.

The students whispered, "What's going on with Lilia and Mr. Donovan?

"Why did he come to pick her up himself?

"Mr. Donovan seems kind of mad.

"And the way he's looking at Lilia is weird."

Everyone was whispering and watching me.

I slowly made my way over.

"Time to go home," Lyman said.

He reached out to take my hand.

Someone gasped, "No way! Is Mr. Donovan living with Lilia?"

Winford's face turned black.

My eyes widened in shock.

I could not let them find out about our relationship.

He wouldn't want anyone to know either.

In a panic, I grabbed both of Lyman's hands and squeezed, desperately giving him a look. "Uncle Lyman!"

Everyone was shocked.

Lyman raised an eyebrow, his anger turning into laughter. "Uncle?"