2

I quietly gulped and began to scrutinize the expert on the lecture stage.

Ian Grayson stood on the stage, speaking with confidence and ease.

He was aloof and distant, his expression serious and unsmiling.

The very definition of handsome and unapproachable.

I silently pictured my boyfriend, who was always so gentle and thoughtful in our chats.

Then it hit me. This was obviously not my boyfriend.

After taking a few deep breaths to compose myself, I began to participate actively in the lecture.

I had to admit, there was something different about a lecture from an expert. I wasn't sure if it was because of his looks, but everyone was listening with rapt attention.

When it was over, I was about to pack my things and head back to the dorm.

But then I got a text from my professor: "Sienna Sinclair, take the materials from Professor Grayson's lecture over to him."

I felt a little exasperated when I saw the text, but it was an assignment from my professor, so I had no choice but to do it quickly.

Carrying the documents, I arrived tentatively at his office door.

After I knocked, a deep voice quickly answered from within. "Come in."

I stepped inside cautiously and stood beside him. Ian Grayson had his head down, looking like he was organizing some files.

Even this close, his face was flawless. He looked even more handsome than when I'd seen him from down in the lecture hall.

'No wonder my online boyfriend used his photos.'

'He really is incredibly handsome, I have to admit.'

Just as I was admiring his god-tier looks, a calm, unhurried voice drifted from beside me.

"Just leave the documents there."

I quickly tore my eyes away, my heart starting to pound.

After setting the documents down, I turned to leave immediately.

When I got back to the classroom, Tina Warren blocked my path, a mocking look on her face. "Weren't you supposed to meet your online boyfriend today? Did you get stood up?"

Tina Warren and I have never gotten along, so I couldn't be bothered to engage with her taunts.

"He was busy, so we rescheduled for another time."

'How did Tina Warren find out I was dating someone online? She really stops at nothing, does she?'

At my answer, Tina Warren suddenly covered her mouth and let out a snicker.

"You really can't see it, can you? I don't know whether to call you naive or just plain stupid."

Her phony smile made me frown involuntarily.

I asked in a cold voice, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Tina Warren shrugged. "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to let you know that your online boyfriend did it on purpose. He's probably just ugly and scared to meet you, so he's intentionally blowing you off."

I was rendered speechless by her words.

'This is so damn ridiculous.'

'What the hell does my love life have to do with her?'

"Sometimes things just come up. This event today was pretty last-minute, wasn't it?"

Tina Warren remained smug. "Your online boyfriend isn't a student, is he? He's just some ordinary working stiff. How can you even compare his situation to an event like today's?"

Her smug voice grew increasingly shrill, naturally drawing a crowd of students who stopped to watch.

As the crowd of onlookers grew, my roommate quietly pulled me away.

"Sienna, don't stoop to her level," she said. "She's never liked you anyway. She's just saying all this to get a rise out of you."

I already knew that.

'It's just because I beat her out for the scholarship last semester, isn't it? Was all this really necessary?'

'Just because she's not good enough, she can't let anyone else win?'

My roommate and I had discussed this possibility that morning, but the way she brought it up was completely different from the way Tina Warren was mocking me now...

Tina was clearly just one of those awful people who can't stand to see anyone else doing well.

3

I wasn't about to let Tina Warren ruin my good mood.

Back in my dorm, I sprawled lazily on my bed and messaged my online boyfriend again.

"Are you free now?"

As usual, he replied in a flash.

"Yeah. Are you out of class? Are you tired?"

Just as I was about to reply, he quickly sent another message.

"I'm really sorry about today... I didn't expect those things to come up at the last minute."

I replied without a second thought, "It's no big deal. Besides, my school happened to have a lecture today. Since our plans fell through, I was able to snag a great seat."

The lecture came to mind, so I started telling him about my day. "The expert who came today was super aloof. He called on a student in front of everyone, and when she couldn't answer, he just completely ignored her... I felt so bad for her. But aloofness aside, his academic expertise is truly top-tier. I learned so much from his talk!"

Then I quietly added, "I have no idea how our school managed to invite a luminary like him to give a lecture."

I kept typing, "Oh, right! I also had to deliver some materials to him, so I got to see him up close. He's seriously gorgeous!"

But then, worried he might get jealous, I quickly added, "Don't worry, it was just a quick glance. To me, looks aren't that important."

I expected him to share something about his day, like he always does.

But instead, he suddenly asked, "You're a student there?"

I sent a confused emoji.

He sent another message. "Crestview University."

I didn't deny it. "Oh, had I not told you?"

'We've talked so much, I can't believe I forgot to mention something so basic.'

It was such a simple piece of information, but he didn't reply.

Instead, the chat box just showed the "...is typing" indicator.

Confused, I sent another message. "Is something wrong?"

He finally replied. "It's nothing."

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw his reply.

"It's just a shame we couldn't meet today. We definitely have to meet up next time we're both free."

"Yeah!"

His words made me feel incredibly secure.

'When it comes to dating, it'd be a lie to say looks don't matter at all. But to me, kindness, patience, and a calm, steady personality are far more important.'

'Even though I have no idea what he looks like, in the time we've been talking, he's checked every single box for my ideal partner.'

: Rejected at the Door

4

Today was the weekend, and I remembered my online boyfriend had said he wanted to meet up.

I was just about to pull out my phone and ask if he was free today.

Just then, my professor sent me a message. "Sienna, Professor Grayson has made a rare trip to Silverwood City. Our university absolutely cannot let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass us by."

Reading my professor's message, a vein throbbed in my temple.

I had a vague, sinking feeling.

Sure enough, his next message came right away. "As the school's representative, you are to go and interview him. The university's reputation is in your hands."

Staring at the message on my phone, I could have cried.

'This is killing me... Why is it that every time my boyfriend and I are about to meet, something else gets in the way?'

But to maintain my good-student persona and secure my scholarship for next quarter, I had no choice but to sincerely accept the task.

"Yes, Professor. I understand. I guarantee I'll complete the mission."

After sending the message, even I was disgusted with myself.

'Waaaah... It looks like the day I finally meet my online boyfriend is still a long way off.'

But since I had already accepted the task from my professor, I had to prepare myself fully and face the challenge head-on.

I went back to my dorm for a bit, then got ready and headed to the hotel to interview Ian Grayson.

Following the address my professor gave me, I quickly found the right room. Just as I was about to knock, a man in a black suit stopped me.

His expression was stern. "Unauthorized personnel are not permitted."

'This must be the legendary assistant to the big boss.'

I put on my most perfect, twelve-out-of-ten smile. "I'm a student from Crestview University. I was sent by the university to interview Professor Grayson."

The assistant looked me up and down, his face still an impassive mask. He cut straight to the point. "Plenty of people want to see President Grayson. You think we have to let you in just because you casually claim to be from Crestview Middle School?"

I had canceled my meetup with my online boyfriend for this, so I didn't want to give up so easily.

I adopted an even more polite tone. "Professor Grayson gave a lecture at our university before. You can check. I just want to conduct a simple interview. I'm sure he wouldn't refuse, right?"

The man was unyielding. "I said no visitors. President Grayson is very busy."

Normally, I would have blown my top by now, but I had to hold it in.

I smiled. "How about you go and ask him first?"

He shot me a dismissive look. "It doesn't matter if I ask or not, the result will be the same. President Grayson hates being disturbed by outsiders during his downtime. Don't waste your time hitting this brick wall."

In the end, I talked until my mouth was dry, but the assistant didn't show the slightest sign of budging.

The long and short of it was that this Ian Grayson guy seemed difficult to get along with and incredibly rigid. No matter what, he was not going to see me.

I was really unwilling to accept it, but I had no choice but to give up on the assignment.

With every step I took, I felt like I was about to explode with anger.

'Damn it... '

'The taxi ride from the university to the hotel cost me a good chunk of change.'

'And most importantly, I specifically canceled on my online boyfriend just to get this result.'

'What a joke of an expert. Does he really think he's all that?!'

The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I got. I plopped down in the hotel lobby and started venting to my online boyfriend.

"My university sent me to interview that expert who came to give a lecture, you know, the one I told you was decent-looking."

"Damn it... I thought he was just a little aloof, and would be nice to students, but today I found out the guy really knows how to put on airs. I wanted to meet you today, but I couldn't because I had to come interview him, and in the end, that jerk just shut the door in my face!"

"Ahhhh... I just want to beat him to a pulp!"

After I sent the messages, he went silent for a few minutes again.

I was pretty confused. "What's up with you lately? I've noticed your reply speed has gotten a little weird..."

In the past, whenever I sent a message, he would always reply in a split second. Sometimes, before I had even figured out what to type next, he'd have already sent a whole series of messages.

My online boyfriend finally replied. "It's nothing. You just said you went to see the expert from the Crestview University lecture and got turned away?"

Just talking about it made me fume all over again. "Yeah, that guy is unbelievable! Acting like he's so high and mighty. Who'd want to see him anyway!"

As soon as I sent that, the "is typing..." indicator appeared on his end again.

It flickered on and off several times, but he never sent a single word.

A few minutes later, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence. "Wait a moment."

He sent it, then retracted it less than two seconds later.

I was completely baffled.

'What is going on?'

I picked up my phone, slowly stood up, and prepared to head back to my dorm to have a serious talk with him about his recent texting issues.

Before I even made it to the door, a frantic voice called out from behind me. "Miss Sinclair! Miss Sinclair, wait..."

Confused, I stopped and turned around. It was Ian Grayson's assistant.

He was rushing toward me, his face fraught with anxiety. "Don't leave yet."

I looked at him, confused by the sweat beading on his forehead. "What's wrong?"

'Didn't you just refuse to let me see Ian Grayson? What's the meaning of telling me not to leave now?'