Looking at Marcus beside her and feeling the steady warmth of his presence, Talia felt something soft settle deep in her chest. This time, she would not retreat, would not hesitate, and certainly would not let him slip away again. She had already made up her mind. No matter what happened, she would fight for her own happiness, even if it meant abandoning the pride she had guarded for so many years.

She would never leave him again.

More than that, she wanted to prove something, not only to Marcus but also to herself. She was not inferior to Serena, one of the Four Campus Queens of Crestwood University and the woman everyone believed Marcus cared for most. Talia refused to stand quietly in anyone’s shadow. She would make him see her, truly see her.

When she noticed the way Marcus stared at her, momentarily dazed, her heart lifted with quiet triumph. All the preparation had been worth it. The white tracksuit she wore radiated youth and energy, simple yet striking, perfectly highlighting her natural charm. She had chosen it carefully, knowing exactly the effect she wanted.

"You’re lucky," Talia said with a slow, teasing smile.

They had barely seen each other these past few days, exchanging only brief phone calls. Remembering Marcus’s habit of running every morning, she had deliberately come early today, pretending coincidence while secretly hoping to meet him. And just as she expected, he was still faithful to his routine.

’Fate,’ she thought with a mixture of satisfaction and helpless amusement. ’I went through all this effort just to chase after you. Do you even realize that?’

Talia had always been proud and distant, the kind of woman who dismissed admirers with a single indifferent glance. Born into privilege, adored since childhood, she carried herself like a princess untouched by ordinary concerns. Yet standing beside Marcus, she felt strangely powerless, as if all her practiced composure dissolved whenever he appeared.

And still, she had never been happier.

There was no complicated reason behind it, no logical explanation she could give anyone. She simply liked him. That was all.

He had come back into her life, and that alone was enough.

Her smile bloomed under the pale morning light, bright and vivid as flowers opening at dawn. She moved with effortless grace, almost unreal in her beauty, like a spirit walking briefly among ordinary people. Standing so close, Marcus felt the full impact of her presence and could not stop himself from speaking honestly.

"You’re beautiful. Somehow you get prettier every day."

Talia’s expression immediately shifted, a faint grievance appearing in her eyes. "Getting prettier? Are you saying I wasn’t pretty before?"

Marcus froze.

"That’s not what I meant, I just..."

Words failed him completely. He scratched the back of his head, searching desperately for an explanation that refused to come.

"Idiot," she muttered, though the corners of her lips betrayed amusement.

She grabbed his hand without hesitation. "Marcus, let’s run."

Before he could react, she pulled him forward. Already dizzy from her sudden closeness and captivated by her charm, Marcus followed instinctively, allowing himself to be led wherever she wished.

"Enchanting," he murmured under his breath.

Talia truly deserved her reputation as the most seductive woman on campus, a dangerously charming beauty who seemed fully aware of the effect she had on others. Their intimate interaction naturally drew attention from nearby students. Envious stares, jealous whispers, and stunned disbelief followed them as they ran together across the field.

Marcus was hardly a gentleman himself. Quietly, almost subconsciously, he tightened his grip around her slender fingers while stealing glances at her profile. Every smile, every movement sent his heartbeat racing. He realized with some concern that his self control around her was weakening more and more.

After finishing their run, they sat down on bamboo chairs beside the athletic field to rest. Talia leaned against him without reservation, clinging comfortably to his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Marcus, have you been busy lately?" she asked.

"Not really." He turned toward her. "Why?"

"If you’re free, then this morning belongs to me."

She stood abruptly and pulled him up with surprising strength, excitement brightening her voice. "Come with me."

"Where?"

Marcus followed, curiosity immediately rising.

Talia only gave him a playful, secretive look and refused to answer. The more mysterious she acted, the more curious he became. He tightened his hold on her soft hand and lengthened his stride to walk beside her, leaning closer with a grin.

"At least give me a hint. I’m a handsome guy, you know."

"Narcissist," she laughed, shooting him a sideways glance.

Seeing his obvious anticipation, she finally relented a little. "Somewhere nice. You won’t regret it."

After that, she sealed her lips firmly, refusing to say anything more.

’Somewhere nice...’

Marcus repeated the words silently, his curiosity quickly turning into realization. A sudden thought struck him, and his heartbeat sped up.

’Could it be?’

Warm anticipation surged through him as a familiar figure appeared in his mind.

’Professor Tina.’

That had to be it. Talia was definitely taking him to Professor Tina’s place.

With that realization, Marcus stopped asking questions entirely and followed obediently. Professor Tina, often called Miss Tina by students, was Talia’s aunt and one of the most legendary figures at Crestwood University.

Together with Willow Moran, she was known as one of the university’s Campus Queens. Unlike the youthful charm of the students, Tina possessed an ethereal elegance that felt almost untouchable. Her beauty carried maturity, serenity, and quiet warmth, like a celestial being who had accidentally descended into the human world. Gentle yet captivating, refined yet approachable, she embodied the ideal countless students secretly admired.

Crestwood University was famous for its six most beautiful women, the pride of the entire campus: the Four Campus Queens, Anya, Talia, Serena, and Lily, along with the two exceptional figures, Willow Moran and Professor Tina.

Each woman possessed her own distinct charm, like flowers blooming through different seasons. None could truly replace another, and arguments about ranking them never ended because beauty was ultimately subjective.

Still, if students were forced to choose the single most beautiful woman at Crestwood University, most answers inevitably pointed toward Professor Tina.

If the six women were flowers, then Tina was the queen among them.

If they were celestial maidens walking the mortal world, she stood at their peak.

Her grace, composure, and breathtaking presence left an impression few could resist. At least eighty percent of the campus quietly agreed that Professor Tina was the undisputed number one beauty.

It had been a long time since Marcus had seen her, and the thought alone made his chest heat with anticipation. He unconsciously quickened his pace. Recently, he had been too busy and lacked any excuse to visit her, but now, walking beside Talia, everything felt natural.

After all, it was through Talia that he had first met Professor Tina. Without her introduction, he would have remained like any other student, admiring the professor from afar without ever knowing where she lived.

As Marcus glanced at Talia’s alluring figure beside him, a sudden jolt of guilt struck him.

’How shameless am I?’

Here he was holding hands with one stunning woman while thinking about another. The realization made him feel absurdly greedy. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

’Human Rock.’

The technique had changed him more than he cared to admit. Since practicing it, especially after ’dual cultivation’ with Lily and Willow, his temperament had shifted dramatically. His desires had grown stronger, sharper, filled with possessiveness and an almost dangerous attraction toward beauty.

He had never been like this before, not back when his life revolved around simple days spent with Snow.

He was changing, and those changes were still unfolding.

The image of Professor Tina resurfaced in his mind, and Marcus found himself drifting into thought again.

"Marcus."

A soft voice pulled him back.

Talia hummed lightly beside him, studying his face. "Hey... what are you thinking about?"

"N nothing," Marcus said quickly, stumbling over his words as he returned to reality. "Really, nothing."

He silently prayed she had not noticed.

But Talia was far from naive. Sharp and perceptive, she saw through people far too easily.

"Liar."

There was no anger in her tone, only certainty.

"You’re completely spaced out and still saying it’s nothing."

Her lips curved into a small pout, equal parts dissatisfaction and amusement.

"It’s nothing," Marcus insisted hurriedly. "I thought I saw some classmates over there. I was wondering if I knew them."

He pointed vaguely in a random direction, attempting to sell the excuse.

Talia did not even glance where he pointed. Her eyes remained fixed on him, calmly dismantling his lie.

"Still lying."

Marcus felt heat creep up his neck, words failing him again. Just as he struggled to invent another excuse, Talia leaned closer, her lips brushing near his ear as she whispered softly,

"Marcus... were you thinking about my aunt?"

He nearly jumped.

This woman truly left him no room to hide. Sharp, bold, and mercilessly perceptive, she exposed his thoughts without hesitation.

"Talia, don’t say things like that," he said quickly, his heart pounding.

Fortunately, Marcus possessed one undeniable strength; he had a very thick skin. No matter what, he decided in that moment, he would deny everything. He absolutely refused to lose face in front of Talia.