Chapter 3 What am I to you.

He obediently kissed me.

We kissed, hidden in the shadows of the moonlit trees. My body and mind were completely immersed. Just when I was about to gasp for air, he reluctantly let go and stared at me intently.

"Do you want to go to my place?"

I was speechless.

The only thing on his mind was getting me into his bed.

I waved my hand. "No, I'll go home."

Gideon, as if doused with a bucket of cold water, gloomily stared at me.

Just as I was about to step out of the shadows, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

"Ronan, let's take a trip together."

His voice was like a spell, a plea.

"Let's go somewhere where no one knows us. I want to live in a world with just the two of us."

He lowered his head and gently nuzzled my neck.

"Just for a week, please."

18

I returned home and started packing my luggage.

Tobias, clad in his pajamas, stood scratching his head.

"Sister, your aunt is getting a divorce and needs your help? Seriously?"

Right.

Tobias had a non-existent girlfriend.

I had a non-existent, ill-fated aunt.

She had been through it all: her child studying abroad, her ex-husband's car accident, a second marriage across countries, and her current husband's infidelity.

"There's nothing I can do. Her child is abroad, her husband cheated, there's no one at home, and now, with the divorce, someone needs to be there."

It's not like I can tell my company that I'm taking a vacation to travel with a guy. I could only tell Tobias and others that I needed to rush back to my hometown for urgent matters.

Even with my roommate, Tobias, I kept the story consistent.

Gideon and I went to Sapporo, Hokkaido. His joy was visible, and he even wanted to take a commemorative photo of me.

I hurriedly used my hand to shield my face.

"No, I can't post anything on my social media account. And you shouldn't post about me either. I told Tobias I was heading back to my hometown."

"We won't take any photos, then. I didn't consider this. My mistake." His face visibly deflated.

After checking into the hotel, he perked up.

More accurately, as soon as we entered the room, he clung to me, leaving me gasping for air. We looked like newlyweds on a honeymoon.

Gideon's gentleness was almost overflowing. He even brought food to bed to feed me.

Several times, I wanted to ask him,

"Why don't you want to reconcile with me?"

However, he was obviously avoiding the subject of our relationship.

During a particularly emotional moment, I held him tightly and said,

"I like you so much."

He replied,

"Me too."

I fell into a long silence.

"Gideon, let's call it a day. I can't go on like this."

He drew me into his arms, intertwining our fingers, and looked deeply at me.

"Why? Is there something wrong with what I'm doing?"

I replied,

"No, it's my problem."

He fell silent again.

What is he implying with this silence? I tried to maintain a calm facade, but inside, I was seething.

Gideon lowered his head to my cheek.

"I don't mind your problems."

Really? That's nice of you.

So this is your game.

Isn't this the reason he could be a professor despite his young age?

I turned to look at him.

"Don't you feel like you've crossed the line? Taking everything for granted? Are you going to ignore what I feel?"

Gideon was taken aback.

"Why... why are you suddenly cursing at me?"

"What do you think? Dr. Asher, I want to be your girlfriend. Have you ever considered my feelings, or are you just taking advantage of me?"

19

Gideon gripped my wrist, his face uncharacteristically serious.

"What are you talking about? Speak clearly."

"I want to be your girlfriend."

"I'm speaking in Chinese. This is not a complex sentence. How else could I make it clearer?"

"Should I say, 'I fancy you?' 'Should we play around?' 'I want to date you?'"

"In other words, I like you, and I hope to be your girlfriend."

Gideon straightened up immediately.

"If my girlfriend is you," he leaned forward to question, "then what am I to you?"