Addiction - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Huo Ren frowned and didn’t move.

If he wouldn’t give it to me, I wasn’t going to keep asking. I walked past him and left.

It was the dead of winter, and the campus was wrapped in silver, the cold biting to the bone. I stopped downstairs and took out my pack of cigarettes.

I’d only leaned against the wall and smoked half a cigarette before Huo Ren came down.

He held a book in one hand, letting it hang by his leg, and stood ramrod straight a little over a meter away. His refined features were set in a grave, stern expression.

“The number.” He knew I had been waiting for him and handed me a business card.

I took it and narrowed my eyes through the white smoke. “How noble of you, Professor Huo. Sacrificing yourself for your students.”

Huo Ren’s fingers tightened around the book. “They’re still young. Don’t ruin them because of your…”

He paused halfway through, so I finished it for him. “Mm, I know. I can’t ruin them because of how frivolous and shameless I am.”

Huo Ren said nothing.

But I knew what he wanted to say: At least you have some self-awareness.

I folded my arms and flicked ash from my cigarette. “How about this? Professor Huo agrees to one request, and I’ll settle this matter cleanly and beautifully right away.”

Huo Ren spoke with forced patience. “Go ahead.”

I narrowed my eyes and stared straight at him.

As a professional photographer, I could map out his entire physique even with his clothes on.

Golden proportions, long legs, a narrow waist. He worked out regularly, dressed well, was highly educated, and carried himself with a solemn, restrained elegance.

A line came to mind: the ultimate kind of aloofness was the highest form of sex appeal.

Unable to help myself, I licked the corner of my lips. “Be my model for a day.”

“What?” My gaze was too blatant. Huo Ren turned his face away.

“I want to shoot a set of… uh, artistic photos of you.”

I clearly saw Huo Ren’s whole body stiffen, the line of his profile going hard and cold.

He fought down the urge to call me shameless, then left with an icy expression.

My lips curved, and an itch stirred at the tip of my heart.

“Sis.” My so-called little brother came rushing over. “I asked you to come help me, and look at you. You didn’t help at all. Instead, you flirted with our professor in public.”

I tossed him a bank card.

“Take the five hundred thousand on there and go kneel to her.”

“Huh?” He stared at me, dumbfounded.

“You have two choices.” I let the smile fade and said coldly, “First, convince her and her parents to keep the baby. The two of you take time off school together, look after her until she gives birth and finishes her postpartum recovery, then come back. Second, get rid of the baby. The five hundred thousand is your apology money.”

He froze for a moment, then said, “Sis, I misjudged you.”

“I don’t care how you do it. In the end, you part on good terms. Otherwise…”

I gave a cold snort and continued, “I’ll break your legs myself.”