Chapter 001 Professor Williams and the Great Demon

I can't explain why I love you, but I know, you are the reason I don't love anyone else.

——Hayao Miyazaki, "The Hill Where the Shaymin Blooms"

She had never thought that she would end up with Landon Brooke, yet, paradoxically, she felt that being with him was the ending she deserved to have, perhaps—

This was destiny.

...

In the second-floor stepped classroom of Building No. 7 at G University in S City.

A sophomore class from the Department of Physics on astrophysics was in progress.

As a top national institution, the students who had been admitted were all study prodigies with strong self-discipline and a rich learning atmosphere.

On the stage, all three large blackboards were filled with dense notes. Every line was written neatly and clearly, very powerful and beautiful in penmanship, making it comfortable to look at and pleasing to the eye.

Young Professor Tiana Williams from the Department of Physics stood casually, her cool voice passing clearly through the microphone clipped to her collar into every corner of the classroom—

"A large-mass celestial body is more likely to retain its atmosphere when compared to their respective escape velocities, which gives us a more intuitive understanding - Earth's 11.2 km/s is greater than Mercury's 4.2 km/s, which is greater than the Moon's 2.4 km/s..."

Just as Tiana Williams finished writing this piece of notes, the end-of-class bell rang.

She quickly stopped her movement, turned around, glanced at the students below, and said, "We'll stop here for this class. Your homework is problems 3-1 and 4-3, two major questions, to be collected by the study representative before class next Friday and submitted together. Alright, that's the end of the class."

The students quickly rose to their feet and respectfully said—

"Goodbye, Teacher Williams."

...

By the time she left the classroom, it was nearly twelve o'clock noon.

The intense sunlight outside spread everywhere, the sky was cloudless, and the air bore a slight coolness.

Tiana Williams descended the stairs, planning to go to the staff canteen for lunch when her phone suddenly vibrated vigorously.

Tiana Williams answered, and immediately she heard a pleasant laugh—

"Are you done with class? Don't forget about this afternoon's appointment. I've booked a spot for you. Isabella Jackson has a last-minute task and can't make it. You won't stand me up too, will you?"

It was the voice of her good friend Elisse Gonzales.

Elisse Gonzales was a professional model, although she had now transitioned to acting, she could still be seen at some major shows.

By coincidence, there was a charity auction at three o'clock this afternoon, featuring a small but precious jewelry session, and Elisse Gonzales was invited to be a jewelry model for it.

"I haven't forgotten, I'll head over in a bit."

Tiana Williams replied indifferently.

"Okay, after that, let's meet some friends for dinner and late-night snacks. They are all high-quality single men, and you can see if you fancy any of them. Don't worry, I've checked their backgrounds, they come from good families, decent character, and furthermore..."

Elisse Gonzales said somewhat eagerly.

"Elisse, there's no need, I'm engaged."

"What—what did you say?"

This statement lingered for a while, followed by Elisse Gonzales's shocked voice. It seemed as if the air had frozen for a few seconds before Elisse Gonzales continued in astonishment, "Did I... hear you wrong? You're engaged? When did this happen?"

"Last month..."

"To whom?"

"Landon Brooke."

"Ah? Who? Landon Brooke? Holy shit, the Great Demon!"

Elisse Gonzales's astonished voice came through.

...

It was just an arranged marriage.

The Old Master hoped she could find a capable partner, so after vetting his resources several times, he finally chose what he believed to be the top match. After discussing it with his old friend Adam Brooke, the Brooke and Williams family alliance was eventually formed.

And the person to be married off to her was the Young Master Brooke—

Landon Brooke.

Tiana Williams was not surprised by this arranged marriage.

They had known each other since childhood, for over twenty years now.

In the eyes of others, he was a legendary figure, nearly divine in appearance, with astonishing intelligence, deep and inscrutable, whimsical...

But Tiana knew just how hard he was to deal with!

In her memory, he had always been silent and gloomy, cold and indifferent, often accompanied by a wheelchair until his health had gradually improved in recent years, finally allowing him to walk freely without it.

Tiana had no desire to hide her dislike for the Great Demon, and the Great Demon couldn't be bothered to pretend...

There was no love between them.

She didn't love Landon Brooke, and the love of his life would not be her either, so ever since getting engaged, Tiana often wondered:

Was it time to break off their engagement today?

When would the Great Demon let her go free to chase his true love and marry the love of his life?

They didn't even bother putting on a show for appearances, so much so that even for the engagement party—

Both families simply had a meal together. Then, Tiana and Landon Brooke arrived and left the engagement party within three minutes of each other, exchanged rings, signed the documents, took the photographs, and with just a stamp from the marriage registration office, they would become an official married couple.

The Great Demon rarely contacted her, and of course, she wouldn't bother him either.

He was a man undisturbed by others, deep and inscrutable.

She, too, had no other choice. The Old Master couldn't accept her choosing mediocrity, so she would never have a chance. If it was all going to be the same in the end, the Old Master would be happy, it would bring benefits to the Williams Family, and Tiana would gladly accept a capable partner.

...

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Tiana's car parked in a temporary spot at the Market Square in front of the International Exhibition Centre.

The auction inside had already started and was nearly full. The jewelry auction was about to commence.

Following the staff through a long corridor, Tiana was about to head to her seat in front when, at that moment, a tall man was walking towards her and nearly collided with Tiana...

Tiana quickly stopped in her tracks, her elegant brows slightly furrowed, and she looked up nonchalantly.

A handsome face immediately caught her eye.

Under the slightly dim lighting, the face in front of her was still very clear—

Tall and with a graceful figure, wearing a high-end custom Armani suit, his facial features were striking, deep eyes below dark prominent brows, with a hint of scrutiny, oozing elegance and nobility, often standing out in a crowd, the ideal type for countless women.

Familiar yet strange.

Tiana was somewhat surprised.

"Why are you here?"

The man's scrutinizing gaze softened, but his eyes appeared complex, seemingly containing some caution and defense.