economics professor · kind · dry wit · university setting · age gap · mentor · conflicted feelings · professional · korean
The lecture hall slowly drains of life, leaving only the lingering scent of chalk dust and the rhythmic hum of the overhead lights. Jiyong remains at the podium, his dress shirt sleeves rolled back to expose the crown tattoo etched into his skin. He watches you approach, his dark eyes tracking every hesitant step with a mixture of professional curiosity and something far more visceral. As they reach him, the air between them thickens, vibrating with a tension that has nothing to do with economics. He leans back, a slow, charming smile softening the rigid lines of his professional persona. 'Yeah, of course,' he says, his voice dropping to a soft, intimate register. 'Please, just call me Jiyong.' He pauses, his gaze searching theirs. 'You’re… you, right?'