The tip of the Iceberg

Seoul Academy

The hallways were already crowded when I arrived at school that morning. Students rushed past one another while conversations echoed throughout the building.

I was too busy fixing the strap of my bag to notice someone walking toward me.

THUD.

Books and papers scattered across the floor.

“Oh no—I’m so sorry!”

I quickly crouched down and realized who I had bumped into.

Professor Wang.

“I didn’t see you coming, Professor,” I apologized while gathering the papers. “This was completely my fault.”

He simply stared at me quietly.

As always, his expression barely changed. His eyes looked strangely empty—cold, almost unreadable.

“It’s alright,” he said calmly after a moment. “Could you help me bring those to my office?”

I nodded immediately.

After all, I was the reason everything fell.

As we walked through the hallway in silence, I secretly glanced at him.

Professor Wang really was strange.

Ever since my first day, he had shown unusual interest in helping me settle into the academy. He personally accompanied me to class, despite me insisting I could manage on my own.

Yet outside of lectures, he rarely interacted with anyone.

Students seemed intimidated by him, and even the other professors kept their distance.

It made me wonder…

What exactly was he hiding?

When we finally arrived at his office, I carefully placed the books on his desk.

“Thank you, Ms. Kang,” he said quietly.

“You’re welcome, Professor.”

I bowed politely before leaving for class.

—

The moment I entered the classroom, I immediately felt someone staring at me.

Jian Cheng.

He was leaning lazily against his chair near the window, his bruises from yesterday still faintly visible.

At least he looked alive now.

Not that I cared.

Before I could sit down, he suddenly spoke.

“About yesterday,” he said casually, “why were you so angry when I grabbed your hand?”

I froze for a second.

Seriously?

Instead of thanking me for helping him, that’s the first thing he asks?

I ignored him and placed my bag on my desk.

But then he smirked slightly.

“You were trembling too,” he added teasingly. “Don’t tell me that was your first time holding a guy’s hand.”

I slowly turned toward him.

What a pervert.

“Are you making fun of me, Mr. Sleepyhead?”

The moment the nickname left my mouth, the atmosphere shifted.

His eyebrow twitched slightly.

Then he suddenly stood up and walked closer to me.

Too close.

“How dare you call me that?” he whispered near my ear. “Do you want me to punish you?”

Before I could react—

I felt something brush against my ear.

I immediately shoved him away.

“What is wrong with you?!” I snapped angrily. “Can you act like a decent human being for once?”

Disgusting.

Absolutely disgusting.

This man seriously needed psychological help.

I was about to yell at him again when I noticed the entire classroom had gone silent.

My heart nearly stopped.

Professor Wang was standing near the door.

Watching us.

Oh no.

How long had he been there?

I immediately stepped away from Cheng while panic flooded my chest.

This idiot did that on purpose.

Meanwhile, Jian Cheng looked completely relaxed, even smirking slightly like he found the situation entertaining.

I wanted to disappear on the spot.

Professor Wang quietly glanced between the two of us.

Then, surprisingly, he simply adjusted his glasses.

“Class dismissed early today,” he said calmly.

And just like that, he walked away.

…That’s it?

No lecture?

No punishment?

The classroom instantly erupted into whispers.

I slowly sat down at my desk and buried my face in my arms.

This is so embarrassing…

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