Shanley was leaning against his car door, dressed in a ck trench coat with his


    long legs crossed. His deep eyes gazed thoughtfully into the distance. The golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a dappled, hazy light on his face, making him look exceptionally striking.


    This man... was actually quite handsome.


    Juniper found herself staring, lost in thought.


    Until Shanley sensed someone behind him and turned his head, his eyes meeting


    her captivated gaze.


    "Juniper, over here," Shanley said, straightening up and waving her over.


    Juniper licked her lips and obediently walked over to him.


    "Did you run?" Shanley''s eyes lowered, noticing the faint sheen of perspiration on the tip of her nose. He gently brushed it with his finger. "Walk slowly next time. I won''t leave until you get here."


    Juniper''s first instinct was to pull away from his touch, but in the end, she didn''t move. It seemed... she didn''t mind his closeness.


    "It''s hot out here. Let''s talk in the car." Shanley opened the car door, carefully guiding her inside.


    The car was empty. On the small table in the back, a spread of snacks wasid out, all prepared just for her.


    Juniper''s eyes lit up, a warm feeling spreading through her.


    "Do you have evening sses?" Shanley asked softly as he opened a small packet of mango-vored biscuits for her and ced a straw in her milkshake.


    "Mmm-hmm." Juniper nodded as she ate. When a crumb got on her face, Shanley would gently wipe it away.


    "You seem to be in a good mood today," Shanley remarked with a slight smile, noticing the hint of a grin on her lips.


    "It''s alright." Juniper''s delicate eyebrows arched as the sweet milkshake melted on her tongue. Finding her brother, having a family... it was a pretty good feeling.


    "Eat slowly," Shanley said, dabbing her mouth with a napkin, his gaze impossibly gentle. "If you like these, I can bring them to you every day."


    Every day?


    Juniper turned her head, her eyes meeting his doting gaze. In that instant, her heart began to race, and a warmth spread across her cheeks.


    "Ahem." Lost in the moment, Juniper identally choked on her milkshake.


    "Are you okay?" Shanley frowned at her reaction. "Are you too hot?"


    "A little," Juniper nodded, guiltily looking away.


    Shanley immediately turned down the air conditioning.


    A few minutester, Juniper still felt hot, with a strange, itchy feeling inside that she couldn''t describe. She decided the car''s air conditioning must be broken.


    When it was time for her to go, Shanley packed up the leftover snacks for her.


    "You can have snacks, but you have to eat your three meals on time."


    "I bought you a water bottle. Remember to stay hydrated."


    "If you''re really struggling with your studies, tell me, and I''ll find a way to help you."


    Juniper stood with her hands in her pockets, kicking at the ground, a bored expression on her face. He was fussier than her grandfather.


    But despite her silentints, she listened carefully to every word.


    "And..." Shanley handed her the bag of snacks, then lowered his head to meet her gaze, his tone incredibly serious. "Little girl, you''re not dating anyone, are you?"


    "Dating who?" The girl, who had been spacing out, instinctively looked up, her beautiful face filled with confusion.


    "As long as you''re not."


    Her reaction said it all. A satisfied smile touched Shanley''s lips, and his voice became dangerously alluring. "Your priority right now is to study. You can''t be dating anyone else, understand?"


    Not dating was one thing. But what did he mean by... not dating "anyone else"?