The Duke’s Affair -Part One

In the conference room, the U-shaped table was neatly set with documents and laptops, with three empty seats at the base of the U, clearly reserved for the three board members. Ye Ye and Shirley sat to the right of these empty seats, with the school’s principal and leaders seated across from them. The school leaders, along with Ye Ye and Shirley, were quietly reviewing their materials, aiming to persuade the three board members to approve the expansion funding. About half an hour later, the conference room door opened, and everyone stood to welcome the guests. First to enter was a man around fifty, wearing glasses and looking very scholarly, with typical East Asian features—likely the Korean board member who could only listen to English. The second was a man in his thirties, handsome with shoulder-length brown hair, taller than the first, with features that could be either European or American. The third—Ye Ye froze. How could it be him? Dean? Each was followed by several assistants. Under the respectful guidance of the principal, they took their seats at the empty spots, with their assistants sitting behind them. Ye Ye stared at Dean, but he never once looked at her. Feeling a bit downcast, Ye Ye remembered their unpleasant parting at the nightclub, but she had never stopped thinking about him. Yet here he was, her school’s board member, not even acknowledging her! Suddenly, she realized she knew nothing about what Dean actually did. Ye Ye pouted, feeling a mix of emotions, and sat down, thinking, “If you won’t look at me, should I still cling to you? Hmph!” Pouting, Ye Ye decided not to look at him either! Dean had noticed Ye Ye in her school uniform, looking so refined and obedient. He saw her surprise, then her anger, and finally, she sat down with a huff, seemingly refusing to look at him again. Dean smiled to himself, amused by her childishness, as if forgetting their previous unpleasantness.