Thea hugged the old book she had just bought from one of the nearby thrift stores, feeling lucky to have found the one she'd been looking for. Though a bit dusty and stained with brown spots from years of storage, the book was still in good condition—a sign that the shop owner took good care of their merchandise. Sometimes, Thea preferred buying old or second-hand books rather than new ones from expensive, air-conditioned bookstores. Living far from her parents, she knew she had to save as much as possible.
Her steps halted when she found herself in front of a museum. It had been a long time since she last visited one—perhaps a few years ago, during a school trip to the city. She lived in a quiet little village, far from the hustle and bustle of urban life. There weren't even malls there, let alone museums. Without thinking twice, Thea entered the museum.
The sound of her sneakers echoed against the floor of the museum. It was quiet, with only a few visitors—barely twenty people, Thea included. She walked past several paintings and the white pillars that held up the museum's ceiling.
Her steps stopped when she stood before a classic Baroque-style painting, the faint scent of oil paint and wood lingering in the air. On the canvas was a depiction of a noblewoman seated at her vanity, facing a mirror. A man, presumably her partner, stood behind her. He seemed to be whispering admiration into her ear, but Thea's breath caught when she noticed the man's hand gripping the woman's neck. The grip wasn't forceful, but it held a certain softness that somehow symbolized possession—as if he was binding her within his hold.
She clenched the strap of her bag.
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled Thea back to reality. She turned around. Her gray eyes widened when she saw a tall man standing behind her, dressed in a dark wool coat over a high-collared shirt, one of his hands tucked casually into his coat pocket. His figure was sharply defined under the museum lights—chiseled jaw and intense golden-brown eyes. There was no mistaking it.
Alaric Liu Grayson.
Thea held her breath.
How could the man who helped her last night, who had looked at her with that deep, almost protective voice, now be standing right behind her? It was as if the universe was conspiring to bring them together again.
Or so Thea thought—until she remembered the business card Alaric had given her. Curator or museum director—that was his job. Was this museum the one he managed?
"I thought it was you," Alaric said with a polite smile that sharply contrasted the look in his eyes. "The girl from last night..."
"Elwood," Thea interrupted quickly, realizing Alaric seemed unsure how to address her. She just realized they hadn't even properly introduced themselves. "Theavine Elwood."
"Ah, yes… Thea." Alaric nodded. "You don't mind if I call you that, do you?"
It was clear Alaric preferred calling her by her first name rather than her last, as if they were already familiar. Thea's lips twitched at the thought, tempted to protest—but she had been calling him by his first name as well.
"It's… fine," she replied, her tone reluctant. Silence fell. She wasn't sure what else to say. Thea had never been good at small talk with people she barely knew.
Alaric moved to stand beside her, gazing at the painting Thea had just been observing. "Beautiful, isn't it? This painting arrived just a month ago. Do you know the hidden meaning behind it?"
Thea blinked in surprise at his sudden question. She swallowed nervously. "This woman seems to be the type who lacks confidence—she's looking at herself with a sad expression, surrounded by makeup, while the man tries to comfort her, whispering into her ear."
She chose not to mention the man's hand gently gripping the woman's neck. Alaric glanced at her, noticing how she clutched her bag strap uneasily.
"That's all?"
"Huh?"
"You seem to have missed something, Theavine Elwood."
Thea flinched at his words. Could Alaric read her thoughts? Did he realize she'd intentionally left out a detail?
"You mean… the man's hand around her neck?"
"Do you know what that symbolizes?"
Thea shook her head, feigning innocence. And she didn't notice the slight upward curl of Alaric's lips at her response.
"The man is subtly gripping the woman's neck—his hold is gentle, but placed at a dangerous spot. He wants her to depend on him." Alaric turned to face her. "That is obsession."
Thea rubbed the back of her neck at his near-whisper, feeling a shiver she couldn't explain. Maybe it was just the museum's air conditioning, she tried to reason.
"Do you only like paintings? This museum has other rooms showcasing more than just paintings."
Alaric swiftly changed the subject, pulling himself away from the depths of her wide gray eyes.
"Really? What else is there?"
Alaric was caught off guard by Thea's sudden burst of enthusiasm. Her gray eyes sparkled, staring at him with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
"There are stone sculptures, Chinese calligraphy art, books and foreign manuscripts." Alaric paused, noticing how Thea was still looking at him—not with admiration for his looks, like other women often did—but with genuine interest in the museum's collection.
"That sounds amazing." Thea sighed in awe. She no longer clutched her bag strap like before—her defensive posture had completely faded. "But I haven't finished looking through all the paintings in this room. I'd like to explore them first."
Alaric nodded. "I can accompany you." He walked alongside her casually—the height difference between them quite noticeable, with Thea barely reaching his chest. "You know, I could make a decent tour guide." There was a teasing note in his voice, and Thea didn't decline his offer.
But it turned out Alaric's earlier use of the word decent was quite the understatement. He explained the paintings with such expertise that Thea was left in awe. His explanations were clear, engaging, and easy to understand—like a true historian.
They stopped in front of a painting of Cupid mid-flight. Suddenly, Thea remembered something.
"Uhm… I was reminded of your business card. Are you the director of this museum?" she asked cautiously.
Alaric smiled and nodded. "You're right. It was quite the coincidence—when I stepped out of my office, I spotted your petite figure admiring a painting. I'm glad I wasn't mistaken." He chuckled.
Thea returned a shy smile. She glanced at the watch on her wrist and realized she had been in the museum for nearly an hour. She had only planned to stop by briefly before heading home.
"I'm sorry, I have to go now."
"Ah, of course. Time flies, doesn't it?" Alaric checked his own watch. "I didn't expect discussing paintings with a college girl like you would be so enjoyable, Thea. You made me forget the time."
A faint crease appeared on Thea's forehead. She had only told Alaric her name—not once had she mentioned being a college student. Did her appearance give it away?
Not wanting to overthink, Thea brushed off the confusion. "I also enjoyed spending time with you, Mr. Alaric. I've learned a lot from you." She gave a slight bow of her head. "Well then, I'll be going. See you again."
"Yes, see you again, Theavine Elwood."