THE PUNISHMENT
1327 Words
Aurora walked out of the lecture hall with her heart pounding, trying to ignore the sting of embarrassment burning in her chest.
David caught up with her before she reached the staircase.
"Hey."
She didn't answer.
"Aurora."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
She sighed and stopped walking. "Do I really look that miserable?"
David gave her a sympathetic smile.
"You've looked miserable every Monday since this semester started."
Aurora laughed bitterly.
"I don't understand him."
"Professor Shen?"
"Who else?" she scoffed. "He acts like I committed a crime by enrolling in his class."
David shook his head.
"I've never seen a lecturer target one student this much."
Aurora looked down at the thick folder still tucked beneath her arm.
"Fifty extra questions."
David's eyes widened.
"He gave you another assignment?"
She nodded.
"I honestly think he enjoys making my life difficult."
David reached over and gently took the folder from her.
"I'll help you."
"You already have your own assignments."
"So?"
He smiled.
"We're friends."
Aurora couldn't help smiling back.
"Thank you."
They continued walking across campus together, talking about everything except Professor Shen.
For the first time that morning, Aurora felt herself relax.
She didn't notice the pair of gray eyes watching them from the second-floor office window.
---
Professor Shen stood perfectly still.
From his office, he had a clear view of the courtyard.
David was laughing.
Aurora was laughing too.
It was a smile Professor Shen hadn't seen in weeks.
His fingers tightened around the ceramic coffee cup in his hand.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
His assistant entered carrying several files.
"Professor, these are the exam papers for review."
Shen nodded without looking away from the window.
The assistant hesitated.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
The answer was immediate.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on Aurora.
David reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
Aurora didn't seem to notice.
Professor Shen set the coffee cup down a little harder than intended.
It cracked.
The assistant looked startled.
"Professor?"
Shen finally turned around.
"Leave the papers."
"Yes, sir."
As soon as the office door closed, Shen looked back outside.
The courtyard was empty.
They were gone.
---
Meanwhile...
The university café was packed.
Aurora and David managed to find a small table near the window.
David pushed a slice of cheesecake toward her.
"You skipped breakfast again."
"I'm not hungry."
"You've said that three days in a row."
Aurora sighed.
"David..."
"What?"
"You worry too much."
"Someone has to."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're beginning to sound like my grandfather."
David chuckled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then someone stopped beside their table.
Aurora looked up.
Her smile disappeared instantly.
Professor Shen.
The entire café fell silent.
Every student turned to stare.
Professor Shen adjusted his glasses.
"Miss Blake."
Aurora slowly stood.
"Professor."
"I asked you to complete the assignment."
"I just received it twenty minutes ago."
"You'll still submit it before Friday."
"I know."
His expression remained unreadable.
"You also failed to cite two mathematical references in your last report."
Aurora blinked.
"You checked my report already?"
"I check every report."
David frowned.
"Professor, with all due respect—"
Shen's gaze shifted toward him.
"I don't recall asking for your opinion."
David immediately fell silent.
Aurora clenched her fists beneath the table.
Professor Shen looked back at her.
"My office."
"Now."
Without another word, he walked away.
The café erupted into whispers.
"What did Aurora do this time?"
"She's definitely on his blacklist."
"I'd transfer classes if I were her."
Aurora closed her eyes.
"This is unbelievable."
David stood.
"I'll come with you."
"No."
She shook her head.
"He'll only make things worse."
---
Professor Shen's office was immaculate.
Books lined every wall.
Awards filled an entire glass cabinet.
Even the desk looked untouched.
Aurora stood in front of him.
"You wanted to see me?"
He opened a file.
"Sit."
She remained standing.
"I'll stand."
A brief silence followed.
"As you wish."
He slid another document toward her.
Her eyes widened.
Another assignment.
"You've got to be joking."
"It will improve your analytical thinking."
"It will destroy my sanity."
He ignored the comment.
Aurora stared at him in disbelief.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You just did."
She inhaled sharply.
"Why me?"
Silence.
"There are sixty-three students in your class."
Another silence.
"You only call my name."
Nothing.
"You only criticize me."
Still nothing.
"You only keep me after class."
His face remained completely calm.
Aurora laughed without humor.
"Do you hate me that much?"
His hand stopped moving.
For the first time...
He looked directly into her eyes.
"I don't hate you."
The words caught her completely off guard.
"Then why?"
He looked away.
"You may leave."
Aurora stared at him.
"No."
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"I deserve an answer."
"You've received one."
"No, I haven't."
"You have."
She stepped closer to his desk.
"If you don't hate me..."
Her voice softened.
"...then why do you always make me feel like I'm not good enough?"
The question lingered between them.
Professor Shen's expression barely changed.
But inside...
Every word pierced him.
Because the truth was one thing he could never tell her.
Because if everyone believes I treat you like every other student, they'll never suspect you're my wife.
Instead he said quietly,
"Dismissed."
Aurora's eyes filled with disappointment.
"Fine."
She grabbed the assignments.
"But one day..."
She paused at the door.
"I hope someone makes you feel exactly the way you make me feel."
The door closed behind her.
Professor Shen remained seated.
Several minutes passed.
Only then did he open the bottom drawer of his desk.
Inside...
Hidden beneath confidential documents...
Was a photograph.
Their wedding day.
Aurora wore a simple white dress, her smile forced by the circumstances that had brought them together.
Shen gently brushed his thumb across the corner of the photograph.
"I already do," he whispered to the empty room.
---
That evening...
Aurora unlocked the door to the luxurious penthouse she secretly shared with Professor Shen.
The apartment was quiet.
She slipped off her shoes and headed straight for the kitchen.
Just as she reached for a glass of water, the front door opened.
Shen stepped inside.
He loosened his tie and set his briefcase on the counter.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence felt heavier than ever.
Finally, Aurora broke it.
"You embarrassed me again today."
He looked at her.
"You embarrassed yourself by arguing in public."
Her eyes flashed with anger.
"So now it's my fault?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
She folded her arms.
"You always have a way of making me feel small."
His jaw tightened.
"You knew the terms of our arrangement."
"I also thought basic kindness came with marriage."
The words hit harder than she intended.
For the first time that day, Shen looked genuinely shaken.
Aurora regretted nothing.
She walked past him.
Halfway to the stairs, she stopped.
"Oh, and David invited me to study with him tomorrow after class."
She didn't know why she said it.
Maybe to provoke him.
Maybe because she wanted some kind of reaction.
She got one.
Shen's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"No."
Aurora slowly turned around.
"What?"
"I said no."
She laughed in disbelief.
"You don't get to decide who I study with."
"I'm your husband."
"And you're also the reason everyone thinks I'm the worst student in your class!"
His eyes darkened.
"You will not study alone with David."
Aurora took another step toward him.
"And if I do?"
For several seconds...
Neither of them moved.
The air between them crackled with tension.
Finally, Shen spoke in a voice so low it almost sounded like a warning.
"Don't test how jealous I can become."
Aurora's heart skipped a beat.
For the first time...
She wasn't looking at the cold professor everyone feared.
She was looking at the possessive husband she barely knew.
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