Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Just as Roseanne was pondering how to go about it, Owen Reynolds suddenly bent down, "Is this okay?"

"...Might need to go a bit lower."

"How about now?" He bent down again.

"Yeah, that's perfect."

Roseanne hurriedly draped the apron around his neck.

Owen straightened up, waited a couple of seconds, saw she didn't react, and couldn't help but chuckle, "Might want to tie it around the waist too." "...Oh! Right!" Roseanne snapped back to reality and quickly grabbed the apron strings, tying them into a bow at his back.

"Cough cough-" Owen suddenly coughed.

"What's wrong?"

"...It's a bit tight."

"Sorry, sorry! Let me adjust it... How about now?"

"That's better."

After cleaning up the kitchen, they moved to the living room.

Roseanne prepared a fruit bowl, placing it on the coffee table.

"Professor, have some fruit."

"Thank you."

She picked up a slice of apple, sitting on the opposite end of the couch, "Heard CBS is broadcasting the Kingswell University and Caltech joint academic conference?"

"Yes, you interested?"

Roseanne nodded but then slumped, "Can't get international channels at home, and even with a VPN, I can only watch replays on the official site, can't catch the live broadcast..."

"We can watch it."

"Huh?!"

Owen Reynolds: "At my place."

And so, Roseanne followed Owen next door.

It wasn't her first time there, but she mostly stayed in the living room, seldom entering the bedroom.

The only time was when she was searching for a thermometer and cold medicine for him.

She was too rushed then to notice the details.

But this time was different...

Owen went to set up the projector, while Roseanne took the chance to really look around the room.

The layout was the same as hers, but the decoration was entirely different.

From the style of the bed and wardrobe to the choice of bed sheets and curtains...

Roseanne's room was in warm, cozy pastels, while his was stark, straightforward black, white, and gray.

Ray and restraint seemed to

be

his very essence,

details of his life

little

seriousness and foxu

belongs to

Though the colors were a bit monochrome, the room was impeccably tidy.novelbin

One side of the nightstand held an alarm clock and a charger, the other a small bookshelf.

The bookshelf was neatly organized with various journals and magazines.

Swoosh―

Owen pulled the curtains shut.

At the same time, the projector whirred to life, casting a bright screen against the white wall opposite the bed.

Owen fiddled with his phone for a bit, and soon, the CBS live stream came on.

"Wow! It really works!" Roseanne was thrilled.

The camera panned over, and there was Madeleine, sitting in the front row!

"It's the professor!"

Rose craning her neck, started

to feel

sore and looked around for a place to sit. The room, however, had no chair, es

"If you don't mind, you can sit on the bed."

Roseanne hesitated, "This..." Was that really okay?

A bed... is a very personal space.

Just like she didn't like others messing with her bed, she wasn't comfortable touching someone else's.

Owen explained, "Changed the sheets and duvet cover yesterday, don't worry, it's clean."

"It's not that!" Roseanne quickly waved her hands, "I'm just worried about dirtying your bed..."

"It'll be fine."

After saying that, he even passed her a pillow, indicating she could use it to prop against her back for more comfort.

"...The pillow's new, haven't used it yet."

Roseanne was torn between sitting and standing.

Realizing his invitation might have

net

been a bit forward, Owen quickly offered, "Hold on, I'll grab a chair

from the living roomove