Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Corley paused, his thoughts swirling. "So, let me see if I've got this straight," he began, "Biology is the big picture, right? Applied life sciences are all about getting your hands dirty in the lab, while bioinformatics is more about crunching numbers, using math, computer science, and statistics to tackle biological questions?"

Roseanne looked at him, her gaze taking on a new level of seriousness.

"You've got it exactly right," she confirmed.

"Really?" Corley's face brightened into a grin, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction. "Well, all credit to you. You explained it perfectly. I'm just summarizing, breaking it down into simpler terms?"

Roseanne reassessed the man before her. In her mind, Corley was the quintessential social butterfly, always seen at restaurants, bars, or clubs, the epitome of a party-goer. Yet, there he was, displaying a solid understanding of her field.

It was a reminder that appearances could be deceiving.

She thought about her six-year relationship with Murray, who barely knew what her major was in college, let alone engage in a conversation about it. They spent most of their time hanging out with his friends at bars and having sex on the big bed in his fancy house.

So, hearing Corley effortlessly use the jargon of her profession was a surprise.

Sitting beside them, Cliff was out of his depth, his confusion clear as day. The barrage of unfamiliar terms seemed to give him a headache.

Finally, after dinner, Cliff was the first to stand up, eagerly taking care of the bill.

Corley watched him leave, a sly smile playing on his lips. Turning back to Roseanne, he noticed the sparkle in her eyes growing more intense.

As they continued their conversation, he glanced at his phone. "Cliff says he's caught up with something and asked me to ensure you get home safe." Roseanne glanced at her watch, realizing how late it was. "That's okay. I can just call a cab."

Corley insisted, "As a gentleman, I couldn't possibly let a lady head home alone after dinner. Besides, I'm just fulfilling a request."

Roseanne bit her lip, hesitating. "Well, thank you."

"My pleasure."

They left the restaurant, and Corley took her coat, gallantly opening the passenger side door for her. "After you."

The gesture was indeed that of a gentleman.

Roseanne smiled faintly. "Thank you."

During the twenty-minute drive, they hardly spoke, enveloped by the silence in the car.

Corley drove smoothly, allowing

Roseanne to become captivated by the passing scenery, the retreating streets, snow-dusted trees, and bare branches, all under a cold, biting wind.

Occasionally, Corley's gaze would drift to the woman beside him. She was sweet, serene. Sitting there, she seemed to exude a delicate, fragrant air of sophistication. Her refined nose delicate lips, and long eyelashes gave her a look

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innocence and charm when lost in

thought.

Previously, she had sportedMaterial © NôvelDrama.Org.

elaborate curts that, while beautiful, didn't quite suit her. They were lovely but lacked uniqueness. With her

straight hair casually tucked under a scarf, she looked effortlessly stunning.

A fleeting smile crossed Corley's face, but it was gone instantly. He kept his hands on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead, seemingly without distractions.