Chapter 2Aisle of Temptation: The Schoolgirl's Secret

"Little boss, are you sure the glue is here?"

After a moment, Mr. Evans hadn't found any glue. He stood up, looking puzzled, and asked me again.

I suddenly remembered: we'd sold out of glue a few days ago. I was about to explain when his gaze paused. He seemed to spot something on the floor, then bent down and picked up a pink, oval-shaped object. There was wet residue on it. Mr. Evans brought a finger to his nose, a curious expression on his face.

"What kind of glue is this?" he mused. "Smells... unusual. But it's certainly sticky."

I peered at the pink object in his hand, and a wave of fresh panic crashed over me. It was my personal pleasure device, the one I'd fumbled and dropped! I instantly realized what the "liquid" was. My face turned crimson, and I quickly averted my eyes, utterly speechless. This was beyond mortifying.

To my surprise, seeing my reaction, Mr. Evans paused. Then, as if understanding dawned on him, he didn't show an ounce of disgust. In fact, he gave a wry, almost fond smile, and spoke gently to reassure me.

"Ah, I see... that kind of stickiness!" he said. "Little boss, there's nothing to be ashamed of! It's perfectly natural. To be honest, sometimes when I'm alone in my apartment, I find myself needing to... unwind. It's a normal human thing."

He paused again, then looked at me expectantly. "By the way, what's your name? What should I call you?"

My mind went blank. I couldn't believe Mr. Evans, the cool and refined teacher, was openly sharing such a personal secret to comfort me. He did that too? And he was asking for my name? Was he trying to get closer to me? My heart pounded with a mix of excitement and nerves.

God knew how many lonely nights I'd whispered his name to myself as I drifted off to sleep. How long had I waited for this moment? I had to seize this chance!

A sudden idea sparked in my mind. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and met his gentle gaze.

"Hi, Mr. Evans," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm Scarlett. But you can call me Scar."

I quickly added, "Mr. Evans, we sold out of glue two days ago. How about this: let's exchange numbers, and when the new stock arrives tomorrow, I can personally bring it to your place?"

A girl offering to come to a guy's house? Even an idiot would get that hint. I waited, heart hammering, for his answer, secretly vowing that if he agreed, I would pull out all the stops. Even if I had to physically make a move, I'd make him mine.

But what happened next was beyond anything I could have imagined. Mr. Evans apparently couldn't wait until tomorrow for the glue. He seemed quite urgent.

"Scar," he said, his voice laced with concern, "I can't wait until tomorrow. I have some urgent documents that need to be glued right away." He frowned. "And I don't know where else to find any at this hour."

He then looked down at his finger, still bearing the wet residue from my device, and then back at me. A strange look crossed his face, as if he’d just made a decision. He glanced quickly outside the empty store, then turned back to me, an embarrassed but persistent plea in his eyes.

"Scarlett... could you... maybe help me find something similar to that? Something... sticky, to help with this?"

... I was stunned. I never expected Mr. Evans to make such an outlandish request. My face flushed, my ears burning, as I instantly understood his meaning. If anyone else had suggested such a thing, I would have called the police on the spot. But this was Mr. Evans, the man I’d secretly adored for years. My heart didn't hold a single ounce of reluctance; in fact, I had only one thought: I had to help him.

Under Mr. Evans' expectant gaze, my body trembled. I took a deep breath and nodded firmly. His eyes lit up with delight, and he quickly extended his hand, holding out my pink device.

Just then, my phone suddenly rang.