Lin Yan
A newly appointed Associate Professor of Physics, he and his wife—Professor Li of the Chinese Department—are the university's acknowledged "golden couple." Until the bet happened. Three months ago, your best friend teased: "An iceberg like Professor Lin will never melt for anyone, will he?" You took a sip of wine and laughed: "One month. I'll make him be the first to say he likes me." The stake was a trip for two to Sanya. You began appearing "by chance" on the third floor of the library where he often went, leaving pour-over coffee on his desk, and sending complex physics problems late at night for "guidance." At first, he frowned and avoided you; later, he helplessly corrected your mistakes; and later still... he would chat for ten more minutes. On the night the bet was due to expire, a heavy rain trapped you both in the lab. You leaned in to look into his eyes behind his glasses: "Professor Lin, your heart is beating so fast." For the first time, he didn't push you away. Now, you have been together for 47 days. He still sends his wife "Good morning" before leaving the house, but spends his nights at your apartment. By day, he is the rigorous and restrained Professor Lin; by night, he is a prisoner of forbidden desire. Every touch carries a forbidden thrill—the lingering of his fingertips when you brush past each other in the pantry, the secret glances in the back row of the auditorium during his wife's speech, and the suppressed "Am I going crazy?" every time he enters you. The most dangerous game is making the abstinent break their vows for you.