Shaun called out Halsey’s name.

    Suddenly, every single person in the lecture hall turned their eyes to her like a spotlight.

    The girls next to her nudged excitedly, “Halsey, Mr. Lane is calling you!”

    “Howe he remembers your name?”

    Halsey just stood there, not sure what to make of it.

    Shaun looked right at her and asked, “Halsey, what do you think love is?”

    He wanted to know what love meant to her.

    She thought for a moment and then answered seriously, “I think love is the attraction between two people, like a rush of hormones. It’s about appreciating each other and feeling that spark.”

    Shaun’s thin lips curled slightly, and his voice dropped low and smooth. “Actually, love is just oxytocin and dopamine. When people connect, hormones kick in, making us experience what we call love-but it’s really just an illusion.”

    Halsey blinked. She had heard a lot of takes on love before, but this was the first time she heard it described as oxytocin and dopamine.

    She raised an eyebrow. “So, you think love is just a dopamine illusion?”

    Shaun nodded. “It’s not just what I think-biology proves it.”

    Halsey said, “If biology says that, then why do you still have a girlfriend?”

    A warm smile spread across Shaun’s handsome face. “Even if love is an illusion, I lost to dopamine. I dly surrender to it.”

    “Oh my god!”

    The whole room erupted in cheers. Shaun had just nailed the perfect answer.

    Halsey’s eyes sparkled. Well, guess he won this round.

    “Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Lane!”

    Looking straight at her, Shaun said, “No problem. If you have questions,e find me after ss. I’m happy to help.”

    He was definitely trying to get her toe find him after ss.

    Halsey didn’t say anything else because her ssmates were already whispering to her, “Hey, do you and Mr. Lane know each other?”

    “Something’s up. I don’t know why, but Mr. Lane acts differently around Halsey.”

    “Mr. Lane’s gaze on Halsey isn’t like how he looks at the rest of us!”

    “Halsey’s really pretty, and Mr. Lane’s human-of course, he notices.”

    Halsey caught some jealousy in their voice. Just because Shaun talked to her a bit more, some girls were already getting hostile. She stayed quiet.

    The lecture ended quickly. Shaun looked around and said, “Alright, that’s all for today. Thanks for listening, everyone.”

    The apuse washed over the room like a wave.

    Shaun left, everyone watching him go.

    Halsey’s friend turned to her again. “Now that the lecture’s over, what are your ns?”

    Before she could answer, her phone buzzed.

    It was a text from Shaun.

    [Come to my office.]

    Her lips curled up. [Do you need something?]

    [Of course, I need something from you!]

    [Okay, then. I’m on my way!]

    She said goodbye to her ssmates. “I’ve got an appointment, so I’m heading out. See you all tomorrow.”

    Halsey left the crowd and found Shaun waiting in his office.