Chapter 7

"How the hell did your memory get this good all of a sudden?"

Daisy stared at him, eyes filled with disbelief.

Normally, for someone who couldn't read, memorizing even a hundred words in a day would be impressive. But Flynn had just learned over five hundred in an hour. It didn't make sense.

"Can't help it. Just born smart, I guess," Flynn said smugly.

At this rate, he figured he'd master everything in just a few days. And when that happened, Daisy would have no choice but to keep her promise—to be his girlfriend.

A girl like her—pretty, fair-skinned, with a killer figure—would definitely be nice to hold at night.

The thought made him grin.

"Heh."

"Ugh, wipe that creepy smile off your face. I just know you're thinking something gross," Daisy said, wrinkling her nose.

Flynn shrugged, unbothered. "What's it to you? Just keep teaching me. Who knows? If I memorize everything tonight, you'll have to be my girlfriend."

Upon hearing the word "girlfriend", Daisy seemed flustered. Her eyes darted away.

"Yeah, yeah, let's see you pull that off first. It's late. My dad's probably looking for me. I need to head back. I'll teach you more tomorrow."

With that, she hurried out the door.

"Daisy! You better show up tomorrow!" Flynn called after her.

There wasn't much else he could do. He couldn't exactly force her to stay the night. He watched her delicate figure disappear into the night.

With a sigh, he turned back to his books.

"Might as well take another look at these medical texts…"

Now that he could read better, the words that once seemed like a mess of meaningless strokes suddenly made perfect sense.

"So that's what it meant… I get it now."

His father once told him that their family had once been royal physicians—keepers of forgotten remedies, secret techniques, and medical arts that had faded from history.

Even with just a fraction of that knowledge, his father had been skilled enough to lecture at medical symposiums in the city.

But for all his skill, there was one thing he'd never mastered: distilling the perfect medicinal elixir.

Flynn wasn't thinking that far ahead yet. Right now, his only goal was to learn as much as possible, get his medical license, and—combined with his X-ray vision—start making some real money.

…

After leaving Flynn's house, Daisy let the cool night breeze clear her head.

"If I'd known Flynn had such a good memory, I never would've agreed to this."

The thought of actually promising to be Flynn's girlfriend made her stomp her foot in frustration.

She had studied in the city, had seen more of the world, and had no interest in dating a guy from the countryside. Her mother had always said that any man who wanted to marry her had to own a car and a house in the city—plus a bride price of a hundred thousand dollars.

Flynn had none of that.

And besides…

"Forget it. When the time comes, I'll just make up an excuse."

She knew she had only agreed out of pity, not because she actually liked him. There was no way she would ever be his girlfriend.

The sound of footsteps broke her thoughts.

Daisy snapped back to reality and looked up to see Esme walking toward her. The woman seemed surprised to run into her.

"Well, if it isn't Daisy! What are you doing out so late?"

Daisy hadn't expected to see Esme either. Normally, she wouldn't be out at this hour.

And yet, tonight, she was dressed in a tiny skirt that barely covered her thighs, with sheer black stockings hugging her long legs. She smelled faintly of perfume. It was… unusual.

What Daisy didn't know was that Esme had been waiting half the night for Flynn. When he didn't show, she got impatient and decided to look for him herself.

"I—uh, it was too hot to sleep, so I came out for some air," Daisy said, coming up with an excuse. Then she glanced at Esme. "What about you, Esme? Why are you still up?"

"Oh, I'm not feeling too well, so I was going to see that brat Flynn for a check-up."

Esme pressed a hand to her chest and sighed dramatically. "Anyway, I should go. It's not safe out here this late. You should head home and get some rest."

"Alright, Esme. I'll be heading back then."

Daisy didn't think much of it and turned toward home.

Esme, meanwhile, reached Flynn's house a short while later, only to find him completely absorbed in an old medical book.

She was instantly irritated.

"Flynn, you little brat! Didn't you say you were coming to see me? What kind of idiot chooses books over a woman in the middle of the night?"

Flynn hadn't expected Esme to be this impatient—so impatient that she'd come looking for him.

He quickly lowered his voice. "Esme, keep it down! My aunt might hear you. It's not that I didn't want to go. I just have things to take care of—I need to get my medical license."

He briefly explained the situation with the clinic.

"Oh… So that's what this is about."

Esme's anger dissipated. She could understand why he was so focused on studying.

"But you barely know a handful of words. Can you even read those books?"

"I… I can understand a little," Flynn said vaguely. He didn't want to mention Daisy and risk word getting back to her father.

"Enough reading for now. Let's do something more important."

Esme grabbed his arm, her eyes dark with desire. She had been thinking about him all day.

"Come on, let's go to my place."

"Esme, don't—someone might see us."

Flynn quickly pulled away. If anyone caught them together, his deal with Daisy would be as good as dead.

"It's the middle of the night! No one's around! Now, come on."

Ignoring his protests, Esme pushed him toward her house.

Flynn had no choice but to follow, gritting his teeth and pushing forward.

Luckily, there was no one on the street.

"Don't worry. My in-laws won't be back until the day after tomorrow. You don't need to be so nervous. And about today—don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Just sleep with me, and enjoy it."

Esme noticed the hesitation in his steps, and with a teasing smile, she grabbed his manhood and gave it a squeeze.

"Don't, Esme…" Flynn gave a bitter laugh.

He wanted to leave, but Esme's grip was firm, offering no room for escape.

When they reached her house, it was just as he expected—empty.

She locked the door behind them, turning off the lights, and lit a single candle.

Esme was a beautiful woman, and the dim light from the candle danced across her pale face, making her eager, desperate gaze even more intense, enhancing the strange allure she carried.

"Flynn, do you think I'm beautiful?"

She spun around, her skirt billowing as she moved, revealing the curves of her body.

Only then did Flynn realize what she was wearing: a tight, seductive mini-skirt that barely covered her thighs.

Her smooth, white legs were tightly pressed together, creating an image that sent a rush of heat through him.

The glossy black stockings she wore added a layer of visual temptation that no man could easily resist.

"Gorgeous…" Flynn said, his mouth dry, unable to stop himself from swallowing.

Esme smiled, and her cheeks flushed. Her voice was low and filled with a sultry edge. "Then… do you want me, Flynn?"