Chapter 3

Corbyn had never planned to lie to Dean from the start.

It had been love at first sight for Corbyn.

Dean's otherworldly looks had made him the center of attraction wherever he went, with people falling left and right for him.

Corbyn first met Dean at a foreign exchange student gathering in Merunica since they had come from the same country.

Dean was like honey—thick, elegant, and attractive. It felt as if he could send the entire place into a frenzy if he only just spared them a glance. However, Dean had acted completely nonchalant and oblivious toward everything, like he didn't care how the others fell over their feet trying to please him.

He was a lone ranger, as beautiful yet unreachable as the moon. That was exactly what made so many people pine after him.

On the other hand, Corbyn wasn't someone who had no such experience prior to this. After all, his wealthy mother loved and often indulged in worldly desires back at home with her boy toys.

Paxton even once joked that the highest-paid male escort at Club Luxe, the most prestigious club in the country, was only worthy to wash the dust off her feet.

In other words, Corbyn had seen his fair share of handsome men and muscular hunks, but this was the very first time he'd ever seen someone like Dean.

It was only then that it finally dawned on Corbyn. Those boy toys his mother was often surrounded with were like stars, brightly sparkling in the sky in abundance, but nobody really cared much about them.

However, Dean was like the moon, one-of-a-kind and unreachable but sought after by many.

And, of course, Corbyn would only care about getting his hands on what he wanted, which was the moon in the sky. He didn't care if he fell flat on his face while doing so.

Dean was smart and nearly perfect in everything he did. However, he had never once dated in his life, and there was a reason for that.

Paxton once told Corbyn, "With his status and everything he has, there are only two possibilities. One, he can't get it up. Two, he's simply asexual."

Corbyn had nodded in agreement. "I think so too. But I'm going to go and find out by myself. For scientific research purposes, of course."

After the student gathering was over, Corbyn was the first to rush up to Dean and say that he didn't have any transport back, so he was asking him for a ride. Dean agreed. However, when he asked Corbyn which university he attended, Corbyn reluctantly answered, "Umm… In New Jork."

Dean's university was located in Voston, more than a hundred miles away. How could Corbyn insist that his place was just "on the way back"?

Dean just looked at him and asked seriously, "Is there something wrong with your brain?"

Anyone could tell that it was an insult. Corbyn got a little mad and wanted to call him names in return, but his temper vanished as soon as he looked at Dean's handsome face. In the end, Corbyn just said in embarrassment, "I… I'm not good with directions…"

In order to get closer to Dean, Corbyn would travel all the way to Voston from New Jork as soon as he had the time.

He managed to find a perfectly palpable excuse to pay Dean a visit every time he came to Voston.

He explained that his professor had coincidentally managed to find him a Yinglish-teaching part-time job in Voston, which was why he was there that often. He only visited Dean afterward simply because he was in the vicinity.

Dean was a busy student and often couldn't care less about Corbyn. He had nothing to do with Corbyn in the first place. So, Corbyn just continued pursuing Dean harder and even more frequently.

Dean's attitude toward Corbyn was rather nonchalant. It wasn't that Dean completely ignored him, but he also didn't quite respond to Corbyn's effort as much as he should.

Corbyn continued showing up at Dean's university for more than half the semester before he finally found a chance to leave the campus with him at the same time. He jumped at the opportunity and asked, "So, where do you live?"

Dean answered, "I'm renting an apartment outside campus."

Corbyn pressed on. "Would it be okay if I had a peep at it?"

"It's not okay," Dean replied.

For a moment, Corbyn didn't know how to respond. He thought for a while before asking once more, "Is it because you're living with someone else?"

"I'm living alone," came the curt reply.

After going back and forth for a very long time, Corbyn finally realized that Dean was extremely protective of his personal space and didn't like anyone entering his bubble. That was the main reason he didn't have housemates or invited anyone over to his place.

Corbyn continued asking for the next two semesters, but he still never got invited into Dean's home. That was the case… until the time when he visited Dean during a thunderstorm.

He was drenched all over and shivering like a chihuahua when he showed up at Dean's door. He looked so cold that his lips had turned blue, and his skin was as pale as a ghost.

In short, he looked quite pitiful in the rain.

Something stirred inside Dean's stone-cold heart at the sight. He seemed to finally take pity on Corbyn and invited him into his home. He even offered to make Corbyn a hot cup of coffee.

Corbyn was still shivering terribly from the cold when he took the coffee mug from Dean. At once, his hands warmed up, and the steam from the coffee gradually restored some color in his cheeks. He thanked Dean gratefully.

Dean realized that Corbyn's voice was still a little shaky. He asked, "Are you still feeling cold?"

Corbyn could tell from Dean's tone that he was concerned about him. It was then that Corbyn finally realized that this was the way to Dean's heart. He just had to act pitiful to get his care and attention!

So, with this newfound discovery, Corbyn frowned lightly and put on a feeble expression. "Y-Yes…"

Dean then fetched a warm blanket and handed it over to Corbyn.

Corbyn was overjoyed. He hurriedly wrapped himself in it. The blanket wasn't anything special. However, Dean's scent was all over it, and Corbyn couldn't be more appreciative of it at that time.

His efforts in getting close to Dean were quickly getting noticed by the other students in Dean's class. They even asked him outright, "Don't you think Corbyn Bloomberg is in love with you?"

Dean was stunned. "Is it so?"

"Of course! Why else would he travel hundreds of miles from New Jork to Voston every other day to see you?" Dean's classmate exclaimed. "He's pursuing you!"

Dean's brain worked in a very straightforward manner. Also, he wasn't the kind who would spend hours agonizing over something as menial as this. So, he asked Corbyn directly the next time they met, "Are you pursuing me?"

Corbyn nodded bashfully.

Dean then replied, "Focus on your studies. If you've got extra time and energy, read up more on professional research and studies to deepen your knowledge. Don't waste your time pursuing me."

Corbyn was heartbroken and frustrated at his words. He didn't know what to say in response. But a few days later, Corbyn appeared before Dean once more.

This time, he braved the winter storm as he knocked on Dean's door.

Corbyn was now an expert at pretending to be pitiful with Dean. His face was as white as a sheet, his lips were blue and frozen, and his voice was hoarse as he croaked, "Deanie, I'm cold."

Dean's mouth twitched a little. A few seconds later, he finally said, "Come in."

Then, he gave Corbyn hot coffee and a warm blanket like before. And this was how Corbyn accidentally discovered and took advantage of Dean's biggest "weakness". He looked cold and unapproachable on the outside, but he was truly a softie at heart.

Dean seldom felt anything for other people. Also, since he was very protective of his personal space, he rarely ever got close to anyone else.

Corbyn could sense Dean's rejection every time he came over to see him in the past. However, there was no problem that couldn't be solved with Corbyn's innocent look and pitiful expression.

Corbyn had been rejected multiple times when he asked to be invited into Dean's home, but as soon as he acted pitifully with him, Dean then let him in.

Similarly, after Dean's classmate revealed Corbyn's ulterior motive for getting close to Dean, Corbyn also only had to put on a pitiful act with him to be forgiven and allowed into his life once more.

These all led to Corbyn having to put on his naive, helpless, and pitiful persona whenever he was with Dean.

He felt like a little kid pretending to be sick just to get his parents' love and attention. It was only by doing this that he would be able to feel any concern from Dean.

Gradually, his white lies snowballed. Corbyn was now deeply embroiled in a thick web of lies he'd set out for himself. And these lies felt like an anvil on his shoulders, forcing him to live his life as a lie.

Paxton couldn't help asking, "So, when are you planning to come clean? I thought you did that only because you wanted a change of scenery with him, so the lies wouldn't have mattered. But to think that you're actually planning to stay with him forever!

"So does that mean you're also planning to live out your lies forever? You must be the greatest actor of all time, then. I think the Roscars owe you an award for Best Actor."

Corbyn was conflicted about the whole matter too. He just didn't know that things would get so out of hand like this. He also had no idea how he was going to get himself out of it.

Paxton stopped teasing Corbyn when he saw that he was in a huge dilemma. Instead, he comforted him and said, "It'll be fine. Who doesn't put up an act when they first get together with someone else? Am I right?

"When the time is right and your feelings for each other are firmly established, you'll soon get to be yourself once again."

Paxton had a point. What he said was meant to comfort Corbyn. However, it only made him feel even more anxious.

That was because he knew that it was almost impossible for him and Dean to establish their feelings for one another. Yes, Corbyn was deeply and madly in love with Dean, but what about Dean?

Corbyn had an inkling that Dean never harbored any feelings for him from the start. Dean was probably just used to Corbyn pestering him and didn't hate it. That was the only reason they managed to stay together all these years.

However, as soon as the illusion shattered, Dean would most probably think that Corbyn was just being an annoying brat. And if that happened, they wouldn't be able to stay together anymore.