My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 8

**TITLE: He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**
**Chapter 81: An Unexpected Mentor**

“Grant sent you roses yesterday,” Micah stated, his voice steady and calm.

Oriana felt a flutter of anxiety at his words, her mind racing as she searched his face for any sign of discontent. Yet, to her surprise, she found none. She had no desire to conceal the truth from him.

“Yes, but I had them delivered to Luna. I didn’t accept them. Please don’t misunderstand,” she replied, her tone firm yet apologetic.

“I knew you wouldn’t accept them.” His voice remained light, almost teasing. “And I trust what you told me—that you’re no longer swayed by him.”

For a fleeting moment, Oriana was taken aback by his unwavering confidence in her. Micah was like a gentle breeze on a warm day, effortlessly soothing her frayed nerves. Perhaps this was simply the essence of who he was; it was a reflection of his character that made her feel so at ease.

Leading him to her office, she pushed the door open, only to be met with an unexpected sight. There, lounging comfortably in the usually vacant recliner, was a middle-aged man, his legs crossed and foot jiggling, exuding an air of utter relaxation.

“Mr. Harris?” Oriana exclaimed, her surprise evident in her voice.

At the sound of her voice, William lifted his head from the recliner and turned his gaze towards her. His eyes shifted from Micah to Oriana, taking in her clean, fair features. With a soft “hmph” escaping his lips, he slowly sat up, resting his arms on the armrests.

“Professor, hello. I’m Oriana Sterling, the new teaching assistant,” she introduced herself, trying to project confidence.

“I know,” William replied bluntly, swinging his leg casually. He wasn’t one for niceties. His eyes locked onto Oriana’s, piercing through her with a challenging stare. “Your background is in clinical medicine. Coming here to be a TA for traditional medicine… can you actually teach it?”

Oriana hadn’t anticipated such a direct confrontation. Her expression tightened slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her mind. “I’ve thoroughly memorized the teaching materials for the semester before classes start. I won’t—”

Before she could finish her sentence, William interrupted, “In traditional medicine, what is the source of phlegm production?”

Without missing a beat, Oriana responded confidently, “The Lungs.”

William’s eyes narrowed, his interest piqued. “The ‘Official of Reception and Transformation’?”

“The Small Intestine,” she answered, her heart racing but her voice steady.

“What is ‘mutual suppression’ in herb pairing?” he pressed on, his gaze unwavering.

Oriana took a deep breath, her mind racing through the definitions. “When one herb possesses toxicity or side effects, and another herb can inhibit or reduce that toxicity or side effect, it’s called mutual suppression. For example, the toxicity of raw Pinellia tuber can be reduced or eliminated by fresh ginger. Therefore, raw Pinellia is suppressed by ginger.”

William fired off several more questions, each one related to the semester’s curriculum. Oriana answered each one fluently, her confidence growing with every correct response.

Finally, William leaned back into the recliner, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. After a long pause, he muttered, “Your memory is… passable.”

But instead, Micah had thrown it all away! Such innate talent squandered on… romance!

William simmered with these thoughts, his mood darkening. If Micah weren’t currently serving the country in another critical field, he would have leaped up and given him a piece of his mind.

With his irritation bubbling beneath the surface, William extended his hand toward Oriana, who looked as if she had just won a grand prize. “Your application form. Give it here.”

Oriana felt dizzy from the whirlwind of surprises. “Mr. Harris… you’ll be my recommending supervisor?”

It all felt surreal, like a dream she couldn’t wake up from. Yet, the warmth of Micah’s arm beneath her hand was undeniable, grounding her in reality.

“Don’t get too excited,” William said gruffly, his tone a mix of warning and challenge. “Your foundation is adequate. But if you can’t keep up, I won’t give you special treatment just because of him.” His pride was unmistakable, a clear reminder that he expected nothing less than excellence.

“I will work hard and not disappoint you, Mr. Harris!” Oriana beamed, her smile radiating pure determination.

Just as Micah had assured her, today was the beginning of something truly wonderful!

William observed her newfound enthusiasm with a hint of surprise. To be honest, he hadn’t held any particular expectations for her. But as he watched her, he realized she was different. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was more to this girl than he had initially thought.