INTIMIDATION MELTS AWAY : When the CEO-PROFESSOR falls in love (JenLisa)

42: [MATCHING OUTFIT DATE]

THIRD PERSON POV

"How would you design a structural system for a high-rise building in an earthquake-prone area that balances seismic load resistance with architectural aesthetics, while adhering to sustainability standards and minimizing construction costs?" Jennie asked, her sharp gaze sweeping over her students in Archi-4A. It was only the first period, yet the intensity in the room was palpable.

Despite the monumental events at Kim Corp the day before, Jennie still showed up to class, just as she always did. It was her responsibility, and she couldn't afford to let anyone see that anything was wrong. She had to act like everything was normal, even though the truth weighed heavily on her. The revelations from yesterday kept replaying in her mind, disbelief mixing with a quiet, simmering anger. But she couldn't let it show-not yet. She had to keep her emotions in check, knowing her uncle would be making his next move soon. For now, she just needed to stay composed and pretend nothing was out of place.

As she asked her question, her eyes scanned the room, lingering for a second longer on the vacant seat in the back. It was her girlfriend Lisa's seat, and her absence was weighing heavily on Jennie. The day felt empty without her. Her mood, darkened by the events of yesterday and Lisa's absence, showed clearly on her face-so much, that her students shrank under her intimidating gaze, avoiding eye contact as though her question had a physical weight to it.

Jennie's gaze narrowed further, her patience thinning as she realized none of her students dared to meet her eyes. Even Lisa's closest friends, who likely had answers, stayed silent. Their eyes shifted nervously to the class president, pleading for him to speak. Under the collective pressure, Jk gulped, then slowly raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr. Jeon?" Jennie acknowledged him with a curt nod, signaling him to stand.

Jk respectfully rose to his feet and answered, "Ms. Kim, I would suggest using glass as the primary structural material to give the building a modern aesthetic and reduce costs, while relying on flexible joints to handle seismic loads. Though glass is unconventional as a primary structural material, the answer is not entirely impossible, yet it doesn't fully address the engineering challenges of seismic resistance."

Jennie's expression remained impassive as she slowly nodded, considering his words.

"Your answer demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of structural engineering principles, Mr. Jeon," Jennie began, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Glass, as a primary structural material, is a non-starter in seismic design. The suggestion to rely on flexible joints to compensate for the inherent brittleness of glass not only disregards the critical importance of material strength but also undermines the entire concept of load-bearing systems in high-rise construction. If you're serious about designing buildings that can withstand earthquakes, you need to rethink your approach entirely."

Her critique was sharp and unforgiving, causing a ripple of discomfort among the other students. If their president, the class's most knowledgeable member, had missed the mark, what hope did the rest of them have? A collective sigh of relief could almost be heard as Jennie allowed Jk to sit.

"Thank you for that insight, Mr. Jeon. You may sit down. Any other answers?" she asked, her tone still expectant, though the atmosphere in the room had grown heavier.

"Shit. Our maknae isn't here," Hanbin mumbled to Daniel, his voice barely above a whisper. Daniel shot him a warning glare.

"Shut up. You want her to call on you next?" Daniel hissed back, making a zipping motion over his lips. Hanbin grinned and returned the gesture.