Within the bustling campus of USC, the arrival of spring brought a sense of renewal. Vibrant flowers danced in the gentle breeze as students hustled about. Among them, a young professor's face radiated with joy as he parked his car. With a message sent, "Where are you? I've got your favorite coffee—two shots of espresso, two parts milk, no sugar," he eagerly awaited a response. The reply came swiftly, "Darling, you always know just what I need. I'm in my office." The male protagonist typed back, "I'm on my way," and gathered his laptop bag and the two steaming cups of coffee before closing the car door.

In that moment, a baseball hurtled toward him. Swiftly, the male protagonist caught it, cautioning, "Watch out." The student who threw the ball quickly apologized, "Nice catch, Professor." Known for his playful nature, Adam—the youngest professor at USC—was adored by students. He possessed a magnetic blend of charm and intellect, making him a prominent figure on campus. Hailing from an academic lineage, with a father who taught at Harvard and a mother who excelled as an environmental lawyer, Adam had been encouraged from a young age to fearlessly explore and pursue his passions.

During his journey of self-discovery, Adam found a profound interest in physics. His insatiable curiosity drove him to explore the mysteries of the universe and unravel the laws of nature. Tirelessly seeking knowledge, he traversed from one esteemed institution to another, mastering the essence of physics. Finally, with outstanding achievements from the California Institute of Technology, he secured a teaching position at USC. Due to his relatively close age to his students, he injected youthful energy into his lessons, incorporating humor and interactivity.

Beyond his academic prowess, Adam's striking appearance won him admiration from students. Yet, he took pride not in his looks, but in earning respect and recognition through his talent and hard work. His passion and expertise engendered trust and affection, solidifying his place as one of the most popular professors at USC.

With a heart brimming with joy, the male protagonist followed his memories to locate the female protagonist's office. He knocked on the door, and Emilia—the female protagonist—turned around with a radiant smile to welcome him. Handing her the coffee, his eyes spoke volumes of deep affection.

Gratefully, Emilia accepted the coffee and lovingly said, "Adam, you always think of everything, knowing what I love. Thank you." Her voice carried boundless happiness.

"Tonight is our movie night, Adam. Which film would you like to watch? Shall we have some red wine?" Emilia asked, savoring her coffee.

Drawing closer, Adam playfully circled Emilia and replied, "Let's watch 'Time Traveler's Romance' as you suggested. Although the concept of time travel through a closet seems far-fetched."

Emilia lightly punched his arm and teased, "Don't approach it with your scientific skepticism. I enjoy the movie itself—the protagonist finding his own path and story through time travel."

Adam smiled and agreed, "You're right. I also appreciate the movie's plot, especially the protagonist's growth and adventures. Witnessing his pursuit of dreams across different timelines is truly inspiring."

Content, Emilia nodded and added, "Exactly. Movies evoke various emotions and provide us with inspiration. Moreover, we can find reflections on time and destiny within them."

Adam gently kissed Emilia's forehead and chuckled, "Look who's speaking with a philosopher's perspective now?"

Emilia laughed and said, "Alright, fair point. I'll stop by the supermarket on my way home to grab a bottle of wine and some cheese. Let's meet at home tonight. You can continue your experiments."

Adam planted another kiss on Emilia's cheek and replied, "Okay, my dear. See you tonight. I'm already beginning to miss you. But indeed, I should return to the lab. Yesterday's experiment didn't yield ideal results, so I'll persist with my unwavering efforts." With that, Adam left Emilia's office and made his way toward his laboratory.

Adam stepped into his laboratory, where he found his lab partner Lily already hard at work. Lily came from a wealthy background, with her parents involved in real estate business in California. However, Lily had never been interested in entrepreneurship; instead, she had always been fascinated by the universe and the unknown. As a young scholar in the field of experimental physics at USC, she developed a keen interest in Adam's research project and closely followed his publications and scientific contributions. Leveraging her family's connections, she managed to join Adam's lab, becoming his lab partner. 

Lily, unlike Emilia and her blonde beauty, possessed striking black hair that perfectly complemented her sharp intellect and quick wit. But her personality was straightforward, shaped by a life where she had always obtained what she desired without compromise. However, when it came to Adam, her admiration was coupled with genuine respect.

As Adam approached his workstation, Lily looked up from her notes and greeted him with a warm smile. "Adam, you're back! I've been diving deep into the quantum collision experiment we're working on. There's some fascinating progress to discuss."

Lily said, "Yesterday's experimental hypothesis data was different from what we expected and quite chaotic. However, after making some adjustments to the settings, today's experimental data is getting closer and closer to our expectations. It won't be long before I believe we will enter the next phase of the experiment."

Adam walked over to Lily's computer and carefully examined the results of the experiment. He exclaimed, "Amazing! This experimental result is indeed getting closer to what we had envisioned. However, the adjustments you made weren't overly complicated. I need to take a closer look to understand how this change occurred."

As Adam delved into the data, his excitement grew. The experiment they had been working on for months was finally showing promising signs. The subtle adjustments made by Lily seemed to have a significant impact on the outcome. He meticulously analyzed the data, comparing it to their initial hypotheses.

As he studied the patterns, Adam felt a surge of inspiration. It was as if the experiment was revealing its secrets to him. He began to see correlations and connections that were previously elusive. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and a newfound clarity emerged.

Lost in his analysis, Adam was momentarily unaware of the world around him. However, an abrupt sound shattered the tranquility of the laboratory. Gunshots echoed through the building, followed by piercing screams from outside. Lily and Adam's attention was immediately drawn to the chaos unfolding outside their sanctuary.

Fear gripped their hearts as they realized a campus shooting was underway. Their minds struggled to comprehend the sudden shift from scientific contemplation to a life-threatening situation. The weight of the situation pressed upon them, overshadowing their excitement over the experiment's progress.

Lily's voice trembled as she exclaimed, "What's happening? How could this be?" There was a mix of fear and disbelief in her words. The sounds of gunshots and the panicked cries of the crowd outside grew louder, intensifying their sense of urgency and concern.

Adam and Lily exchanged worried glances, their minds racing with questions. Was this going to continue? Had anyone been injured? They knew they had to stay vigilant and find a way to ensure their safety amidst the turmoil.

Adam suddenly realized that the gunshot was very close to Emilia's office, and he was extremely worried about her safety. He shouted loudly, "Emilia is nearby!" and rushed out of the laboratory. Lily called after him, "Come back! Emilia will find a place to hide. Adam, you can't even protect yourself right now." However, Adam couldn't hear anyone speaking anymore. All he could think about was the fear Emilia must be experiencing at that moment.

As he ran, the sound of gunshots continued, but sirens from police cars also sounded a few blocks away from the campus. Students had called the police on their phones, and the police were rapidly approaching.

Adam raced through the corridors, his heart pounding, heading towards Emilia's office. His mind was filled with various worries and fearful thoughts. He hoped that Emilia would find a safe hiding place, but he also understood that this dangerous situation would likely be extremely unsettling for her.

As he approached Emilia's office, he saw that the door was tightly shut. He tried to open it with trembling hands, but found it locked. He pounded on the door and shouted, "Emilia! Are you in there? Please answer me!"

Meanwhile, Emilia had led the students to hide in a more secluded classroom, protecting them from the assailant.

Adam continued his search, the scene before him causing panic and turmoil in his heart. The floor was covered in blood and the bodies of innocent students. He felt a sense of dread, worrying about Emilia and the others' safety.

At that moment, Emilia and a group of innocent students were hiding in a more concealed classroom. However, the assailant suddenly knocked on the door, discovering Emilia and the other hiding students. Though Emilia was terrified, she was more afraid that these young students would lose their lives. She stood up and confronted the assailant, saying, "Please spare these innocent people." The assailant showed no sympathy and coldly replied, "Do you want to be their hero, teacher?" Emilia's voice trembled, but she didn't back down as she said, "The police are on their way. If you leave now, there might still be a chance, or you can minimize the bloodshed, making your crimes less severe."

The assailant sneered, "I didn't come here today with the intention of leaving." His tone was filled with coldness and malice.

Meanwhile, as Adam was searching for Emilia, he encountered a SWAT team of police officers who were entering the campus. He explained that he was a teacher at the school and was looking for his fiancée and other innocent students. The police immediately took action and led Adam towards the source of the gunshots.

As they approached the area where Emilia and the assailant were, Adam saw Emilia standing in front of the innocent students, her hands raised, engaged in a conversation with the assailant. The assailant heard the warning from the SWAT team, "Drop your weapon, you're surrounded." He started firing indiscriminately.

A horrifying scene unfolded as Emilia was hit and fell to the ground, blood seeping out. Adam lost all sense of reason and rushed towards Emilia, desperately trying to catch her.

The sound of gunfire from the SWAT team echoed in the air as the assailant fell into a pool of blood. A fatal shot had struck his head, extinguishing the flame of his life in an instant.

Adam lowered his head in anguish and found Emilia lying in a pool of blood. Her eyelashes trembled, stained with blood. In a weak breath, she managed to utter a few words, "Hey, Adam, you're here."

Adam's voice trembled, "I'm here, I'm here, but I'm late." He turned to the SWAT team and shouted, "Call for medical help, come and help!"

Emilia weakly reached out her hand and grasped Adam's, "Darling, I'm so scared, but seeing you makes me feel at ease. I feel like I did the right thing, right? A philosophy professor should do the right thing."

Her voice conveyed exhaustion and weakness, interspersed with coughs and blood. Adam repeated, "Darling, yes, you did the right thing. Don't speak anymore, we're waiting for the rescue services to arrive."

Emilia struggled to say, "Don't be afraid, Adam. I love you, but I'm so tired." Her voice grew fainter and seemed to fade away.

She slowly closed her eyes, no longer showing any response. Adam, in a state close to madness, called out frantically for medical assistance, but Emilia in his arms remained unresponsive. The gunshot had struck a vital spot, and blood continued to flow. She had left this world.

Adam, in agony, cradled Emilia's lifeless body, tears blurring his vision. He felt his heart being torn apart, consumed by endless grief and despair.