Chapter 424
He could tell at a glance it wasn't the first time.
Alexander Laurent met his gaze openly.
"I like her."
"It's out in the open."
"I have nothing to hide."
Sebastian Evans clenched his fists.
He felt defeated for the first time.
"Does Sophia Sullivan know?"
Alexander remained calm.
"I've tested the waters."
"She said she's not considering romance for now."
"Her studies come first."
Sebastian scoffed.
"So, you got rejected?"
"Not exactly." Alexander gave him a cool glance.
"I haven't formally confessed."
Sebastian's smile widened.
Alexander frowned.
"What's so funny?"
"You are."
"Is that so?" Alexander's tone was even.
"Just because I have no chance now doesn't mean I never will."
"But you—you have no chance, now or ever."
Sebastian froze instantly.
"The utensils are here!" Sophia returned with the tableware.
Both men fell silent simultaneously.
Their tacit understanding was astonishing in that moment.
The grandmother had prepared plenty of food.
There was enough for Alexander too.
Sophia warmly urged him.
"Professor, please help yourself."
"Try my grandmother's signature shredded pork in Beijing sauce."
"The sweet and sour ribs are also excellent..."
"You must try the fermented glutinous rice balls!"
"They're stuffed with minced meat and mushrooms."
Alexander tasted everything as suggested.
His cooperation was perfect.
"The sauce is rich but not greasy. Quite impressive."
"The mushrooms in the balls are very fresh, with a hint of sourness?"
Sophia was surprised.
"Professor, your palate is too sharp!"
"Grandmother习惯 dips her fingers in vinegar while shaping the balls."
"She says it enhances the freshness."
Alexander smiled.
"It's all delicious."
"I'm fortunate today..."
Sebastian watched their natural interaction.
His heart sank continuously.
After the meal, Sophia cleared the table.
Alexander washed the lunchbox.
They had a clear division of labor.
They worked together without needing to communicate.
Sebastian saw it clearly.
This was definitely not the first time.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw tight.
"Sophia, something urgent came up at the company. I have to go..."
"Okay." Sophia nodded.
"Be careful on the road."
Sebastian turned and left.
After cleaning up, Sophia brewed two glasses of iced tea with lemon.
When she brought them out, Alexander wasn't in the living area.
She put the glasses down and walked towards the lab.
The man was standing at the lab bench.
He was reviewing the data she had organized that morning.
"...Professor?" Sophia called out softly.
Alexander turned around.
He pointed at the data with a smile.
"The accuracy rate is very high."
The corners of Sophia's lips lifted slightly.
"Can we skip the recheck step then?"
"Theoretically, no."
"But considering the time cost, we could."
He had already checked it.
It was fine.
"We should still do it," Sophia shook her head.
"Even though you guarantee it's fine, we can't skip procedures."
"It sets an example for someone."
"An example?"
"Yes."
Alexander was curious.
"Is there a story?"
"More of an incident." Sophia's eyes brightened slightly.
"We skipped the recheck once and missed a decimal point."
"Hannah was responsible for that data."
"She was almost崩溃 at the time."
Alexander was drawn in by her expression.
"What happened after?"
"Marcus retrieved the data."
"He stayed up two nights correcting and resubmitting it."
Hannah lost seven pounds those two days.
She shed a lot of hair.
Marcus made an exception and gave her three days off.
He didn't push her to run anymore.
"Did you come today for something, Professor?"
Alexander nodded.
He took a USB drive from his pocket.
"The obscure literature you requested on that topic is all here."
Sophia was delighted.
"So fast?"
"I asked a friend abroad to find it."
"It's easier than finding it domestically."
"Thank you."
"I owe you again."
"No need to repay."
"How can that be?"
Alexander chuckled lightly.
"That meal just now already covered it."
"Your grandmother's cooking—I came out ahead."
Alexander didn't leave for the entire afternoon.
Sophia asked if he didn't need to return to his lab.
He said, "I'm on vacation."
So that was it...
Sophia conducted her experiments.
Alexander worked on his paper not far away.
The quiet lab area was filled with two people, each busy and equally focused.
By the time Sophia finished, it was almost five.
"Are you heading home?"
Sophia packed her things.
"I'm having dinner at my grandmother's tonight."
Alexander knew she hadn't driven.
He closed his laptop.
"I'll drive you."
...
"It's past six. Why isn't Sophia here yet?"
Florence Atlante stood by the door, constantly checking the time.
She looked towards the gate.
Isaac Atlante said, "Don't worry."
"Sebastian said Sophia promised to come. She will."
The old lady nodded.
"That child keeps her word."
"Must you pace? Can't you sit and wait?"
Florence said, "Sebastian said the company wasn't busy this morning."
"He dropped off a meal and suddenly had an emergency?"
"Letting Sophia come on her own... We should have sent a driver!"
Isaac said, "Who can predict emergencies?"
"Sophia isn't a child."
The old lady didn't listen at all.
She kept muttering about Sebastian being unreliable.
"You're unreliable too!"
Isaac: "?"
What did he do?
Florence said, "All you know is fiddling with your tea leaves. It's annoying to watch!"
Isaac: "???"
Just then, the sound of an engine came from outside the gate...
"She's here!"