The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

Professor Yan chuckled and handed the decision over to Fu Hua: "Commander Hua, well, it depends on Hua Hua's own wishes and arrangements. As you know, she is still a student and her time is limited."

Whether I agree or not, you mustn't take offense.

"How could that be?"

Commander Hua laughed heartily: "Comrade Fu, what's your take on this?"

Fu Hua met Commander Hua's gaze, her expression calm: "Commander Hua, my cooperation with the military has always been very pleasant. When the country needs us, researchers have an unshirkable duty."

"As long as the project requires it, and my time permits, I will definitely do my part."

"Excellent! What a duty you should fulfill!"

Commander Hua's face broke into a smile, clearly very satisfied with the answer.

The slight embarrassment from just now was quickly forgotten.

He then smiled and said a few words of encouragement and expectation.

The crowd began to disperse.

Commander Hua put on his coat, declined, and stepped forward, saying, "Commander, let me see you out."

Commander Hua waved his hand, glanced at Fu Hua standing to the side,

He joked, "You don't need to see me off. I have bodyguards. You just need to be my protector."

He deliberately emphasized the words "protector of flowers".

He wasn't embarrassed about saying thank you; he scratched the back of his head and grinned.

There was a hint of composure at having one's thoughts read, along with the naiveté unique to young people.

"Professor Yan, shall Huahua and I see you off?"

Professor Yan walked over carrying his old briefcase and waved his hand: "Give it to me? No need. I live just two blocks away. It'll be perfect for a walk to clear my head. You..."

He then turned to express his gratitude, his tone earnest.

"Make sure you get Fu Hua home safely; it's too late today."

"Don't worry, Professor."

Xie Ci immediately suppressed his smile and replied seriously.

Professor Yan turned around and instructed Fu Hua: "It's late today, go back and get some rest. You must come to our house for dinner another day. Your teacher's wife and Sister Xiaoxiao have been talking about you a lot, saying why you haven't come for so long, and they're even complaining, aren't they? I've given you too many and too heavy tasks."

"Okay, I'll definitely go another day. Professor, please be careful."

Fu Hua nodded in agreement and personally escorted Professor Yan to the door of the private room.

I watched the old man's figure disappear around the corner of the corridor before turning around.

Only a few waiters remained in the private room, clearing away the tableware.

Xie Ci picked up Fu Hua's coat hanging on the back of the chair and naturally unfolded it for her to drape over her shoulders.

"Get dressed, it's cold outside."

Fu Hua smiled gently and obediently put her arm into her sleeve.

"Let's go."

The voice of thanks rang in her ears, low and ambiguous.

"I'll take you home."

The corridor lights elongated the shadows of the two people.

Xie Ci pushed open the heavy door of the hotel and gestured with his chin for Fu Hua to go out first.

The air was slightly cool at night, crisp and comfortable.

Fu Hua slightly raised her chin, took a deep breath, and her slender neck was fully revealed.

Xie Ci's gaze deepened: "Go home!"

He led Fu Hua to the parking area.

A figure suddenly emerged from behind a side pillar, blocking their path.

Xie Ci paused, instinctively turning to the side to shield Fu Hua behind him.

His sharp gaze fell upon the person who had just arrived.

It was Li Yan, the man in a lab coat at the banquet, whose words were sharp.

"Comrade, is something the matter?"

He declined the question.

Li Yan remained silent, his eyes fixed on the person behind him.

Xie Ci narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing in them.

Fu Hua gently pressed Xie Ci's arm, signaling him to relax, and stepped out from behind him.

"Senior Brother Li,"

She asked gently, "Is there something you need?"

"Yes."

Li Yan's eyes shone brightly under the light as he stared intently at Fu Hua.

"Regarding your answers to my questions, the hypothesis on the bypass inhibition of telomerase abnormal activation, and the point you mentioned in your previous paper..."

The idea of ​​optimizing the specificity of gene editing tools using directed evolution is proposed.

He spoke extremely quickly, as if these words had been churning in his mind for a long time.

"Although the directions are not exactly the same, the underlying logic is the same, which is more... interesting than the path that my teacher Gu is currently struggling with."

He took half a step forward, Xie Ci frowned slightly, while Fu Hua remained standing still.

She raised an eyebrow slightly; she had only occasionally published one or two pieces of content at school.

Unexpectedly, Li Yan saw it.

"From now on,"

Li Yan couldn't wait; his eyes were filled with nothing but a pure thirst for knowledge.

"Can I come to you often to discuss things? I'd like to show you some data, and I need to brainstorm some ideas."

He didn't find anything wrong with the request at all.

Xie Ci's eyes darkened, and he clenched his fists.

The guy in front of me seemed to be clueless about social interactions, and was also stubborn and rigid.

He actually dared to say to his official boyfriend that he wanted to see Fu Hua often in the future.

He coldly refused: "No."

Only then did Li Yan seem to notice Xie Ci.

Her gaze shifted to him, her brow furrowed, her eyes filled with confusion, but without any fear.

It's simply a matter of utter bewilderment: "Why not? Does discussing academic matters require a reason?"

Fu Hua sighed, somewhat helplessly.

She glanced at Xie Ci, signaling him to calm down.

Then he said to Li Yan, "We can discuss it. I'm usually at the research station on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless there are special arrangements, I'll be in the Peking University library or a lab."

You'd better make sure I'm here before you come.

Li Yan immediately pressed, "How can we confirm? By calling the research station? Or by going to which lab at Peking University to find you?"

Fu Hua: "...call the research station and ask Professor Yan to pass on the message, or leave a note in the public reading room on the third floor of the Peking University Biology Building."

"it is good."

Li Yan obtained the exact route to find the person, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

It seems that a key parameter has been solved.

He nodded to Fu Hua, paused for a few seconds, then gave Xie Ci a perfunctory nod before turning and leaving.

She took long, quick strides, the hem of her out-of-place lab coat swaying in the night breeze before disappearing around the street corner.

Xie Ci watched his back until it disappeared before turning away, her brows still not completely relaxed.

"Huahua,"

He turned to Fu Hua, his tone clearly showing concern.

"This person...thinks differently from most people. Are you sure you can talk to him alone?"

Fu Hua looked up at him, her eyes exceptionally clear in the night: "True geniuses who are truly immersed in certain fields often appear somewhat eccentric or aloof; they only have their research topics in mind."

She paused, a smile curving her lips, and drawled, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing and I'll protect myself."

Xie Ci looked into her eyes, and his unease was quickly replaced by trust.

He nodded, reached out, and naturally took her hand, their fingers slowly intertwining.

I believe you.

He spoke softly, his fingertips gently stroking the back of her hand.

Fu Hua also patted the back of his hand and asked with a smile, "When did you get back? Wasn't this mission supposed to last at least half a month?"

It arrived last night.

Xie Ci led her slowly forward, his voice deep and magnetic.

"It was too late, and I was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I didn't come over."

He turned his head to look at her, carefully examining her face in the light of the streetlamp.

"How are you? Have you been eating on time these past few days? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"