"So this time, something went beyond your expectations again?"

"That's another question. It's my turn to ask, darling. After knowing the truth, how do you see me?"

Her expression appeared very serious.

Even though she was trying hard to maintain a calm demeanor, Ethan still noticed her increasingly rapid heartbeat.

"You're right, I'm from the other side."

She proceeded with her inquiry methodically, "I've received many investments, have many key research projects at hand, and every year, countless students want to study under me. From a standpoint, I could potentially become a very troublesome adversary for you."

Her face remained calm, but her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

It's just...

She looked like an intelligent person, and Ethan had no way of knowing if the frequency of her heartbeat was also designed in advance.

"No change at all."

He chose to follow his true feelings.

Lindong's heart relaxed, and she tightened her grip on Ethan's hand a little more.

"My next question hasn't changed either."

"...Generally speaking, I shouldn't invest too much emotion in my research subjects."

She fell into a long hesitation, her mind seemingly racing as if a wisp of smoke was rising, "Once things go beyond calculations, I should get them back on track."

Clearly, this research has long crossed the line.

Especially in these sensitive times when war could break out at any moment.

But now, it seemed that every brain cell of hers was jumping up to stop her. This was the first time in Lindong's life she faced such a situation, vaguely hearing the sound of rationality being crushed by emotion.

And just now, the last trace of unease lingering in her heart was also destroyed.

"Ethan."

Her voice was very soft, "I am very happy now."

"Do you want to talk about your research?"

"You've violated the rules again… Tsk, what am I expecting? When have you ever followed the rules?"

Lindong took a breath, "The story starts with a fool wanting to talk to a black hole..."

.........

Meanwhile, in a city shrouded in the night.

The pneumatic door hissed open, and the first batch of researchers spilled out of the elevator, their white anti-static suits marked by tired creases. They grouped in twos and threes, merging into the broader flow of the atrium.

The day's work was over once more.

Above the atrium, a holographic projection spanning hundreds of meters hovered quietly—a white-haired girl with eyes like shining rubies. She wore a simple black researcher's uniform. The face on the projection bore no expression, but her gaze swept across every moving light below silently narrating that this building and even the whole block existed because of her.

"Don't you think the Doctor's been looking younger lately?"

Someone looked up at the projection in front of the company building and started a topic.

Chatting about gossip was one of the few forms of entertainment in their monotonous lives.

"Hey, do you think the Doctor's in love?"

Someone quickly joined in.

"The Doctor? In love? You must be new here."

"Why?"

"Forget it, someone like that could never be in love."

The speaker waved his hand and, after a moment, said solemnly, "The Doctor long ago transcended human trivialities, dedicating her entire life to research. Even if one day she does marry, the one she'd marry must be a black hole or dark matter."

"Speaking of which, I've heard the Doctor's working on some major research project and hasn't been seen for ages."

"Are you planning to confess to the Doctor?"

"No way, I don't want to experience that look again, like I'm just an egg cell being examined."

"They say a genius's brain structure is different from ours."

"That's pseudoscience."

...