Chapter 156

Professor Eleanor Watson had just finished speaking.

A tall, straight-backed figure emerged from the inner room.

Sophia Sullivan froze.

Eleanor Watson smiled as she made the introduction. "This is Professor Benjamin Murphy's prized student, Sebastian Evans."

The man's lips curved into a slight smile as he extended his hand toward her. "Nice to meet you, junior."

"You... you're Professor Murphy's student?" Sophia couldn't hide her surprise.

"Does it not seem like it?"

"Well, it's not that..."

Eleanor's gaze shifted between the two of them. "You know each other?"

Sebastian gave a slight nod. "We do."

And we've known each other for a very long time...

"Perfect, since you're already acquainted. Why don't you both stay for dinner?"

Sebastian smiled. "Thank you, Professor. I won't stand on ceremony then."

Sophia had already planned to stay for dinner.

The housekeeper had prepared a table full of dishes, two of which were Sophia's favorites.

Whether intentional or not, Sebastian offered Sophia the seat closest to those two dishes and took the one next to her.

Eleanor noticed this and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Sophia simply thought it was a coincidence and didn't overthink it, inwardly praising the housekeeper for her thoughtfulness.

"What's your Chinese zodiac sign, Sebastian?" Eleanor asked suddenly.

Sebastian replied, "The Dog. I'm twenty-eight."

"Running an investment company at twenty-eight. Quite the impressive young man."

Sebastian waved his hand modestly. "You flatter me. The company only got started with my family's support. It's only been properly on track for the last two or three years."

"Compared to business, I have far more respect for scholars like you and Professor Murphy. Burying yourselves in experiments day after day, delving deeper into exploration year after year, enduring the solitude and tedium, devoting your entire lives to science."

Eleanor laughed. "For those who love research, that kind of life isn't lonely or dull at all. Right, Sophia?"

"Yes," Sophia nodded.

The lab was free of office politics. It was pure and simple. Comfortable.

At least, that was how it was for her and Professor Watson.

Sebastian seemed to have an epiphany. "It seems my view was too shallow. No wonder Professor Murphy said I was vulgar and not cut out for academia."

"Hahaha... Old Murphy really said that?"

"He did," Sebastian nodded. "Said it right in front of me and my parents."

"Hahaha... That does sound exactly like Old Murphy."

Sebastian was articulate and had extremely high emotional intelligence. Even his flattery was perfectly pitched.

In just a few sentences, he had Eleanor laughing heartily.

After dinner, Sophia proactively helped clear the table.

Sebastian actually rolled up his sleeves and followed her into the kitchen.

Sophia was a little surprised. After knowing him for so many years, she'd never heard of him setting foot in a kitchen.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is it that strange?" Sebastian asked as he scraped leftovers into the trash.

Sophia said, "A little."

The man chuckled. "In your eyes, am I that useless?"

Sophia told the truth. "You used to be."

"..."

Ethan Roscente never set foot in the kitchen. Anyone who hung out with him probably wasn't much better.

Sebastian saw right through her thoughts and exclaimed, "That's guilt by association! I'm wronged!"

They cleaned the kitchen together. Although Sebastian tried his best to prove he wasn't "useless," the reality was—

He wasn't very good at it.

Not only were his movements clumsy, but he also squeezed dish soap onto every single plate and bowl. Under Sophia's helpless gaze, he looked utterly innocent. "Isn't this how you wash them?"

Sophia: "..."

"If you don't find it troublesome, you could teach me," Sebastian said, clearing his throat lightly. "When I cooked for myself abroad, I usually only used one or two plates. I'd just squeeze a little on each..."

"There's no fixed method for washing dishes. How you use the soap isn't set in stone either. As long as they get clean in the end, it's fine. But..."

She changed her tone. "From a conservation standpoint, you can squeeze some into the water first, let it dissolve, use a sponge to scrub, then give them a final rinse with clean water, let them drain, and put them away."

"Like this..." Sebastian listened and followed her instructions.

Just as he was about to dissolve the soap, Sophia suddenly spoke—

"Wait!"

Sebastian: "??"

"Use hot water."

"Oh, right!"

After cleaning up, they stayed a while longer. Seeing it was getting late, they said their goodbyes to Eleanor.

Sebastian said, "I drove here. Can I give you a lift?"

The subway had stopped running at this hour.

Sophia didn't put on airs. "Then thank you, Young Master Evans."

They got into the car.

Sebastian said, "If possible, I'd prefer you call me 'senior,' or maybe 'Bash'? Even just my full name is fine?"

"Okay, Young Master Evans."

"... You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Sophia looked innocent. "It's a habit. Hard to break."

"Fine, call me whatever you like."

Sooner or later, he'd make her change her tune willingly.

...

Half an hour later, the car pulled up on Institute Road.

Sophia said, "You can just drop me off at the MIT entrance."

"Not going back to your place?"

"Need to stop by the lab. Two sets of data haven't come out yet. Working late."

"Okay."

The man didn't ask further questions, simply pulling over at the school gate.

Sophia got out and thanked him again.

Sebastian waved his hand. "Go on. Be careful."

"Okay."

It was already ten p.m. when Sophia reached the lab.

By the time the data came out, she had compiled it and tidied the lab bench, it was almost midnight.

She turned off the lights, checked all the power sources, and then locked the door behind her.

Kyoto was in the midst of its summer rainy season. It had been drizzling on and off since the day before yesterday.

Under the hazy yellow glow of the streetlights, fine, hair-like raindrops drifted down.

It was so late that the street was almost empty of pedestrians. Only the occasional car passed by.

The deep night added to the gloom.

Sophia opened her umbrella and stepped into the rain.

The surroundings were so quiet she could only hear her own footsteps.

Halfway there, the night wind suddenly picked up, whipping the fine rain into a frenzy. A stray cat let out a piercing cry from a corner.

Sophia was startled, her hand jerking, almost losing her grip on the umbrella.

She managed to catch it in time, but in those few moments, half of her body was already soaked.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind her.

It was the dull thud of men's dress shoes on the asphalt road.

She didn't pay it much mind at first, but she soon realized that when she walked faster, the footsteps quickened. When she slowed down, the footsteps slowed too.

So—

Someone was following her!