Chapter 21
Sophia Sullivan buried herself in her studies.
The days were monotonous and repetitive.
Yet she didn't find them dull.
The phone's ring shattered the night's tranquility.
It was Professor Eleanor Watson.
"How's the studying going?"
Sophia reported her progress.
Eleanor Watson hummed in acknowledgment.
"Come to my house tomorrow morning."
The call ended abruptly.
As if afraid she might refuse.
Six in the morning.
Sophia tied on her apron.
The aroma of oatmeal porridge filled the kitchen.
She ladled out an extra portion.
Her neighbor hadn't returned all night.
Alexander Laurent pulling all-nighters at the lab was the norm.
The lock turned.
The man's figure appeared in the hallway.
His shirt was noticeably wrinkled.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes.
Sophia handed him a thermos.
"Oatmeal porridge. Good for the stomach."
Simmered all night.
Sweet and soft.
Alexander's stomach ached faintly.
The porridge was perfectly timed.
He accepted it with thanks.
Sophia's eyes curved into a smile.
"That rainy night."
"I should be thanking you."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"Just neighbors."
"Was on my way."
He noticed the bag in her hand.
"Heading out?"
"The professor needs to see me."
She glanced at the time.
Said a hurried goodbye.
The thermos warmed his palm.
Pumpkin had been added to the porridge.
Sweet but not cloying.
A plain boiled egg lay quietly in the container.
He slowly peeled the shell.
It tasted better than expected.
...
The morning subway was unbearably crowded.
Sophia was squeezed among the masses.
Breathing was difficult.
She finally fought her way out of the car.
Straightening her crumpled clothes.
The guard at the professor's complex recognized her.
Let her through without issue.
A stranger answered the door.
Henry Lorenz paused for a second.
Suddenly recalling the scene at the university gate.
The girl anxiously grabbing him, asking about the professor's health.
Eyes red-rimmed.
Eleanor Watson's voice came from inside.
"Is that Sophia?"
He stepped aside to let her pass.
Sophia changed into slippers.
She placed the water chestnut cake by the entryway.
The professor, wearing reading glasses, waved her over.
"Come help me find a book."
English gene sequence monographs were spread on the table.
Expanding fields in bioinformatics.
"That one about gene testing."
"I can't find it."
Sophia's eyes scanned the bookshelf.
Her finger paused on a deep blue cover.
"This one?"
Eleanor Watson slapped her thigh.
"That's it!"
"Your eyes are sharper."
The professor turned to Henry Lorenz.
"Use these materials for now."
"Let me know if you need more."
Henry accepted the thick stack of papers.
Eleanor Watson smiled as she introduced them.
"Sophia is my student."
"Soon to be my graduate student."
Henry understood.
"You're taking her graduate entrance exam?"
The professor nodded.
"This is Henry Lorenz."
"He's a second-year master's student."
"You can study together."
Sophia gave a slight nod.
"Nice to meet you, senior."
"I'm Sophia Sullivan."
Henry took out his phone.
"Let's exchange contacts."
"We can meet at the library."
"Discuss problems together."
He left in a hurry.
Sophia went into the kitchen.
She plated the water chestnut cake.
The professor's eyes lit up.
"The one from east of the city?"
"Impossible to get."
Sophia said lightly.
"I passed by."
Eleanor Watson saw through it.
"It's so far."
"And the lines are long."
Sophia linked arms with her.
"Wasn't long."
"Very quick."
The professor patted her hand.
"Go do the problems."
"Two specialized exam sets."
Sophia pouted.
"You called me here."
"Just for this?"
Eleanor Watson glared.
"To supervise your studying."
"Go on."
Her figure skipped lightly into the study.
A smile touched the professor's eyes.
Sophia stayed until evening.
Cooked a full table of dishes.
Only left after cleaning the kitchen.
Night deepened.
Her phone screen lit up.
A message from Henry Lorenz.
[Library tomorrow?]
Sophia replied.
[Okay.]
...
At the library entrance.
Henry Lorenz waited with breakfast.
He handed her steamed buns and soy milk.
Sophia finished them in a few bites.
They walked side by side into the reading room.
Seats were already saved on the second floor.
The elevator doors were closing.
Someone rushed in urgently.
Isabella Langley and her roommate squeezed into the elevator.