Chapter 402

Hannah finished the last bite of her chicken leg.

She let out a satisfied burp.

"This is the life! I just want to be a food scientist, researching delicious things every day!"

Her eyes sparkled.

Grease still smudged the corner of her mouth.

Sophia Sullivan handed her a napkin.

Hannah wiped her mouth while leaning in curiously.

"Sophia, what's your dream? What kind of person do you want to become?"

Sophia paused slightly.

She looked out the window, thinking for a few seconds.

"The research I'm doing now is what I want to do. As for what kind of person..."

Her voice was soft.

"Probably someone like Professor Eleanor Watson."

Hannah immediately frowned.

"The Professor is amazing, but it always feels like she's too lonely."

Eleanor Watson never married, dedicating all her time to the lab.

There was no right or wrong in that choice.

But seeing the Professor's solitary figure during her illness was inevitably heartbreaking.

Sophia smiled.

"I asked her once if she regretted her choice."

Hannah sat up straight.

"What did she say?"

Even Marcus Lawrence put down his chopsticks to listen.

Sophia's gaze grew distant.

"She said life is rarely perfect. There are always trade-offs. Since energy is finite, she'd rather pour all of it into research. For her, that is perfection."

Even if she lost other things, at least she held onto what she wanted most.

Hannah muttered quietly.

"Isn't that a bit extreme?"

Sophia shook her head.

"Everyone has different pursuits. As long as it's your own choice and you can see it through, that is perfection."

"Then, Sophia, will you get married?"

The question came suddenly.

Sophia was stunned for two seconds.

Then she laughed softly.

"If I meet the right person, I probably will."

She wasn't opposed to marriage.

She just hadn't met the right one.

After breaking up with Ethan Roscente, she had closed herself off for a while.

But time eventually heals all wounds.

True moving on means being able to face the past calmly, and not fearing the future.

Hannah turned to look at Marcus.

"Little Marcus, what about you?"

Marcus adjusted his glasses.

"Do research. Pure research."

Before, he thought sports were pure, so he trained in sprinting.

Later, he thought studying was pure, so he focused on his books.

Now, research seemed good too, so he would keep walking that path.

Hannah clicked her tongue in amazement.

"Is that 'love the one you're with'? But what does 'pure' mean?"

Marcus replied.

"It means focus. Uninterrupted."

"How can you be completely uninterrupted?" Hannah pouted.

"My Pops and I have been collecting rent for years. We've seen all sorts of people. Nothing is truly pure."

Marcus was silent for a moment.

"You're right. Nothing is absolutely pure. As dialectical materialism says, all things are interconnected..."

Hannah quickly interrupted.

"Stop! I think you should study philosophy!"

Marcus sighed.

"...Just eat your chicken leg."

"You said it!" Hannah happily picked up another chicken leg.

Marcus shook his head helplessly.

...

After the meal, Sophia paid the bill.

The three of them strolled along the street to walk off the meal.

"We live close by. Let's walk to the main gate and get a cab? It's on the way and saves money!"

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you a little rich girl? Worried about a few dollars?"

She had casually offered to gift a million-dollar car before.

Now she wanted to save ten dollars on a cab.

Hannah said righteously.

"Having money doesn't mean you should waste it! My Pops says save where you should, spend where you should. No wasting!"

Sophia chuckled.

"She's right."

"Just like Sophia. She spent so much building the lab but lives simply herself. That's a smart person!"

Marcus nodded repeatedly.

"I'm learning."

Hannah lifted her chin proudly.

"Little Marcus, you still have a lot to learn!"

...

Suddenly, Marcus stopped walking.

Hannah's smile froze.

Sophia followed their gaze and raised an eyebrow.

A bright yellow Ferrari was parked at the MIT main gate.

The flashy color and cool model made it impossible to ignore.

A man leaned against the car.

It was Ethan Roscente.

Fortunately, it was winter break.

Not many people were at the gate, so it didn't cause a scene.

Sophia frowned.

"Fiona Valentine hasn't left campus yet?"

Hannah pouted.

"Professor Victoria Lowell demanded all grad students stay. They're not allowed to leave until just before New Year's."

"Isn't the lab under renovation? What are they staying for?"

Hannah rolled her eyes.

"Who knows? She's miserable and doesn't want her students to be happy either."

Marcus spoke calmly.

"You can say that because you have the leverage."

Hannah grinned.

Like Amelia Roscente.

She had long since gone home and hadn't returned to school.

Ashley Lowell had submitted the project report for her.

She got the second author credit for free.

Hannah sighed.

"Jude Granger is so pitiful..."

Marcus suddenly turned to her.

"Are you close with him?"