Chapter 466

Professor, Was It You?

Florence Atlante set down her watering can.

She walked into the living room.

Yi Chunshan was reading the newspaper.

"What has Clara been busy with lately? The last two times we asked her to come home for dinner, she said she was busy. Counting the time, it's been over a month since we last saw her…"

Yi Chunshan looked up from his paper.

"Look at you. A grown woman, still fussing about wanting her granddaughter to keep her company. What could Sophia be busy with? Either running experiments or writing her thesis. She must have been tied up, that's why she couldn't come."

"I know… I just miss her, it's been so long…"

Yi Chunshan fell silent for a moment.

He missed her too.

After the New Year, the elderly couple had bought a villa in the same residential community in the neighboring city.

They signed the purchase contract and moved in swiftly.

When Yi Min returned from Hong Kong, she was startled to find her parents had become her neighbors.

But she was genuinely happy.

The old couple could see their daughter and son-in-law every day.

Yet they didn't live under the same roof.

It gave everyone their own space.

They had lived like this for two months.

Not long ago, the old master had to chair a board meeting, so he returned to the capital from the neighboring city.

After returning, neither of the old couple had been idle.

Yi Chunshan was busy with work.

Florence Atlante tended to the garden and puttered in the vegetable patch.

On top of that, she called Sophia Sullivan to come over for meals.

…

Another Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye.

Sophia had worked in the lab until midnight last night.

She simply stayed over.

There was a bed, bedding, toiletries, and a change of clothes.

She slept until eight in the morning.

Got up and had breakfast.

Changed into her lab coat. It was just half past eight.

The second set of model data had finished running.

Perfect timing to pick up where she left off last night.

"Good morning, Sophia~"

At nine, Hannah and Marcus Lawrence arrived.

"Morning." Sophia briefly glanced away from her screen.

Marcus noticed something immediately.

"Sophia, did you pull an all-nighter?"

"All-nighter?!" Hannah's eyes widened.

Sophia shook her head.

"No. I went to bed at three."

Marcus & Hannah fell silent.

What was the difference?

Hannah let out a mournful cry.

"Sophia, you're so brilliant and still work so hard. I feel a bit ashamed…"

First Sophia, then Caleb.

Caleb had returned to school half a month ago.

All matters at home were settled.

With no more worries holding him back.

He decided to go for his Ph.D.!

Hannah was stunned on the spot.

But after a moment's thought, it made perfect sense.

Before, he had carried such a heavy burden for his family.

On top of that, he faced exploitation from Professor Victoria Lowell.

Forced to be Ashley's ghostwriter.

Even then, Caleb managed his studies well and maintained a steady academic output.

Now, freed from these constraints.

It was like a fish returned to the sea, a dragon soaring through the heavens.

Pursuing a Ph.D. seemed only natural.

Sophia was already intense enough.

Now there was Caleb too.

It was simply leaving no room for others to breathe.

Hannah felt her scalp prickle.

Now, if she slacked off even a little, she felt guilty.

She had to muster every ounce of focus for her research.

If her progress fell behind, it would hold back the entire project.

Even though Sophia often comforted her with "no rush," "take your time," "I'll handle the rest."

Hannah knew better.

How could she really hand her part over for someone else to do?

Once or twice was fine.

But if it became a habit.

Eventually, it would be Sophia dragging her along.

Hannah wasn't stupid.

She knew clearly that once the gap between people widened, it might become impossible to catch up.

If you can't catch up, how can you walk together?

In the end, you can only "break up."

Marcus quickly noticed Hannah had become more proactive lately.

Her whole demeanor was more serious.

Before, in the lab, she couldn't help but joke and laugh.

But recently, she seemed to chat much less.

She arrived, changed into her lab coat, and went straight to the bench.

She would stay there for half the day.

Lunch was rushed.

Hannah sighed.

"You don't get it."

Marcus was puzzled.

"The pressure is too much! Waaa—"

"Then, what should we do?" Seeing tears welling in Hannah's eyes, he panicked.

"I'm not getting enough sleep… Can we cut the morning run short by ten minutes? Waaa…"

Marcus nodded.

"Okay."

Hannah was taken aback.

That easy?

Should she have asked for more?

Marcus saw right through her little scheme.

"Not a minute more."

Fine.

The tears in Hannah's eyes weren't fake.

She really did feel like crying.

The pressure was real.

Not getting enough sleep was also real.

But she only felt that moment of collapse.

She quickly adjusted her emotions.

"Work, work!"

By evening, Hannah had finished her tasks.

She stretched on the spot, letting out a long breath.

It was half an hour earlier than she had estimated.

She was very satisfied.

"Marcus, are you done over there?"

"Almost."

Hannah's eyes lit up.

"Shall we go into the city to watch a movie later?"

Marcus was stunned, his head snapping up.

She was asking him to a movie?

His heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.

When he didn't answer, Hannah asked again.

"Want to go?"

Marcus nodded.

"Yes!"

Hannah smiled and turned to invite Sophia.

"Sophia, a new comedy came out yesterday, the reviews are pretty good. Want to go watch it with us?"

Marcus fell silent.

So it wasn't just an invitation for him.

Sophia waved her hand.

"I still have a while to go here, I won't join you. Have fun."

Hannah hadn't really expected to successfully invite her anyway.

She wasn't disappointed.

She remained cheerful.

"Alright. Is there anything you'd like to eat? I can drive it over after the movie."

"No need. I'll leave once I'm done here. It won't be too long. No point in you making another trip; it would waste too much time."

"Okay then. Don't overwork yourself!"

"Mhmm~"

After Hannah and Marcus left, Sophia stayed another half hour before finishing.

She changed out of her lab coat, locked up, and left.

She had driven today.

The traffic was smooth all the way.

After parking, she took the elevator from the garage directly to the first-floor supermarket.

Some household supplies were running low at home.

She could also buy some groceries to make a simple dinner.

She finished selecting her items, checked out, and emerged from the supermarket half an hour later.

Just as she reached the entrance of her building, she ran into Alexander Laurent returning from his evening run.

"Let me." The man naturally took the shopping bags from her. "Back from the lab?"

"Yes." Sophia nodded, not standing on ceremony.

They went upstairs together.

Midway, Sophia suddenly called out to him.

"Professor."

"Hmm?" Alexander turned his head. "What is it?"

"The verdict for the two Croix brothers is out. Assault, disorderly conduct, human trafficking, group drug use… Multiple charges. One got 18 years, the other 15."

"I know."

"Besides that, the Croix family is also being investigated. Vincent Croix and other relevant people are detained. Minor figures like Marco and Mr. Quincy weren't spared either. I heard it was a joint operation between two provinces, a key execution of the anti-gang crime special campaign."

Sophia had seen this in the news this morning.

Alexander's tone was calm.

"The villains finally got their punishment. The Watson family won't have to live in fear from now on."

"No," Sophia looked up, meeting his gaze directly. "What I want to ask is—"

Alexander looked puzzled.

Sophia enunciated each word clearly.

"Was it you?"