Chapter 495

Sophia Sullivan gave a slight nod.

Zachary Wang quickly excused himself from his friends and strode over.

"You're here for a haircut too?"

"Yes."

"I… I mentioned wanting to treat you to a meal last time. Are you free today?"

Sophia: "I'm here with a friend."

"Hello, young master Wang~" Olivia Lopez waved with a laugh, one leg crossed over the other.

"Olivia? You know each other?"

Olivia nodded. "I'm that friend."

"Perfect then. My treat after your hair is done?"

Olivia blinked. "I'm just the plus-one, right? You really want to invite someone else."

Zachary cleared his throat softly. "We're all friends… It's the same…"

Olivia glanced subtly at Sophia.

Are you going?

Sophia gave a slight shake of her head.

Olivia: "My hair will take a while, and we've already booked a restaurant. Sorry, Zachary."

Zachary immediately replied, "No problem! I can wait and join you!"

Olivia wagged a finger. "Girls' night. No boys allowed. Got it?"

"I see…" Zachary scratched his head. "Next time then."

Olivia: "Sure thing."

She thought he would leave.

Instead, he sat down next to Sophia.

"Sophia… Is it okay to call you that?"

"…Yes."

The man smiled. "The place I dropped you off last time was a lab, right?"

"Yes."

"I majored in Materials Chemistry in college. It's a different field from Biology, but there's some overlap…"

Zachary had clearly done his homework.

Knowing Sophia was focused on academia, he deliberately steered the conversation toward professional topics.

He avoided her specialty in biology and talked more about materials chemistry.

Sophia was initially uninterested.

But as she listened, she began to glance his way—

"You said you have a new materials R&D company? Is it lab-based?"

Zachary's eyes lit up. "Not purely a lab, but we have an R&D department."

His expression made Olivia shake her head repeatedly.

Sophia: "Which main areas do you develop?"

"Both electronics IT and biomedical. Things like integrated circuits, semiconductors, nanoscale drug carriers, and biosensors."

Sophia sat up a little straighter. "Could you elaborate on the materials for biosensors?"

"Of course! Currently, mature technologies include photodiodes and photoresistors, plus quantum dots. Research areas include thermistors, piezoelectric ceramics…"

Sophia listened intently.

Zachary spoke with growing excitement.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing them both.

The young man was passionate and energetic.

The woman was elegant and composed.

Strangely harmonious.

Even well-matched.

Olivia found herself staring.

Almost without thinking, she took out her phone, aimed at the two, and pressed the shutter.

So beautiful! This could be a screensaver.

She saved it delightedly.

Half an hour later, their hair was done.

Olivia called to Sophia, "Let's go, baby."

Zachary stopped talking, looking at them reluctantly.

Actually, he was looking at Sophia.

"Zachary, we'll be going then—"

"Join us for dinner?" Sophia suddenly said with a smile. "We have the reservation anyway."

"R-really? Is it okay?"

He was so excited he nearly stammered.

Olivia: "?" Are you serious?

Sophia gave a subtle nod.

"Alright," Olivia waved a hand. "Let's go. One more person just means an extra set of chopsticks."

Zachary followed happily.

At the restaurant, the server led them to a private room.

While waiting for the food, Zachary suddenly spoke up—

"Since we're just sitting here, how about I perform a magic trick for you both?"

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "You do magic? You showed off a bit at the Atlante birthday banquet last time."

Zachary: "This one is newly learned."

"Go on, then." Olivia enthusiastically took out her phone to record. "Do you need props?"

Zachary looked around, grabbed a pack of tissues from a side cabinet, and opened it.

He pulled out five tissues.

Each had a different printed pattern.

He looked at Sophia. "Pick one you like."

Sophia randomly selected one.

He took it, folded it, then unfolded it, showing it clearly to both of them.

Then he crumpled it into a ball in his palm.

When he slowly pulled it out again, it had transformed into a flower!

"For you." Zachary smiled, offering the flower to Sophia.

"…A real flower?" Sophia took it, examining it closely, somewhat surprised.

Olivia put her phone away. "Hey, how come I don't get one?"

Zachary's ears turned red. "Sorry, I only prepared one…"

He glanced secretly at Sophia, only to find she had placed the flower aside after looking at it.

Her expression was calm, unreadable.

He couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Fortunately, the server began bringing the food.

Olivia posted the video she just took to her social feed with the caption: Got to see a magic show. Nice~

She tossed her phone aside and started eating.

It was already 2 PM by the time they finished.

Zachary insisted on paying the bill. Olivia didn't argue.

"Zachary's loaded. One meal is nothing, right?"

Zachary nodded immediately. "Yeah! It's only right for the gentleman to pay. Besides…"

He looked at Sophia, hesitantly. "I wanted to treat Sophia to a meal anyway. Finally got the chance."

Sophia smiled. "You're too kind, Zachary. I should be thanking you."

Over the meal, she had figured out the scope of Zachary's company's business.

She already had some ideas.

She needed to discuss it with Hannah and Marcus when she got back.

Zachary left, feeling both excited and let down.

His emotions were mixed.

Olivia watched the car drive away and clicked her tongue softly, sighing. "The stream has intent, but the fallen flower is heartless~"

Sophia withdrew her gaze. "Weren't we going shopping?"

"Yes! Let's go, let's go!"

They got in the car and settled in.

Olivia took out her phone to set the navigation.

"Holy—"

10 missed calls. 42 unread messages.

Sophia fastened her seatbelt. "What's wrong?"

Olivia started checking them. "So many missed calls. Sophia, you drive. I need to reply."

"Okay."

They switched seats.

Olivia's expression grew more and more peculiar as she read.