Chapter 499

Quincy Evans shook his head.

"If you want things to change, why not just talk to her directly?"

Alexander Laurent remained silent.

"You're scared.

You're afraid that if you lay it all out, she'll reject you.

That you won't even be able to be friends anymore."

"..."

Quincy frowned.

"This isn't like you.

The Alexander Laurent I know is decisive and resolute.

He doesn't hesitate just because he might fail."

"She said she wasn't considering it for now—the key word is 'for now'!

People's feelings change.

A rejection back then doesn't mean she'll push you away now, understand?"

Alexander was stunned.

Quincy clapped him on the shoulder.

"If you keep hesitating, your girl will really be gone.

You won't even have a place to cry about it."

"Sophia has plenty of suitors.

Forget those two students who fought over her before.

The one today was even more handsome!

Young, full of energy, and from his clothes, his family is well-off too..."

Alexander cut him off.

"Stop."

"Hmph!"

Finally getting anxious, are we?

Let's see if you keep dragging your feet now.

...

Sophia Sullivan drove Mrs. Laurent back to the family estate.

She handed the medicine to the housekeeper.

She carefully explained the dosage and instructions before driving away.

The elderly woman had wanted her to stay for dinner.

But Sophia had already made plans with Marcus Lawrence and Hannah Morse.

"Grandmother, I'll come see you again in a couple of days.

I have plans with classmates tonight."

"Alright, go on then."

She drove to the restaurant.

Marcus and Hannah were already there.

They were discussing a cup of bubble tea.

Hannah was talking animatedly.

Marcus listened intently, nodding occasionally.

"...This bubble tea tastes completely different.

It's nowhere near as good as the one by the school gate!"

Marcus replied, "Mhm."

"What are you 'mhm'-ing about?

You haven't even tried it!"

He took the cup and took a sip.

"...Want the truth?"

Hannah looked at him expectantly.

"I can't tell the difference."

Hannah sighed.

"Fine.

Can't expect much from a man."

"Have you been waiting long?"

Sophia pushed the door open and walked in.

"Sophia!"

Hannah immediately brightened up.

Marcus stood to let her sit, naturally moving to Hannah's side.

No one found this strange.

"Sophia, you said you had something important to discuss?"

Sophia signaled the server to bring the food.

She took a business card from her bag and handed it to them.

Hannah took it and read it.

"...Materials R&D?

Chief Specialist?"

"Yes."

Sophia briefly explained how she got the card.

She omitted the part about running into Zachary Rosedale.

"...Their company is developing a new type of thermal-sensitive material.

They claim its temperature sensitivity accuracy can reach one hundred percent.

The No. 7 measuring device we have now isn't precise enough.

Its data can't go beyond the decimal point.

What if we switched to this new material?"

"Of course, this is just a preliminary idea.

We'd need to verify if this new material actually meets expectations.

I wanted to discuss today whether it's feasible and worth trying."

Sophia finished and looked at them.

Marcus and Hannah were both researchers and her partners.

Lab decisions required unanimous agreement from all three.

She had expected a discussion.

But their reaction was—

"Sophia, why are you even asking us?

If you think it's worth doing, then do it.

Just tell us what you need.

We'll support you fully!"

Marcus nodded.

"Whatever you decide, we're with you."

Sophia was taken aback, then smiled.

"You trust me that much?

Aren't you afraid I might mess up?"

Hannah looked surprised.

"Sophia, if you're messing up, it's only because Hannah and Marcus made a huge mistake first."

"Pfft— It wouldn't come to that."

But such trust was heartwarming.

After the meal, Marcus went to settle the bill.

Sophia and Hannah walked to the parking lot together.

Hannah said, "Sophia, you go ahead.

I'll wait for Marcus."

"Oh?"

"We're heading the same way.

He doesn't have a car.

I'll just give him a ride back.

Hehe."

"Alright, drive safely."

"Will do~"

After reaching an agreement with her partners, Sophia went home and started preparing.

She researched, drafted a material optimization plan, and checked it over repeatedly.

At ten p.m., Sophia proactively texted Zachary Rosedale.

[Are you free, Mr. Rosedale? There's something I'd like to discuss.]

At that moment, Zachary was at home being interrogated by his mother.

"Your grandfather said you went to deliver a meal today.

You just dropped off the container and left.

Someone also saw you accompanying a girl at the hospital pharmacy...

Spill it.

Are you seeing someone?"

Zachary complained, "Grandpa actually tattled on me?!"

"You rascal!

Your grandfather cares about your future."

"No, no.

Ask me a hundred times, the answer is still no."

"You—"

A WeChat notification tone suddenly rang out.

Hearing the special tone, Zachary immediately stood up.

He looked at his phone as he headed upstairs.

His mother thought: Still saying no?!

This is what you call no?!

Two minutes after Sophia sent her message, she received a reply from Zachary.

[Sophia, what is it?]

[Calling me 'Mr. Rosedale' is too formal.

You can call me Zachary or Zac.]

Sophia: [Is a phone call convenient?]

Zachary's hand trembled.

Happiness came too suddenly—

[Yes, it is.

My number is 132...]

Sophia called immediately and got straight to the point.

Though elated, Zachary was completely serious about business.

"...I remember this material.

But I need to confirm which R&D department is handling it specifically."

"I'll look into it and get back to you tomorrow, alright?"

Sophia: "Okay.

Thank you."

That night, Sophia, having solved a difficult problem, slept soundly.

Zachary, having obtained his crush's phone number, was too excited to sleep.

He tossed and turned until 2 a.m. before finally falling asleep with a smile.

His dreams were sweet.

The next morning, Sophia didn't receive a reply from Zachary.

Instead, she got a call from Alexander Laurent...