LOGINThe records room was quiet.Rows of tall shelves were filled with all kinds of lab files and research papers.Miranda went to the neuroscience section and began searching for the documents she needed. Her fingers slid across row after row of folders. Soon, she pulled one out, flipped through a few pages, then put it back and continued looking for the next file.Felix did not go in.He simply leaned against the doorway and watched her.The white lab coat looked different on Miranda somehow. Under it, the collar of her white shirt showed faintly. A few loose strands of hair had fallen along her cheek, and as she focused on the files, her expression was serious. Every now and then, she frowned slightly in thought.She looked almost like a student, absorbed and intent.A moment later, Miranda pulled out a folder and walked over to him.“Found it.”Felix took the folder from her. With his other hand, he naturally wrapped an arm around her waist.Miranda reached down and tried to p
Coco’s face grew even warmer.“I know. He’s honest and dependable. He’s just… kind of boring.”Miranda couldn’t help laughing.“That’s why opposites attract. You’re cheerful and straightforward. The two of you actually balance each other out pretty well.”Coco didn’t seem to be trying to hide it anymore. She twisted her fingers together and said, “Actually, sometimes when I watch him working in the lab… he does look pretty handsome.”Miranda encouraged her. “I can tell Adrian pays a lot of attention to you too.”Coco covered her face.“No, he doesn’t.”Miranda smiled.“I think the two of you are a good match.”Coco muttered quietly, “He’s a total workaholic. All he sees is data and experiments. When would he ever have time to notice me?”Miranda smiled and shook her head, her gaze still on the data on the screen.“He may not talk much, but he’s steady. If he really likes someone, he won’t say it all the time, but you’ll see it in what he does.”Coco immediately thought of
Early the next morning, Felix took Mia to school as promised, while Miranda went to the lab.When she arrived, Adrian was already there.“Morning, Miranda.”He looked up, dark circles obvious beneath his eyes.“I ran the data you sent me last night.”Miranda put on her lab coat and walked over.“What did you find?”Adrian moved aside and pointed at the waveform on the screen, his voice tight with barely contained excitement.“Look here. It matches the anomaly we found before. Exactly. I ran it three more times on the new equipment, and the same waveform appeared every time.”Miranda stared at the screen, her heartbeat slowly picking up.She pulled up one set of data after another and compared them carefully.Ten minutes later, she suddenly leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath.“Adrian.”“Miranda, your theory was right,” Adrian said, visibly shaken. “This could put you in the running for the Aurora Prize.”Miranda did not speak.She only stared at the familiar
“For you.”Miranda smiled and took it from him.She took a bite. The sugar melted on her tongue, sweet and delicate.After a couple of bites, she held it out to Felix.“You try some too.”Felix lowered his head and took a bite. Looking at her, his eyes filled with amusement.“Mm. Very sweet.”Miranda was just lowering her head to take another bite when Felix leaned close to her ear in the middle of the busy street.“You’re sweeter.”Her ears warmed at his words.Behind her, Felix let out a low laugh. Then he quickly caught up to her and took her hand again.After they finished shopping, Felix took her to a private restaurant he had arranged for lunch.Once they were done eating, the driver took them back to the hotel to pick up their luggage, then headed straight for the airport.By five that afternoon, they were home.Mia was thrilled with her gifts, but the one that caught her attention most was a beautifully made metal brain teaser puzzle.Miranda sat beside her and w
That night, Miranda went to bed rather late.Half-asleep, she heard the doorbell ring.She glanced at the time.It was only eight thirty.She got up and walked to the door. Through the peephole, she took one look outside and froze.Standing outside was a face she knew all too well.She immediately opened the door.Felix stood outside in a dark gray coat, looking as if he had come straight from a long trip.The moment he saw her, his lips curved into a smile.“Did I wake you?”“You… Why are you here?”Miranda glanced behind him.“It’s just me. Mia’s at home.”With that, Felix stepped inside, reached out with his arms, and pulled her into his embrace. He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in.“I missed you, so I came.”Miranda leaned against his chest, but she still couldn’t help scolding him.“You haven’t fully recovered yet. Why did you come all the way here?”Felix gave a soft snort.“Do you care about me at all? It’s already been sixteen days. I’m long pas
“Mike called me,” Lena said, looking at her. “Thank you for coming.”Lena’s shoulder-length hair was cut in a neat, practical style. Even sitting in a wheelchair, she looked clean, sharp, and composed, with a quiet strength that was hard to miss.For someone so young to become a pilot, Lena had Miranda’s genuine respect.Miranda sat down across from her.For a moment, they simply looked at each other.Then, for some reason, they both smiled.Even in the wheelchair, Lena sat with her back perfectly straight. It was the kind of posture that came from years of military training, already ingrained in her bones.Her eyes were clear and steady, still full of hope.“Can I call you Lena?” Miranda asked.Lena nodded.“Of course, Dr. Stone.”“Call me Miranda. I’m only two years older than you, so we’re basically the same age.”Lena smiled.“Then I’ll call you Miranda.”Miranda nodded.Lena looked at her, gratitude quietly stirring in her eyes.“Miranda, I know Mike was able to wa
Hayden glanced at Miranda. Ever since he had privately warned her that night, she had kept her distance from him. Still, he took the initiative to speak first.“Hi, Ms. Stone.”Miranda gave a brief nod and ignored the other two. She turned to Leo. “You go ahead and catch up with them. I’m heading
But Victor still believed that someday he would be able to stand at Roger’s side as a trusted right-hand man. When that day came, maybe he could finally tiptoe his way into being worthy of pursuing Fiona.“It’s nothing. I just meant that I will work hard under your father.” Victor forced a smile. “
“I never really lacked money growing up. Whether my family was wealthy or not never made much difference to me,” Fiona said as she flipped her hair over her shoulder.Then she spotted Miranda approaching and added casually, “But this time, my dad really does owe someone credit for helping the compa
Miranda nodded and took out her phone to exchange contact information with Alger.Just then, a deep voice spoke from beside them.“Dr. Smith, it seems your team member is quite interested in my lead researcher.”Felix wore a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.Dr. Smith laughed. “Alger has a







