Chapter 39

The July sun scorched the earth as the meteorological station issued consecutive red alerts for extreme heat.

Adrian Klein had spent an entire week in the lab, finally completing the validation of critical data. He dragged his exhausted body up seven flights of stairs, his shirt drenched in sweat.

Just as he pulled out his keys, a muffled thud came from the opposite door.

He paused, turning toward the locked security door.

"Evelyn?" He raised his hand to knock.

No response.

After the second knock, a pale face peeked through the crack.

"What do you want?"

Her voice was unnervingly calm, but her eyes were dull as stagnant water.

Adrian adjusted his glasses. "You mentioned working on a thesis last time?"

"Submitted two months ago," she replied mechanically.

"I have an unfinished research project," he said abruptly. "Want to take a look?"

Twenty minutes later.

Evelyn's fingers trembled slightly. The data on the paper pierced her gray world like a beam of light.

The study on biological initial variation values had a brilliant approach. But the two most crucial chapters had blank data fields.

"Wrote it sophomore year," Adrian leaned against the bookshelf. "Never touched it after switching majors."

He handed her a forwarded email screenshot. "Professor Roland sent me your undergraduate thesis. Your research direction is strikingly similar."

Evelyn's fingertips unconsciously traced the pages. The clinking of test tubes, the rhythmic beeping of lab equipment—suddenly, the sounds revived in her ears.

"The lab..." Her voice was hoarse. "I haven't been there in ages."

Adrian slid a cup of coffee toward her. "All the data is on the flash drive."

The cicadas outside grew louder. Staring at her reflection in the swirling coffee, Evelyn saw a glimmer reignite in her own eyes.