Chapter 408

The phone screen lit up, revealing two glaring missed calls.

Adrian's pupils contracted slightly.

Evelyn Langley's name sat quietly in the call log.

He immediately opened WhatsApp.

"Professor, I have an experiment question. Are you available?"

The message had been sent five days ago.

He'd missed it!

His slender fingers hovered over the keyboard before withdrawing.

"Vincent, monitor the data. Emergency."

Before his colleague could protest, the lab coat disappeared through the doorway.

"Hey! It's my day off! Adrian, you—"

Only retreating footsteps echoed down the hallway.

......

The doorbell rang three times.

No answer.

Adrian stood outside Evelyn's apartment, brow slightly furrowed.

Returning home, his fingers hesitated over his phone.

"Apologies for the delay. Still need assistance?"

Sent.

Thirty minutes passed. The screen remained dark.

Had she waited like this too?

Meanwhile, Evelyn wiped sweat from her forehead, rubber gloves squeaking.

"This lab is enormous!" Hannah collapsed onto the freshly mopped floor.

Liam adjusted his glasses. "More space means better organization."

The abandoned laboratory's dust had settled for years.

Three hours of work barely arranged the main equipment.

"Why won't the university hire cleaners?" Hannah groaned.

"Frugality builds character," Liam deadpanned.

At the cafeteria entrance, Evelyn paused mid-step.

Adrian approached rapidly, breath uneven.

"You contacted me?"

She blinked. Hannah and Liam discreetly stepped back.

"I... sent a message," Evelyn murmured. "But we resolved it."

Adrian's frown deepened. "What happened?"

Hannah jumped in. "Someone blocked our materials!"

"Who?"

"Beatrice Merouin!" Hannah spat the name. "Abusing her professor status!"