Morian made a stopping gesture and stepped towards the door.
Lu Yan finally spoke his first words, he whispered to Lu Mingming, "Don't show any weakness later. Remember, you represent Xingluo Qibu."
The bald man had told Lu Mingming these things before they left, and she had kept them firmly in mind.
"Mhm, I know."
Lu Mingming replied perfunctorily, her eyes fixed on Morian's moving figure.
Seeing this, Lu Yan pursed his lips, his eyes on her deepening.
"I'm sorry for the late reception."
Morian's voice was exactly the same as on the hologram, friendly like an old friend, as he smiled and shook hands with both of them.
"Hello, I am Morian, the director of this research institute. You must be the renowned Mr. Lu."
Morian naturally shifted his gaze from Lu Yan to the nervous Lu Mingming.
"And this is...?"
"I am from Xingluo Qibu, sent here to learn. I hope we can get along well during this time."
"I see."
Morian's brows relaxed as he nodded in acceptance.
So far, the person was not at all different from the Morian rumored.
Lu Mingming felt a sense of guilt, her worries easing.
It would be difficult to find a way to trick such a gentle person into giving up information.
She spaced out. The other two were having a normal conversation, speaking in jargon that Lu Mingming couldn't understand, though a word or two occasionally gave her a slight grasp of what they were discussing.
The two concluded their brief meeting. Lu Yan stood up straight, not saying another word to Lu Mingming, and turned to leave, as if she were merely an unimportant pawn.
Morian smiled, the coldness in his eyes fleeting, and beamed at Lu Mingming.
"Please wait here for a moment, Miss Lu. I'll have a student come and entertain you."
Thrown aside by Lu Yan, Lu Mingming felt annoyed. She didn't ask any more questions about Lu Yan and waited obediently.
In less than a moment, a young man wearing research attire, who bore some resemblance to Morian, approached. Lu Mingming recognized him at a glance as the researcher who had been conversing with Morian.
His name tag read: Bai Yi.
"This is peach-flavored. It's very popular with girls and sells for 3,400 star credits a bottle online."
Bai Yi handed over a bottle of pink nutrient solution.
"Thank you."
Lu Mingming accepted it without politeness and took a sip, tasting this treasure that was too expensive for her.
A faint peach scent filled her mouth. It tasted like peach-flavored soda. She could take it back for Hong Yu...
Wait, what was soda?
Lu Mingming blinked in confusion.
"Since you've accepted the gift—"
Bai Yi leaned in with a chuckle, and what he said almost made Lu Mingming jump out of her skin.
"You're my uncle's dream girl, aren't you?"
As if that weren't enough, he continued.
"Look at your naturally black hair and black eyes, so different from us. You must be from a rare race. In all my life, I've only ever seen you with this appearance."
He whispered in Lu Mingming's ear.
"I went into my uncle's study, and I saw him drawing pictures of people with black hair and black eyes. I never got to see the finished painting, though, haha."
Bai Yi had no awareness that he had accidentally revealed something strange.
Hearing this, Lu Mingming immediately covered his mouth and whispered, "Don't talk nonsense. Dean Morian and I have no relationship at all."
This was her first time meeting Morian; how could there be a dream girl?
"Sigh, that's boring."
Even with his mouth covered, Bai Yi insisted on speaking.
"I was hoping to have a sister-in-law to look after my uncle. He spends all his time in the research institute, and his previous genetic illness wasn't even managed."
So Morian had a genetic illness.
Unintentionally obtaining important information, Lu Mingming recalled Morian's normal behavior and couldn't see anything amiss with him.
"Yeah, he ran away from home for three days. I don't know who he found to solve the problem, and now he's back to being the respected Dean Morian, my great uncle—"
Bai Yi's loud voice attracted the attention of researchers outside the laboratory.
Lu Mingming forced a smile, wondering how such a lively person like Bai Yi dared to be in the research institute.
At his age, shouldn't he be watching streamers and trying to emulate top earners with their reckless donations? Why would he seek hardship by coming to the research institute to do research?!
"You seem to be chatting quite happily."
Morian's voice came from behind Lu Mingming.
He walked to the side as if nothing was unusual and put down the documents.
"Bai Yi is a child at heart. You'll have to bear with him. You'll have more time to interact in the future."
"Haha, it's fine. Being with a lively child makes me feel a few years younger."
Lu Mingming smiled unnaturally, her palm pressing tighter on Bai Yi's mouth, determined to prevent the brat from saying anything inappropriate in front of Morian.
Although her hand stopped his voice, Bai Yi's eyes continued to dart between his uncle and Lu Mingming, a strange smile hinting at a successful pairing.
"Let him go."
Morian tidied his documents.
"I'll give you a general overview of the institute's facilities."
Lu Mingming's eyes lit up.
Understanding the institute = charting a route = finding the general direction of escape.
"Okay."
Lu Mingming agreed, released her hand, and followed obediently.
Bai Yi finally got fresh air and took several deep breaths, as if he had been reborn.
As soon as they left, he immediately sent a message to the family group chat:
【Everyone!!! I suspect my uncle is about to find a partner!!! I saw his dream girl today!!!】
...
"This is the equipment used for genetic research. All the bio-engineered humans and genetically modified flora and fauna widely available on the market originate from here."
Morian pressed the password key. A silver-white energy light appeared on the middle of the heavy, square door and spread along the blue-purple patterns around it. In the next second, it opened, revealing a spacious area.
Researchers were working. A few who were leaving bowed neatly to Morian and greeted him, completely ignoring Lu Mingming.
Some curious newbies quietly checked the official website, openly speculating on the relationship between the two at their workstations.
Lu Mingming was completely oblivious, mentally counting:
The seventh... the eighth...
Even without extensive acting experience, Lu Mingming was extremely sensitive to being under the camera's gaze. A small research room had eight 360-degree surveillance cameras, hidden in the most inconspicuous forms around.
The institute's paths were not complicated; the difficulty lay in choosing the basic routes and the labyrinthine passwords.
Lu Mingming despaired.
It seemed impossible to escape without becoming completely familiar with the institute.
Lu Yan had escorted her into a secret room that others couldn't enter, and she couldn't leave.
"Here..."
Morian was about to give a detailed introduction to the next area when he noticed Lu Mingming was distracted.
He adjusted his glasses and smiled, "Are you too tired? Would you like to rest for a while?"
Lu Mingming nodded dazedly.
With her limited memory, she couldn't recall the route at all. She needed to go back immediately and record all the passwords and details on a blueprint.
"Then I'll escort you back."
Morian offered, choosing the shortest route to take her to the employee dormitories.
"The bedding and blankets have been changed and sterilized, so you can use them with confidence. The location of the cafeteria is behind the door. Have a meal when you wake up. See you tomorrow."
Morian said kindly.
"Thank you. See you tomorrow."
Lu Mingming waved goodbye and immediately closed the door.
She quickly shed her listless demeanor and picked up her pen to record everything she had seen.
Walking alone in the empty corridor, away from everyone, Morian continued to smile, his lips curved in the same arc, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
He returned to his room and, first thing, opened his light brain and clicked on the contact labeled "Lu Yan."
A light blue hologram projected onto the blank space. Lu Yan: "Is there something you didn't finish saying?"
Morian slowly took off his white research institute jacket, picked up the hydrogen peroxide by his bed, poured it onto a cotton pad, and gently wiped a spot of blood on his sleeve.
"I just violently apprehended the small spy sent by the Gude Fen faction. I expect Gude Fen will receive news about Lu Mingming tonight."
Morian's gentleness vanished completely, revealing his originally violent soul.
Seeing his terrifying killing intent, Lu Yan frowned:
"Your genetic illness is getting out of control, isn't it... Are you sure you haven't met Lu Mingming? I hope you think carefully, is she a phantom in your dreams, or your only medicine."