Qin Ningyi returned to the bedroom with the lingering heat from his bath, finding Huo Rou on the bed, staring blankly out the window, waiting for him.
His heart softened completely. He lay down beside her, his post-bath warmth enveloping Huo Rou. He pulled her into his embrace.
"Sleep. Everything will be fine when you wake up."
He harbored no lustful thoughts, only feeling how frail the girl in his arms was. He wanted to be good to her, to make her happy.
Days of experiments had pushed Huo Rou to her limit. She had been afraid to rest, but now she had no choice.
"Wake me up as soon as Songju arrives."
"Alright."
His kisses, gentle and numerous, landed on her brow, smoothing away her frown.
Qin Ningyi remembered the stories he'd told An An and began to tell one to lull Huo Rou to sleep.
"Once upon a time, there was a mountain. On the mountain, there was a temple. In the temple..."
His voice held a clear, magnetic quality, his trailing ends long, soothing, and tender.
Huo Rou opened her eyes again. Sunlight streamed through the window. The long period of gloom had finally yielded to a ray of sunshine.
Qin Ningyi's arm was still wrapped tightly around her. She could see his face from where she lay. His gentle, all-encompassing eyes were closed, making him appear even more aloof and abstinent.
His eyelashes were not short; they cast shadows in the sunlight. Huo Rou's gaze drifted down his nose, to his Adam's apple, his chest...
Perhaps because she had slept restlessly last night, his bathrobe had come undone, revealing strong muscles.
What had possessed her last night to make such a request?
Huo Rou finally came to her senses and began to feel remorse.
The man before her swallowed, a low chuckle escaping him. Without opening his eyes, he fumbled and buried his head in the crook of her neck.
"Awake?"
The question held a double meaning.
His hot breath on Huo Rou's collarbone was somewhat ticklish, and evoked an indescribable feeling.
"Mmm," she responded with a muffled sound.
She thought for a moment. "Where's Songju?"
She had been worried about him all night. In the middle of the night, he had heard the faint whimpers of a kitten and woken to find Huo Rou seemingly having a nightmare, stifling her cries.
He had patted her back and soothed her for a long time before the little kitten in her sleep finally quieted down.
"She's being flown in by helicopter and will be here soon."
He had actually woken up very early. After having Zhao Hengyu make breakfast and send it over, he had also inquired about Songju's condition. Then, reluctant to let go of the kitten in his arms, he had continued to hold her and slept in again.
Before, he would never have done such a thing.
"Then I'll get up and prepare." Huo Rou nimbly rolled over and got out of bed.
Her speed and agility, like that of a soldier going into battle, momentarily stunned Qin Ningyi.
Huo Rou straightened her somewhat wrinkled clothes and urged, "Get up quickly."
Qin Ningyi looked at her clothes, which resembled dried preserved vegetables. "Change your clothes? I have shirts here."
Then, ignoring Huo Rou's protests, he insisted on giving her one of his shirts that he kept there.
"Go change."
His words brooked no refusal, but Huo Rou was not happy. A wrinkled shirt wouldn't hurt anything; she had gone on missions before without changing for ten days or half a month.
She glanced at Qin Ningyi's shirt with some disdain, thinking it was too big and would be inconvenient for experiments.
Qin Ningyi saw the disdain in her eyes, his gaze deepened, and he carried her into the walk-in closet.
When Zhao Hengyu personally delivered the meal, he saw Huo Rou in a shirt that was clearly too big, indignantly trimming its length with scissors in the living room.
He recognized the shirt; it was Qin Ningyi's custom-made, and not inexpensive.
Anciently, Qingwen tore her fan; today, Huo Rou cuts her clothes.
Tsk, tsk.
Meanwhile, Qin Ningyi was beaming, even thanking him as he accepted the food.
Zhao Hengyu was overwhelmed. When had Old Qin ever been so polite to him?
He hadn't even been this pleasant when ordering him to make breakfast that morning.
Something unusual was afoot, and he'd better make a swift exit.
"Old Qin, you two enjoy. I have some things to do, so I'll be going now."
Zhao Hengyu thrust the food into his hands and turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back, pressing the door before it closed completely.
He winked conspiratorially and shouted to Huo Rou, "Little Sister-in-law! Is Old Qin that rough?"
Huo Rou's angry expression vanished upon hearing his voice. She looked up at him calmly.
Wow, her change of expression was just like Old Qin's!
Zhao Hengyu marveled inwardly and continued, "He's just been single for too long and can't quite control himself. Little Sister-in-law, please don't hold it against him. Tell him to be gentler next time, okay?"
Qin Ningyi's gaze shot daggers at him. What was he saying?
"Old Qin, cherish the ladies!" Zhao Hengyu ignored the killing intent in his eyes and earnestly advised, "If Little Sister-in-law gets hurt, come to me for medicine, any kind of medicine..."
Before he could finish, Qin Ningyi kicked him out, and the door slammed shut with a bang.
His dear Old Qin had only left him with a loving farewell: "Scram!"
After breakfast, Songju also arrived, and Qin Ningyi's men brought the items to the laboratory.
Even with Qin Ningyi's ten million investment, only this one plant had been found nationwide. Success or failure rested on this.
He waited outside the laboratory, watching Huo Rou and Madam Ren carefully operate the instruments inside.
The Songju finally transformed into a few drops of liquid.
Huo Rou's serious and focused expression finally relaxed, replaced by a smile.
She turned and, through the glass of the laboratory door, gave Qin Ningyi a big smile.
"Success?"
Qin Ningyi mouthed the question.
Huo Rou smiled like a child and nodded heavily.
Finally, it was a success. Old Wang could be saved, and Huo Rou no longer had to wear a worried frown.
Madam Ren slumped onto her wheelchair. After all these years, she had been able to conduct such an experiment and cooperate with Huo Rou to overcome this hurdle.
"Xiao Rou, you are truly amazing!" Madam Ren looked at her with pride. She was truly Xiuyun's daughter, as intelligent and outstanding as her.
Huo Rou lowered her head and smiled. "I also need to thank you, Auntie, for your guidance. Otherwise, there were many things I wouldn't have understood."
After a moment of mutual modesty, they emerged with the results.
This achievement was worthy of publication in international biology journals, and the world would witness the remarkable progress and achievements of this ancient civilization.
And all this had happened in just these few days.
Shen Wuyou, along with a group of laboratory personnel, waited outside. Everyone cheered with joy.
"Isn't it as I said? She's amazing, right?" a laboratory worker who had previously collaborated with Huo Rou exclaimed to the current staff.
The shy young man nodded, his eyes fixed on Huo Rou.
He was also recognized as a naturally gifted individual, but after working with Huo Rou these past few days, he realized how far he still had to go.
Even in basic effort and diligence, he fell short of Huo Rou.
This collaboration had brought forth a shining superstar in Chinese biology, an unexpected but welcome development for the future.
Madam Ren voluntarily stayed behind to help organize the experimental data and complete the follow-up papers. She looked at Huo Rou with gentle but firm eyes. She wanted Huo Rou's name to be recorded in the hall of honor, just like her mother's.
"Quick, let's go save Old Wang!" Huo Rou, holding the results, extended them to Shen Wuyou, her eyes sparkling.