James furrowed his brows slightly, "What''s up with that?"


    Mirabe let out a long sigh, "Maybe it''s just because I''m too amazing. You know how it is exceptional people always attract a bit of envy."


    James nced at Mirabe. Only she could stay so chill in a situation like this.


    Seeing she wasn''t going to spill any more details, he didn''t push it. Instead, he turned his focus back to his phone, tapping away at his messages.


    Before long, the car looped around and pulled back into their neighborhood.


    Mirabe nced up at the grand entrance of someone''s mansion through the car window and raised an eyebrow.


    James broke the silence, "I''ve already given Nick a heads up."


    Surprised, Mirabe turned to James, "Since when did you and my brother Nick be such buddies?"


    As the gates swung open automatically, James drove in, answering with a smirk, "Maybe he figured out I''m the only guy who could make a decent brother-inw?" Mirabe''s expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief, "... You''ve got some nerve."


    James parked the car, unbuckling his seatbelt with a casual remark, "Am I wrong, though?"


    Mirabe felt like she''d met her match, so she just pretended not to hear, pushed the door open, and got out.


    James chuckled softly and followed her.


    Once inside, Mirabe had barely kicked off her shoes when her phone rang.


    It was ze calling.


    She picked up with a friendly, "Hey there, buddy."


    James nced her way before heading into the kitchen.


    ze, still a bit awestruck after seeing Mira''s paper in the SCI journal cleared his throat before speaking, "Oh, Mira, I forgot to mention earlier, make sure you get your passport sorted this week."


    Mirabe nodded, "Got it."


    "Yeah, the conference is at the end of the month, so we''re a bit tight on time. The USB Patrick gave you at lunch has loads of materials. Browse through them if you can. If not, don''t worry about it; this trip''s mostly forworking anyway," ze said with a chuckle?


    Leaning against the dining table, Mirabe raised an eyebrow at the thought— ze was definitely setting her up for some work. She replied, "Alright, sounds good."


    James returned from the kitchen with a small basket of untrimmed green beans, cing it on the table without a word before heading back in.


    Mirabe, still holding her phone, nced at the kitchen and then back at the fable. Interrupting ze, who was ready to chat more, shesaid, "Hey, gotta go. Got things to do."


    ze, catching the hint, replied awkwardly, "Alright, talkter."


    After setting her phone down, Mirabe pulled up a chair and started trimming the beans with practiced ease. Once done, she carried them into the kitchen.


    Watching James, focused and skillful with the knife, was oddly satisfying.


    Mirabe clicked her tongue softly, setting the trimmed beans down, and lingered in the kitchen.


    "Finished your call?" James asked without looking up.


    "Oh, yeah." Mirabezily crossed her arms, thinking for a moment before adding, "My friend reminded me to sort out my passport."


    James seemed a bit surprised, "Your passport?" As if recalling something, he continued, "Are you heading to that international academic conference?"


    He remembered there was always a big conference around this time of year.