"No." Cameron refused almost without thinking. "I''m pretty busy here


    Bradley chuckled. "Right, I forgot you need to work this summer. How about doing it hers? the pay


    gher than back home."


    Cameron declined again. "Brad, I don''t want to leave Vicemant for now. Will youe back for the graduation ceremony on the 24th?


    There were still half a month left, by which time Eric should have recovered somewhat. Bradley thought for a moment and sad. "I be there if I can


    in touch with


    ere''s the thing" Cameron semembered Amelia''s attempt to contact Bradley the previous night and asked, "Did Amelia get ins


    Bradley said, "I saw her message but haven''t had time to reply yet."


    Cameron said, "You should message her back. She''s been worried about you."


    Bradley smiled. "Cameron, are you actually concerned about Amelia?"


    "Concerned?" Cameron paused, then said, "Maybe. After all, she did help me before."


    it was just a casual remark-she didn''t actually care deeply about Amelia.


    She wondered, ''Does Brad think I was once in love with Amelia, like the other students?


    Bradley knew Cameron was referring to the Skyler incident. He said, "Alright, message herter. It''s gettingte-you should nest,


    Cameron said, "Okay, Take care of yourself while you''re looking after Eric." Bradley replied, "ML


    Amelia was almost asleep when her phone on the nightstand vibrated.


    She rolled over, initially ignoring the new message, but finally picked up the phone.


    Seeing the name on the screen, she instantly sat up and turned on the bedsidemp. Bradley had messaged her.


    Surprise lit up her sleepy eyes.


    Bradley: Thanks for your concern. I missed the partyst night due to family matters. I won''t be in Vinemont for a while.


    Amelia typed quickly in reply. Amelia: I see. d you''re okay is everything sorted with your family?


    Bradley: Currently? No.


    Amelia: [Need help?


    Bradley: Thanks, but no


    Amelia: Bradley, we''re ssmates-you don''t have to be so polite. Let me know if there''s anything I can do.]


    Bradley: [I appreciate your kindness, but I''m swamped right now. Talkter.


    Amelia stared at the messages, reading them several times. The cool tone let her feeling down.


    Ordinarily, Bradley wore a faint smile, but Ame knew it was just polite. Deep down, he was distant and alool


    if she wanted to be with hing the''d have to take the initiative. That was very now to her inc


    couldn''t quite cross that thenial hundia,


    Amelia: (Okay, I won''t bother you then.)


    There was no reply


    Amelia set down her phone,y back, and hugged her pillow, fosting and turning


    She''d definitely have dark circles Namorrad


    Cameron rested at home for three days.


    One morning, she got up early to visit her pharmaceuticalpany.


    After breakfast, she slung her shoulder bag over her shoulder and took a taxi to thepany''s location.


    In its startup phase, thepany was situated in a newmercial development, sparse with people and rtively cheap rent


    David had leased a five-story building


    Thepany structure was mostly in ce.


    As general manager, David oversaw daily operations.


    Cameron immediately saw thepany name, Aurevia Biotech, chosen by David.


    As the behind-the-scenes owner, this was her first visit to thepany.


    She approached the front desk but hadn''t spoken when the receptionist nced up, took in her youthful, student appearance, and said. "Sorry cutie, we''re not hiring summer interns. Try somewhere else."


    Cameron smiled. "I''m not here for a job interview. I need to see your general manager, David."


    The receptionist looked up again. "Do you have an appointment?"


    Cameron said, "No. Is Mr. Tucker here?"


    The receptionist said, "Mr. Tucker is very busy.


    . You can''t see him without an appointment."


    Cameron wasn''t annoyed. The receptionist was just following protocol and being polite.


    on the first ring


    She stepped aside to the waiting area and called David. He picked up on


    "Hello, Mr. Wace," David answered with a smile.


    Cameron got straight to the point. "Are you at the office?"


    David said, "I am. How did your SAT go?"


    With thepany newlyunched, David had bech swamped and forgotten to check in on Cameron.


    Cameron said, "It went fine. I''m downstairs. Can you tell the front desk to let me in?"


    David said, "You''re here?e down right away. Give me a minute."


    "Okay" Cameron hung up.


    Shortly after, the front desk received a call.


    Wh


    (Mr. Wabe!" The receptierer''s dyes widened.


    She hung op, hirled over in his head, and aided ehdimuly, "Decote me, and your Mc Waltare?


    The receptionist apologized profusely Torry! You wanted to Mr. Tucker? This way, please


    Cameron foliowed her ins


    David soon emerged, sharp in a suit, far removed from the defeated man who''d tried tomit suicide. He liked like a whole new person.


    "Mr. Wace," David said with a broad smile. "You should have called ahead to could meet your downstairs"


    "No problem," Cameron caid.


    The receptionist stood by nervously.


    David said, “This is Mr. Wace. Make sure everyone knows him, No appointment needed for him next time


    The receptionist nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Mr. Tucker."


    David gestured. "Shall we go to your office, Mr. Wace?"


    He led her to the top floor-the chairman''s office, a spacious 80-square-meter


    suite.


    Cameron looked around the empty room. "Is this your office?"


    David said, "No, it''s yours"


    Cameron shook her head. "Mr. Tucker, you''re the public face of Aurevia Biotech.


    You don''t need to reserve a space for me. I won''t be here often."


    David didn''t respond.


    Cameron said, "Repurpose this room for something else.


    David nodded. "Alright, as you wish."


    He then took her to his own office, smaller but still spacious.


    David poured Cameron a coffee and updated her on thepany''s progress.


    "All permits and licenses are sorted. Researchers and production staff are in ce. Our first batch of drugs should be ready by mid-next month. Now it''s about sales-I n to hire experienced reps to expand our channels quickly." His eyes


    lit up as he spoke.


    Cameron nodded, "You focus on production. I''ll visit my roommate''s father in a few days-he''ll be our first client"


    David asked,


    "The Moore family you mentioned before?"


    Cameron nodded.


    David eximed, "if wend the Moores as a major client, ourpany will make


    a name for itself in no time!"


    "Make a name?" Cameron smiled.


    "What''s wrong?" David asked, puzzled.


    21:49 Wed, 4 Jun


    Cameron said, "Mr. Tucker, why do you think i started thin pharmaceutical


    David said. "To make mon


    Cameron nodded. "True, but their sie plenty of industries that Why this one??


    David shook his head.


    Though only 18, Cameron seemed more mature than he, a man in his 30s. He


    couldn''t read her


    Plus, he''d only recently learned at 1


    at the hospital that Cameron was a girl.


    Cameron said, "I want to develop drugs for rare and di


    Micult to treat diseases."


    to thumbs-up: "Me Wace, She''d chosen pharmacology to smoothly transition


    into research after graduation David paused, then gave her a thumb


    Cameron just smiled. To her, it was about a challenge. After living over a thousand years, she felt dull about most jobs.


    She said, "Take me to the researchb."


    David stood up quickly. "Okay, Mr. Wace. This way."


    Cameron spent the entire day at thepany and had lunch in the cafeteria.


    Cameron said, "Mr. Tucker, the lunch is too simple. Let''s add fruit and yogurt for everyone after the meal." She knew that improving benefits was key to boosting employee efficiency.


    David looked hesitant and said, "Mr. Wace, thepany has just started, and expenses are already high.""


    After thinking, Cameron said, "I should be receiving three million dors soon. I''ll transfer it to you as soon as it arrives."


    She temporarily couldn''t return the money to Bradley.


    David said, "Thank you, Mr. Wace."


    After all, Cameron was just a newly adult girl, and all the financial pressure was


    on her. David felt sorry for her but couldn''t help much-his only role was to control


    costs.


    "I''m fine," Cameron said. "We each have our roles. You do your job, and I''ll do


    mine!


    David nodded firmly. "Mr. Wace, I won''t let you down"


    Cameron smiled. "I believe you."


    In the vast living room of Moore Manor, Elijah sat on a leather sofa, holding a


    remote control. Arge-screen LCD TV yed a program, but Elijah wasn''t watching. He was bored and lonely


    Before the SAT, he''d spent all his time studying. Now that it was over, he felt lost


    Elijah didn''t know what to do with himself.


    Seeing his gloomy expression, Jack suggested, "Mr. Moore, why not invite your ssmates over?",


    Elijah had few friends growing up, and Jack felt sorry seeing him so lonely.


    21:49 Wed, 4 Jun


    h looked up at Jack "Invite ssmates overr


    Jack nodded with a smile. "Yes Dea''t you have a ssmate you get along with


    invite him treet, or p trips? You could travel together"


    Elspether. Don''t young people the graduation


    Elijah was unsure about that


    Cameron hard to work during the summer, so she wouldn''t go on a trip, but


    maybe she''d agree to a meal at Moore Manor


    Just as he thought this, his phone rang


    He took


    ook it out and saw a message from Cameron.


    Elijah''s eyes lit up. He held the phone and went upstairs.


    Cameron: Elijah, what are you doing"]


    Elijah: [Watching a boring TV show. What about you?]


    Cameron: [I just finished eating and am now lying on the sofa.)


    Imagining Cameron sprawled on the sofa, Elijah couldn''t help smiling.


    Cameron: (Elijah, remember you said you''d help me with something?) Elijah: de.


    Cameron had mentioned starting a pharmaceuticalpany and needing Elijah


    to introduce her to Thomas.


    Cameron: [When is your dad free? I''d like to visit him.


    Elijah: [My dad gets homete every night. I''ll schedule a timeter and let you


    know ]


    Cameron: [Great, thanks so much)


    Elijah (No need to be polite, especially since it''s not done yeL]


    Cameron: [We''re good friends-no need for formalities


    Elijah [Your pharmaceuticalpany is up and running so quickly?


    Cameron: [Yes, I visited today and it looks good. That''s why I want to discuss cooperation with your dad.


    Elijah: Cameron, be prepared. My dad is very strict. With yourpany just starting, I''m worried he''ll be hesitant to cooperate.] Moreover, the Moore family''s hospitals had fixed partners for decades. After recing the hical Young family, newpanies had already filled the Cameron: (Elijah, just introduce me to your father. Whether the cooperation works


    is up to me.


    stup


    Elijah: Okay, I''ll set up the meeting)


    Cameron: If it works, I treat you to dinner.]


    Elijah: I''m looking forward to it


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