Lue replied instantly: [Looking for abs? I''m an expert at that.]


    Juniper: [Deal.]


    Lue: [Seriously, Juniper, think about what I said. There are so many hot guys out there. Kick that old man to the curb, and you can have your pick.]


    Juniper''s brow twitched, and she quickly closed the chat window. She couldn''t believe it, but she was actually a little intimidated.


    As their text exchange ended, the sports car pulled to a stop. Shanley unfolded his long legs and led Juniper towards the research facility. Harold''sb was in the left wing; it wasn''trge, but it was well-equipped. Shanley had rented the space on Baldy Fox''s rmendation. Had he inadvertently invited a wolf into his own territory? He hoped Harold would behave himself.


    At theb entrance, Juniper stopped. "You should wait for me out here," she told Shanley.


    Medical experiments required intense focus. If he was in the room, she knew she wouldn''t be able to concentrate.


    "Alright," Shanley agreed without a moment''s hesitation, giving her hisplete trust. "Here''s some lemonade. It''ll help you stay sharp."


    "Thanks." Juniper took the bottle, passed through security, and headed towards Lab Nine.


    “Boss, are you sure about letting Ms. Payne be alone with Harold?" Flint asked, unable to hide his concern. The way that guy looked at Ms. Payne was definitely not tonic.


    "It''s fine," Shanley said, sitting down and crossing his legs elegantly. He offered azy smile.


    His girl was exceptional; it was only natural that she would attract admirers. As her partner, he couldn''t be overly possessive. When Juniper went to university, she would be surrounded by men younger than him. He couldn''t keep her locked away. It would suffocate her, and he couldn''t bear to do that. The world was vast, and he wanted her to run to y, to explore. He would always be waiting right here for her when she returned. He trusted that, in the end, she woulde back to him. She had given him her promise, and he would give her his trust. Love was a two-way street, wasn''t it?


    Inside Lab Nine, Harold, d in a whiteb coat, was meticulously arranging his equipment and reagents. His teacher''s master was a mysterious figure who never showed their face in


    public teclusive, entric, and notoriously difficult to please. His own teacher, a man of iron will, had once been scolded so badly by this Grandmaster that he''d lost six pounds in three days from stress. To make a good impression, Harold had


    arrived early to prepare.


    As he worked, that strange, sharp difort red in his chest again. Just then, a


    voice cut through the quiet hum of theb.


    "Is Harold here?" Juniper asked casually, her hands shoved in her pockets.


    Harold''s head snapped up. When he saw her, his expression went nk with disbelief. It was her, the girl who made his heart race.


    "What are you doing here?" He put down his work and strode toward her, his face serious. “This is a chemicalboratory. It''s dangerous. Who let you in?"


    For some reason, Harold felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and warmth whenever he saw her. He had nned to have someone look into her background so he could. approach her properly, but now she had appeared right here.


    Unfortunately, this wasn''t the time for a chat.


    "I..." Juniper started to answer, but was cut off by Harold''s phone ringing.


    "Just a second," he said, then answered the call. "What? My teacher''s foul- tempered, impossible-to-please master is almost at theb?"


    Juniper just stood there, an unreadable expression on her face.