After Shanley left, Juniper stood in ce for a long time beforeposing herself and returning to theb.


    "Juniper, do you want to take a break?" the director asked with concern. She had just returned from Liberty Ind, a long and exhausting journey.


    "No need." Juniper shook her head, closing up her sterile protective suit as she spoke. "Let''s begin."


    Over the next few days, to ensure the cultivation of the herb was a sess, Juniper practically slept in theboratory. But ''sleep'' was a generous term; she never truly fell asleep. Habit was a terrifying thing. For her, being away from Shanley felt like a part of her soul had been ripped away.


    Finally, after days of relentless effort, the grafts of the A-NO herb sessfully sprouted. Ten whole shoots. Even if some failedter, they now had backups.


    “Juniper, the herb is stable for now. You don''t have to put so much pressure on yourself,” the director said, concerned. "You haven''t had a good night''s sleep in days. Go home tonight and catch up. I''ll personally watch over things here."


    “Besides,” the director leaned in and whispered, "it''s not fair to make Mr. Schwartz wait outside for you every night, is it?"


    “What?” Juniper froze mid-stretch, her gaze snapping toward him with confusion.


    "Since the day you entered theb, Mr. Schwartz has been here every night, waiting for you. What, you didn''t know?"


    Juniper frowned, set down what she was holding, and walked outside.


    In the dark courtyard, a tall, imposing figure stood beneath a withered sycamore tree, fallen leaves dusting his shoulders. The cold moonlight stretched his shadow, outlining his silhouette in a faint, ethereal glow.


    Sensing her presence, the man suddenly turned. The moment he saw her, he strode forward with long legs.


    "Are you finished?"


    Seeing how lightly she was dressed, Shanley immediately shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around her, the warmth of his body enveloping herpletely.


    "What are you doing here?" Juniper asked, her hands hanging at her sides as she tilted her head up to look at him.


    "Weren''t you having trouble sleeping at night?" Shanley gently brushed the hair from her forehead. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes his heart ached. "It''s a shame theb has to be sterile. Otherwise, twould have gone in to keep youpany."


    "The director should have told you I wouldn''t be leaving theb for a few days,"


    Juniper said, her voice hoarse. "Weren''t you just waiting for nothing?"


    "What does it matter?" Shanley


    shook his head, his eyes fixed on her with gentle adoration. He took her by the wrist t and led her toward the break mom just needed to make. sure that the moment you walked out, I''d be here."


    Juniper frowned. For that, he was willing to stand in the cold wind until dawn for days on end? The stupid man...


    "I heard the cultivation was a sess," Shanley said softly as he started a bath for her. "Don''t worry. Creating the antidote will be a sess, too."


    "The water''s ready. Go take a bath.”


    Shanley turned around to find Juniper staring at him, her eyes glowing with a strange, intense emotion. He walked over and ced his palm on her forehead.


    "What''s wrong? Are you not feeling well?" he asked, worried.


    Juniper continued to stare at him for a few more seconds before she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her toes, and silenced his chattering lips with her own Shanley''s body went rigid. Before he could even react Juniper was pushing him backward. His legs hit the edge of the bed, and his body fell back uncontrobly.


    She was on top. He was on the bottom.


    Shanley''s hands settled on her waist, his deep eyes narrowing slightly. While Juniper had been the one to initiate things before, this was different.