Backstage, Cain, d in casual attire, met with Dr. Isabe Mercer. His tone carried a hint of impatience. "Doctor, we flew here on the fastest jet avable. Was it really just for this?"


    Dr. Isabe Mercer''s eyes narrowed, reflecting a mix of determination and excitement. "General, we already have sketches for the two kids you mentioned. The girl has no traceable history, and the boy has been dered dead. But since your team was involved in his disappearance, if he survived, it''s likely he''ll return to his family.


    Finding him could lead us to the girl, who I suspect holds the key to the mystery of the eighth guardian."


    Cain nodded, deep in thought. "We didn''t find bodies in the wreckage from the sea. We can''t be certain about Wang Xiao''s fate. Assuming he survived, it''s only a matter of time before he reappears."


    Dr. Isabe Mercer''s response was calm and assured. "Time isn''t a concern for me, General. I have plenty of it," she said, a subtle reminder of the immortality serum''s power.


    Cain''s expression darkened with a flicker of envy as he remembered the serum. Struggling to maintain a neutral demeanor, he replied formally, "Then I''ll take my leave, Doctor. The world still needs your intellect, take care."


    Dr. Isabe Mercer nodded, only half-listening, her mind already racing ahead.


    Left alone with her thoughts, Dr. Isabe Mercer contemted the intricate web of connections and mysteries.


    ''Wang Xiao... what is your role in the guardians'' story? And who is that girl with the rainbow hair? Which one of you will lead me to my ultimate goal?'' she mused, her fingers tapping rhythmically, her mind a whirlwind of theories and possibilities.


    The pieces of the puzzle were slowlying together, and she was determined to solve it.


    Isabe thoughts were a maelstrom of possibilities and theories, each more intriguing than thest.


    The ancient picture of the figure riding the whale was particrly perplexing.


    The flowing hair of the figure could easily belong to a man, which made her consider the possibility that Wang Xiao himself could be the one connected to the guardians.


    Yet, the ambiguity of the image left room for doubt.


    Was it really Wang Xiao, or could it be the mysterious girl with rainbow-colored hair?


    The uncertainty was both frustrating and exciting.


    The more she delved into the mystery, the moreyers she seemed to discover.


    At the moment, every individual who had been aboard that ship two years ago was under scrutiny.


    Their backgrounds, actions, and connections were being dissected in search of clues. Dr. Mercer, however, had a strong intuition that the key to unlocking this mysteryy with Wang Xiao and the rainbow girl.


    _________


    Beijing!


    Imperial Capital University!


    Seated in the front row of the lecture hall, Wang Jiarong was the epitome of focus and dedication. Far from the bustle of Shanghai, she diligently took notes as the professor expounded on the subject matter. Her attention never wavered, her pen moving swiftly across the pages of her notebook.


    As the lecture came to a close, the bell echoed through the hall, signaling the end of the session. Wang Jiarong methodically arranged her notebooks, her movements precise and orderly.


    Just as she stood, prepared to make her way to the cafeteria, a figure intercepted her path.


    "Kai Xuan?" she said, a hint of surprise in her voice.


    Before she could react further, Kai Xuan, the figure who had stopped her, suddenly dropped to his knees.


    Thud!


    Wang Jiarong stood momentarily frozen, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.


    In the stunned silence of the lecture hall, Kai Xuan looked up at Wang Jiarong, his expression a blend of determination and nervousness.


    He took a deep breath before speaking, his voice resonating in the suddenly quiet room.


    "Wang Jiarong, from the moment I met you, my world changed. You are the brightest star in my sky," Kai Xuan began, his words heartfelt and sincere. "I know this mighte as a surprise, but I can''t hide my feelings any longer. Will you... will you be my girlfriend?"


    The ssroom erupted into a mix of gasps and murmurs, the students unable to contain their shock and excitement at the public proposal.


    "Is he proposing to her? Right here?"


    "Wow, that takes guts!"


    Wang Jiarong stood there, her face a canvas of conflicting emotions. Surprise, confusion, and a touch of annoyance colored her features as she processed Kai Xuan''s words and the spectacle they had be in front of her peers.


    The onlookers watched eagerly, the atmosphere charged with anticipation.


    Some students were whispering among themselves, others were nudging each other, and a few even had their phones out, capturing the moment.


    Kai Xuan remained on his knees, his eyes locked on Wang Jiarong, waiting for her response.


    "Find someone else." Wang Jiarong''s response was as cold and abrupt as a winter gust. She didn''t spare a second nce at Kai Xuan, who remained on his knees.


    With a brisk turn, she walked past him, ignoring his presence entirely as if he were no more than a shadow.


    The ssroom, which had been buzzing with anticipation, fell into a stunned silence at her response, followed quickly by an uproar of reactions.


    "Did she just reject him outright?"


    "That was harsh... Poor guy."


    "Hey, atleast this time she took whole ten seconds! That''s an improvement!"


    "The goddess is really unreachable! This is the 7th guy, she rejected this month!"


    Kai Xuan, still kneeling, felt as though the ground beneath him had cracked open. His body seemed to turn to stone, immobilized by the sheer force of the rejection. The words echoed in his mind, a resounding bell of finality.


    The students'' reactions varied from shock to sympathy, and amusement.


    From the top corner of the lecture hall, Wu Shenji observed the scene quietly. ''She has changed so much ...'' he thought, his gaze lingering on Wang Jiarong''s retreating figure.


    Though they were attending the same college, she had severed all ties with him, her suspicion and resentment a thick barrier between them.


    Wang Jiarong''s demeanor since that fateful incident two years ago had transformed drastically.


    She med herself for not being able to stop Wu Shenji, and that burden of guilt had led her to distance herself from the male students at the university. (A/N: Wang Jiarong is still suspicious about involvement of Wu Shenji, in the incident)


    Each one was a reminder of the trauma she had endured, a constant echo of a past she couldn''t escape.


    As she immersed herself in her studies, seeking sce in the predictability and control of academia, Wang Jiarong built walls around her heart, walls that no one seemed able to breach.


    Her focus was unwavering, her dedication to her future the only path she allowed herself to see.


    The once vibrant and open young woman was now a fortress of resolve and determination, her weaknesses locked away behind a facade of indifference.