"Yunhua."
Ahh! If I pretend I'm a statue, maybe he won't notice me! Ugh, what am I thinking? Who do I think I am, Dr*x from Gua*dians of the Ga*axy?
He's standing right behind me, arms crossed, one brow raised. His tone is casual, but his eyes are sharp.
"Zeyan..."
"What are you doing here when everyone is having lunch?" he asks, stepping closer.
I quickly shift my body, trying to stand between him and the microscope. My back nearly hits the table.
"I can ask you the same," I say, forcing a smile. "Shouldn't you be charming the juniors or something?"
He grins, hands slipping into his coat pockets. "Well, I'm still catching up with stuff, so I just ordered something. But…" His gaze lowers, squinting slightly. "What is it that you're hiding? That blue glowing stuff? That doesn't look like anything we've catalogued before… What sample is it?"
Crap. His eyes flick toward the microscope again. I lean in further, pretending to inspect the lens, but really, I'm just blocking his view with my whole body.
My body may be small, but today, I am a titanium wall. Thou shall not peek. If I had a sword right now, I'd be a knight. Guarding the sacred alien slime.
"Say, Yunhua…" Zeyan narrows his eyes, stepping closer with a teasing smile. "You're doing some weird experiments again, aren't you? Just like back in university?"
I let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Ah, haha, yeah yeah… umm… you know, just curiosity. Haha. Nothing related to work at all!"
He leans in slightly, eyebrows raised. "Ahh, you slacking in work again? Idiot. Help me with work instead!"
"Haha—I'm not, okay…" I shuffle sideways, keeping my body between him and the microscope like a human wall.
"Well, what is it then? Let me see it too!" He takes a small step forward and tilts his head, trying to peek.
Bro, back up. This isn't a zoo exhibit. I'm not showing you the mystery blob.
I immediately stretch out both arms, blocking him like a goalie. "Ugh—ah! You can't see that! Nope. No."
"Eh? Why?" He blinks, clearly not buying it.
"Ah—it's just bioluminescence, you know," I wave my hand casually, pretending it's nothing. "Um… you have allergy from it, right? Back on that university beach trip—you got sick because of it, remember?"
His eyes widen like I just pulled out a cursed object. He takes two big steps back, holding his coat collar like it's gonna protect him. "Ughh! What are you, sicko?! Why'd you bring that here to the lab?!"
Did I just weaponize a beach memory? Yes. Do I feel bad? Absolutely not.
I grin, shrugging. "Haha, you see? Curiosity."
"Ahh! Just stay away from me!" He shudders and stumbles back another step.
Bless past me for giving him fake trauma. Thank you, fake bioluminescent shrimp gods.
"Oh please, come see how it looks under the microscope," I say sweetly, turning the knobs on it for dramatic effect.
He almost gags on the spot. "Noo—please nooo!" And he bolts out of the lab like I just threatened him with poison, rushing straight to the washroom.
I snort. "He still falls for it."
Shit—time to quick clean up!
I snap into action, sealing the blood sample in a small glass container with shaky hands. The glow flickers for a second before fading. I quickly wrap it in a cloth and shove it deep into my bag, zipping it up tight.
I should win an Oscar for multitasking under pressure. Someone call the Academy.
"Safe!" I exhale, heart racing. I just need to take this for a DNA test later… but it's already been experimented on.
I glance at the microscope, then at my bag.
"I need fresh blood… something clean. Much more accurate results." I mutter under my breath while biting my lip.
Maybe I should find a way to accidentally make Jiang bleed… Not in a creepy way! For science! …Right?
What kind of girlfriend casually plots how to make her alien boyfriend bleed? Oh right. Me.
I shake my head, quickly wiping down the table. My gloves squeak as I scrub every surface.
Scrub scrub scrub, erase all crimes, nothing to see here, officer.
Tubes, slides, everything—into the sink or back into place.
I toss the used pipette and gloves in the trash bin. Slam the lid shut.
Good. All clean. No evidence. I wipe a bit of sweat off my forehead and fix my lab coat.
Cool. Chill. You're just a totally sane girl who definitely didn't hide space blood in her purse.
Smile. Walk. Pretend you didn't just commit lab fraud.
"Now just act normal…"
.
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.
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.
.
The day passes by in a blur, and by the time I check the clock, it's already 9 PM.
Everyone's packing up and leaving on time for once—mostly thanks to Zeyan showing up and magically making the chaos manageable. But he's still here, sleeves rolled up, eyebrows furrowed as he types something on his laptop like he's trying to decode the universe.
Ugh. I want to help him. I also want to sneak in and run some tests. And Jiang... he's alone at home. Probably poking the rice crackers again.
"Yunhua, let's go!" Yuyu calls out, swinging her bag over her shoulder with a grin.
"Ah, Yuyu... um, I'm gonna stay a bit and help Zeyan," I say, glancing toward his desk.
"You sure? Need me to help you two?" She wiggles her eyebrows.
"Oh no, it's fine," I wave her off quickly, lips twitching into a smile.
She narrows her eyes playfully. "Hmm? Yunhua, you better introduce me to some charming men before I hit thirty."
"Haha, I'll try. But who even exists in this world worthy of standing beside my Yuyu's beauty?" I toss her a wink.
"Kyahhaa! You flatter me!" She clutches her chest like I've just proposed marriage.
I laugh. "Okay then. Bye bye!"
"Bye, you love-struck nerd!" she yells while skipping toward the elevator.
I turn around and sigh.
Okay. Time to juggle alien boyfriend, secret DNA research, and charming ex-university seniors. What could possibly go wrong?