Liang Juejun’s work had settled into a steady, methodical rhythm. Starting out as a young faculty member at a university always came with a certain degree of pressure; no matter how well one had performed abroad, there were always many eyes watching, waiting to see what kind of results would actually be produced.
What was the domestic scientific research circle really like? The "Big Bosses" held the major research projects and massive funding, playing the role of macro-regulators. These bosses were generally over forty and rarely conducted experiments personally; instead, they provided topics, funding, and guidance for their subordinates and students. Then there were the young teachers, commonly known as "Small Bosses." Their projects were smaller, and their research funds and student resources were limited. If they were ambitious, they buried their heads in hard work, waiting for a chance at a title promotion; if they preferred comfort, being a "thousand-year lecturer" or an associate professor wasn't a bad life either. This was the case whether in research institutes or universities. Consequently, in most units following the PI (Principal Investigator) system, a research group always required a mix of big and small bosses along with graduate and doctoral students of various years, all collaborating while fulfilling their respective duties.
The so-called "reforms" involved bringing in independent researchers like Liang Juejun—the legendary "paratroopers"—to work on projects alone, or even having units carve out independent research institutes for them. Were the waters of the scientific community deep? Entertainment is a circle, and academia is a circle too. There are clever people who navigate it with ease, unlucky souls who live in constant dejection, the "daughter-in-law" faction waiting twenty years to finally become the "mother-in-law" in charge, and the lofty ones who drift above it all, independent of the world.
To clear out time for the Christmas holidays, Liang Juejun had been working overtime lately, even though Christmas was still more than a month away. Cheng Tu’s words had reminded her that she should be prepared to welcome a new relationship. Having spent her entire adolescence in the United States, she had seen too many men and women come and go; she had originally thought she could be a bit more detached, but in the end, she couldn't escape it either. For some reason, Xia Yinuo’s face popped into her mind. She shook her head, laughing at herself.
One day, Xia Yinuo was heading to the animal facility alone to handle experimental animals. At a corner in the basement, she ran into Liang Juejun and Chen Diandian, who were also heading there.
"Professor Liang." In this setting, it was best to address her as "Professor."
Liang Juejun nodded slightly, but Chen Diandian spoke up enthusiastically: "Senior Xia, you’re going to the animal facility too? Today, Professor Liang is going to teach me tail vein injection and blood sampling!"
"Is that so? You’d better learn quickly so your boss doesn't have to work so hard doing it herself." Xia Yinuo didn't forget to tease the girl. Chen had been in the lab for a while now; it was time she learned to share her mentor's burden independently.
"Okay, I'll try my best..." Chen’s voice was small and lacked confidence.
Liang Juejun comforted her, "It’s alright, don't rush, learn slowly. Well, we’re going to change our clothes first."
The last sentence was clearly directed at Xia Yinuo, who hummed in response and gave a simple wave goodbye.
Xia Yinuo went to the preparation room to change into sterile scrubs and gather sterilized instruments and supplies. By the time she had finished administering the doses to the mice and taken off her somewhat clumsy sterile gear, over an hour had passed. she wondered how the mentor-student duo’s experiment was going.
Just as she finished changing her shoes, the fire alarm on the wall began to beep incessantly. Before she could figure out what was happening, she saw a security guard shouting at the locker room door: "Fire alarm! Change your clothes and get out, fast!" The teachers and students in the locker room looked at each other in confusion. After a two-second hesitation, everyone—whether they had finished their experiments or were just about to start—quickly shed their sterile gowns and prepared to leave.
A voice began to broadcast: "Attention all faculty and students, fire alarm reported in Storage Room 3. Please evacuate the premises immediately!" Xia Yinuo’s heart tightened. She hurriedly pulled out her phone to call Liang Juejun, but there was no answer. Phones weren't allowed in the operating rooms, so was she still inside?! She then called Chen Diandian, who picked up after two rings: "Senior Xia?"
"Where are you?!"
"In the lab."
"Where’s your boss?!"
"She should still be in the animal facility. She finished taking the blood samples ten minutes ago and told me to take them back to the lab first while she finished up there..."
*Beep, beep, beep.* The call was disconnected. Chen Diandian was left utterly confused, unable to grasp the situation.
The storage room was at the innermost part of the animal facility, clearly filled with animal bedding, feed, and disposable experimental supplies. If not controlled, the fire could easily spread to the outer operating rooms. Fortunately, there were sterile buffer zones between the operating rooms and the corridors. Liang Juejun’s phone was still in the locker room, so she must still be lingering in an operating room or a buffer zone. But Xia Yinuo didn't know which room she was in—Rooms 1 through 15 were all mouse rooms. Which one?
While planning her move, Xia Yinuo ran through the locker room corridor toward the buffer zones. People coming out looked at her in surprise, and some kind-hearted souls even tried to grab her, saying there was a fire and not to go in. Xia Yinuo threw out a "I'm looking for someone," wrenched her hand away, and kept running. She could already smell the smoke spreading from the storage room. She had to check room by room.
People kept coming out, but there was no sign of Liang Juejun. Just as she reached the door of Room 7 and was about to push it open, she suddenly saw a fully geared-up Liang Juejun carrying a tool basket, walking out unhurriedly.
"Xiao Xia, you...?" Liang Juejun was wearing a cap and a mask; only her eyes were visible, looking at Xia Yinuo in disbelief.
Xia Yinuo was in her regular clothes, without any protective gear, looking completely out of place. She was panting heavily from the run. Seeing the way Liang Juejun looked at her, Xia Yinuo suddenly froze. What was she doing, charging in like this?! A strange, annoying surge of emotion welled up within her.
"There’s a fire alarm. Didn't you hear the siren?" Xia Yinuo asked, trying her best to calm her breathing.
Liang Juejun pulled down her mask and explained, "I heard it. The teacher doing experiments next door said it was no big deal, that the storage room is far from here, and that the animal facility has several fire alarms every year. He’s actually still in there working."
Xia Yinuo was truly exasperated. What kind of "teacher next door" was that, harming himself and others? But at least Liang Juejun was safe. In those few minutes, Xia Yinuo’s emotions had swung wildly. Now, she could only look at Liang Juejun and say with a slight strain, "We still need to leave quickly. The security guards will be here soon."
Liang Juejun nodded in agreement, and the two walked quickly toward the exit. In the buffer zone corridor, students were evacuating in small groups. As Xia Yinuo realized the weight of her actions, a peculiar sensation rippled through her body. Her mind was a mess, and she didn't dare look at Liang Juejun beside her.
Back in the locker room, Liang Juejun shed her heavy sterile gown and grabbed her personal belongings. The security guard was already at the door, shouting for them to hurry. When Xia Yinuo saw Liang Juejun come out, she reached over to take her things. Xia Yinuo was so distracted that as she stepped over the divider bench in the changing area, her foot caught. Her tall, slender frame went *thud* as she slammed onto the floor! In the split second before impact, she instinctively used her right hand to brace herself, and then she felt a distinct, sharp *crack*.
*It’s over,* Xia Yinuo thought.
Chen Diandian, unsettled by Xia Yinuo’s mysterious phone call, had rushed over from the lab. On the way, she heard people saying the animal facility was on fire and sprinted the rest of the way. When she arrived at the entrance, the scene she saw was Liang Juejun supporting Xia Yinuo. Xia Yinuo was holding her right hand with her left, head down and silent, while Liang Juejun’s eyes were filled with worry.
Chen Diandian hurried forward, but before she could speak, Liang Juejun said, "Diandian, you’re just in time. Once the fire alarm is cleared, go inside and pack up the equipment I left behind. Xiao Xia just got hurt; I’m taking her to the hospital."
"Huh? Ah! Oh, okay!" Chen Diandian finally reacted.
By then, the two were already in the campus clinic’s emergency vehicle.
Xia Yinuo’s mind was in total chaos. A clear voice echoed in her ear: *You like her! Yes, stop denying it, you like her! Your concern and care for her have long exceeded the definition of an ordinary friend or even a good friend.* When did this love begin? During the fire alarm, all she thought about was whether Liang was safe. When they came out, she worried if the other woman would find her intrusion rash and out of place. Even when she fell, she wasn't worried about a possible fracture, but rather how embarrassing it was to fall like a clumsy dog in front of her. *Xia Yinuo, you’ve played dumb and kept your cool for over twenty years, thinking that by not touching any "flowers or grass," you could remain untainted and alone. You thought you were so capable, didn't you?! In the end, you still plunged headfirst into the whirlpool of emotion! What a big fool!*
Liang Juejun looked at Xia Yinuo, whose gaze seemed dazed, and took her left hand. "Does it hurt? It’s all my fault. I should have come out earlier and not made you worry."
Xia Yinuo waved her left hand, not daring to meet Liang Juejun’s concerned gaze. Knowing that such an atmosphere would only make Liang feel more guilty, she forced a smile and said, "It’s nothing. I’m just... afraid of pain..."
Liang Juejun wrapped an arm around Xia Yinuo’s shoulder, comforting her softly, "Be good, we’ll be at the hospital soon."
Xia Yinuo’s eyes reddened for a moment, then she fixed a bright, steady gaze on Liang Juejun and said, "Senior, I’m okay now."
Everyone wants to know, everyone is searching for that one true love in their life that they cannot afford to miss. When fate launches a sneak attack, do not hide, and do not fear the outcome. For there is no such thing as groundless love—there is only groundless courage.
***
