Damn it, damn it!
Deep in the gloomy laboratory, the computer screen flashed brightly. A pale fist slammed fiercely into a punching bag, hitting Ryan face in the photo.
Puff, puff.
Mobius gasped a few times, looking at the crumpled face in the photo. The more she looked, the angrier she got, and she punched again. Unfortunately, she didn't use Honkai energy, and the punch only made the punching bag roll back and forth.
She was angry, half at Ryan, half at herself.
Why couldn't she take that step at the critical moment? Was she really that afraid of being rejected? Would she really be rejected?
Mobius didn't know, because there were still competitors. Once rejected, all her pride would vanish, the world would be completely overturned, and she would have no idea what she would do.
"Doctor, if you want to go back, you can go first. I'll handle the finishing work." Klein stood quietly at the door. Only she could enter this confidential laboratory.
Mobius did not answer, but asked instead: "Klein, do you think I lack courage too much? I never cared about the consequences."
"Humans are more cautious about things they care about, the more they value them. And I think you are too gentle."
"Gentle? Why?"
Klein licked her lips. At first, she didn't want to say anything, but finally bit her lip and said, "You care not only about Director-General, but also Miss Elysia, Miss Sakura, Miss Hua, and others. You don't want to destroy this longed-for life because of yourself."
"How could I hope for such a sloth-like life!?" Mobius voice suddenly became sharp. Seeing Klein's silence, her lips moved slightly.
"Alright, alright, I admit these idiots are somewhat interesting, at least I get along quite happily with them. This is a feeling I haven't had in decades."
In the past, the only ones she cared about were Elysia and Mei. The current Mobius is different. Not only does she have Ryan, but under his influence, she has gotten to know more people deeply.
They wouldn't see Mobius as an anomaly, as a monster. Even if there's competition, they are partners she can trust with her back. Since she ran away from home, she hasn't had so many people in her heart for a long time.
Although some of them are annoying and some are stupid, Mobius would never harm any of them.
Experience shaped thoughts. Ryan appearance was like a chain reaction, changing too many things.
Originally, most of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers didn't express it. It was like Elysia built a small house, but before it was furnished, it was set ablaze by a big fire, and with her passing, it completely turned to ashes.
Those few remnants of ash went to the Golden Courtyard with the memory core, but it was meaningless now, because the thorn in her heart couldn't be removed even after fifty thousand years.
However, for Mobius at this moment, her thoughts gradually changed since she met Ryan two years ago, at least she didn't have many painful memories.
"So, Doctor, you care about them very much. It's precisely because you care that you're afraid. I think Dr. Ryan has the same idea." Klein quietly summarized. From her conversations with Blanca, Dr. Mobius had truly changed.
Not only was she less cruel, but she also became less decisive, but as a person, this was a good thing.
"I... sigh, it's all Elysia and that idiot's fault!" Mobius couldn't refute, only staring at her assistant with sharp snake eyes, "Klein, you're not allowed to spread rumors, understand!?"
Do you think everyone hasn't noticed? Your snakeskin is almost shedding.
Klein secretly laughed. She knew Mobius stubbornness. The habits formed over the years made her unable to tolerate her own vulnerability, but how was this not a kind of evolution?
"Yes, Doctor."
Seeing Klein nod seriously, Mobius finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had always believed that too much emotion was a stumbling block to evolution, but now she was too deeply involved, and it was impossible to go back to the past.
Sigh, I originally wanted to get information about evolution from that guy, use him well, and then discard him. How come it feels like he's stuck in my hands and I can't throw him away?
Wanting to take a step forward, yet afraid, wanting to retreat to the past, yet unwilling. It's all that scoundrel's fault for being a playboy, making my success rate not exceed eighty percent.
While feeling depressed, there was a knock at the door.
"Doctor, the Director-General is here."
This was Cang Xuan' voice. Mobius was stunned for a moment before remembering who 'Director-General' was, and then she was suddenly startled.
Why is he here?
"Tell him to wait, I'll be right out." Mobius quickly tidied up the room, especially hiding the punching bag in the dark, and then glared fiercely at Klein: "Forget everything I just said, otherwise I'll feed you amnesia potion, understand!?"
Klein showed a hopeless expression and nodded heavily.
"That's more like it." Mobius tidied her hair, thought for a moment, and then unbuttoned the collar of her shirt before walking out proudly.
It had been a long time since she came to this laboratory, and everything was still pretty much the same, except for a few more milk tea cups.
Ryan was looking around, taking a cup of milk tea from Nuwa, who had a flattering expression. Only after asking did he know that these were basically bought by her, making him pull a long face.
"Director-General, can you please control the Doctor? Being late will be fined, taking too long in the bathroom will also be fined. Half of my salary is gone, woo woo woo, the Doctor is too black-hearted."
"You just found out her style? Can't you wake up earlier?" Ryan took a sip and thought it tasted pretty good.
"Because I'm always working overtime and not getting enough sleep! Even if there's a fine, can't she stop drinking milk tea? It's made me gain so much weight recently." Nuwa pinched her belly, and it was indeed much fuller. She wanted to complain more, but Cang Xuan tapped her head with a document.
"Stop talking, the Doctor will be here soon."
At once, she shrunk her head like a mouse seeing a cat and walked away, looking back three times with each step.
Ryan smiled. He knew Mobius wasn't really excessive. These assistants had a good relationship with her, almost like sisters. If she were truly cold and ruthless, slackers like Nuwa would have been kicked out long ago.
"What are you doing here?"
Just as he was thinking, a proud voice came from behind him. Ryan turned his chair to look, and immediately saw the arrogant Mobius.
Chest out, head held high, white clothes, black-rimmed glasses, high heels clicking rapidly on the floor. This was a beautiful woman, also a proud woman, and she also had a layer of knowledge draped over her.
This was Mobius. Ryan had never treated her as a little girl, nor had he deliberately pursued anything, because without this layer of pride, she would no longer be Mobius.
So, the moment he saw her, he lost the desire to question her.
"I'm a registered researcher at your institute, why can't I come? Besides, I'm also the Director-General, and all these things are my assets." Ryan deliberately raised his voice, and shook the milk tea cup in his hand, "Don't you guys get fat eating these late at night?"
"What's it to you? Controlling my body shape is too easy for me." Mobius rolled her eyes at him, but her mood improved a lot. She felt that Ryan hadn't forgotten his roots, but her face still showed dissatisfaction. She sat down on the nearby table, arms crossed.
"Director-General, how do you have time to visit the biology institute today? Hehe, could it be that you're hiding from Elysia?"
Ryan brow twitched. As expected, no matter how he teased, Mobius still looked infuriating.
"I already said these are all my assets, including you."
"These are Fire Moth assets!"
"The Fire Moth Council has been controlled by me. As the Director-General, my power is limitless, so there's no difference. Try finding a logical loophole."
Mobius choked, and said coldly, "You... have no shame?"
"My shame is the shame of Fire Moth, and as a subordinate, you cannot refute me."
Klein and the others drank milk tea and watched the show. Unlike Nuwa and Cang Xuan suppressed smiles, Klein had no smile. She knew what Mobius was afraid of.
She was afraid of changing the status quo, and even more afraid of drifting apart.
That person would actually stop moving forward. Dr. Ryan is truly amazing.
Before she could think further, Nuwa overly loud laughter drew Mobius hatred. With a fierce glare, she made the three quickly turn back to work.
Phew, I'm so mad. Why can't I win against him? That Kalpas is useless. If he could help me beat him up, that would be great.
Kalpas, who was doing push-ups, suddenly sneezed several times. Mobius bit her lip, her expression growing colder: "If you're just here to taunt me, get out quickly. I'm busy."
"No, no, I'm here to help you research the extreme super-transformation."
"How can you help?" Mobius was annoyed because her research had hit a bottleneck.
"Turn me into a MANTIS. You haven't forgotten the mutation in my genes, have you?"
Of course, Mobius hadn't forgotten. It had been over a year, and she had racked her brains without any breakthrough, so she immediately became interested.
"You're not afraid that I'll do something to you while you're unconscious during the surgery?"
"Hm? Didn't you already do it?"
Ryan blurted out, and then realized the atmosphere had turned strange. The entire laboratory fell completely silent.
Klein and the others stopped working and perked up their ears. They were usually anxious, gossiping every day about when Dr. Mobius would make a breakthrough.
Is the Doctor really that bold? Is she really that fond of sneaking around?
Mobius pale face immediately flushed slightly, thinking to herself that she shouldn't have left any evidence, but soon, she knew she had been tricked.
He's testing me. Damn it, I showed my hand just now.
This Mobius indeed didn't do anything good. Alright, you want to play dirty with me, huh?
The atmosphere suddenly grew awkward. Mobius stirred, glanced at Klein and the others, and grabbed Ryan by the collar.
"Come, let's go inside and talk!"
"You are not allowed to follow. Anyone who does, I will make them work in the dissection room for a week."
Ryan didn't struggle and was dragged into the dark inner room. Just as he was about to speak, he was fiercely pushed against the wall, making a muffled thud due to the force.
"What the hell are you... "
Ryan felt a bit of pain from the collision and instinctively cursed, then his pupils sharply contracted, because his mouth was suddenly blocked.
A slippery thing, with a faint coffee taste, pried open his teeth and entered his mouth!