In the core laboratory of the Situ family’s drug manufactory.
Shen Xi was toiling away all on her own in the huge laboratory.
Having been keeping his shoulder to the wheel for Ning Sinian, Pei Xu did not want to take up her time. He waited outside the lab so as not to bother her.
So far, it had been a whole day. As dawn turned to dusk, Pei Xu reached to retrieve a cigarette, but the box was empty.
The sight of a pile of cigarette butts piling up in the ashtray and several empty cigarette boxes left him dumbstruck. He stood to tidy up and chewed on some gum.
He returned and waited by the laboratory door. Gazing at the occupied figure inside, his eyes were filled with gratitude.
Pei Xu always considered himself a hapless dude. Who knew that he would one day be blessed by good luck? Meeting her was the luckiest thing to happen in his life.
His phone vibrated and he whipped it out for a look. It was Fu Qingxuan. This guy was more worried and anxious about the situation. “She’s still in the lab!”
Fu Qingxuan was cranky. “Get her to rest before picking it back up. It’s been a while. She’s been working at it from four in the morning to six in the evening. Are you trying to wear her out?”
This issue had already come to Pei Xu’s mind. She had been on constant focus for fourteen hours straight yet showed no signs of fatigue or slowing down. “I can’t enter the laboratory.”
See!
He was different from Fu Qingxuan. Fu Qingxuan was concerned about her health, body, whether she could keep up at it, and if she would tire herself out.
What about him?
Admittedly, Sinian was Pei Xu’s only worry. He was more concerned whether Shen Xi would be successful in producing the drug. His priority was not her well-being.
Fu Qingxuan was on pins and needles. “Are you an idiot? Do I need to teach you? Knock on the door and ask her to get out.”
Helplessly letting out a bitter smile, Pei Xu taunted him. “If you’re so great, why don’t you come here and get her out!”
Her head was in the game and her enthusiasm remained high. The way he saw it, Shen Xi loved her job.
Pei Xu rarely ever saw such expression in her eyes. It was the same sparkle when she chatted about Toffeecito’s dad with Song Wenye.
It dawned on him that people do glow when talking about their loved ones.
It turned out that people also glowed when doing what they loved.
“F*ck! You punk!” Fu Qingxuan cursed.
Letting it slide, Pei Xu merely warned him. “Cut the foul language in front of her.”
The first thing Sister Xi did after her return was giving him a telling-off, asking him to stop being a bad influence, and teaching Fu Qingxuan cuss words. Nevertheless, it took two to tango. Fu Qingxuan picked it up himself.
It only made Fu Qingxuan run his mouth. “F*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck…”
Dazed, Pei Xu uttered the same and cut the line.
Ten minutes.
Half an hour.
An hour.
Pei Xu kept watching by the door, observing her every move.
The clock ticked to half-past seven.
Shen Xi looked at the ten tiny pills and let out a sigh of relief. A smile did not go amiss.
The third time was the charm. She was surprised and lucky to succeed on the third trial under precarious conditions.
After inserting the pills into a jade bottle gourd and putting the cap on, Shen Xi lifted her chin and met with Pei Xu’s bloodshot eyes.
She was exhausted, but more so for Pei Xu. Shen Xi could at least take breaks in between.
Pei Xu, on the other hand, would not dare relax. While handling matters, he was constantly on the tenterhooks about Ning Sinian and worried about her progress.
A wave of emotions overtook Pei Xu as Shen Xi opened the door and stood before him. There were no words to express his gratitude and it took a while for him to utter, “Good job.”
Shen Xi gleefully fist-bumped his chest. “There’s no need to be polite between bros.”
Pei Xu was left speechless since no words were enough to show his gratitude. He kept it in his mind that it was two lives now.
Now that he owed her two lives, Pei Xu would be at her beck and call, even if it would kill him.
They had not been at the parking lot for long before Pei Xu was bombarded with calls from Fu Qingxuan again. “How dare you hang up on me!”
It never occurred to Pei Xu that Fu Qingxuan was still hung up on that. Pei Xu thought Fu Qingxuan was an aloof man when they were not close, but after getting to know him, it turned out Fu Qingxuan was a chatterbox. Pei Xu patiently replied, “We’re out now.”
Fu Qingxuan’s nerves got the best of him, and it showed in his voice. “How was it? How was it? Was a drug developed?”
Pei Xu acknowledged and took a glance at Shen Xi. “It’s a success.”
Her expression revealed that the drug was a success.
“Really? That’s great.” Fu Qingxuan shouted out of excitement before turning down the volume. “Get her to send me a sample. Also, about your friend, keep an eye on him and remember to take notes for me.”
Truth be told, Fu Qingxuan had no faith the person could be treated after Meanie shared the patient’s report with him. With the patient on his last legs, it would be a miracle if he could make a recovery.
It only confirmed his suspicion when he read her test reports. The person was beyond help. The hospital was right in their diagnosis, and it was time to get the patient’s affairs in order.
Yet, Meanie calmly told him that she could develop an antidote for the neurotoxin. Fu Qingxuan decided to give her his full confidence this time. She would gain notoriety if she succeeded.
It was high time he gave up the title as a medical prodigy to her.
He kept in touch with Pei Xu ever since her return home. Because of Qingli, Shen Xi blacklisted Fu Qingxuan from contacting her.
Pei Xu had been on the edge of his seat for an entire day, but the anxiety and anticipation were more intense for him. Fu Qingxuan looked forward to the surprise and miracle she could bring.
News of the success saw him leaping joyfully in the laboratory hallway, drawing attention from his colleagues who were passing by.
“You have to ask her that.” Pei Xu handed the phone to Shen Xi. “It’s Fu Qingxuan.”
Shen Xi shook her head, refusing to take the call.
Taking the cue, Pei Xu replied, “She’s not with me.”
Fu Qingxuan turned grumpy. “You’re lying. You just said that you guys are out. Tell her to pick up my call. Hurry up and give her the phone.”
Pei Xu answered, “I need to head to the hospital now. Bye.”
He then hung up.
Walking beside Pei Xu, Shen Xi resumed her indifferent self. After noticing the black Maybach parked out front, she said to Pei Xu, “Give him two pills and observe for the night. Let me know if his situation gets any worse. I’m going home for a rest and will check up on him tomorrow.”
Pei Xu was curious as to what happened between her and Fu Qingxuan but did not have the chance to ask as she already made a beeline towards the Maybach across the road.
