"Professor, you're here. I've prepared all the materials..."
"Oh, by the way, I kicked Ji Xi out. Someone's keeping an eye on him, so no need to worry about him running off."
Hearing Bruce's words, Ji Nian, who was bustling around with a small flower in hand, nodded in response: "Yeah, I saw him."
When she passed by earlier, she had noticed someone hiding there. Knowing it was Ji Xi, she didn’t pay it much mind.
For one, she couldn’t be bothered dealing with the person responsible for Ji Tingzhou’s current state. For another, Ji Xi was no match for her in a fight.
So she let him stay there without interference.
Besides...
Thinking about the experiments Crow was conducting, combined with Ji Xi’s data and his unnaturally exceptional talent, she had a bold suspicion.
But she didn’t dare dwell on it too deeply.
For instance, if Ji Xi was her replica, he shouldn’t share her exact talents—because Ji Nian wasn’t the original owner of this body either.
If anything, Ji Xi should resemble the original host.
Then again, perhaps the original host also had an aptitude for pharmacology. After all, she did carry the Ji Family’s bloodline.
When she first heard about the Ji Family’s hereditary talents, she had scoffed. But after seeing that painting Ji Wanting created at fifteen during an auction, she became a believer.
That wasn’t something a human could paint... Even someone like her, who knew nothing about art, could feel the eerie beauty radiating from it, sending chills down her spine.
She leaned toward the theory that the original host also had pharmacological talent.
Otherwise, why else would she, of all people, have transmigrated into this body? There must have been some similarity that led to her being chosen.
"Professor, what’s this?"
Bruce leaned over, watching as Ji Nian carefully placed the peculiar-looking green flower onto the worktable.
"You don’t recognize it either?"
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Bruce could identify any plant down to its genus and species just by examining a single root. Yet now, this walking encyclopedia was stumped by a tiny flower.
Bruce nodded, scrutinizing it closely before pinching the stem. "It looks a bit like green plum blossom, but it’s different."
Ji Nian wouldn’t randomly bring a plant to study at such a critical time. A thought struck him, his blue eyes glinting.
"Could it... be medicinal?"
Ji Nian didn’t confirm. "That’s what I’m thinking, but it’s unverified."
They couldn’t afford to waste time on an unknown plant that might require extensive research. Yet Ji Nian had a gut feeling it would prove useful.
Just then, Wei Yang contacted her, informing her that the Ji Family’s pharmacist had been discharged from the hospital and had arrived.
As Ji Nian moved to leave, Bruce raised a hand to stop her.
"Professor, I’ll handle the greeting."
His earlier lethargy was gone, replaced by enthusiasm.
Ji Nian assumed he was excited about having another pair of hands.
After all, managing this massive place with just the two of them had been overwhelming.
"Alright, thanks for taking care of it."
Bruce grinned ear to ear.
Heh.
Newcomers were great.
Why should he be the only one traumatized by Ji Nian’s true nature?
...
John Qiao was finally out of the hospital.
The moment the doctors gave him the all-clear, he changed and left, even stopping by a convenience store to grab two packs of spicy konjac snacks.
The diarrhea was surely just his body adjusting. A couple more packs would fix it.
Of course, that would have to wait until after work.
The Ji Family’s pharmacist...
These days, anyone in the field spoke of this pharmacist with awe. They’d studied the restorative potion countless times, each analysis leaving them muttering about a once-in-a-generation genius.
Rumor had it that a long-retired, near-death legend had clung to life just long enough to examine the potion, passing away only after completing his research—IV drip and all.
Countless people longed to meet this pharmacist. The Association had scrambled for contact, but under the Ji Family’s protection, the pharmacist had every right to refuse.
John had fought tooth and nail for this opportunity, losing two nights of sleep before clinching the spot—thanks largely to his superior Mandarin.
Lost in thought, he soon arrived at the Ji Family estate.
Expecting to be taken straight to the lab, he was instead greeted by a red-haired, blue-eyed man.
Bruce smirked at the barely contained excitement on John’s face. "Hey, John. Long time no see."
"Bruce?"
He knew Bruce had the advantage of proximity, but seeing him still made John frown.
They were old acquaintances.
The circle was small enough that all the big names knew each other.
"Come on, before meeting the professor, you’ve got to sign this."
John had no objections. "A confidentiality agreement? Makes sense."
As he followed Bruce inside, he casually asked, "Will I get to meet the professor today?"
The man had no shame—already using the honorific without even knowing the person.
Bruce gave a mysterious smile. "Probably."
Noticing Bruce’s unshaven stubble, dark circles, and disheveled clothes, John couldn’t help but ask, "Is the professor... strict?"
Bruce shuddered. "...‘Strict’ doesn’t even begin to cover it."
Ji Nian’s youthful face flashed in his mind—such a pretty child, yet an absolute devil.
It was like being a rookie again, trembling at the mere mention of a "teacher."
John nodded in understanding.
His mind conjured an image of a stern, unsmiling woman with a gaze colder than Bose–Einstein condensate, deep laugh lines etched into her aged face.
After signing the agreement, Bruce dismissed the escort and led John onward.
"Oh, right. The professor asked me to bring her something. Wait here a sec."
John stood obediently, watching Bruce leave. He mentally steeled himself not to slow anyone down—but what was Bruce fetching?
Bruce returned quickly. John glanced over, then froze.
"Bruce, aren’t you a little old for snacks? ‘Mimi shrimp sticks’? Hah, sounds disgusting."
He shook his head, teasing.
Bruce merely smiled. "Oh, these? They’re for the professor, not me."
John: Please, universe, rewind time.
"Any tips for meeting the professor?"
In their line of work, eccentric personalities and bad tempers were par for the course.
He craned his neck, studying the lab’s imposing doors—expensive materials, reportedly bulletproof.
After receiving entry approval, Bruce guided the wide-eyed John inside and replied, "Oh, nothing much."
"Just remember to look down when you talk. Otherwise, you might not spot her."
