Virginia spoke calmly, "He didn't look angry, so I didn't say anything." She couldn't admit that Lance had scolded her. As the future wife of the CEO of Johnston Enterprise, she couldn't afford to lose her dignity before even marrying him. She frowned, glancing at Isaac, "Could it be that you made a mistake? Lance looked so gentle, definitely not angry." Isaac was stunned. Did she just say that Lance was gentle with her? Was that possible? Isaac couldn't forget the dark expression Lance had this morning. "Maybe your proposal wasn't up to par, and that's why Lance was upset," Virginia suggested. "Lance is always strict with work. If your proposal wasn't good, he'd get angry. But when he's strict, it's for the company's benefit. Johnston Enterprise will only grow stronger because of it." Isaac remained silent for a moment, still processing what she had said. Noticing her gaze, he forced a strained smile, "Yes, you're right." Could Mr. Johnston care for Ms. Dolton more than I thought? Is his care so much that he never showed any anger toward her? Maybe, no matter how upset he was inside, he would bottle it up and greet her with a smile instead. Isaac couldn't help but imagine the scene in his mind. He pictured Lance, a man known for his usually stern expression, suddenly smiling brightly, a smile that didn't seem to fit his usual demeanor. Lance was gazing at Virginia with an unusually gentle look, speaking softly. Isaac quickly shook his head, trying to shake off the unsettling image. The thought of Lance acting that way was disturbing. He couldn't even imagine such a version of Lance—it gave him chills. Virginia cleared her throat and took on a more authoritative tone. "Make sure you all revise the plan carefully. The issue we're facing at Johnston Enterprise is serious." She straightened up, adopting the air of the CEO's future wife. "We're all in this together, so let's be considerate of one another." "You're right." Isaac nodded, still processing everything. He couldn't help but wonder if Lance was only venting all his frustration on the lower-level employees. He silently pitied himself."Well, I'm leaving now. I'll order some takeout for you later as a thank-you for the extra hours. It's just a small gesture. Let me know what you want to eat," Virginia said as she turned to leave. Isaac stood there, still in a daze, absorbing what she had just said. "Isaac! How did it go? Is Mr. Johnston in a better mood? Can we go home now?" After Virginia left, his coworkers bombarded him with questions. "Not at all." "What? But Ms. Dolton seemed happy. I thought we might be able to leave today!" Isaac smirked at the thought of Virginia's cheerful mood. Of course, she was happy—Lance, who usually only cared about work, was bending over backward for her. How could she not be? "Get back to work, or nobody's leaving until it's done," Isaac said sharply, quickly changing the subject. The group of employees left, their spirits crushed. They muttered, "When will this end?" As Virginia walked out of Johnston Enterprise, her earlier smile faded completely. She glanced at the busy street filled with cars rushing by, none stopping for her. Lance had changed so much that she barely recognized him anymore. She had thought that three years wasn't enough time to change someone so drastically, but today had completely shifted her perspective. Three years was plenty of time for a person to turn into a stranger. Lance had scolded her over something that had nothing to do with her. Standing outside the building, Virginia let out a bitter smile. She felt foolish that she had let Lana leave first earlier. Should she take a taxi back? She frowned. It had been a long time since she had taken one since returning to the country. She didn't like sitting in seats that had been used by strangers, and the smell in the confined space was unpleasant. Without hesitation, Virginia pulled out her phone and called her driver. "I'm at the entrance of Johnston Enterprise. Come pick me up." The driver answered, sounding confused, "Weren't you supposed to come back in Mr. Johnston's car? Why the change?" "Why does it matter? Just come when I ask! Do you want to quit?" Virginia's patience wore thin.Now even a driver dared to speak to me like that! The driver quickly responded, "I'll be there in a minute." ... A few days later, in the Raven laboratory. Addison, dressed in a transparent lab coat and mask with beige gloves, was completely focused on handling various experimental reagents. Her movements were precise. On the other side of the lab, Ryan, also in a white lab coat, mask, and safety goggles, was absorbed in the data and experimental results. The lab was filled with the smell of chemicals as they worked seamlessly together, occasionally assisting each other and displaying excellent teamwork. "Dr. Daves, it worked!" Ryan's voice broke the quiet atmosphere, filled with excitement. Addison turned to see Ryan pointing at a petri dish where cells had multiplied, his face alight with joy. His eyes sparkled with youthful energy. She had seen that kind of smile before. She understood it completely—it was the joy and sense of accomplishment that came with a successful experiment. Ryan's excitement reminded her of herself when she was younger. So, she smiled at the sight of his happiness. "That's wonderful!" "I didn't think it would succeed so fast," Ryan said, still full of enthusiasm. "I knew you could do it. How could I doubt someone I believe in?" Addison said softly, her tone warm. For an average pharmaceutical researcher, completing the experiment would have taken at least a year. But Ryan had done it on his own in just about a week. His talent was extraordinary. Even if Addison had done it herself, she probably wouldn't have finished faster, and even if she had, the quality might not have been as good as Ryan's work. Seeing him so happy, she felt happy too. "How about we celebrate? This is a big step in your career," Addison suddenly suggested. "Huh?" Ryan was a bit caught off guard.Was she inviting him to dinner? "Don't you remember? I owe you a meal. Let this count as making up for it," Addison said with a faint smile. "Really? Today?" "Yes, today." Addison paused for a moment before continuing, "I might not be able to keep my promise later if something comes up, so let's do it now." "Awesome!" Ryan's eyes, which had been wide with surprise, now narrowed with excitement. He looked both eager and cheerful.