Their eyes locked in mid-air, a spark of tension flashing between them. When Lance had previously encountered Ryan, he hadn't paid much attention to the man standing beside Addison. But now that Ryan had reappeared, Lance gave him a thorough once-over. Like Addison, he was dressed in a lab coat. At a glance, he looked strikingly young—almost like a college student. Lance's memory and observational skills were exceptional. When he first entered, he had caught a fleeting glimpse of Ryan setting down the notebook he was holding. It was a small gesture, but Lance remembered it vividly. He glanced behind Ryan and, as expected, saw a lab data notebook placed at an angle—a clear sign it had been set down casually. A smirk formed on Lance's lips as he gained a general understanding of Ryan's identity. In Halton, tasks like recording experimental data were usually done by lab assistants—people who weren't well-versed in pharmaceuticals and served as general help in the lab. Ryan was likely just an assistant in Dr. Nancy's lab. Lance fixed Ryan with an impassive look. "I was speaking with Addison. Interrupting like that is highly discourteous." "Still, you're young. It's understandable you don't know better. I'll let it slide." With that, Lance slipped one hand into his pocket and stared at Ryan, his demeanor making it clear he didn't see Ryan as worth his attention. To Lance, Ryan was just a naive kid butting into an adult conversation. His words, combined with his expression and demeanor, carried an undeniable air of condescension. Yet, in the face of Lance's overwhelming presence, Ryan didn't falter. Instead, he let out a laugh. With a faint smile, he retorted, "Is that so?" He hated it when people used age as an excuse to look down on him, especially since Lance didn't look much older himself. "Mr. Johnston, you don't seem particularly polite for someone your age. "Breaking into a lab uninvited and injuring its security staff—do you seriously think you're in a position to lecture me about manners?"Ryan tilted his head, his gaze sharp and bright. "Manners have nothing to do with age. They reflect your upbringing." "If even the heir of the Johnston family is acting like this, does that mean the rest of the Johnston family isn't much better off?" The words hit hard, dripping with mockery toward the Johnston family's behavior. Hearing this, Lance's gaze instantly turned icy, his expression hardening as if encased in frost. It seemed as though he was on the verge of exploding at any moment. But Ryan appeared oblivious to Lance's darkened expression—or perhaps he deliberately chose to ignore it. Instead, he spoke with exaggerated concern, "Mr. Johnston, what's wrong? Why do you look so awful? Are you feeling unwell?" "As people age, their bodies do tend to weaken, don't they? There's always some illness or condition cropping up. With a face that pale, you must be sick. At your age, maybe you should rest at home instead of running around all the time." Addison raised an eyebrow at Ryan's words. She turned to look at him, only to find that his expression seemed genuinely sympathetic. "But it's normal to have issues like that when you get older. It's understandable." Ryan was clearly retaliating, his sarcastic tone dripping with mockery about Lance's age and supposed frailty. Addison's lips curved into a smile. Ryan was usually warm and charming like a harmless puppy. This standoff had unexpectedly revealed a sharp-tongued side she hadn't seen before. Lance's expression grew even darker. Addison could see his wrist trembling, veins bulging prominently beneath the skin. Yet, after a long pause, the outburst everyone expected didn't come. Lance was clearly forcing himself to suppress his rage. Through gritted teeth, he squeezed out a few words and abruptly asked Ryan an unexpected question, "What's your name?" Ryan raised a brow at his question. Lance is asking about my name? What does he mean? Almost simultaneously, Addison furrowed her brow. Why was Lance suddenly asking for Ryan's name? Was he planning something against Ryan?It seemed like the only possibility. Ryan was just a regular guy from an ordinary family—completely outmatched when compared to the powerful Johnston family. If Lance truly intended to target Ryan in secret, Ryan wouldn't stand a chance. He was defenseless and wouldn't even have the opportunity to fight back. This wasn't the first time Lance had resorted to underhanded tactics. Yet Ryan didn't seem afraid at all. Instead of showing any fear, he casually responded, "You're asking for my name?" Lance nodded and replied, "What? Are you afraid to tell me? Where's all your bravado from earlier?" Ryan chuckled. "I'm not scared of anything." Seeing that Ryan still didn't grasp the gravity of the situation, Addison quickly gestured for him to stop talking. She retorted, "Mr. Johnston, can't you play fair? For someone from a prestigious family like the Johnstons, you really shouldn't rely on dirty tricks. Bullying others like this is hardly respectable." She deliberately emphasized the words "dirty tricks." Lance immediately understood what she was getting at. He smirked. "When did I ever say I wanted to use dirty tricks? I'm just trying to make a friend." "Whether that's your intention or not, only you know," Addison shot back, clearly not buying Lance's words. But she didn't want to waste more time arguing. She continued, "If you have nothing else to say, you should leave now." Addison spoke as she waved the phone in her hand. "The lab's dozens of bodyguards are already at the door. If you don't leave now, we can see whose bodyguards are tougher." As soon as she finished the words, a swarm of bodyguards broke through the door. The Johnston family's bodyguards hadn't even had time to react before Lance was completely surrounded. The scene resembled that day at the Fuller residence—except, on that day, it had been Michael and Addison trapped by layers of bodyguards. Today, it was Lance caught in the same predicament.Addison couldn't help but sigh inwardly. How the tides have turned! "Mr. Johnston, are you ready to leave now?" Addison stood outside the circle of bodyguards surrounding Lance, with a row of her own bodyguards behind her. She was the center of attention, like the moon surrounded by stars. Standing amidst this imposing group, she exuded the aura of a queen, as if this kind of treatment was something she was born to command. Seeing that Lance showed no intention of moving, Addison continued, "What's the matter? Still unwilling to leave, Mr. Johnston? Do you really want me to take action?" No sooner had she finished speaking than her bodyguards moved to restrain Lance. With a single word from Addison, Lance's life would be over. Yet, standing amidst the wall of danger, Lance didn't seem the least bit afraid. The face, which rarely changed its expression, now bore a faint, inexplicable smile. "Interesting," he said. "Very interesting." After that, the man's expression shifted abruptly. He turned his head toward Ryan and said mockingly, "You are a grown man. Yet, you need a woman to protect you?" His gaze was razor-sharp as he said those words. "What's the matter? Too afraid to even say your own name?" The sarcasm in his words was unmistakable. Ryan spoke up, as expected. "There's nothing I'm afraid of saying." Addison, seeing this, hurriedly pulled Ryan back. "Don't. You can't beat Lance. Stay behind and work on your experiments. I'll handle him." Ryan waved her off, flashing a reassuring smile. "It's fine. Trust me." He looked directly at Lance and said seriously, "My name is Ryan Zimmer. Remember it." Ryan Zimmer? That name sounded familiar. When Lance heard it, an unidentifiable glimmer flashed in his eyes. His mind conjured the image of a majestic building by the ocean—the home of the enigmatic Zimmer family, a clan that navigated the legal and the illegal realms of the society.