Chapter 408: The Phone Screen Lit Up

The phone screen lit up, revealing two glaring missed calls.

Elias's pupils contracted slightly.

Clara Whitmore's name sat quietly in the call log.

He immediately opened messaging app.

"Professor, I have an experiment question. Are you available?"

The message had been sent five days ago.

He'd missed it!

His slender fingers hovered over the keyboard before withdrawing.

"Theo, monitor the data. Emergency."

Before his colleague could protest, the lab coat disappeared through the doorway.

"Hey! It's my day off! Elias, you—"

Only retreating footsteps echoed down the hallway.

* * *

The doorbell rang three times.

No answer.

Elias stood outside Clara's apartment, brow slightly furrowed.

Returning home, his fingers hesitated over his phone.

"Apologies for the delay. Still need assistance?"

Sent.

Thirty minutes passed. The screen remained dark.

Had she waited like this too?

Meanwhile, Clara wiped sweat from her forehead, rubber gloves squeaking.

"This lab is enormous!" Maya collapsed onto the freshly mopped floor.

Noah adjusted his glasses. "More space means better organization."

The abandoned laboratory's dust had settled for years.

Three hours of work barely arranged the main equipment.

"Why won't the university hire cleaners?" Maya groaned.

"Frugality builds character," Noah deadpanned.

At the cafeteria entrance, Clara paused mid-step.

Elias approached rapidly, breath uneven.

"You contacted me?"

She blinked. Maya and Noah discreetly stepped back.

"I... sent a message," Clara murmured. "But we resolved it."

Elias's frown deepened. "What happened?"

Maya jumped in. "Someone blocked our materials!"

"Who?"

"Lenora Voss!" Maya spat the name. "Abusing her professor status!"