Don't call me a singing god, I just want to go back to doing scientific research.

"I'll go with you!" Gu Yang said without hesitation.

"No need." Ling Luo paused, somewhat flustered, and interrupted him. "It's inconvenient."

He was afraid, afraid that he would lose his composure again in front of Gu Yang.

The thought of leaving that place where I had poured all my heart and soul into made my heart clench as if an invisible hand was gripping it tightly, causing waves of pain.

He couldn't imagine what it would be like when he actually turned and left.

Thinking about it, Ling Luo's steps became somewhat disordered, and she almost fled out of the villa.

With a "bang," the door slammed shut.

The living room fell silent instantly.

Gu Yang's eyes dimmed, and he grabbed a handful of hair in frustration before slumping heavily into the large sofa.

At the hospital, the words of the doctor he frantically summoned kept playing in his head like a demonic chant.

escape……

These two words were etched into his mind like a nightmare.

The Ling Luo he remembered, the boy with the light in his eyes, the academic genius who could talk endlessly for half a day about a document he couldn't even recognize, how could he be associated with these two words?

"Ah! What on earth has happened these past few years?!"

……

Ling Luo took a taxi to the entrance of the research institute.

He looked up at the familiar sign—303 Institute.

He still had his ID on him, but he didn't use it. Instead, he went to the guardhouse.

"Hello, I'm looking for Minister Tang Enmin from the Logistics Department."

The security guard was an old acquaintance. He hesitated for a moment, but still dialed the logistics department's internal line as required.

A puzzled voice immediately came from the other end of the phone.

"Who are you talking about? Ling Luo?"

  

"Yes, Minister Tang, it is Researcher Ling himself."

"What's this brat up to? He needs to report to get back to his own home? What are you security guards doing? Don't you recognize him as one of our staff?"

Tang Enmin's fiery temper was well-known throughout the hospital, and you could feel his anger even over the phone. He cursed everyone from the security guard to Ling Luo.

Finally, a roar came from the phone: "Tell him to get the hell in here!"

With a "snap," the phone was abruptly hung up.

Ling Luo stood there, and the last vestiges of melancholy inexplicably dissipated in that roar.

Ten minutes later, in the office of the Minister of Logistics.

"Say it again!"

Tang Enmin slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup shake violently.

"Excuse me, Minister Tang, I'm sorry to trouble you..."

"Pack up my ass!" Tang Enmin jumped up, grabbed a document from the table, and threw it at Ling Luo. "Let me tell you, Ling Luo, what resignation letter? I didn't receive it! If you dare to leave, I'll break your legs with my own hands!"

Papers were scattered all over the floor.

"Minister Tang, you know that I'm not in a good condition to do research anymore," Ling Luo said softly.

"I don't know!" Tang Enmin pointed at his nose and cursed, "Let me tell you, even if the King of Heaven himself came today, he wouldn't be able to take you away from our Institute 303! Listen to me, the institute has decided to give you a six-month unpaid leave! If you're still acting like this after six months, I'll personally go and kidnap you!"

"Minister Tang..."

"Get out!"

Ling Luo lowered her head, wanting to say something, but was pushed out of the office by Tang Enmin's roar.

In the end, he went in empty-handed and came out carrying only a small bag containing two sets of clothes and a document.

Minister Tang had someone stand by him with a dark expression the whole time, watching him pack his things. Anything that could be used for a long time outside was forbidden to be taken away. The look in his eyes made it seem like he was afraid that he would steal some state secrets.

That document was his official report regarding his leave of absence without pay.

The document was covered with stamps: the signatures of Old Zhou, Minister Tang, and several other leaders he had only seen at conferences, not one was missing.

They... had already planned out his escape route.

Ling Luo gripped the document in her hand tightly and composed herself.

Six months is neither a long nor a short time; it's enough time for him to think about what path to take next.

After thinking it over, he took a taxi directly to the nearest supermarket.

After buying all the necessities, I came out carrying bags and bags of things, and was just about to stop by the farmers market when I habitually opened the map on my phone.

The next second, he was stunned.

The map shows that the nearest farmers' market is a 30-minute taxi ride away.

Ling Luo looked up at the quiet and luxurious villas around her, a helpless smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

So, do the people who live here not need to buy groceries themselves?

It's already 5 PM, and going to the market again would take at least an hour round trip. Ling Luo looked at the dazzling array of goods in the supermarket and decided to eat here.

It may be expensive, but the young master will reimburse it anyway.

He pushed the shopping cart, heading straight for the fresh produce section.

Cabbage, lettuce, eggplant, and some pork belly.

He paused as he walked towards the condiment section.

As far as I remember, Gu Yang was a very picky eater; he wouldn't touch ginger, garlic, or celery. So he simply picked up a few plump tomatoes.

Then I remembered the kitchen, so empty you could run a horse through it, without even a bottle of soy sauce, so I simply bought a whole set of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

I had just put the last bottle of vinegar into the shopping cart when my arm suddenly jerked, and a sharp, stinging pain shot through my veins to the back of my head.

"Snapped!"

Ling Luo groaned and squatted down uncontrollably, pressing down hard on her convulsing arm. Fine beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on her forehead.

He gritted his teeth, his other hand trembling as he reached into his pocket, pulled out the small medicine bottle, and without even looking at it, poured out a few pills and swallowed them dry.

"Sir, are you alright?"

Upon seeing this, the shop assistant who was stocking the shelves nearby quickly ran over.

"Do you need me to call an ambulance?"

Ling Luo shook her head.

The supermarket provided excellent service. The staff helped him pick up the scattered items, replaced the broken ones, and then helped him to a rest area to sit down.

A few minutes later, the painkillers finally took effect, the excruciating pain gradually subsided, and feeling returned to my arm.

He glanced at his phone; it was exactly six o'clock.

In just this short time, half an hour has already been wasted.

Carrying large and small bags back to the villa entrance, Ling Luo suddenly remembered a serious problem.

He forgot to ask for the password to the main gate of Guyang.

Is this kid still half asleep all afternoon?

He knocked on the door tentatively.

The door opened quickly, and Gu Yang, with his messy, tangled hair, looked at him sleepily.

Ling Luo handed the things in her hand towards the kitchen: "Go and bring all the things from outside in."

Gu Yang peeked out and was instantly dumbfounded.