The engagement was with the younger brother, but I've fallen for the older brother.

He Sichen paused for a moment after speaking.

You agreed just like that?

Half an hour ago, he was still thinking about how to kick her out of Yu'an.

Now look what's happened, they're actively making way for others.

Yu'an's clinical resources are packed so tightly that any change in one area would have far-reaching consequences.

If she makes a single data error, the entire chain has to be adjusted.

If it were anyone else, he would have simply followed the proper procedures and gotten rid of them.

When it came to her, all the prepared remarks were washed away by a few tears.

"Really...really?"

Si Yimian tilted her head back, her nose as red as a small strawberry, and her eyes brimming with tears.

He Sichen remained silent for two seconds.

Fine, let them stay.

Even if she weren't in Yu'an, he might not be able to control himself.

"Um."

He responded with a sound of agreement, which was considered an admission of defeat.

Si Yimian was stunned.

No.

So you've given up already?

She even had a backup plan in her pocket.

Only two drops of wasabi were applied, and only three lines of dialogue were spoken.

So he gave in?

This man was more susceptible to her charms than she had imagined.

Wouldn't she be able to do whatever she wants from then on?

If she had known it would be this easy to control, she would have used less wasabi earlier.

It was so spicy it killed her.

My skull is steaming hot right now, and my eyes are watering uncontrollably.

He Sichen watched as her tears fell harder and harder, and his brows furrowed even more tightly.

"I told you I'd help you, why are you still crying?"

Si Yimian sniffed, her voice muffled.

"My eyes want to rain on their own, I can't control them."

Si Yimian took out another tissue, blew her nose, and said in a soft, sweet voice.

"Dr. He, you are such a kind person."

He Sichen: "..."

He Sichen's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Is he alright?

He has been cursed.

"Alright."

He lowered his eyes and pushed the tissue box towards her.

He raised his hand to press his temples and pushed the mints from the drawer towards him.

"Hold it in your mouth to stop crying."

Si Yimian unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth, the cool sensation exploding inside.

The aftereffects of the wasabi were suppressed by the mint, and she breathed a long sigh of relief.

He Sichen leaned back in his chair and changed the subject.

"Clinical work isn't like sitting in an office, and the laboratory environment is also chaotic."

"I start work at 7 a.m. and leave at an irregular time in the evening."

"We need to monitor the experimental data throughout the entire process, and we need to be on-site to collect samples."

"The schedule is tied to the operating room's availability, so I have to get up in the middle of the night."

Are you ready?

Si Yimian nodded, put the mint on her cheek, and spoke more clearly.

"I can endure hardship, Dr. He, please don't worry."

The hardest thing she ever suffered was making iced Americano without milk or sugar.

He Sichen glanced at her.

A small, soft, white ball, sitting in front of him like a glutinous rice ball.

Last time, she would whine and whimper for ages just to change her dressing.

With her delicate skin, she would cry every three days.

She cried and he had to comfort her.

What's in it for?

He picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts, intending to find a kind and patient female doctor to take care of her.

"I'll find someone to guide you."

"I want you to take me with you."

Si Yimian looked up, her nose still red.

"You are the best in this field. Learning from you for one day is equivalent to figuring it out on my own for a month."

"Your words may be harsh, but every single one hits the nail on the head."

He Sichen pointed his finger above the screen and paused.

He had no way to respond to that.

Insult her, and she'll praise you.

If we don't scold her, she'll take advantage of our kindness.

He paused for a moment, then placed his phone face down on the table.

"No, I'm very busy."

"oh."

Si Yimian lowered her head and shrugged.

Holding a tissue in her fingers, she began wiping the corner of her eye again.

He Sichen: "..."

Come again?

These tears are like a switch; they turn on as soon as they're touched.

He began to convince himself to take her with him.

He is an older person, a superior, and a partner.

It is his responsibility to guide her growth.

He closed his eyes, and finally gave in.

"OK."

He agreed again.

He Sichen suddenly felt that he might have owed her something in his past life.

Otherwise, why would his mind stop working the moment she got teary-eyed?

Si Yimian almost couldn't hold back her laughter, so she quickly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly as if she were crying.

He Sichen thought she was still aggrieved, so his tone softened even more.

"Hold back your tears."

"OK."

Si Yimian raised her face, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, but her eyes curved into a smile.

He Sichen: "..."

Are these tears from a faucet?

They can open it whenever they want, and close it whenever they want.

"But I have conditions."

Si Yimian sat up straight and listened attentively.

"I'll only take you with me for half a month. After that, you'll have to run your own thing. I won't take you with me anymore."

"In the clinical setting, you do exactly what I say, no bargaining allowed."

He paused, his gaze falling on her face.

"And don't cry in front of me."

"It annoys me."

Si Yimian paused for a moment, then her eyes crinkled into a smile.

"OK."

"I will smile from now on."

As she spoke, the corners of her mouth turned up, and she smiled at him with teary eyes.

He Sichen looked away and picked up the cup on the table to drink water.

Suddenly I felt like I was on a pirate ship.

Si Yimian opened her laptop and turned it towards him.

The screen was filled with densely packed data tables, marked in red, yellow, blue, and green.

"Dr. He, shall we start today?"

He Sichen glanced down at it, his brows twitching slightly.

The girl had just been scolded by her father that afternoon, and then she immediately pulled up the data again.

The labels are clear, the issues are categorized, and even the priorities are arranged.

"Today I checked all the data that could be verified, but there are a few parts that I just can't figure out."

"Come sit here."

He moved half a body's width to the side.

Si Yimian moved her chair over and sat down next to him.

Which places?

Si Yimian pointed her finger.

"Here, the sample number and the experimental record do not match."

"Re-examine the data logic, starting from the source."

He spoke and revised as he spoke, his knuckles tapping on the keyboard.

She leaned closer to look, her chin almost resting on his shoulder.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted over, and He Sichen's shoulders tensed slightly.

"Sit still."

"oh."

Si Yimian obediently straightened her back.

It tilted back to its original position after a short while.

He Sichen was too lazy to say anything more.

Why bother arguing with a spineless brat?

Next, he pointed to the screen and dissected each item one by one.

Si Yimian asks questions when she doesn't understand something, and takes notes when she does.

She asked questions that focused entirely on pain points, specifically the areas where she got stuck while studying the materials.

He Sichen got more and more excited as he spoke.

He discovered that this woman was quick-witted and understood things immediately.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened.

Time is chewed up by dry data and swallowed into the night.

The downpour came suddenly, rattling loudly against the French windows.

The office lights weren't on; only the screen and a desk lamp were lit.

Si Yimian took out an individually wrapped almond crisp from her bag, tore it open, and popped a piece into her mouth.

She chewed while watching him write annotations.

This man was a completely different person when he taught others.

Patient, meticulous, and logically clear.

Even someone like her, who only has a superficial understanding of business, could understand it.

We've really struck gold!

She stuffed another piece into her mouth and chewed it happily.

He Sichen paused his typing, glancing up at her.

"Don't eat snacks in my office."

His voice was cold and firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Si Yimian, with a crispy chip in her mouth, mumbled an "oh" indistinctly.

She licked away a few crumbs that were stuck to her lips.

The warm yellow light shone on the tip of her nose, creating a soft halo.

They're incredibly well-behaved.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"Fine, just this once."

Si Yimian smiled and handed the bag to him.

"Would you like Dr. He?"

"I won't eat it."

"oh."

She withdrew her hand and put the last piece into her mouth.

Her hands were covered in caramel crumbs, and she instinctively put her fingers in her mouth.

Her pink tongue rolled over her fingertips, licking them clean.

He Sichen's gaze swept over, and his breathing suddenly became heavy.

"Your hands are dirty, don't put them in your mouth."

Si Yimian turned her head to look at him.

Then, she slowly raised that finger and stopped it an inch from his lips.

"Dr. Nahe, would you please disinfect it for me?"