Chapter 27 Camilla Is His Soft Spot
At the start of July, it was getting hot as hell.
The heatwave had been going strong for a week, and after crunching numbers and double-checking everything, Sebastian's experiment finally showed some promise.
Finally catching a break, he dragged his tired self up to the seventh floor, ready to crash and recharge. Out of nowhere, he heard a noise from next door.
He stopped and glanced at the closed door across the hall. He stepped up and knocked, "Camilla, you in there?"
No answer, so he knocked again.
Still nothing.
Sebastian hesitated for a couple of seconds, thinking about calling the cops, when the door creaked open.
Camilla peeked out, leaving just a small gap.
"What's up?"
She looked calm, like she was just reacting to his sudden knock. Her voice was normal, no sign of anything weird.
But for some reason, Sebastian felt like she was in a bad mood.
Like a rose that was about to wilt.
Sebastian didn't say anything for a bit.
Camilla looked at him, puzzled.
Out of the blue, Sebastian asked, "You mentioned you were working on a thesis last time? How's that going?"
Camilla replied, "I finished and submitted it half a month ago. Been reviewing and waiting for the results these past two months."
Sebastian adjusted his glasses, "I've got a half-finished thesis. Wanna take a look?"
Camilla looked confused.
Twenty minutes later, at Sebastian's place.
Camilla sat on the couch, checking out the paper thesis in her hand, looking intrigued.
The thesis Sebastian handed her was about biological sequences, discussing the initial change values of organisms.
The topic wasn't new, but the perspective was unique, and the verification methods were groundbreaking, all new conclusions and methods.
But being innovative meant it needed a ton of solid data to back it up.
"Is this your thesis?"
Sebastian nodded, "I started it in my sophomore year."
Camilla felt a bit conflicted. No wonder the professors at the School of Bioinformatics still regretted Sebastian switching from "biology" to "physics."
He was clearly gifted, able to write such a high-level thesis in his sophomore year.
"Why didn't you submit it?"
"I thought it could be more perfect. Look at these two parts; there's not enough experimental data to back up the conclusions. After I switched majors, physics took up all my time, and I didn't have any extra time to finish it."
A hint of regret flashed in Sebastian's eyes.
Camilla thought for a moment, "So why are you showing it to me now?"
"A while ago, Professor Garcia sent me your undergrad thesis, asking if I could suggest a new topic. Then, I found out you had done a similar topic before." He pointed to the thesis in Camilla's hand.
"So, what I wanna know is, are you still interested in continuing?"
Camilla's heart skipped a beat, and those long-buried feelings started to resurface.
Since graduating, she hadn't been in a lab.
"Can I?"
Even though it had been a while, all the steps were still fresh in Camilla's mind.
But she was a bit scared, unsure if she could still handle lab life like she used to.
"As long as you want to, it's no problem," Sebastian said. "Next October, the National Academy of Sciences is forming an experimental team, and grad students can apply. The topic is related to gene sequences. If you get into this year's grad program, you'll have a shot at it."
This experimental team was led by some big-shot academicians in the pan-biology field. The proposal got the green light last year, and while the outside world was clueless, Harmony College was in the loop.
This was a golden ticket for Camilla.
"If you're interested, take it home and give it a good look." Sebastian handed her a USB drive, "It's got all the detailed experimental data."
Camilla looked up, her eyes sparkling with emotion, "Thanks, I'll seriously think about it."
By ten o'clock, it was time for Camilla to head home.
Sebastian walked her to the door.
"I live right across the hall; no need to see me off," Camilla said with a smile.
Sebastian glanced at her fingers and gently reminded her, "You shouldn't keep a band-aid on for too long. After disinfecting with iodine, it's best to let it air out."
Camilla instinctively curled her index finger, "Thanks. I know."
Sebastian didn't say much, just nodded slightly and turned to grab a small pot of pink succulent plants, "This is for you."
Camilla blinked in surprise, looking at the palm-sized succulent plant with its chubby leaves transitioning from green to pink, super cute.
"So cute, are you really giving it to me?"
"Yeah, I saw it in a flower shop a few days ago, and it was the last one, so I bought it. Consider it a thank you for treating me to fish last time."
Camilla smiled, "I'll take it this time, but friends don't need to be so formal about meals. No need to return the favor next time."
Camilla blinked, her clear eyes sparkling like stars.
"Okay." Sebastian's heart felt like it was gently tickled by a feather.
In the hospital room, early in the morning, Simon and Oliver had arranged to visit.
Simon was carrying a lunchbox, "Leopold, don't say I don't take care of you. Look what I brought you, pumpkin porridge! I know your stomach isn't great, so you can only eat something light. I had my chef get up early to make it. Don't be fooled by its small size; it's packed with nutrients. I guarantee you'll feel lively after eating it!"
Oliver looked at the fragrant, golden pumpkin porridge and then at Simon's grinning face, unable to help but twitch his mouth.
Was this guy here to deliver porridge or to stir things up?
Others might not know, but they were well aware that Leopold didn't like porridge. Except for the stomach-nourishing porridge made by Camilla, he found the sight of other porridges annoying.
Sure enough, Leopold took a reluctant bite, then threw down the spoon with a scowl, "I'm not eating it! It tastes weird! Where did you find your chef? He can't even make porridge properly."
Simon raised an eyebrow, "You're too picky. I don't find anything wrong with it."
Leopold remained expressionless, "If you like it, you eat it."
Simon snorted, "I don't think it's the porridge that's the problem, but the person who made it. My chef is a big burly guy, so how could he possibly compare to the loving porridge made by your delicate girlfriend? Oh, wait, I mean your ex-girlfriend..."
Oliver coughed frantically, trying to stop Simon from digging his own grave.
However, it was too late.
Leopold shouted, "Get out!"
Simon grabbed the lunchbox, "Fine, I'll go! With such a bad temper, no wonder Camilla doesn't want to come back. If I were her, I wouldn't come back either!"
With that, he quickly left.
Oliver chased after him, scolding, "You know he's not happy, yet you still hit him where it hurts. You're something else!"
Simon pouted, "Even you know Camilla is his soft spot, but he's still stubborn. If he wants Camilla to visit him, he should just say so!"
Oliver fell silent.
"Hey Oliver, why don't you help him out?"
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