Chapter 318 Silent Achiever
"After nearly two months, costing $16 million, the laboratory with its fully intelligent system and dual biosafety protocols was finally completed following the third snowfall of winter.
Tobias and his startup team were conducting final checks on the lab's intelligent systems. Meanwhile, various experimental equipment purchased through Marcus's overseas technology company channels was gradually being delivered.
Hestia and Royce had been incredibly busy these past few days. Beyond familiarizing themselves with Tobias's intelligent system operations, they were inventorying incoming equipment and arranging the spatial layout—from positioning lab benches to placing water dispensers. They handled everything personally.
Except for classes, meals, and sleep, they spent almost all their time at the lab.
At Royce's home.
"Heading out again, Royce?" his grandmother, Layla Castillo, asked.
"Yes, Grandma!"
"But it's Saturday! No classes today. Why are you always running off somewhere? Have you got a girlfriend?!" Layla's eyes lit up at the thought.
"No, I don't!"
"Then where are you going?"
"Working on something big! Gotta go, Grandma!" With that, Royce grabbed his backpack, wrapped his scarf, and strode out the door.
Layla dismissed it. "What could possibly be so important?"
Colt, sipping tea and reading the newspaper on the couch, smiled mysteriously at her comment.
While Royce was rushing to the lab, Hestia was climbing into a taxi.
"East Industrial District, please," Hestia said.
"That area's just construction sites. What's a young lady like you doing there?" the driver asked.
Hestia's expression turned serious as she replied deliberately, "Working on something important."
During the ride, she received a call from Liam. "Dad! What's up?" she asked.
"You couldn't even call me? I miss you!"
"I miss you too!"
After exchanging affectionate words, Liam was instantly cheered up.
Still, he complained: "If you miss me, why not contact me? Who are you kidding?"
"I've been incredibly busy! Completely swamped!"
"Busy with what? Can I know?"
"You will, soon!"
"Keeping secrets from me? Fine," Liam suppressed his burning curiosity, "just don't make me wait too long!"
Hestia calculated the timing, "I absolutely won't! Gotta go—I'm almost there! Bye!"
"Hello? Hestia?" But she had already hung up.
Liam put down his phone, feeling strangely empty. He suddenly regretted agreeing to let Hestia leave home for school.
If Royce and Hestia were busy, Camilla was even more so. Just transferring the intelligent system authorizations took an entire day.
Camilla sat before a fingerprint scanner while Tobias opened permissions on his tablet one by one for her to authorize. With 926 different permissions, Camilla pressed her fingerprint nearly a thousand times, not counting failed scans that needed redoing.
By the end, her fingers felt numb.
Throughout this process, she also had to answer calls from equipment suppliers, sign for experimental apparatus delivered by international logistics, verify quantities and amounts, and settle final payments on site.
In short, there wasn't a moment's rest. She only remembered to drink water when Tobias reminded her.
After nearly a week of this intense activity, the laboratory was finally properly set up.
Everything was ready—all that remained was the unveiling ceremony!
The first invitation was sent to Liam. Since it was delivered by courier, Hestia had mailed it two days in advance.
When Liam received the courier's call, he was slightly confused.
He rushed downstairs to collect the package, then hurried back up. When he saw the sender was Hestia, his face immediately lit up with joy.
"Who's the package from?" asked Daisy Sharp, Hestia's mother.
"From Hestia," Liam said, tearing it open with his bare hands.
Daisy immediately came closer. "What did Hestia send back? Why is it in a document envelope? It's not bills, is it?"
Liam's hands paused: "Surely not? We just gave her ten million dollars recently!"
At this mention, Daisy grew angry. "She asks for ten million dollars and you just give it to her? If she asked for the national treasury next, would you rob it for her?!
"You complain for half a year when I buy a few handbags, and last month you wouldn't let me buy a new car, but whatever Hestia says goes? I'm the one who gave birth to her! Who knows what she's doing with ten million dollars? I worry she'll fall in with the wrong crowd!" she added.
Liam replied, "She told us—it's for building a laboratory!"
Daisy scoffed, "A laboratory? Only you would believe that! The nation's top university can't spare one laboratory for her use, so she needs to build a new one with her own money? As if she has money to burn!"
"I read news yesterday about a wealthy college student spending millions at entertainment venues annually, keeping male models. You give her all this money—what if she gets scammed by some man?" she continued.
Having opened the envelope, Liam pulled out a red card. He turned it over to read the text.
His previously furrowed brow completely relaxed as he finished reading. " That's my daughter for you! She really is exceptional!"
Daisy asked, "What is it?"
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