Mr. Hawthorne, Your Wife Wants a Divorce Again-Chapter 1029: Could It Be Me?

"After attending your lecture at the Speisen Medical School in K Country, I changed my narrow view of traditional Chinese medicine, picked up my books again, and studied earnestly. I never thought it would actually lead me down a path... After graduating last year, I was exceptionally recruited into The National Research Institute."

The boy’s eyes sparkled like stars, filled with gratitude.

Being looked at with such eyes, Ann Vaughn felt a surge of inexplicable comfort.

"Congratulations on not letting your learning go to waste."

Carl Rhodes was startled for a moment, then smiled, "Professor, you always end your lectures with this phrase, and I always remember it."

— May all you learn in life be worthy of your talents, may all you learn not let the world down.

He would always remember.

After Ann Vaughn left, Carl Rhodes withdrew his gaze and was about to leave when someone grabbed his arm.

"Carl, Senior," the girl in the red dress, pale and tremblingly asked, "Why did you call that woman professor? Who is she?"

Carl frowned and pulled his hand back.

Though he had little patience for strangers, he was happy to answer questions regarding his idol.

"That lady just now is a professor at Speisen Medical School in K Country. She has published papers on cancer cell inhibition and hematopoietic stem cells. Also, the modified penicillin and antiviral detox agents used domestically and abroad in recent years are results of her independent research. How could you, as a medical student, not know about these?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the girl in the red dress and her companions turned pale, their eyes dazed.

"Impossible, she’s clearly a traditional Chinese medicine doctor..." The girl in the red dress thought with a hint of luck, convinced that Carl was deliberately speaking for that woman.

Carl looked at her with an expression as if she were a fool, "Professor Vaughn completed the Western medicine courses and obtained a doctoral degree from Speisen in just one year. Speisen even established a traditional Chinese medicine course for her, which she teaches."

Though Ann Vaughn wasn’t in the country those years, many stories about her spread domestically, attracting much admiration.

The name Aquarelle Vaughn was the dream of countless medical students.

Her famous research achievements were well documented in textbooks.

These medical students probably hadn’t been paying attention in class.

...

On the shaded path outside the main gate of Imperial University, a black Maybach was parked discreetly by the roadside, yet its beautiful streamlined body and dazzling logo still drew frequent glances from passersby.

Ann Vaughn quickly slipped into the back seat and was revived by the abundant air conditioning inside the car.

"If this heat continues, I won’t be able to hide my true identity as a peach ice cream."

"Why did it take so long?" Cyrus Hawthorne pushed aside the computer in front of him and leaned over with a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, to prevent the cold air from getting her sick.

"Hehe, I ran into a little something on the way."

Ann Vaughn was delighted not to have to do it herself, leaning her face over, recounting the incident she just encountered to him.

A shadow flashed across Cyrus Hawthorne’s narrowed eyes as he asked blandly, "What did you remember?"

"Um..." Ann Vaughn frowned and recalled the images in her head, "Oddly enough, I remembered some things unrelated to Speisen."

"Like what?"

"Zeus Laboratory, the Ark program, and then there was a sacrificial offering... There seemed to be a surname following these names, but I can’t remember what it is."

Since her memory began to slowly recover, this was the first time Ann Vaughn recalled such vague memories.

Everything seemed shrouded in a veil, impossible to see clearly.

Ann Vaughn bit her lip in frustration, unaware of the sudden depth in Cyrus Hawthorne’s gaze after she finished speaking.

After lunch, at the Hawthorne Group Tower.

For Ann Vaughn, this was effectively her first visit here, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Pfft, Cyrus Hawthorne, you actually placed a row of alpaca babies in such a serious place!" Ann Vaughn pointed at the row of alpaca cushions on the sofa, mercilessly mocking the man at work.

The office’s overall style was cold and rigid, the black and white tones exuding a repressive aura, causing anyone who entered to instinctively tread lightly.

But who would have thought that in such a solemn office space, there would be a few grass-mud horses on the sofa?

It was really laughable.

Cyrus Hawthorne shot a glance, "Who do you think put them there?"

The smile on Ann Vaughn’s lips suddenly froze, "It couldn’t be me, right?"

"Who else but you."

"..."

After a while, Ann Vaughn avoided Cyrus Hawthorne’s teasing gaze and mumbled, "Having some spiritual creatures in your office isn’t a bad idea for warding off evil spirits, is it?!"

Whether or not they ward off evil spirits is unclear.

Every time Julian Ford and Evan Sawyer came over and saw these things, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Cyrus Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, seeing Ann Vaughn secretly hugging a small alpaca, smiling contentedly, he pressed his brow resignedly.

So be it, let her be.

Eventually, tired from watching dramas on the sofa, Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but look up to ask Cyrus Hawthorne where the restroom was, only to see him standing by the window, back facing her, on the phone with someone.

Seeing him occupied, Ann Vaughn decided not to disturb him, put down the alpaca, and tiptoed out of the executive office.

After coming from the restroom, Ann Vaughn received a call from Dean Hale.

She had turned off her phone during the seminar and only found several missed calls from Dean Hale when she turned it back on.

Recalling what the girl in the red dress said and Dean Hale’s sudden invitation to the seminar, Ann Vaughn vaguely understood.

Dean Hale originally intended to submit Ann Vaughn’s resume right after the seminar ended to ensure the treasure they finally unearthed wouldn’t slip through their fingers.

Especially after seeing that news at noon, Dean Hale felt things couldn’t be delayed any longer and immediately called to inquire about Ann Vaughn’s decision.

But surprisingly, Ann Vaughn declined.

"Why is that?" Dean Hale was suddenly anxious, "Isn’t The National Research Institute a good place? Or do you have better options?"

"It’s not that. I’m very grateful for your kindness, but I have my own goals and plans. I don’t want to be confined to one place. I hope you understand," Ann Vaughn replied tactfully.

She wasn’t intentionally playing coy; she simply wasn’t particularly keen on joining The National Research Institute.

Joining The National Research Institute was undoubtedly an honor, but it also took away the greatest extent of personal freedom.