Chapter 1402
After Lily left the institute, the atmosphere in the laboratory became even more depressing. Austin was
a workaholic and practically lived in the lab, conducting experiments nonstop. He tried and repeatedly
failed, causing his temper to worsen by the day. The other personnel also became increasingly tense.
Austin did not understand one thing. He wondered why the experiments became tougher when they
had succeeded before and restored all the past data. They had made tremendous progress, but why
were they stuck here now?
The extraction process of the herbs’ medicinal effects was simple to him. It was the fusion with the
fragrances that was a massive headache.
Before this, he tried to decrease the medicinal effects and increase the fragrance concentration. That
could help him achieve the scent he wanted. The reduced medicinal effects were not within his
consideration at all.
However, he could no longer reduce the dosage of medicinal herbs used. If he continued to reduce it, it
would not have any effects anymore. Plus, the other staff could tell that something was off through his
disproportionate ratio.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIf Austin did not adjust the ratio, the herbs' smell would be so strong that the fragrances could do
nothing to cover it up. He became increasingly anxious and irritable by the day.
'The most vital thing here is to extract the herbs' medicinal properties and ensure that the patients can
absorb it into their blood vessels! Why must we use fragrances to cover the smell? The herbs are to
save their lives! If they wish to die just because they dislike the smell, let them be!’
As much as he wanted to, he did not have the guts to tell Thompson these things. After their few
arguments, he understood how persistent Thompson was about this research.
He was even starting to think that Thompson's persistence stemmed from his will to prove that his
hypothesis was correct and that his plan was plausible instead of it being a plan to create something
unnoticeable and lethal to other people.
A string of data appeared, proving that Austin had failed again. He was frustrated and had the urge to
drop everything. He did not want to continue the experiment or prove anything. All he wanted was to
leave this place and have a good rest.
With that in mind, he got to his feet. He removed his gloves, washed his hands, removed his coat, and
headed for fresh air. There was someone on the balcony leaning against the railing. The person was
sitting on a chair with a cigarette between their fingers.
Upon hearing the footsteps, the person turned to look at Austin. Her brow raised, and she used the
same hand her cigarette was in to casually brush her hair, looking extremely seductive without trying.
Austin did not expect to meet her again and remembered her name was Rhea Moore.
"Wild" was his impression of her. To him, she was different from the aloofness Lily had. Lily made him
feel like he should not disturb her unless necessary, while Rhea came off as strong and authoritative.
The last time they talked, Rhea was the one leading the conversation.
Austin followed her flow of thoughts without even realizing it, and it made him feel oppressed after he
thought about it.
Now that he saw her again, he did not say anything. He just took two steps forward and leaned against
the rail before taking a cigarette and tilting his head. Then he lit his cigarette as he watched the
scenery.
"Out for some fresh air too?" Austin asked while looking forward, appearing to be talking to Rhea, but
he could also be talking to himself.
Rhea just glanced at him, saying nothing. Slowly, she put the cigarette to her lips and puffed it deeply.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAustin expected this; he knew he would not get a reply from her, so he was not bothered by it. Then he
turned to look at her this time and asked, "You failed your experiment too?"
A mocking smile hung on Austin's lips as if to say Rhea was no better than him. He implied they were
the same since she came to take a breather after failing an experiment. He was trying to tell her they
were losers at this moment, and none was better than the other.
However, Rhea just stared at him silently. Her upturned eyes narrowed slightly, and Austin could not tell
what he was feeling. Her stare made him uncomfortable, and he lost interest in talking to her.
There was no point in him arguing with a woman he was unfamiliar with. He did not know what was
wrong with him recently either because he seemed to always be in arguments with women.
At first, Austin was the one who looked down on them. Forget about competing with them, but the fact
that they were comparable did not appeal to him. He believed he was a genius among the crowd.
Besides, he was even the miracle doctor, Dominic's grandnephew. Was it essential for him to compete
with all these women? 1
But then, it seemed that everything in his life had gone astray since he met Lily. He had been
competing with women and himself nonstop. This kind of life exhausted him, and it made him easily
irritable.
He was about to leave the balcony and look for another place to clear his head when he saw Rhea
leaning forward. It felt like she was slightly closer to him now.