Falling for the Goddess

The Dinner

Of course, Adrian Blake wasn’t interested.

He glanced at his watch and said coolly, “I have a meeting this afternoon.”

Lucas Graves had expected this, so he didn’t push. Instead, he quickly said, “Give me just one minute.”

He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo through the glass window.

Inside the lab, Sara Hart was wearing a white lab coat, her hair neatly tied up, revealing her slender neck. She had rubber gloves on and was holding a test tube. Her expression was focused, and she seemed to be explaining something to the two male students beside her, who were nodding attentively. It looked like she was teaching them.

Lucas Graves was a bit surprised. The Sara Hart he had seen the other day was quiet, reserved, and delicate - following Adrian Blake around like a harmless little rabbit. But today, she looked composed, confident, and professional. There was a certain charm in the way she worked.

It was quite unexpected. He wondered how Adrian Blake would feel if he saw her like this.

Satisfied with the photo, Lucas Graves slipped his phone back into his pocket and returned to Adrian Blake’s side, acting as if he hadn’t just indulged in a moment of immaturity by stopping to admire a beautiful woman.

“All done. Let’s go,” he said calmly, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing him return to his usual serious demeanor, the people around him followed suit, pretending not to notice anything unusual.

“Mr. Graves, Mr. Blake, this way, please…”

As they walked, Lucas Graves nudged Adrian Blake with his elbow and lowered his voice, testing the waters. “I heard your wife goes to this university too. Do you know which department she’s in?”

Adrian Blake gave him a blank look, his tone unchanged. “I haven’t paid attention.”

Lucas Graves rolled his eyes, already expecting that response. He smirked and asked with a hint of mischief, “Don’t you want to know?”

Adrian Blake shot him a cold glance. “Are you that bored?”

Lucas Graves: …

Alright, fine. If Adrian Blake wasn’t curious, he wouldn’t say anything.

---

Inside the lab, Sara Hart was helping two younger students with an experiment.

The undergraduates were preparing for their final year theses, and those who wanted to continue their studies had already found professors to guide them through the process. Although Professor Baker wasn’t taking any more students, his assistant, Xiao Dao, was. Their research group was well-funded and well-known, so they still attracted plenty of eager students.

The two younger students Sara Hart was guiding were preparing for their thesis work. She was giving them some simple instructions to ensure they didn’t run into any problems later.

“Sara, I think someone’s watching us from outside,” one of the students couldn’t help but glance towards the door.

Sara Hart looked over as well. There were a few curious freshmen in military training uniforms peeking in, but that wasn’t unusual. She had gotten used to it.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said with a smile, returning her attention to the experiment. She continued giving them instructions on how to handle the equipment properly.

After resting at home for a few days, Sara Hart had returned to the lab. She wasn’t used to being idle and preferred the routine of lab work - conducting experiments, reading research papers. The busy, structured life gave her a sense of security.

With the senior students rushing to complete their theses, Sara Hart often helped out where she could, knowing they didn’t have much time to spare. She took on tasks like assisting the undergrads with their experiments, making the most of her time while her workload was lighter.

The sound of a whistle blew from the sports field outside. Sara Hart glanced back at the door, noticing that the onlookers had dispersed.

Just then, a male student entered the lab, looking for her.

“Hey, Sara!”

“James.”

The student, James Lim, was a postdoctoral researcher in their lab, aiming to stay on at the university after his studies. He often assisted Professor Baker with managing the lab, especially since Tang was getting older and needed someone to accompany him to project meetings.

“Company reps will be coming this afternoon to finalize the project. Are you all set?”

“Everything’s ready,” Sara Hart replied. She had finished preparing her presentation days ago.

“Great, we’ll head over together later.”

Sara Hart’s major was chemical engineering - a field distinct from pure chemistry. The results of their research were typically applied in real-world industry, meaning their projects often involved collaboration with companies. The project Sara Hart was working on, for example, involved a catalyst that could be of significant commercial interest.

That afternoon, Sara Hart, her professor Tang Deren, and James Lim met with representatives from the company.

The meeting was straightforward. Sara Hart was responsible for presenting the efficacy of the catalyst she had been developing, explaining its current progress. The company was interested in new technology, and their lab had just the innovation they needed. As long as the financial terms were agreed upon, the partnership would move forward smoothly.

Professor Baker and James Lim had already handled the initial negotiations, but Sara Hart was there because she was leading the project. She knew the technical details best, and she would be the one interfacing with the company moving forward.

After everything was settled, the company’s representative, a young man named Richard Smith, invited them out for a meal to celebrate.

Professor Baker didn’t decline, and Sara Hart and James Lim joined him.

Richard Smith, who seemed to be in his early thirties, was clearly enthusiastic about the project. Since the collaboration would involve sharing some technical details, he made a point of exchanging contacts with Sara Hart.

“Our company is placing a lot of importance on this catalyst. If the initial results are promising, we’ll ramp up production. I’ll need to stay updated on the experiment’s progress, so I’ll expect monthly reports. I’ll reach out to you via messege if I need anything. Is that alright?” he asked.

Sara Hart nodded, putting away her phone. “Of course, Mr. Smith. That won’t be a problem.”

After that, Richard Smith poured himself a glass of wine and raised it to Professor Baker. “Professor Baker, this isn’t our first collaboration, so I’ll skip the formalities. Here’s to a smooth partnership.”

Professor Baker waved him off with a smile, acting like a man with strict orders from home. “My wife has f*******n me from drinking. Tea will do for me.”

James Lim quickly filled his own glass and raised it on behalf of their group. “Professor Baker’s stomach isn’t great, and his wife has made sure he sticks to that rule. I’ll drink on his behalf.”

Richard Smith didn’t push. He knew Professor Baker had a high status in the academic industry, so there was no need to insist. He simply did what was expected of him.

After a few sips, Richard Smith turned to Sara Hart. “Miss Hart, would you like a drink?”

In this line of work, most of the people Sara Hart encountered were men. When Professor Baker introduced her as the person in charge of the project, Richard Smith had been surprised, especially given her striking appearance.

Before Sara Hart could respond, Professor Baker intervened. “Sara doesn’t drink.”

James Lim handed Sara Hart a glass of juice, adding, “Sara has never had cocktail before. She’ll toast with juice instead.”

Richard Smith hesitated, his hand pausing mid-pour. In the professional world, he was well-versed in the etiquette of business dinners, but this was the first time he’d seen such a protective dynamic. He hadn’t intended to pressure her - it was just an automatic gesture.

Sara Hart raised her glass of juice and nodded politely. “Please, just call me Sara, Mr. Smith.”

Her movements were a little stiff, betraying her lack of experience at such events. She was clearly a bright, bookish type - a straightforward young woman.

Richard Smith clinked her glass with a smile. “Here’s to a successful experiment and smooth cooperation.”

Richard Smith had brought two colleagues along, and soon the table was lively with conversation. Sara Hart, however, remained mostly quiet, focusing on her food.

After about an hour, the dinner seemed far from over. Sara Hart excused herself and quietly stepped out of the private room for some fresh air.