Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Discussing the Wedding Date
At that moment, the mobile phone on the glass table started ringing.
Cyrus Hawthorne picked it up casually, his voice deep, "What’s the matter?"
"President Hawthorne, there’s unrest among the patients in number 9; our people have been affected, and Cynthia Vaughn escaped amidst the chaos." Mark Joyce reported directly to the point.
"Someone’s helping her." Cyrus Hawthorne’s lips curved into a cold arc, "Investigate."
"Yes, I’ll assign more people to investigate this matter!"
...
Under Sutton Jennings’ manipulation, the "Resurrection Theory" spreading rapidly in the outside world gradually calmed down, and many began doubting its authenticity.
Though the commotion has seemingly subsided on the surface, those promoting it behind the scenes were not so easily discouraged.
Their relentless efforts to incite the public to pressure Ann Vaughn into handing over everything were apparent.
Although Ann Vaughn wasn’t influenced by the external comments, Sutton Jennings continually worried about her safety, assigning someone to follow her.
Knowing it was a crucial time, Ann Vaughn did not refuse.
Inside the research institute.
Ann Vaughn went directly to the director’s office, handing over the research data and the antidote product to him.
"This... you only joined the institute last week, and now you’ve already handed in the results?" Shane Shaw opened the glass box containing the antidote, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked at Ann Vaughn.
"Do you also think it took too long?" Ann Vaughn sighed lightly, "This virus is something I’ve never seen before, so it took more time."
Due to this commotion, her studio’s clients suddenly increased, and with only her and Sherry, they were overwhelmed.
Fortunately, Kenny was there as a mascot, reviving Ann Vaughn with every breath.
Upon hearing this, Shane Shaw’s mouth twitched slightly, "Your understanding of ’time-consuming’ might differ from mine."
He was too embarrassed to say that those in Group A had spent over a year and still remained at an uncertain stage.
However, after Jane Sheridan joined, there had been some progress; just days ago, they submitted the final product, yet it hadn’t undergone clinical trials.
But within less than a week, Ann Vaughn had already developed the antidote...
If this were known by the geniuses of Group A, they’d be utterly discouraged.
"I’ll arrange for live trials soon; if there are no issues, it will be used on the infected individuals." Shane Shaw said.
"Director, is anyone already infected with this virus?" Ann Vaughn didn’t mention that she had conducted live trials herself; even if she did, the institute would still perform them again.
It wasn’t about mistrust but was rather a matter of caution.
Shane Shaw nodded slightly, looking at Ann Vaughn with a hint of depth in his eyes, "Yes, the virus has been hidden inside the infected individuals for about two or three years, only triggering a year ago."
"What symptoms occur when the infected individuals have an outbreak?"
"No symptoms."
Ann Vaughn frowned in confusion, seeing that Shane Shaw wasn’t joking, deepening her doubts.
"When an infected individual has an outbreak, they stay alone in a room until it’s over before coming out." Shane Shaw explained, "His self-control and patience are exceptional, so much so that... you can hardly tell."
Does such a person truly exist in the world?
Ann Vaughn had seen rugged men infected by the virus who wished for death by banging their heads against the wall, and those with firm resolve, who’d suffered gunshots without blinking, but begged her for euthanasia as patrolmen on the island.
She had seen countless infected individuals lose themselves and become consumed by pain, yet never had she seen one who could maintain a clear mind and unwavering will under the torment of a virus.
Involuntarily, Ann Vaughn felt a curiosity about the person Shane Shaw had mentioned.
"By the way, Director, since Group A’s task has been completed, is there anything else you need my help with?" Ann Vaughn asked slyly.
"Not really any major tasks at the moment." Shane Shaw scratched his head and pondered for a moment, "The management of the reagent warehouse has just been reassigned; would you like to take it on? Though it’s quite idle there, you should..."
"I’m up for it!" Ann Vaughn was worried he might change his mind, so she immediately interrupted him, "I’m not someone who can sit idle; I can adapt to any work."
Shane Shaw showed a hint of being moved, "I’d feel guilty letting the renowned Aquarelle Vaughn manage a warehouse; how can that be!"
Ann Vaughn: "..."
"How about this, you only need to take some time each day to record in the reagent warehouse, and the rest of the time you can head to the core research lab."
The core research lab?
Ann Vaughn’s eyes lit up, her dimples deepening, "Rest assured, Director, leave it to me."
After leaving the director’s office, Ann Vaughn nearly burst into laughter, remembering the surveillance everywhere, she managed to contain herself.
The reagent warehouse stored all sample reagents from the institute, while the core research lab was an elite zone that outer researchers were eager to enter.
Both were ideal for Ann Vaughn’s investigation.
"La la la~" As the cheerful phone ringtone began, Ann Vaughn slid to answer.
"Sherry?"
"Annie, a doctor named Rowley claims to be your friend; he has something important to ask you, saying it can save a life." Sherry said from the other end.
Rowley?
Ann Vaughn quickly filtered through people she knew but had no impression of this name.
It’s likely a tactic by those trying to approach her for the life-extending drug; she needs to be wary.
"I don’t know this person, just decline it." Ann Vaughn pondered and instructed.
"I thought so. The person seemed like a refugee and calls himself a doctor; I thought it was some crazy guy..." Sherry muttered and hung up.
Ann Vaughn chuckled at this, put her phone away, opened the sensor door of Group A’s research room, and heard voices discussing inside.
"These media will write just about anything to grab attention and spark debate; resurrection sounds far-fetched."
"Reading it made me cringe; if she’s really that capable, why doesn’t she find her resources and conduct experiments herself? Leveraging our efforts to climb up is undeserved recognition."
"But what can you do, maybe she’s good in bed, charming Mr. Hawthorne thoroughly, otherwise how could she get in as a special advisor?"
"I heard Mr. Hawthorne is the fiancé of the team leader; the families are discussing the wedding date, doesn’t that make her the third party?"
"No way, that’s so disgusting..."
Standing behind the piled-up file cabinets, Ann Vaughn’s slender brows raised slightly, and then she walked over with a file held in one hand.
The previously lively discussion suddenly paused the moment Ann Vaughn appeared, becoming eerily silent.