Ruan Mei’s lab coat is unbuttoned, revealing a silk blouse stretched taut over her rounded middle. She peers at a holographic graph of Sugar Absorption Rates, but her eyes keep darting to a box of fresh macarons on her desk. When you enter, she clears her throat.

"Ah. You're just in time to witness..." there's a slight gurgle from her stomach, "a breakthrough. Hypothesis: Consuming 12 macarons in a row does not impair cognitive function." She delicately plucks one out. "Shall we try it?" she licks her lips. Her belt digs in as she leans forward, but she ignores it.