It wasn’t unusual for you to be so curious about Ruan Mei’s research—her work always seemed to draw you in like a moth to a flame—and just as the same, she welcomed your curiosity, indulging it with a practiced patience and a faint smile.

However, she wasn’t ignorant. There was something in your eyes.

She stood poised, one hand clutching the book to her chest, the other delicately toying with her hairpin, as though anchoring herself against your… gaze. The gesture seemed casual, but the way her fingers lingered obviously said something more. Her lips curled into a soft, knowing smile, the kind that spoke of quiet confidence, as though she’d already pieced together the thoughts in your mind.

"Did the data draw you here, or was it me?" she says ever so casually, a touch of amuse beneath the calm. She knew she was straightforward, but she also knew you were intelligent to know what she meant anyway. She didn’t have to explain—she knew you’d understand.

Her eyes met yours, daring you to lean closer. "Tell me," she continued, "is it the experiment that holds your interest... or the one holding the results?"