Ariel looked at Perry in surprise, while he stared blankly at their brief touch, seemingly lost in thoughts.

She subconsciously frowned and quickly pulled her hand and her notebook away. Her gaze grew distant when she said, “Thanks.”

Perry couldn’t help but purse his lips at the way Ariel was being cold and avoiding him like the plague. “What a coincidence to see you here at the military tech exhibit as well.”

She put away her notebook and nodded. “I’m here with Chad.”

“Chad?” Perry frowned slightly, surprised to find that she was on a first–name basis with Chad.

Ariel didn’t catch his focus. “See you later.”

She then gave a slight nod before going off to catch up with Chad.

Perry turned to watch her leave, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Nancy, who had just gotten out of the car, happened to see what happened. Perry had helped to pick something up for Ariel, and she seemed to have held his hand.

Nancy frowned, wondering if she was overthinking it.

As soon as Zach and Frederick got out of another car, they noticed her staring at Perry, seemingly preoccupied.

“What’s wrong, Ms. Stanton?” Frederick asked, concerned.

Nancy snapped out of it and glanced at him. She then nodded at Zach before replying, “I’m fine–just saw someone unexpected.”

This part of the zone was reserved for the research institute–only national research scientists and corporate executives like them could enter.

If it weren’t for the joint project mandated by the higher–ups, even they would’ve had a hard time getting clearance. And yet, Ariel had managed to get in.

Nancy was perplexed.

“Who?” Frederick asked out of curiosity.

Zach didn’t think much of it. He went over to greet Perry. “What’s on your mind, Mr. Houston?”

Nancy turned to look at Perry with a complicated look, but he reacted normally. He said, “Nothing. It’s time to head in.”

Zach stopped asking, yet Nancy walked over to Perry and softly asked, “What were you and Ariel talking about earlier?”

Perry recalled Ariel’s indifferent attitude–she couldn’t be bothered to waste time talking to him.

He rubbed the tip of his nose and replied, “There’s nothing to talk about when we’re not even acquainted.”

Nancy actually agreed with his words. After all, he had never thought much about Ariel–it was unlikely for him to make the first move to talk to her.

When Ariel caught up with Chad, he was talking to a man in his mid–30s.

Tony Sachman, a PhD student of Carlos, was now one of the leading figures in the country’s aerospace engineering field. Ariel had worked alongside him here for half a year, so they were fairly familiar with each other.

His eyes widened in surprise when he saw her. “You’re finally back, Ariel! It’s been so long since we last met. You had no idea how”

Everyone knew how fond Carlos was of Ariel.

Back then, she was on track for an integrated master’s and PhD program under him.

Carlos never stopped praising Ariel, calling her a rare talent, while he constantly criticised the rest of them, who were all top students across the country.

The moment she left, all his frustrations got dumped on them instead. He was grumpy all the time–nothing they did was right. It was to the point Tony, a grown man, was reduced to tears every night.

“Long time no see, Tony,” Ariel replied with a smile.

Tony stopped himself from catching up with her when he saw Zach and the others walking in one after another. He knew about her non–disclosure agreement, so he wasn’t about to say anything he shouldn’t.

As soon as Nancy entered, she glanced over to Ariel, who was standing beside Chad, and smirked slightly. She figured that Ariel had gotten in with Chad pulling strings.

Perry and Frederick had already greeted Tony. They knew he wasn’t just anyone as Carlos‘ student, he was now leading a major national research project on his own.