I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 80

“Nan Xi!” Tong An’an affectionately scooted closer, squeezing in next to Nan Xi. “Haven’t seen you for over a week! How was your honeymoon with Mu Xi?”

It was during the break before their group meeting was about to start.

Nan Xi had been sitting calmly with Tong An’an, but at the mention of “honeymoon,” the corners of her lips subtly lifted before she quickly composed herself again.

Clearing her throat, Nan Xi adopted a mature tone. “It was good. I brought you some cheese jerky, it’s a local specialty from City Z. Come get it after the meeting.”

“Really?”

The moment she heard there was food, Tong An’an was overjoyed. She lingered close to Nan Xi for a while before finally settling back into her seat, waiting for Yu Yacheng to arrive and start the meeting.

The sooner the meeting ended, the sooner she could get her gift from Nan Xi.

As Tong An’an had hoped, the meeting concluded smoothly and quickly. However, her excitement was short-lived because Yu Yacheng asked Nan Xi to stay behind alone.

Tong An’an was reluctant to leave, but one glance at Yu Yacheng’s serious expression made her decide to go. It made sense, Nan Xi had been absent for over a week, so the professor probably needed to catch her up on the project progress.

Once everyone had left the conference room, Yu Yacheng closed the door.

Nan Xi noticed her gently turning the lock and knew that whatever she was about to discuss was of great importance.

Both working in the scientific research field, with overlapping interests to some extent, Nan Xi had previously asked Yu Yacheng to look into matters related to the Wu family.

Sure enough, as Yu Yacheng sat down across from Nan Xi, her first words were, “Nan Xi, I’ve found out what you asked me to look into.”

“Thank you,” Nan Xi leaned forward. “So… what did you find?”

“Hmm.”

Yu Yacheng took a sip of water, her attitude cautious. After careful consideration, she decided to preface the conversation. “The source is a former colleague from over twenty years ago. She spent some time at S.Life, so she’s quite familiar with the situation. However, I can’t disclose her name or details, I hope you understand.”

Seeing that Nan Xi showed no signs of dissatisfaction, she continued, “Regarding what you asked about, she confirmed that it’s possible S.Life’s research processes involve certain inhumane experimental methods. You know the nature of their studies. But she specifically emphasized that the company employs different approaches depending on the classification of the experiment, not all of them are unethical.”

At this point, a hint of indignation flashed in Yu Yacheng’s eyes. “As fellow researchers, to violate ethical principles for the sake of experimental outcomes, I personally find such practices utterly incomprehensible.”

Nan Xi’s heart surged with turmoil. Unseen by Yu Yacheng under the table, she dug her nails into her palm until it stung.

Different classifications… So, if Mu Xi had indeed participated in their experiments, it didn’t necessarily mean she had been subjected to brutal treatment.

But then again, Mu Xi’s life was no less valuable than the thousands of others Nan Xi didn’t know. Why should any of them have to suffer cruelty?

Using so-called righteous goals as justification to harm others, whether it was Mu Xi or anyone else, was utterly horrifying.

“And what’s more,” Yu Yacheng, lost in her own thoughts, didn’t notice Nan Xi’s unusual reaction, “she was quite vague about this point, but it can be confirmed that their project has already achieved its experimental goals internally.”

“…So, they really can perform human modifications? From what they call low-level to… high-level?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Who was that test subject that had completed the evolution?

The air conditioner kept the room at a comfortable temperature, but Nan Xi could only feel a bone-chilling cold. That icy sensation, spreading from her toes all the way to the top of her head, pierced through her skin and reached her very bones, making her even forget her anger.

It was only after Yu Yacheng finished speaking that she finally noticed Nan Xi’s pale lips.

To be honest, she was a bit surprised that Nan Xi would inquire about this matter.

After all, no matter what inhumane experiments the Wu family was conducting, they wouldn’t target the Nan family.

She had thought Nan Xi was driven by a sense of public welfare to investigate this, as Nan Xi was indeed a child with a strong spirit of exploration and a pursuit of truth.

Moreover, considering Nan Xi’s family background, if she put her mind to it, perhaps she could bring about some change to this chaotic situation.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Yacheng leaned forward, reaching across the table to pat the back of Nan Xi’s hand. “It’s okay, Nan Xi. Now that we know about this, we still have a chance to correct it.”

But what about those who had already suffered harm? Where was their chance?

“…Thank you, Professor. I’m fine.” Nan Xi stood up from her seat, supporting Yu Yacheng’s shoulder as they walked toward the door together. “I brought you a gift from City Z. Let me get it for you.”

Nan Xi handed the pre-packaged item to Yu Yacheng. It wasn’t anything too expensive, allowing Yu Yacheng to accept it without hesitation.

Yu Yacheng took the gift and carefully studied Nan Xi for a moment, unable to resist adding, “Don’t let these things affect your life. You yourself are the most important.”

She couldn’t explain to the professor that her life might have already been deeply affected, to the point where it would be difficult to recover in this lifetime.

So, Nan Xi smiled and accepted Yu Yacheng’s advice, watching her figure gradually fade into the distance.

There was another gift. Nan Xi took it with her to give to Tong An’an.

Tong An’an peeked into the paper bag and saw that its contents far exceeded what Nan Xi had described as dried cheese likely Mu Xi’s thoughtful preparation.

Naturally, she was overjoyed, but when she looked up, she noticed Nan Xi’s smile seemed a bit stiff.

“What’s wrong? Did the professor assign you too many tasks?” Tong An’an comforted her. “You’re Nan Xi, after all. It’s fine, no matter how many tasks, you’ll complete them perfectly!”

The warmth from Tong An’an’s palm on her shoulder gradually warmed Nan Xi’s chilled heart.

“…You’re right. No matter how many tasks, I can handle them.”

Even so.

Less than twenty minutes after starting work, Nan Xi left the lab, clutching her phone to send a message to Nan Lian.

She wouldn’t discuss these things with Mu Xi, not just because of their previous agreement. The night before, Mu Xi had been busy taking care of her during her feverish period and probably hadn’t slept until the early hours of the morning.

At this time, she was likely still lying in bed, asleep.

Come to think of it, Mu Xi had been working very hard these past three years… no, these past five years. Now that Mu Xi had been dismissed by the Nan family and confined by Nan Zhiya, perhaps this was her most leisurely period.

…She has suffered too much. How could such a good person endure so much hardship?

Nan Xi relayed the information she had just obtained from Yu Yacheng to Nan Lian.

Nan Lian quickly replied: “I’m at the S.Life headquarters building.”

Nan Lian had returned to City A a day later than them, yet she was already inside the opponent’s building, clear evidence that her recent focus had been entirely devoted to this matter.

“How’s it going?”

“I’ve been here for nearly forty minutes and still haven’t met Wu Quan in person. They might be stalling.”

“Forty minutes is enough time to transfer a lot of things.”

“Don’t worry.”

Nan Xi put away her phone and crouched down against the safety door in the hallway.

A faint, nagging pain throbbed in her head, now she could understand one percent of what Mu Xi must have felt.

She was filled with regret, yet didn’t know who to direct this remorse toward.

The last thing she should blame was the elusive concept of fate, but at times like this, Nan Xi genuinely wanted to drag this intangible, invisible thing out from the void and tear it violently to shreds.