Chapter 1541: What a waste of space

Later that night...

Penny yawned, alone in the pharmaceutical lab.

"Gosh..." she muttered. "This is so boring."

She wondered what she had found enjoyable about this job, as it now seemed incredibly dull. Maybe she had just enjoyed life more, making this seem more boring now.

But that wasn’t what truly irritated her.

Frowning, Penny gazed at the mixture she had been experimenting with like a mad scientist. Then, her eyes shifted to a transparent, round jar containing the other half of the lethal pill. Reaching for it, Penny examined it briefly.

"Damn it," she whispered. "I’ve already gathered all the ingredients, yet no one seems to have succeeded in creating an antidote for it."

Another heavy sigh escaped her as she set down the pill and turned her attention back to the drugs before her. Pushing herself away from the counter, she slid over to another long counter where some books were resting.

"I must have missed something," she muttered, wondering if she had lost her touch. With that thought in mind, Penny decided to reread some books, hoping they might refresh her memory.

Juggling two jobs wasn’t easy, but if it lowered the chance of this lethal drug harming her or her family, she didn’t mind.

As silence settled over the lab, a quiet, gentle voice suddenly cut through the air.

"Didn’t you say you hated this place?"

Penny looked up slowly, her gaze falling instantly on Dean. He leaned against the door frame, brows raised.

"Seriously?" Her already dead expression seemed to die again. "Are you my stalker or something?"

"Just a moment ago, I got a call from Professor Singh. It was so abrupt, I thought it was his family calling to tell me he had passed away," he explained casually, pushing himself off the frame and striding towards her. "Unfortunately, he’s still alive."

Her face soured. "Unfortunately?" But she stopped whatever she wanted to add because wishing for Dean’s death wasn’t right, even if he sort of deserved it.

"Even if he did die, why would his family call you? You’re not his son," she clicked her tongue, refocusing on the book. "Go away, Dean. I don’t need your help."

"I told Professor Singh the same thing, but he’s concerned. As a good former student, I worry when he can’t sleep at night. I have a conscience, unlike you," he replied, moving towards where Penny had been working earlier.

Dean ducked a little and studied the fluid in one of the flasks, examining its nature through the small glass bottle.

Penny snapped her eyes to him and sighed, shaking her head, unsurprised by his presence. When Dean mentioned Professor Singh, she immediately guessed why the professor would call him.

Professor Singh hadn’t been pleased with the lethal drug Penny had shown him. And because Dean had been one of his best students, Professor Singh must have thought this job wasn’t something one person could handle alone.

"So, this is the drug?" Dean picked up the pill placed in a clear, round container. "Looks like a painkiller to me."

"Because it is," Penny replied, briefly raising her eyebrows without taking her eyes off the book. "It’s just stronger than a painkiller because it’s fatal to anyone who ingests it. It kills a person’s existence."

Hence, a painkiller.

Dean glanced at her and smirked. "So this killer drug shares the same ingredients as the Miracle Drug, huh?"

Penny didn’t answer.

"You should try it and find out. Maybe the taste is different."

Still, Penny didn’t answer, treating his voice as if it were a mosquito’s buzz.

"Or should I do it?"

"Sure." This time, Penny didn’t hesitate as she cast him an indifferent look. "Go ahead. I’ll watch."

Dean chuckled. "Gosh... I’m not getting paid for this."

"Just leave. I don’t need your help," she rolled her eyes and huffed. "You might have worked with me on the Miracle Drug, but I’d rather work alone than listen to your nonsense. Besides, I’m not paying you a dime, so get out of here."

Dean raised his eyebrows as he watched her skip some pages. A shallow laugh escaped him, shrugging as he set down the small container.

"To be honest, Professor Singh only asked me to help you figure out whatever I can about this killer drug," he said, leaning against the counter, eyes fixed on Penny across the way. "But it doesn’t seem like that’s the case."

He tilted his head slightly. "It’s not just about discovering its properties, is it? It’s about creating an antidote."

"For heaven’s sake..." she grumbled, shooting him a sharp glare. "Of course, it’s about creating an antidote, Dean. Why else would I be studying the drug’s properties?"

"But you told Professor Singh a different story."

"He doesn’t need to know."

"He should, though, since every ingredient you’re using is government-funded."

Penny rolled her eyes again, finding it hard to concentrate now that he was here. She slammed her hand on top of the book, twisted the stool, and faced him.

"What do you want?" she demanded. "If you’re helping for free, then shut your mouth. If not, close the door when you leave."

She smiled. "I don’t have time for your nonsense."

"And you think I have time for yours?" he retorted, pushing himself away. "I was just curious. But there’s no way I’m helping you, even if you pay me millions. I’d rather pay you to leave me alone."

Penny’s face twisted as she watched him ramble while walking away.

"Well..." he slowed his steps, looking back at her with a smirk. "If you beg me for help, I might reconsider. Maybe. Good luck with that, Penelope. Or should I call you Penn, since you’re in character again?"

Dean resumed walking and waved. "Nice seeing you, though."

Penny scrunched up her nose and clicked her tongue. "What a waste of space — jump in a trash bin later, Dean! That’s where you belong!"

"Jerk," she hissed, shaking her head as she refocused her attention on the book. "Professor Singh really thinks we make a good team, when it’s World War the second we see each other."