Chapter 230: Epilogue of Volume 1

Two weeks later...

"Everyone, this is Penny. She will be joining us from today." Professor Singh introduced Penny to the team they would be working with.

Everyone shifted their eyes to the little girl beside him. Their lips curled up as soon as their eyes landed on her. Although they had heard Professor Singh was bringing in an exceptional little girl, they didn’t expect her to be this cute... nor did they expect her to be just as exceptional as what Professor Singh told them.

All of them were exceptionally smart individuals. Therefore, a genius people would call would just be regular for them.

"Hello, everyone," Penny spoke adorably, smiling until her eyes were squinting. "I will do my best so as not to let the team down. Please take care of me."

Her colleagues smiled because they found her adorable, but Penny was smiling because she remembered most of them. In her previous life, she also worked with many of them.

’They still all look so young and vibrant!’ Penny mentally giggled. ’I almost didn’t recognize them because all I remember were their haggard faces!’

"Welcome to the team, Penny."

"Welcome, Penny."

"If you need any help, you can always ask this young uncle here with you."

Penny grinned from ear to ear at the warm welcome from her colleagues. Now, she could finally say she had started her life ahead of time, and everything was according to her plans... or so she thought.

"Right. Professor Singh, didn’t you say there would be two of them?" amid the warm welcome, one of Penny’s colleagues turned to Professor Singh. "Where’s the other one?"

When that question was brought up, Penny furrowed her brows. She looked up at everyone before her eyes eventually landed on Professor Singh.

’He didn’t mention that he invited two of us,’ she thought. ’Oh, right. When I started working under Professor Singh in my previous life, I heard that before me, they had a young genius on the team.’

At the same time, a knock on the door was heard. Everyone was quick to turn to the door and watched it slowly open.

"I’m sorry, everyone. I’m sorry, Professor Singh," said the person on the door.

Professor Singh smiled in understanding. "I understand that your flight was delayed." He then faced everyone. "Everyone, this is Dean Pierson. He will also join our team from today onwards, just like Penny. Please be nice to them and help them understand our work."

Dean slowly stood beside Professor Singh and smiled amicably. "I’m sorry again for being late, and thank you. I’m looking forward to working with everyone." When his squinting eyes fell on Penny, his smile stretched. "Nice to see you again, Penny. Let’s get along well."

Horror slowly turned up on Penny’s face as she gasped, staring at the creepy guy she disliked for an unknown reason. ’This is the young genius I kept hearing in the past?! So this is what he meant when he said we’d be seeing each other more often?!’

Surely, life always has a way to make it interesting for her.

Classic.

*

*

*

"Uncle, it’s alright," Penny muttered as she trudged out of the building, phone in her hand. "We agreed that you’d let me become an independent young lady. So, you don’t have to pick me up. I’m a big girl."

Penny heard a sigh from the other end of the line.

"Fine," said Haines with a sigh. "Though my assistant will bring home some dinner for you."

"Okay..."

"How’s the first day of work?" he asked.

This time, Penny grinned. "It’s interesting."

"I see." Haines rocked his head, pleased just hearing the tone she used. "Let’s talk about it once I got home."

"Okay."

"Tell me once you arrive, okay?"

"Okay."

Haines gave her some more reminders, like a mother, before he hung up. Putting the phone down in her pockets, Penny couldn’t help but chuckle.

It had been two weeks since they landed in the country. Penny had two weeks to prepare and adjust to the new environment. Although she couldn’t deny she missed home, her uncle was taking care of her, so she felt less sad.

"Penny!"

Suddenly, Penny heard a familiar voice from behind her. She didn’t need to look back to know it was Dean. Instead, she hastened her pace to save herself from whatever that guy would spew this time.

"Hey!" Compared to her short legs, Dean had long limbs, and he caught up even if she quickened her pace. "Penny, are you still trying to avoid me?"

Since he caught up, Penny slowed down and sighed. "No, I’m not avoiding you," she glanced up at him. "I’m trying to ignore you."

"That’s sad," Dean sighed. "I hadn’t done anything to you yet to be judged so quickly."

"Yet," was all she said, keeping her eyes ahead.

"Penny, since we’re colleagues now, why not try to be a little more welcoming to me?"

Penny’s expression died, but she ignored him.

"Did I do something to anger you?" he asked.

When they reached outside, she stopped and faced him. "You didn’t do anything to anger me, but I don’t know you. Even if you know my name doesn’t make us friends. Though, I’m hopeful that we will both do well as colleagues."

After saying that piece, Penny intuitively lowered her head a bit before walking off. It wasn’t like Penny was angry at him, but she didn’t like him for some reason. That wasn’t a justification, but if he was making her uncomfortable, then she wouldn’t mind distancing herself.

With that thought in mind, Penny took the bus to go home. When she reached her stop, she had to walk to the building where she was living at the moment.

The city was busy even though the night had already fallen. And with such a busy area, one could easily overlook anyone who needed help.

As Penny happily walked on the side of the road, her steps halted when she noticed someone from the corner of her eyes. Turning her head, Penny squinted her eyes to see through the people walking past her.

There, in the dark space between two establishments, was someone lying on top of the piles of trash.

"A homeless...?" she trailed off, watching some blood dripping from his fingertips.

Penny looked around at the people walking by, but everyone was so busy with their own things that they didn’t seem to notice that person in the dumpster.

"Ugh... help..."

Her breath hitched as she slowly set her eyes on the person. She pressed her lips, telling herself she should call for help and not approach on her own. Who knows? This could be a bad person.

As Penny took out her phone to call for police, she saw the person lift his head in her direction. She froze and intuitively looked back. The person’s face had some blood on it and his right eye was swollen to the point it closed.

[This county is the best place to live... if you’re a criminal, right, officers?!]

"Eh?" Penny’s eyes slowly widened as shock appeared on her face. ’Isn’t that the wild uncle in the 10th district precinct?!’

— End of Volume 1 epilogue —