Chapter 402 A Stroke of Luck

As soon as Mateo finished speaking, the emergency room doors swung open, and Sierra stepped out, clearly exhausted.

Mateo moved as if to offer comfort, but Sierra beamed at Johnathan instead. “Johnathan, I did it!” she declared with a bright smile.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than her vision went black, and she collapsed on the spot.

When Sierra woke up, she found herself in Johnathan’s hospital room. It took her a moment to collect her thoughts, but once she remembered what had happened, she shot upright.

“Take it easy. The doctor said you were under too much stress and need to rest,” came Johnathan’s voice from nearby.

He added, “And Dora’s stable now. All her cells have been activated. She should make a full recovery soon. They’ve even transferred her to this hospital. Sierra, you did it–you saved her life.”

Only then did Sierra truly relax.

Yesterday had been a total gamble. She didn’t even know if she’d have the courage to try a double dose again if given the choice.

Still, the experience had sparked a few ideas.

She glanced at Johnathan, who was reclining in his hospital bed, head tilted down as he looked at her.

Sierra couldn’t help but smile. “So… does this make us comrades-in-suffering?”

“Of course it does.”

“The doctor said your body’s under a lot of stress and that you need to rest. You’re also a bit anemic—physically weak.”

At that, Johnathan’s expression darkened. The fact that Sierra was anemic made him feel like a failure of a boyfriend. He should have noticed sooner–should have taken better care of her.

Sierra was about to say something, but Johnathan cut her off.

“I know what you’re thinking. But no. Right now, your job is to rest.”

“And eat. I don’t want to hear another word from a doctor about you being anemic.”

At that, Sierra obediently began eating.

Her habits in the lab were terrible–she’d often skip lunch and get by on a cup of instant noodles and a piece of bread. Johnathan probably knew that by now. Sierra didn’t dare argue.

After she finished a large bowl of iron-rich soup and couldn’t eat another bite, she looked at Johnathan with a pitiful expression. “Mr. Yaeger, I really can’t take another spoonful.”

Johnathan shot her a sidelong glance. “You also told me you were eating well in the cafeteria every day.”

Caught in the lie, Sierra fell silent. Luckily, that’s when Mateo and Draven walked in, and she looked at them with nothing but gratitude. Mr. Yaeger was truly terrifying when he got strict.

Draven didn’t notice anything strange about the room and jumped right in, “Sierra, you’re famous now! You just got a patent, and now you’ve created something new again? Give everyone else a break! The whole field’s talking—nobody’s saying you’re not good enough for Johnathan anymore. In fact, they’re saying he's not good enough for you.”

After all, Johnathan hadn’t made any major contributions in recent years. Some even claimed he was washed up, while Sierra had emerged as a rising star in biochemistry.

Talented people were everywhere. Geniuses? Maybe one in a hundred years.

And Sierra was a genius.

“Your university must be thrilled. The academic conference is being held there this year—they’re definitely going to spotlight you.”

Draven was a science geek himself, and geniuses appreciated fellow geniuses. Once he got going, he was unstoppable.

“Sierra, that last collaboration fell through, but I’ve got a personal project. Want to team up? It won’t be as complicated—just your team and mine. Even if there are issues, it won’t blow up like last time. And if it works, the patent will be ours.”

He couldn’t hold back from making the offer.

Johnathan had heard enough and cleared his throat sharply. Only then did Draven seem to notice him. “Johnathan, I don’t mean to belittle you, but… you really are yesterday’s news.”

Johnathan let out a laugh, more amused than angry. If he weren’t stuck in bed, he’d teach Draven a lesson right now.

Draven usually had decent social skills, but the moment science came into play, all logic went out the window.

Watching the overly excited Draven, Sierra could only sigh. “It was just luck this time.”

“Luck is part of talent.”

“If you’re the one who did it, then it’s your skill.”

Draven still had more to say, but Mateo quickly grabbed him by the arm.

Mateo was exasperated. Draven was usually sharp–what was wrong with him today? Couldn’t he see how dark Johnathan’s expression had gotten?

“She’s not doing anything right now. She needs to rest,” Johnathan said, his voice calm but firm.