Chapter 3

Back in my dorm, I began searching for information on the Antarctic storm zone.

It was a place of perpetual, violent storms, incredibly dangerous. In my past life, Brandon had spent six months locating the fossil, but after transmitting the signal, he was immediately engulfed by a storm, his body torn apart on the spot.

Later, when the research project resumed, Scarlett was buried alive by a glacier, triggered by a storm, as she tried to save me…

I meticulously recalled the storm phenomena observed in my past life, attempting to summarize patterns. After a sleepless night with no breakthroughs, I headed to the cafeteria to grab some food.

The moment I sat down, my entire tray of food, soup and all, drenched me.

Scarlett grabbed my collar, her dissecting scalpel, still gleaming from its last use, pointed directly at my wide, startled eyes.

"Asher Hayes!"

I tried to push her away, but she shoved hard, slamming me back against the chair.

"Are you insane?!"

I twisted her hand, redirecting the blade, but she lunged forward, plunging it towards me.

"You knew going into the storm zone was a death trap, yet you still sent a congratulatory message to Brandon! How utterly disgusting are you?"

"Just to make me marry you?! Have you no self-respect left?!"

The spot on my back where the blade had narrowly missed felt like it had been hit by a jolt of electricity.

The icy days and nights of my past life flashed before my eyes, merging with the raw hatred burning in hers.

Snapping back to reality, I instantly raised my arm, elbowing the one pinning me down. The scalpel clattered to the floor.

"Researcher Vance, are you going to use your life-saving scalpel to kill me?"

She froze.

"Are you okay? I just… I just…"

I picked up the scalpel, placing it on the table, cutting her off.

"No matter how dangerous the storm zone is, someone has to go. Will it be any less dangerous if I go?"

"Perhaps the wedding isn't as bad as you think. Maybe it's something worth celebrating."

Scarlett was speechless.

"Watching Brandon die, marrying you… what part of that is worth celebrating?"

My limbs felt like they were on the verge of losing control. I clenched my fists and turned to leave.

Scarlett, this time, everything will be worth celebrating.

Deleting the approval status from my phone, I watched Scarlett, still relentlessly heading towards the Director's office.

I returned with my storm zone research materials, just in time to see Scarlett carefully wiping dust from a good luck talisman with a fine brush.

Brandon saw me and asked, "What's that? For me?" Scarlett, without looking up, replied, "It's nothing. Just some worthless trinket. I'll get you something better later."

My turning footsteps startled Scarlett.

In her hand was… the good luck talisman my father had specially commissioned from a spiritual advisor after he learned I’d been accepted into the National Academy of Sciences.

He said he was just a businessman, too preoccupied with money to truly help me with my academic path.

He didn't care how far I went, only that I stayed safe. Later, when Scarlett suffered a chemical burn during a lab experiment, I gave it to her.

Despite Scarlett calling out, I didn't turn back.

Late that night, still unable to sleep, I went out for some air. The good luck talisman, hanging on my doorknob, fell to my feet. I scoffed. I just glanced at it and slammed the door shut.

It wasn't until the soft patter of rain began that I stood by the door for a long time before picking up the talisman.