Chapter 2

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 previous life, Damian spent six months locating the fossil. Immediately after transmitting the findings, he was caught in a storm, his body torn apart.

Later, when the research project resumed, Valentina was buried alive by a glacier, triggered by a storm, while saving me…

I meticulously recalled the storm phenomena I’d observed in my previous life, trying to find a pattern.

After a sleepless night with no breakthroughs, I headed to the cafeteria to grab a bite.

The moment I sat down, a tray of soup and water sloshed all over me.

Valentina grabbed my collar, the scalpel she used for dissecting rodents pressed against my wide, startled eyes.

"Asher Thorne!"

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

"Are you insane?!"

I twisted her hand, turning the blade away, but she lunged, stabbing.

"You know going to the storm zone is a death trap, and you still sent a message congratulating Damian? How utterly disgusting are you?"

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

The spot on my back, where I dodged the blade, felt like it had been struck by lightning.

The cold, desolate days and nights of my previous life flashed before my eyes, merging with the hatred in hers.

Snapping back to reality, I instantly raised my hand, elbowing her restraining arm.

The scalpel clattered to the floor.

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

She froze, "Are you alright? I just, I just…"

I picked up the scalpel, tossed it onto the table, and cut her off.

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

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

Valentina was speechless.

"Watching Damian die and marrying you? What's there to celebrate about any of that?"

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

Valentina, this time, everything will be worth celebrating.

Deleting the approval notification, I watched Valentina still determinedly heading towards the Dean's office.

I returned with my storm zone research materials, only to bump into Valentina. She was carefully unfolding an amulet and using a fine brush to dust it off.

Damian saw me and asked,

"What's that? Is it for me?"

Valentina didn't even look up. "It's nothing valuable. I'll get you something better later."

My转身 (turning away) startled Valentina.

In her hand was… the amulet my father had sought from a master after I was admitted to the National Institute of Advanced Sciences.

He said he was just a businessman, couldn't help me with my academic path, and didn't care how far I went academically, only that I stayed safe.

Later, Valentina burned herself with reagents in a lab experiment, and I gave it to her.

Despite Valentina's calls, I didn't look back.

Late that night, still unable to sleep, I went out for some air.

The amulet, hanging on the doorknob, dropped to my feet.

I gave a cold laugh.

I glanced at it once, then slammed the door shut.

When the drizzling rain began,

I stood by the door for a long time before picking up the amulet again.