Shen Wuyou only remembered after she spoke, and this purification matter should have involved Huo Rou!
"Then come to the laboratory tomorrow?" Shen Wuyou thought about the wind and rain last night, and Huo Rou should not have slept well, so she suggested coming tomorrow.
"Now," Huo Rou said indifferently, though her heart was already extremely anxious.
Qin Ningyi knew she valued Old Wang very much, but what did she mean by trying?
"Why should you go?" Qin Ningyi finally asked.
He had always been puzzled why Shen Wuyou, a medical student, would bring Huo Rou into the laboratory. Now, for something they couldn't solve, Huo Rou said she would try...
Shen Wuyou hooked the corner of her lips slightly, not intending to enlighten him. "A Rou is amazing, you wouldn't understand."
"Okay, I'll go to the lab with Wuyou to try extraction and purification, and leave An'an and Old Wang to you?"
Huo Rou felt it wasn't a big deal and didn't know how to explain, so she skipped it.
Qin Ningyi pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "Okay, I'll stay home and take care of the elders and children and wait for you to come back."
Look how virtuous he is.
"Let's go." Huo Rou glanced back at the still unconscious Old Wang and walked out.
"Xiao Rou, I'll go with you."
Madam Ren, standing at the door, had heard their conversation. She smiled gently and steadfastly at Huo Rou as she approached.
"Mom, what are you going to do?"
Ren Zhen didn't know about purification or anything, but going to a laboratory with a doctor like Shen Wuyou would probably involve biological experiments, right?
Why would his mother go?
Madam Ren didn't look at Ren Zhen. She only looked gently at Huo Rou, her eyes flashing with emotions that Huo Rou couldn't understand.
"Are you in this field?" Huo Rou calmed herself down and stopped to ask her.
Madam Ren slowly stood up and walked to her. Huo Rou reached out to help her.
Her eyes were teary. "Your mother and I worked in the same laboratory. I can help with the extraction and separation of plant components."
Ren Zhen and his father didn't know about her going to the laboratory. It was a confidential mission at the time, and the family only knew she was going on a business trip.
Huo Rou's eyes remained smiling, but her fingers clenched into fists behind her back, veins bulging.
It had been a long time since an outsider mentioned her mother. Most people wouldn't know.
This suddenly appearing laboratory colleague...
Huo Rou asked softly, "Who are you?"
She hadn't seen her at the funeral, but she had the list of all personnel involved in the experiment.
The mission was confidential at the time, and they weren't allowed in to visit at first. It was only later, when her mother's health was failing, that they made an exception for her to wait outside.
The young her watched as her always elegant and beautiful mother, while enduring the ravages of the virus, also struggled with the discomfort of ether poisoning from the experimental use.
She accompanied her mother through all her pain, convulsions, repeated vomiting of blood, and endless experiments from outside the glass window.
She hated them, hated country M, and hated herself for being unable to help.
Everyone treated her as a child and didn't have much defense, so she managed to get the list of all personnel involved in the emergency experimental mission.
She had intended to find these people and learn from them, believing she could help.
Before she could put her plan into action, her mother succeeded, and she lost her forever.
"You say you knew my mother, but my mother has been dead for many years. I don't know you and have never met you."
Huo Rou's words were soft and light, and her face showed no extra expression. She maintained a polite smile.
Qin Ningyi looked at her tightly clenched hand, a hint of madness swirling in his eyes. He stepped forward and enfolded her fist with his warm hand, silently comforting her.
Madam Ren didn't see the excitement and joy of meeting an old acquaintance on Huo Rou's face. Instead, she sensed a hint of defense.
Her heart suddenly ached. How had this child endured all these years? She was defensive even when hearing such news.
"My name is Zhong Lingxiu. You haven't met me. I was still receiving treatment in the hospital during the funeral." Madam Ren's eyes were filled with concern.
"Your mother told me about you during meals. She said her daughter was gentle and cute, very good at computers, and wrote beautifully... You are exactly like what she said, and you look very much like her."
Madam Ren had started to suspect this bold guess when Ren Zhen mentioned Huo Rou's computer skills. It wasn't until she met Huo Rou in person that she became even more certain.
She was truly the child of Xiu Yun, her savior.
She was as excellent, gentle, and beautiful as her mother had described.
"This hairpin I gave you was taken off by Xiu Yun and given to me at that time." Madam Ren looked at the hairpin on Huo Rou's head, which she had given her, and fell into memories.
"It suits you even better when you wear it."
Huo Rou touched the hairpin with her hand. So, it belonged to her mother.
In fact, she had already memorized the names on that list. When she heard the name Zhong Lingxiu, she was sure Madam Ren was telling the truth.
Now, someone suddenly mentioned her mother's past praise, and even an item belonging to her mother. A tear welled up in Huo Rou's eyes, falling without warning.
When she realized the tear had fallen, she quickly turned sideways and pulled her hand from Qin Ningyi's to wipe the tear marks from her cheek.
Qin Ningyi looked at her stubbornness, walked over, gently put his arm around her shoulders, and shielded her from wiping her face.
"Yes, then you can come with me. I'm troubling you."
After wiping away the tear marks, Huo Rou returned to her usual calm, only the smile at the corner of her lips deepened slightly.
"It's no trouble." Madam Ren shook her head, her gaze sincere. "Your mother saved my life. Her daughter is my daughter. I am honored to be able to help you."
"Mom, your health was not good after that business trip, and it hasn't fully recovered after so many years of recuperation. Was it from that illness?"
In Ren Zhen's memory, Madam Ren had been on a long business trip and returned very weak. No matter how she was treated, she couldn't fully recover. Later, minor illnesses became her norm.
That's why she resigned as vice-principal early to come back and rest.
"Yes." Madam Ren didn't reveal more details. She had been standing for too long, and her legs couldn't take it. She sat back in her wheelchair.
"Son, take me over."
Ren Zhen pushed Madam Ren ahead. Qin Ningyi gently kissed Huo Rou's forehead. "You can do it. Go and come back early. I'll be here."
"Mmm." Huo Rou buried her head in his chest, her muffled voice coming from his heart.
Qin Ningyi stroked her head, knowing she was anxious. He didn't keep her any longer.
After Huo Rou had gone far, he took out his new phone and called Xiao Konglin. "Does the online laboratory for the company's skincare products also have 'Song Ju'?"
Xiao Konglin didn't know why Qin Ningyi was suddenly asking this. He mentally reviewed all the recent matters before recalling this.
"Yes, it's our latest research project, the extraction and utilization of active ingredients in 'Song Ju'."
"How much 'Song Ju' is left?" Qin Ningyi remembered Shen Wuyou saying they only had three left in their laboratory. He had to prepare more for Huo Rou.
"There are still five." Xiao Konglin remembered this clearly. "They reported it yesterday. This item is quite rare, and country M has strict controls, so we haven't kept much."
To avoid misunderstanding, Xiao Konglin added, "The active ingredients need to be diluted many times before being added to skincare products, so this quantity is sufficient."
"The project is on hold. I need those 'Song Ju'."