Chapter 7
The line went silent for two seconds before an exclamation erupted from the other end, "What did you say? Elaine, say that again!"
"I said I want to go back to the lab," she repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "Can I still come back?"
"Yes! Of course you can!"
Hazel's voice cracked with emotion before she quickly steadied herself. "Elaine, you have no idea how brilliant you are! That paper you published years ago is still our reference model! If you come back, we could handle not just this virus but whatever else comes our way!"
Her words made Elaine feel almost embarrassed by the praise.
After hanging up with Hazel, Elaine didn't hesitate any longer.
She packed her belongings, taking only a few old clothes and the research materials Kathy had left behind.
As she closed the door behind her, she didn't even glance back.
Her car pulled up outside an old apartment complex.
This was where Kathy had lived. After Elaine graduated from college and married into the Smith family, she'd never returned.
When she pushed open the door, dust billowed around her.
She lifted the protective sheet covering the living room furniture, and her gaze suddenly fixed on something.
A Post-it note clung to the wall—something she'd written during college.
"Elaine, become as amazing as Mom and stop viruses from hurting people forever!"
The handwriting was bold, accompanied by a crooked smiley face.
The familiar furniture and surroundings made Elaine's eyes burn with emotion.
At least she still had this place to call her own.
Not long after, there was a knock at the door.
When Elaine opened it, there stood Hazel, looking more mature than in her college days.
She was breathless, clearly having run up the stairs, beads of sweat trickling down her cheeks.
"Elaine, you finally came to your senses!"
Hazel burst into tears of joy and immediately pulled Elaine into a tight embrace.
She had waited for this day for far too long.
"Hazel..." Elaine's voice caught in her throat.
Hazel's eyes were still rimmed with red as she examined Elaine's face. Her throat worked, but instead of reproach, she just sighed, "How did you let yourself get into this state?"
She remembered college-era Elaine—how even in a lab coat, she'd turn heads.
Back then, her eyes had blazed with medical passion, her smile carried an edge of brilliance, and everyone acknowledged her as the department beauty.
But now, her face was pale, dark circles prominent under her eyes, and even her voice lacked energy.
Elaine shook her head with a bitter smile, saying nothing more.
She invited Hazel inside, and after catching up briefly, Hazel's expression suddenly turned grave.
"You know about this recent virus, right? It's mutating incredibly fast. Our research team has been working around the clock."
Elaine paused, then walked to the living room and picked up a freshly printed diagram of the virus structure. "This protein sequence looks familiar."
"You bet it does! It's highly consistent with that mutation model you predicted in your thesis years ago. I've reread your paper several times."
Elaine stared at the structure, memories suddenly awakening in her mind.
"If we approach it from this angle, using reverse transcription..."
The two quickly dove into discussion, and an hour later, even Elaine was amazed.
All that specialized knowledge ingrained in her hadn't been completely buried under the mundane demands of daily life.
Hazel's eyes lit up as she pulled a notebook from her bag.
"Keep going! I knew you hadn't forgotten! By the way, look at this research institute—it's one of the top facilities in the country. I heard they've made significant progress with virus research. I'm planning to transfer there—why don't you come with me? For your comeback, we could contribute to developing this vaccine together!"
"Yes!"
Elaine agreed without hesitation.
For those struggling against the virus, and to reclaim her former self.
This time, she would become a researcher who could face viruses head-on!
The next morning, as dawn barely broke, Hazel and Elaine stood before the glass doors of the vaccine research institute.
The bustle inside was visible to the naked eye.
People hurried past carrying folders, laboratory doors opened and closed constantly, and everyone was absorbed in their tasks.
Though the virus outbreak had occurred just a week ago, the place was already in chaotic motion.
Just as Hazel reached for the reception bell, a researcher hurried over.
"Here to volunteer for vaccine development?"
He spoke rapidly, clutching a stack of registration forms while continuously pressing the intercom at his ear.
"Sorry, we're completely swamped—even the interns have been pulled in to help."
Elaine and Hazel exchanged glances, both recognizing the severity of the virus situation from everyone's expressions.
He handed them the forms, then tapped the desk, "Just fill these out and leave them here. I need to check the temperature of culture dish number three. Oh, and please be thorough, especially about your research experience. We desperately need people who can hit the ground running."
As he finished speaking, the intercom crackled with another urgent call.
He acknowledged it and, without further words, hurried back toward the laboratory.
Understanding the urgency, Elaine and Hazel took the forms and began filling them out.
After completing her personal information, Elaine's gaze moved down to the "Research Experience" section, her pen hovering uncertainly above the paper.
She frowned, trying to recall her experiences over the past few years, unsure how to proceed.
Feeling awkward, she glanced sideways and noticed Hazel's pen moving rapidly across the paper.
"Three years ago, I participated in research on mutant strains of influenza A virus, which subsequently led to pre-clinical virus experiments..."
Line after line of neat, clear writing detailed major projects Elaine had only read about in academic journals over the years.
She looked back at her form.
Apart from the education section stating she'd graduated from Verdantia University Medical School, the research experience section remained virtually blank.
She'd been just 20 when she graduated, with a guaranteed spot in a graduate program, but had thrown herself into marriage after Arthur's proposal.
For four years, her experience consisted of changing countless diapers, with nothing medically relevant to show.
She twirled the pen between her fingers before finally setting it down.
Noticing Elaine's dejection, Hazel immediately put down her pen and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Don't get discouraged. Verdantia Medical School is a top institution, and you graduated with the highest GPA in the department. The knowledge you gained back then hasn't disappeared—you can do this."
Elaine lowered her eyes, watching Hazel's earnest profile, feeling the bitterness inside dissipate somewhat with her friend's words.
That afternoon, the institute representative returned with two notification slips.
He handed one to Hazel, "Ms. Clark, congratulations. Your background and professional qualifications meet all our requirements. You can start this afternoon."
Before Hazel could celebrate, the representative turned to Elaine with an apologetic tone, "Ms. Brown, I'm sorry, but our selection criteria are quite strict this time, favoring candidates with recent research experience."
He didn't elaborate, but everyone present understood.
Hazel's resume was filled with concrete project achievements, while Elaine's was essentially blank.
It was obvious to everyone that she'd been away from the field for years.
And in the midst of a raging pandemic, the institute needed people who could contribute immediately.
Elaine stared at the blank notification form handed back to her, feeling a small flame ignite within.
That spark in her eyes—the one that hadn't been completely ground away—began to consume the insecurity in her heart.
Gave up?
No.
She'd already lost four years—she couldn't make the same mistake again.
This was her chance, and she had to seize it with everything she had, to honor the passionate, brilliant person she once was.
Elaine shook her head, her fingertips light but her gaze extraordinarily clear as she slowly stood up straight.
Her back was ramrod straight, the dullness in her eyes vanishing, replaced by a quiet intensity.
She looked nothing like the woman who had smiled ruefully at the form that morning.
Watching her profile, Hazel was reminded of how Elaine had once held her own against academic titans in college.
She had always been like this—seemingly gentle, yet carrying tremendous force.
Elaine took a deep breath and pulled out a folder wrapped in brown paper from her bag.
"This is my undergraduate thesis research report. I verified the results in the laboratory seventeen times and ultimately extracted three proteins that effectively inhibit viruses—proteins that share common characteristics with the current outbreak."
The representative flipped through the report, his brow gradually relaxing.
But Elaine wasn't finished. With her other hand, she retrieved a small box from her bag.
When she opened it, inside lay a sapphire badge.
It was a commemorative Nobel Prize in Medicine badge, with the name "Kathy" engraved on the back.
Seeing the badge, Elaine's voice trembled slightly, "I know theory alone isn't enough. This belonged to my mother, Kathy. The virus genetic model she established is still in use today. I grew up in her laboratory and assisted with her experiments from childhood."
"Kathy!"
At the name, the staff member dropped his papers in shock.
He jerked his head up, eyes wide and reddening, "You mean... Professor Kathy who won the Nobel Prize at thirty? You're her daughter?"