Paul had a lecture that day. During the break, he overheard two students discussing how a lab at the Faculty of Bioinformatics had been slapped with a fire safety violation and ordered to shut down for rectifications.

He didn’t think much of it at first, but then he heard them mention “Miranda” in their conversation. After asking for more details, he realized it was her lab. Without hesitation, he headed straight over and happened to catch the three students talking.

“Dr. Jefferson,” Miranda greeted him, “What brings you here? Please, come in.”

Madison and Sebastian also quickly greeted him with respect.

Paul nodded and said, “I’ve heard about everything. If the fire safety corrections are followed strictly, it will take at least two months. Move everything to my lab in the meantime. There’s plenty of room for your equipment.”

It sounded like a reasonable solution. But instead of agreeing immediately, Madison and Sebastian both looked at Miranda, silently waiting for her to decide.

Unknowingly, Miranda had become the backbone of their little group. Whether they were facing a problem or needed to make a decision, the two instinctively sought her opinion.

Moreover, they knew that Paul hadn’t made the offer because of them.

Miranda hesitated for a moment, then politely declined.

As the weather grew colder, daylight hours shortened. The sun had already set when Miranda and Paul found themselves in a small, bustling restaurant.

“Why did you refuse?” Paul asked, finally voicing the question that had been on his mind since they left the lab. The two had walked home together after leaving campus.

Miranda hadn’t eaten lunch and was starving. After the day’s chaos, she wasn’t in the mood to cook, so they decided to stop at the most popular restaurant nearby.

‘This one’s on me,” Paul offered.

Miranda didn’t argue. “Then I won’t be polite about it,” she said with a smile.

He smirked.

Due to the restaurant’s popularity, they had to wait for about ten minutes before getting a table. As soon as they sat down, Paul couldn’t hold back his question any longer.

Miranda wasn’t surprised. She sighed softly. “You’ve already helped me so many times, but some paths I have to walk on my own. Can you help me for the rest of my life?”

Paul opened his mouth, nearly blurting out, “Why not?” But he stopped himself. Instead, he listened as she continued.

“The conflicts between us, the faculty, and other professors and students… we can’t avoid them. This time, we might sidestep the issue, but what about next time? Or the time after that? It’s better to face it now and resolve it so similar things don’t happen again.”

Some people were used to being on top and oppressing others. If they didn’t experience some pain, they’d never learn to stop.

Paul asked, “It sounds like you already have a plan?”

“Sort of,” Miranda admitted, “but I still need to think it through carefully.”

After all, it wasn’t a small issue.

Paul nodded. “Since you’ve got it under control, I won’t push. But if you need my help, don’t hesitate to ask."

“Thank you.”

Miranda had another reason she didn’t mention. Every research group had its own dynamics, and Paul’s group—which included Sandy, Silas, Bryan, and Elizabeth—people who had worked together for years—was especially tight-knit.

It had taken her months to integrate with them. Adding Madison and Sebastian would only complicate things further.

Besides, borrowing someone else’s lab was never a long-term solution. She still had to rely on herself.

After dinner, the two walked home. A cool, brisk night wind blew, tangling Miranda’s hair. She reached up to tuck it behind her ear, but as soon as she let go, it blew wild again.

Paul took a few steps ahead of her, shielding her from the wind.

“Thank you,” she said, adjusting her hair once more.

Suddenly, a wave of warmth draped over her shoulders. Paul’s coat, still carrying the heat from his body, settled around her.

“It’s a bit cold. Wear this so you don’t catch a chill,” he said, stepping back after placing the coat on her shoulders, maintaining a respectful distance.

It was a gesture both restrained and thoughtful.