Lucy knocked on the door. A gruff ’come in’ sounded.
She twisted the doorknob, opened the door before she walked in fully.
"Professor." She called out softly, causing Kane to look up.
He gave her a small nod, then gestured for her to take a seat.
"You asked me to see you?" Her words came out as a question.
"Yes," he answered, then pushed a folder towards her.
"I’ve prepared the project groups. You’re the student representative, so I wanted you to check if I overlooked any obvious conflicts."
Lucy raised her brows. This was something which could be discussed online.
So... why did he ask her to see him in his office?
She thought for a while before she shook her head. There was no use in understanding Kane’s actions. That much she gathered in the few days she has spent with him as his student rep.
Without much thought, she picked the folder and went through the grouping.
For a moment, silence reigned in the office as Lucy studied the folder.
Then—
She closed it, and placed it on the table. "It’s perfect, Professor."
Kane acknowledged her, then leaned back against his chair.
"You recognized the structures."
"...I did?"
"Most students were looking at the reward. You were looking at the compounds."
Lucy rubbed the back of her neck.
He... noticed?
"Well..." she started, unsure on how she should continue. Ever since she sent him the text asking about his welfare, the lines between professionalism and casualness began to blur.
"I’ve always loved research. I know it sounds strange, but... discovering something no one else has discovered before..." She smiled sheepishly. "I think that’s exciting."
"I noticed."
Lucy’s heartbeat hammered against her chest. He knows.
"I have a question, Professor. May I ask."
Kane’s heavy gaze was fixed on her as he gave her a go-ahead.
"The project," she stopped, wringing her fingers together, a ball of nerves sitting in the pit of her stomach. "Is it related to you?"
"Yes." He answered with a deep voice.
Lucy blinked, then swallowed. "Are you by any chance related to Phil Sterling?"
Kane’s brows lifted for the first time that morning.
"You... know my father?"
A smile spread across Lucy’s face. "I’m a big fan of Professor Phil Sterling. His papers on antimicrobial resistance were the reason I became interested in medicinal chemistry."
"Is that so?"
Lucy bobbed her head energetically. "I never knew that you were his son. I couldn’t even find the link. I should have known. The surname was a dead giveaway."
Kane found himself watching her instead of listening.
She spoke with her hands. Her eyes shone every time she mentioned a research paper.
Every sentence carried the same excitement he’d once seen in another scientist.
His father.
Before he realized it... he smiled.
"Miss Bennett." Kane interrupted her.
"Yes, Professor?"
"If you had the opportunity to work on research that could save millions of lives..." He held her gaze. "...would you take it?"
Lucy didn’t even hesitate. "Without question."
Kane looked at her for a long moment.
"I thought so."
Lucy’s brows furrowed.
"You may leave." He said, and just as Lucy reached the door, he added, "one more thing."
Lucy turned to him, and their gazes met.
"Remember, if you have any questions concerning the project..." he held her gaze for a while, "... don’t hesitate to ask me."
"Sure thing, Professor."
Kane breathed out roughly when Lucy stepped out.
Two days later.
The university library was quieter than usual.
Lucy arrived five minutes early, a notebook tucked beneath her arm and three research papers already printed out.
She glanced at the message in their newly created group chat.
Project Group Three, Table 12.
"Hopefully, they are punctual," she murmured.
"Hopefully who?"
Lucy looked up.
A tall young man dropped into the chair opposite her, balancing two textbooks in one hand and a coffee in the other.
"Lucy, right?"
She nodded.
He smiled, extending a hand. "Daniel Cole."
Lucy returned the handshake.
"I’ve heard about you."
Lucy frowned. "Hopefully nothing bad."
Daniel chuckled. "Actually... quite the opposite."
Before Lucy could ask what he meant, three more students arrived.
Two females and a male.
A petite girl with round glasses introduced herself as Maya.
The guy introduced himself as Victor, a playful look in his eyes.
The last member, Sasha, walked over with an expression that suggested that she’d rather be anywhere else.
"So..." Daniel rubbed his palms together. "Should we see what Professor Sterling has thrown at us?"
Lucy nodded, and opened the project file. The compound filled the first page.
For a few seconds... nobody spoke.
Victor broke the silence first. "I don’t even know where to start."
Maya sighed. "The molecular structure itself is giving me a headache."
Sasha glanced around, disinterest visible in her eyes.
Daniel leaned closer, his brows knitted together. "It looks... incomplete."
Lucy didn’t answer. Her eyes traced every compound.
She flipped the pages. Then—
Her brows slowly knitted together.
Daniel noticed, and he frowned. "What is it?"
Lucy reached for a pen. "I think..." She circled one section. "...this isn’t the original formulation."
Everyone looked at her.
"What do you mean?" Maya asked.
Lucy turned the page back. "The stabilizing group should be here," then she moved the pen slightly, "But it is missing."
Victor frowned. "So... Professor Sterling made a mistake?"
Lucy immediately shook her head. "No."
"So what is it?"
She stared at the compound a little longer.
Then, she muttered almost to herself, "I think..." She paused, her gaze landing on her group members. "...he wants us to find it."
Silence filled the room.
Then, Daniel slowly smiled.
"So that’s why he said we should evaluate it instead of just analyzing it."
Lucy nodded. "I don’t think it is a finished compound."
"Rather, It was designed to be questioned."
For the first time since they sat down... the project no longer looked impossible.
It looked like a puzzle.
And Lucy loved puzzles.