As September began, Dr. Sturgis's Booster Recovery research project entered its most crucial phase.
On one hand, the research project was nearing its results, and on the other, there were only a few days left until the Nobel Prize application deadline.
It's worth noting that over the past week or so, Mike's three-person research team had gained increasing importance within the overall team due to their exceptionally high work efficiency.
"Hey, everyone! Break time!" At lunchtime, Connie walked into the laboratory full of energy, carrying a large stack of pizzas and coffee.
Thanks to her relationship with Dr. Sturgis and Mike's three-person team, Connie had the right to enter the research lab at any time.
Therefore, she would occasionally bring food and drinks to share with the project researchers.
With Connie's cheerful personality, she easily won the favor of most researchers in the lab.
This time was no different; in a pleasant atmosphere, the pizzas Connie brought were distributed to each researcher as lunch.
Afterward, she carried a special lunch by herself and went to Dr. Sturgis, who was still working with his head down.
"John, take a break. Look what I brought you." Connie smiled, holding out a fresh flower from behind her back as if presenting a treasure.
Here, it's worth mentioning Connie's purpose in taking such good care of the researchers.
She wanted to use this method to help Dr. Sturgis alleviate some stress, thereby deepening their relationship.
Yes, Connie was such a woman of action; she was trying to integrate into Dr. Sturgis's life.
However, Dr. Sturgis, who was in the critical period of compilation, did not grasp Connie's romantic gesture.
His train of thought interrupted, his expression was somewhat displeased: "Connie, come with me for a moment. I have something to tell you."
The two went into the small office next door, one after the other. Connie, oblivious to Dr. Sturgis's bad mood, hummed a tune while setting the special lunch on the table.
A pizza, a bottle of red wine, plus a beautiful fresh flower.
"All right, what do you want to say...?" Having finished her preparations, Connie sat across from Dr. Sturgis with an expectant look.
She thought her sincerity over this period had finally moved Dr. Sturgis, and she was now smiling, waiting for him to initiate the "confession."
After all, a confession needs a sense of ceremony, and it's best if the man confesses first for it to be perfect.
It could be said that Connie's mind was now full of romantic ideas.
"Connie, I know your actions recently are well-intentioned, but you've been disturbing our team's work efficiency," Dr. Sturgis expressed his concern.
Focused on his research, he felt that Connie's frequent entry into the lab had seriously disrupted his team's research progress.
After all, every time Connie arrived, she would bring some "gifts" that distracted the researchers.
"So, what exactly do you want to say?" Realizing the atmosphere was off, Connie slowly put away her smile.
"I just want to remind you not to enter the lab so casually anymore. It will disrupt our team's research progress..." Dr. Sturgis organized his thoughts and said, "So, if possible, it's best if you don't appear at the University of Texas until this research project is over."
"Are you annoyed with me?" Not hearing what she wanted to hear, but instead being criticized, Connie's expression turned ugly.
"I didn't say that. I just think we both need some personal space and should try not to disturb each other's lives..." Dr. Sturgis, unaware of the seriousness of the problem, continued to speak eloquently and philosophize.
However, this was understandable; having been single for most of his life, he wasn't really suited for an overly intimate relationship.
One should know that Dr. Sturgis's previous life was one where he could go wherever he wanted and do whatever he wanted, alone.
He even had the experience of traveling the world by himself.
"...Let's break up!" Connie, who had been silent for a while, suddenly interrupted Dr. Sturgis's speech.
Connie had put a lot of effort into this late-life romance.
Now, it could be said, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
As Mike had said before, the free-spirited Connie and the elite academic Dr. Sturgis were simply not on the same wavelength.
The emotionally dull Dr. Sturgis found it difficult to appreciate the small joys in Connie's life.
Similarly, the less educated Connie couldn't understand Dr. Sturgis's strange research data.
The two had significant differences in personality and education, and it would be difficult for them to have common topics after living together for a long time.
"Break up?" Dr. Sturgis, suddenly hearing the word "break up," his first reaction was a strange sense of relief. Then, out of politeness, he asked, "Why?"
For Dr. Sturgis, love was a condiment or a luxury; it could exist, but it could also not.
Now, focused on his research project, he was more inclined to choose the latter to avoid disturbance.
Connie, who saw every subtle change in his expression, became even more disappointed: "No why, we're over."
In this relationship, Connie, who chose to give more, was truly tired at this moment.
Moreover, clinging on was not Connie's style.
So, after saying goodbye, she decisively got up and left the room.
Behind her, Dr. Sturgis, watching Connie leave, his first reaction this time was surprisingly not to chase after her, but to be glad he had more time for research.
It was this momentary lapse that made him completely lose the chance to win Connie back.
However, there is always gain with loss, and Dr. Sturgis's actions were not entirely bad.
In the following period, without Connie's disturbance in the lab, the research progress indeed accelerated significantly.
This was exactly the result Dr. Sturgis wanted.
Meanwhile, Mia, who had returned to Genovia, after familiarizing herself with the local life for a few days, was forcibly arranged by Queen Renaldi to attend various events.
Just like with American entertainment newspapers, Mia's scandalous news in the Genovia tabloids was completely suppressed by Queen Renaldi upon her return.
However, before that, the girl's poor image had already spread throughout the kingdom.
As the future princess and even future Queen of the kingdom, Mia could be said to hold the lifeline of the kingdom's future. Therefore, her popularity and attention in Genovia were currently very high.
The longing for a better life made the people of Genovia hope that Mia could be a qualified heir.
Therefore, to prevent the public from being too disappointed, Queen Renaldi arranged various public events for the girl, hoping to help Mia reverse her image within Genovia.
From a macro perspective, this was more like a political show.
To allow Mia to showcase herself in all aspects, Queen Renaldi specifically arranged performances such as equestrianism, archery, and piano playing for the girl.
These were all skills a qualified princess needed to master.
At the same time, to achieve a publicity effect, the Queen also specifically invited top national journalists to follow Mia's upcoming series of "show" activities throughout.
This was to spread the girl's "excellent" side to the public through the media.
However, what Queen Renaldi did not expect was that those radical factions in the kingdom dared to cause disruptions during Mia's performance activities.
Mia, who was already not very proficient in some of the skills a princess needed to master, had an untamed wild horse secretly swapped in during her equestrian performance, and in activities such as archery and piano performance, the props the girl used were more or less tampered with.
She almost fell off the horse, played the piano out of tune, couldn't pull the bow in archery...
Mia made many jokes during her show activities.
Now, the girl's already bad image in Genovia had another flaw added to it—lack of education.
"Sorry, Grandma. I think I messed everything up..." After only half a month back, Mia's face had become very haggard.
To be precise, she was mentally and physically exhausted.
And the current situation was completely different from the "delicate" princess life the girl had envisioned.
"It's not your fault, I was inconsiderate..." Queen Renaldi did not blame the girl. Then, she thought for a long while before continuing, "If you still trust me, I will rearrange your publicity direction next."
"Of course, I trust you." Half a month allowed Mia to understand Queen Renaldi's "greatness" more deeply, and also her difficulties in Genovia.
The inherently kind girl, whether out of sympathy for her Grandma or wanting to help her share some burden, in short, she was now very willing to do something for Genovia.
"Mia, I want you to know that the Kingdom of Genovia doesn't actually need a Disney-style princess. What the kingdom needs now is a princess with responsibility and a sense of duty..." Queen Renaldi seemed to have a new training plan, continuing, "For the upcoming activities, you just need to perform naturally."
If there was one biggest bright spot about Mia, it was probably her kindness.
Based on this advantage, Queen Renaldi then arranged a series of public-friendly activities for the girl.
To have Mia go among the people:
To visit farmers at livestock farms, agricultural fields, orchards, and so on.