Walking out from the airport exit, Inomata Naoki looked at Chen Yu, who was waiting for him alongside his girlfriend, Tokairin Yuko. His expression was a mix of emotions.


    "You, you really ditched your friends for a woman! I kept asking you toe to Tokyo, and you wouldn''t budge. Yet the moment Doctor Tokairin called, you came running faster than anyone else!" Chen Yu teased Inomata Naoki deliberately as soon as he saw him, breaking the slight, almost negligible awkwardness in the air.


    "Brother Yu..." Inomata Naoki felt a bit ufortable facing Chen Yu, but now that he was in Tokyo, having made his decision, there was no room for backing out.


    Seeing Naoki''s hesitant and awkward expression, Chen Yu walked over and patted his shoulder, saying directly, "Alright, no need for so many exnations. The fact that you came to help me is already enough."


    After speaking, Chen Yu turned his gaze to Tokairin Yuko, who was standing nearby, and gave Naoki a gentle push from behind, sending him forward to face her.


    "Mr. Naoki," Tokairin Yuko greeted her boyfriend shyly yet happily, her voice reserved but tinged with excitement.


    Faced with his girlfriend, the embarrassment Naoki had been feeling eased somewhat. He greeted her in return, "Yuko, thank you foring to pick me up."


    "I''m your girlfriend; of course, I''de to pick you up!" Tokairin Yuko''s face blossomed with a smile as she naturally looped her arm through Naoki''s. She then turned to Chen Yu, saying, "Doctor Chen, shall we go?"


    "Alright, let''s go and get Naoki settled first," Chen Yu replied with a smile before nodding.


    However, Naoki turned to Chen Yu and said, "I''d like to familiarize myself with the situation first. After all, it''s been years since I''ve touched any of this. I think it''s better for me to get acquainted with the environment and ease into it."


    Hearing Naoki''s suggestion, Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, though he wasn''t surprised. He nodded and said, "Since that''s your n, let''s head to theb first. It''d be good for you to get familiar with the environment sooner. I''ll also hand over the research materials to you so you can start going through them."


    With that, Chen Yu led Naoki and Yuko out of the airport, and the three of them headed to the hospitalboratory together.


    Inside theb, the researchers were busy working diligently on their respective tasks. When they noticed Chen Yu entering with others, they quickly greeted him.


    Chen Yu, already ustomed to this, nodded at everyone and gestured for them to continue.


    But right behind Chen Yu, Naoki took in the bustling scene and couldn''t help butment, "I never thought you''d be called Professor Yu now! I still remember back in our university days, when we used to follow behind professors and call them ''Professor.''"


    "Times change, don''t they? If you hadn''t hidden yourself away in Kumamoto, you''d probably be a professor by now too," Chen Yu nced back at Naoki and couldn''t help but chuckle.


    The two exchanged a few casual remarks, reminiscing about their old days. Shortly after, Chen Yu handed over thepiled research materials to Naoki. "Here''s the current research data for the new drug. Take it home and review it. If there''s anything unclear, give me a call. And don''t forget to show up on time for work tomorrow."


    "Got it. Thanks, Brother Yu." Naoki carefully epted the materials, knowing exactly how critical this information was and fully aware of the trust Chen Yu had ced in him.


    Although the drug hadn''t yet been developed, the research materials were immensely valuable. They contained not only Chen Yu''s prior studies on broad-spectrum anti-cancer drugs and the rted data for the new drug but also his methods and principles behind the research. Having this information essentially meant having the means to replicate Chen Yu''s work.


    Under normal circumstances, such crucial research materials would never leave theb, let alone be casually handed over to someone for private review.


    The fact that Chen Yu was willing to share this vital information with Naoki truly showcased his trust in him.


    Of course, the data did have theft-prevention measures in ce. If anyone unauthorized tried to steal or peek at the contents...


    They''d better hope their luck held or that they''d never encountered ghosts—or feared anything in their lives—for that matter.


    Chen Yu guided Naoki around theb, helping him get ustomed to the space and sharing details about the current progress of the experiments. Only after that did they leave theboratory.


    "You''re already familiar with theb''s situation. The basics are as I mentioned. What I need now is to improve the new drug so that it can trigger contact inhibition in tumor cells, destroy those cells, and minimize damage to healthy cells," Chen Yu exined as he brought Naoki to his office. Once seated, he added, "Naoki, have you sorted out your amodations yet? Do you need me to arrange something for you?"


    "No need. I''ll be staying at Yuko''s for now. Whether I need to find another ce will depend on how things proceed," Naoki replied, ncing at Tokairin Yuko, the affection between them unmistakable.


    Seeing this, Chen Yu chose not toment, though he never thought there''de a day when he''d have to endure public disys of affection as well.


    Shaking his head helplessly and pretending not to notice, Chen Yu then said to Naoki, "Well, since that''s the case, let''s all have dinner tonight. I''ll invite Hiromi and Kaori as well. Consider it a wee meal for you."


    "Thanks for the treat, Brother Yu," Naoki replied straightforwardly, not standing on ceremony. Hearing he''d be treated to dinner, he easily agreed.


    Since Tokairin Yuko had taken a day off to pick up Naoki, she stayed with him in Chen Yu''s office until work hours ended. Then the two joined Chen Yu to meet Jounouchi Hiromi andter brought along Kohinata Kaori. The five of them left the hospital together, looking for a ce to eat.


    "Senior, where should we go for dinner?" Kohinata Kaori asked Chen Yu eagerly, her excitement evident after learning that Inomata Naoki would be staying in Tokyo to assist Chen Yu.


    Hearing Kohinata''s query, Chen Yu nced at Jounouchi Hiromi beside him and softly asked her, "Honey, what would you like for dinner tonight?"


    "Anything is fine. Tonight''s about weing Mr. Naoki, so why don''t you ask him for his preference?" Jounouchi Hiromi thought for a moment before passing the decision on to Naoki.


    Chen Yu naturally shifted his attention to Naoki, who pondered briefly before replying, "I''ll leave it to you, Brother Yu. You''re more familiar with ces in Tokyo."


    Hearing Naoki''s response, Chen Yu nodded and said, "Alright then, let''s go for barbecue. I''ll have someone reserve us a table."