Chapter 5: Purple Lilies

East City

University of Centriona

Two days after Rui and Chase's reunion, Chase never failed to text her “Good morning” and “Good night.”

But the texts were all one-sided, Rui just ignored his messages and continued with her work at the University. 

Because she is now the world-renowned Dr. Rui, who helped solve the case of serial murders in London, she has access to Centriona's database. 

She already got the clearance from the Secretary of the Department of Justice to reopen the case of her parents' car accident. They cannot turn down her request because she contributed a lot of glory and honor to the country. Besides, it's her family's case. So even if someone from East City interferes, she has the approval of the national secretary. 

While Carter and Rui are staying here, they were given their labs and office. They both occupied the whole floor.

Although Carter is still not around, a lot of students from different departments are queuing up to see the handsome professor of forensic science who helped solve the case that involved an English Royal. 

A student walked up to Rui and asked, “Miss, are you Professor Anderson's assistant? When will he report to school?”

Rui raised her brows at the student and looked down at the petite girl wearing a summer dress. “He will report next month. You can all scram or I'll get the guards to take care of you?”

The girls felt shivers run down their spine and quickly left the floor. 

She heard a familiar low voice behind her so she immediately looked back, “You're intimidating them, Dr. Rui”

“Professor Han!”  she exclaimed. 

Professor Han is her teacher back when she was just taking her Bachelor's degree. 

The old professor ignored her and entered her laboratory. “I heard from the Secretary of Justice that you are reopening your parent's case?”

She was taken aback by his question but she still answered truthfully. “Yes.”

“Good. Your Grandpa is my good colleague, and Steven is my godson. Give your parent's the justice they deserve.”

She felt her heart tighten when she heard her father's name again. “I will.”

She clenched her fist when she remembered Lianna and Shane's conversation when she caught them. 

She was implying that the bankruptcy was her father's doing and their family did not valiantly save the company but usurped it. 

So what if her parent's car accident is also a premeditated plan?

If so, why?

They already got the company, what more do they want from her?

“Thank you for remembering my family, Professor Han…” she solemnly thanked her old professor.

Professor Han just patted her shoulders and nodded at her. “The Secretary of Justice is your Grandpa's student. He asked me to look after you while you're exploring the case. Although your family is low profile, the connections run deeper than the aristocrats of the East City.”

When the professor left her alone in the laboratory, she felt her legs soften so with her energy drained, she collapsed on the floor. 

Her parent's death is her sore spot. 

She can never get over it. 

So in the five years that she was out of the country, she tried to harden her heart before she delved into her family's case. She has to take her emotions out of the way or there will be no progress. 

When she read the case files of the accident, it was stated there that the cause was a brake failure. According to the police, it was all an accident.

After that conclusion, they closed the case. They did not check the CCTV whether it was tampered with or not. 

Now that five years have passed, collecting evidence would be extra hard. She has to rely on the CCTV footage and the police database to trace the people involved in the accident. 

She wiped her tears away and packed her things. 

She still has one class this afternoon. 

After fixing her appearance, she left her laboratory and headed straight to the lecture hall.

As a Forensic Pathologist, she usually teaches the subject of Forensic Medicine. 

Now, she decided to teach minor subjects like Human Anatomy and Physiology this semester. 

She walked straight to the podium and displayed her presentation on the screen. 

“Since I've taught you quite a lot yesterday, answer the following questions presented in front of you. You have 30 minutes.”

Then she sat at the side and waited for them to finish answering. 

After they finished the quiz, Rui dismissed them. 

She has already taught them a week's worth of lectures so it's cool if she releases them early. She knows that young people like them like to play around with their friends. 

The student who submitted last asked her, “Professor Yoon, are you the Dr. Rui of London's serial murders?”

She was surprised that the news of her involvement would spread here. She never revealed her face in the interviews and would only accept interviews on radios.

'Well, I'm the only forensic pathologist with a name, Rui.'

Rui nodded and smiled at the student. “I hate crowds, Ms. Perez.”

The student surnamed Perez understood what she meant and nodded. “Then can I please get your autograph tomorrow?”

“You can just go to my office tomorrow.”

When she reached her office, she saw Chase standing outside the door with a bouquet of purple lilies in his arms. 

“What are you doing here?” she asked. 

Chase stood straight in front of her and passed her the bouquet. “I'd like to invite you for dinner, Rui.”

'Is he so free that he invited me out so early? It's just 3 in the afternoon!'

“I'm busy.”

Rui opened her office door and went inside, she did not notice that Chase swiftly went inside too.

She thought the bouquet that she received from him was arranged nicely. Purple lilies are her favorite flowers so she would not give them back to him. Even if her pride is hurting, she valued the flowers, not the giver. 

She placed the bouquet on top of her table. 

“I'll wait for you,” he said as he settled himself on a couch near her table. 

She was shocked when she saw the tall man who was sitting comfortably on her couch. “Hey! I'm not going out with you!”

“Besides, don't you have work?”

The man took out his laptop from his leather bag and placed it on the table. “I brought my work here. I can wait, Rui.”

She massaged the space between her eyebrows as she suppressed her temper from flaring up. “I honestly am not free for dinner, Chase. I'm not making excuses.”

She found it absurd that she had to explain it thoroughly to the man in front of her. 

Who is he to her anyway? 

He's just a stranger!

“Then can I take you home? Otherwise, I'll insist on taking you out for dinner tonight,” he stubbornly negotiated. 

“Are you a businessman, Mr. Chase?” she asked. 

“You're sharp. Yes, I am. So I won't shut up until I get you to agree to either of my invitations.”

'I knew it. This guy doesn't like losing. So annoying.'

“Fine. Do as you like. Don't disturb me.”

She opened her desktop and made lesson plans for all the subjects that she is teaching. While Chase quietly worked on his laptop.

They both were immersed in their worlds, they did not notice that it was nighttime already. 

The silence between the two was broken when Rui's phone rang. 

“Hello, baby? … Yeah, I'm on my way home.” 

Chase looked up when he heard her say, 'baby'

'Who's her baby? Is he her boyfriend? Is that their endearment?!' he thought. 

Chase, who was now overthinking just because he heard her say that word, did not notice that she was done with the call and was already packing her things. 

She snapped her fingers in front of his dazed face and asked, “Are you going to take me home or not?”

The moment he heard her voice, he immediately packed up his belongings and helped her carry her Hermes handbag. He doesn't want to miss the chance to escort her home. He wanted to maximize his chances to win her over. 

Rui let Chase carry her bag because she wanted to hold the bouquet of purple lilies by herself. 

“You like purple lilies?” she heard Chase ask. 

She looked up and smiled, “Yes, thank you for this.”

When he saw her bright smile, he felt his heart beat faster. It was the first time she smiled at him. He knew she was extremely beautiful but she did not know she was this pretty when she smiles. 

'Thank God for purple lilies.'

“I'm glad to hear that.”

It was already 8 in the evening and there were only a few people left at the university. 

She saw the black Jeep Wrangler parked near their department building and thought it looked familiar. 

Chase opened the passenger seat for her and then he passed her handbag.

Chase did not bother asking for her address and just drove straight to her mansion. She was not even surprised that Chase knew her address. If he knows her name and job, then he knows her home address. 

There's no doubt that this man investigated her. 

But she did not voice out her conclusions. She just stayed silent. 

It's obvious why he did it. 

The deafening silence in the car was shattered when Rui's phone rang again. 

“Baby, I'm on my way, okay? … Did you eat? … Okay. Help me thank Uncle Jun… Bye.” 

Chase looked at her with questioning eyes but Rui just ignored it. 

There's no way in hell that she would let the father and son meet. 

No way. 

When they reached the mansion, Chase held her wrist to stop her from going out immediately. “Do you have plans tomorrow?”

“I have. Not all people are idle like you, Mr. Chase.”

Despite the harshness of Rui's words, Chase still smiled at her sincerely. “Next time then”

Without sparing him another glance, Rui went out and entered the massive renaissance style gate.