The Double or more Life of the Fake Heiress (Mirabella)

Assistant trailed behind Hank, and the two quickly made their way out of the lab.

As they waited for the elevator, Hank glanced up, his gaze landing on the elevator doors. He casually remarked, "Is there news from the Patent Office?"

The assistant glanced at Hank cautiously before hesitantly saying, "Well, there is news..."

Seeing his assistant's hesitancy, Hank narrowed his eyes. "Preliminary rejection?"

"It's not exactly a rejection, but..." the assistant began, just as the elevator arrived, cutting himself off.

Hank, seeing this, remained silent. As the elevator doors opened, he stepped forward, only to see someone already inside.

"Dane," Hank greeted Dr. Ray respectfully with a nod.

Next to Dane stood a man with a fiercely imposing aura. Hank only took a quick glance before shifting his gaze away.

"Ah, Hank," Dane nodded, pressing the button to keep the elevator doors open, "Are you heading up or down?"

Hank replied they were going up and stepped into the elevator, choosing to stand away from the young man next to Dane, closer to the elevator wall.

Soon, the elevator doors closed.

Hank pressed the button for his office floor.

Dane turned his attention to Hank, not speaking to the young man beside him anymore. "The project your department is working on is quite impressive."

Hank hadn't expected Dane to be

aware of his work, given their

difference in status. He modestly replied, "You flatter me, Dr. Ray. It's all thanks to the collective effort of our department."

Dane, with his hands clasped behind his back, emanated an authoritative presence. "I heard from your department head about the patent application. How's it going? Approved yet?"

Hank, who hadn't heard the full story from his assistant, hesitated before answering, "We've just submitted the paperwork, so we're still waiting."

Dane hummed in acknowledgment. As the elevator reached their floor, he simply stated, "Patents are crucial. They represent technological achievements."

Hank nodded, understanding the weight of his words.

Dane then exited the elevator with the young man, leaving Hank and his assistant alone.noveldrama

With Dane gone, the assistant's tense demeanor relaxed. Curious, he asked, "That young man with Dane,

I've never seen him before. He's not one of our tech staff, is he?

Hank half-closed his eyes, pondering for a moment before responding, "That's Dane's only student."

The assistant looked up in surprise. "Dane's student... Isn't that the person who designed the alloy memory drive a few years back?"

"Yes," Hank confirmed, having only met the man once before. "He must have an interesting background. If we run into him again, remember to be polite."

The assistant quickly agreed, recognizing the young man's imposing aura as something beyond ordinary.

Soon, the elevator reached the floor of Hank's office, and they walked out.

In the office.

Hank took off his coat and hung it on a nearby rack. "So, what's the problem?"