Hayden Crawford forcefully pulled Serena Sterling into his embrace, holding her tightly. In the years to come, he would never forget this night; the girl in his arms was so small, so soft, completely harmless, yet she told him she would protect him! Hayden lowered his eyes, smiling gently, "Okay." Serena felt him holding her with such strength, his strong arms tightening as if wanting to meld her into his bones and blood; she tiptoed and quickly pecked his handsome cheek. Hayden’s kiss also landed on her hair, and only after a long while did he slowly release her, "Are you hungry?" At this reminder, Serena’s small stomach growled with hunger again; the instant noodles she borrowed were still in the pharmacy. At this moment, Hayden opened the passenger door and pulled out a bag, "I had the chef make you some creamy mushroom pasta and also grilled a steak, go ahead and eat." Wow, Serena could already smell the delicious aroma. So Mr. Crawford drove to the research institute that night just to bring her a late-night snack. "This is for you." Hayden handed over something else. Serena looked up and saw that it was milk tea. Girls all like sweets, cakes, milk tea, and the like; Serena was no exception. She happily accepted the milk tea, complimenting, "Mr. Crawford, I’ve noticed you’re getting better at buying things for girls." Hayden raised an eyebrow. This update is available on novel⟡fire.net Serena opened the milk tea lid and took a sip of the cream on top. It was so tasty. "Mr. Crawford, do you want a sip? It’s really good." Hayden noticed she had lifted a corner of the veil, revealing her diamond-like lips, now with a bit of cream on the edge. The last time she ate cake, it was the same; her little mouth was messy. "Wipe here." Hayden pointed. Serena extended her tongue to lick, directly removing the cream, and then asked him with glistening eyes, "Is it clean now?" Hayden’s gaze suddenly deepened, as he reached to hold her nape, lowering his head to kiss her diamond lips. Serena, still holding the milk tea, was kissed until she was dizzy. Just then, she heard him murmur hoarsely in her ear, "I’ve wanted to kiss you since last time; the milk tea in your mouth is so sweet." For the next two days, Joan Alden still called on Serena to clean. During the day, Serena cleaned, always accompanied by Shania, and at night, she studied herbs. Thus, two busy days passed quickly, and soon it was the third day. Today was the day of Piper Pace’s inspection, a big day not only for netizens and Bayside socialites but also for the Secretariat staff who all came to join the excitement. Piper Pace was extremely rigorous in her work, arriving early in the pharmacy, carrying a fierce presence, along with a crowd of onlookers. Looking around, Piper didn’t see Serena Sterling, and her expression immediately turned extremely serious, "Shania, where is Serena Sterling? Does she know what day it is? I’ve already arrived, yet she’s nowhere in sight. Is she taking her internship seriously?" Shania broke out in a cold sweat, stammering, "Di... Director Pace, Serena came, but she... she went to the bathroom." Shania really sweated for Serena; she lied, having not seen Serena since she came in the morning. Now Director Pace and everyone were here, yet she, the main character, was missing... Piper Pace saw through Shania’s lie at once, "Shania, you’re even lying now. Tell me, where did Serena Sterling really go?" The onlookers then voiced their opinions, Director Pace, I think Serena Sterling might be scared and fled at the last minute? I think it’s possible. Serena Sterling knows she won’t pass this inspection, and she’s afraid of making a bigger joke, so she fled. Yasmine Sterling also came, and being the new star of the Secretariat, she was the center of attention wherever she went. Now, standing in the middle, her eyes gleamed with success. For the past three days, Serena Sterling had been cleaning; not to mention 12,800 kinds of herbs, she couldn’t name even 800 kinds! Yasmine went beside Piper Pace, gently furrowing her brows and softly saying, "Director Pace, I think Serena is just too nervous; if she doesn’t come, let’s not make it difficult for her." Joan Alden quickly said, "Yasmine, you’re always so kind to others, but Serena Sterling doesn’t appreciate it. The Secretariat is a sacred place, if Serena Sterling fled, we would report her to the entire city, and the whole medical community would blacklist her!" The consequences of Serena Sterling fleeing were severe, which reassured Yasmine. But Yasmine quickly showed a panicked and nervous expression, "Director Pace, is it really that serious? I think Serena is just being mischievous..." Before Yasmine could finish her sentence, a clear, drowsy voice interrupted, "Who is making noise early in the morning? Stop it, I still want to sleep." Everyone was shocked, this voice was... Serena Sterling! Shania quickly followed the sound to the front, then reached out and "swish" pulled the curtain open, revealing a slender figure lying on a long bench in the pharmacy, it was Serena Sterling. Oh my, Serena Sterling didn’t run. But what was Serena Sterling doing, sleeping? Serena was really sleeping. Even with the noise by her ear, she furrowed her brows, turned over, and continued to sleep comfortably. Piper Pace and the onlookers had arrived early, yet this young lady was still sleeping. Shania rushed forward, vigorously shaking Serena, "Serena, stop sleeping, wake up, Director Pace is here!" Shania was about to cry. Serena fluttered her long lashes. Before her eyes fully opened, she heard Piper Pace’s exasperated voice, "Serena Sterling, it’s already late morning, and you’re still sleeping? Have you forgotten what day today is?" The sleepy haze in Serena’s eyes vanished instantly. She shot up in a panic, looking like a guilty child at Piper, "Di... Director Pace, I’m sorry..." She only got to sleep at dawn, she was just too tired. "Enough!" Piper Pace cut her off, "Serena Sterling, I don’t want to waste any more time on you. Now I’ll start testing you. If you can’t answer or answer incorrectly, please leave the Secretariat immediately and bear all consequences!" Serena quickly straightened her slender, graceful back, "Yes, Director Pace!" Shania looked at Serena, still with a just-woken appearance, not even having time to wash her face. Shania almost cried, Serena, good luck. Piper Pace sat down and began the inspection, "Serena Sterling, in which cabinet can you find Angelica?"