Jin Xianglan gave a straightforward answer. “I am sorry that you see it that way.”

But Lu Jia’er contended with sharp words. “Professor Jin, quite the charade of affected manners! If you don’t want to witness the death of Ace, help us. If he is nothing but an experiment to you, then forget the fact that I am here. That being said, if Ace were gone, I would pin that crime on you for sure!”

“Are you threatening me?” Jin Xianglan squinted. A cloud came over her face.

“Yes, that is a threat.” Lu Jia’er acknowledged her intention, frank and honest.

A trace of anger tainted Jin Xianglan’s face. “How dare you threaten me when you can hardly protect yourself?”

Lu Jia’er burst into sneer. “Try me if you don’t believe me!”

Jin Xianglan returned with a sneer. “Provocation won’t work on me! Plus, you are barking at the moon! Say I let you go. Do you think you can be free? You and Ace represent the most confidential secret of this research center. Once you escape, the research center will cast a net all over the world to hunt you down. You will be brought back eventually. All your efforts will be futile!”

However, the cold blanket Jin Xianglan threw on Lu Jia’er had given her hope instead. “Can I take it as that meaning you are willing to help me?”

Jin Xianglan was taken aback. She pulled a long face. “That is not what I said!”

But her micro-expression had already been captured by Lu Jia’er. “Your eyes have given you away. Besides, you must have made arrangements, didn’t you?”

Jin Xianglan seemed to be awkward. “Don’t try to read me and speculate!”

“I am not speculating anything. You have exposed yourself. But now I understand why Ace tried to stop me from coming to you.” Lu Jia’er mentioned.

“Ace stopped you?” Jin Xianglan asked.

“Yes, I told him that you must have feelings for him, so he should be the one coming here to persuade you to help us get out of here. But he rejected the idea. He said that if you helped us, you would have to face grave consequences. That would be something he is not comfortable with.” Lu Jia’er told her the story calmly.

Jin Xianglan batted her eyelashes. “Did he… say that?”

“Yes! He cannot leave behind the relationship between you as sister and brother.” Lu Jia’er nodded to Jin Xianglan.

Lu Jia’er could not get a clear grasp on Jin Xianglan’s expressions at the moment but she could tell that the latter’s emotions were changing. Jin Xianglan did not press Lu Jia’er any harder. Instead, Jin Xianglan kept silent for a few seconds before she went on, “You are right. You may still have a chance to get away from the research center but Xiangdong… even if he is allowed to stay alive, he can only be alive in the research center. If so, what is the difference between him and my brother lying in there? Indeed, Xiangdong is not my biological brother but I have been treating him as such for all these years.”

Lu Jia’er kept her gaze at Jin Xianglan. “He knows that you have been treating him as your own brother.”

Jin Xianglan raised her eyelids. “Professor Lu, can you promise me something?”

Lu Jia’er replied to her, “I can promise you anything as long as you can help us.”

“Protect him!” Jin Xianglan said.

Usually, people would tell boys to protect girls. Contrary to that, Jin Xianglan was urging Lu Jia’er to protect Jin Xiangdong.

Others might find this laughable. But Lu Jia’er took it seriously. “I promise you. I will protect him!”

“Thank you!” Jin Xianglan expressed her gratitude, “Follow my instructions from this point on!”

Lu Jia’er nodded. “Sure. Thank you, Professor Jin!”

Jin Xianglan produced a forced smile. “I am just hoping that this is not a wrong decision.”