Chapter 262: Candice Tate is a Human Lie Detector
"Alright," Dr. Hayes nodded. "This is your own affair, so you can decide for yourselves. If you change your minds later, you can come find me."
Sierra Sullivan had thought Dr. Hayes would be angry. Hearing his words, she breathed a sigh of relief and inwardly laughed at herself.
’I was really judging a gentleman by my own petty standards.’
’Dr. Hayes isn’t such a petty person!’
"Thank you, Dr. Hayes," Sierra Sullivan said sincerely. "If we need anything in the future, we’ll definitely come and bother you."
"Alright."
As he spoke, Dr. Hayes stood up. "I have to get back to my work."
"Then please, Dr. Hayes, go on ahead! We’re heading back too!"
Dr. Hayes grunted in acknowledgment and started toward the door.
"Wait," Sierra Sullivan called out, stopping Dr. Hayes.
Dr. Hayes turned his head to look at her. "What is it?"
"Dr. Hayes, it’s New Year’s Eve today. Happy New Year’s Eve!"
Perhaps not expecting Sierra Sullivan to say something like that so suddenly, Dr. Hayes was stunned for a moment. But his face quickly returned to being expressionless. "Mm."
Hector Grant was waiting outside. He had thought he would have to wait a while longer, but the door opened quickly. Dr. Hayes walked out first, followed by Sierra Sullivan and the other two.
"So soon?" Hector Grant stood up. "Is your discussion finished?"
"Yes." Sierra Sullivan smiled and nodded. "We’re finished. We’re very grateful to Dr. Hayes for today."
Hector Grant looked at Dr. Hayes, but he couldn’t read anything from the doctor’s face.
’What on earth could they have discussed that finished so quickly?’
Hector Grant was only curious for a moment before he pushed the thought to the back of his mind.
"Since you’re done, let’s go. Dr. Hayes is probably quite busy."
Dr. Hayes didn’t say anything, merely walking them out.
Seeing Dr. Hayes actually walk them out, Hector Grant was genuinely surprised.
In his memory, Dr. Hayes wasn’t the type for such pleasantries, nor would he ever do something so courteous. ’What’s gotten into him today?’
’Is it because he’s more familiar with Sierra Sullivan and her group?’
When they reached the doorway, Sierra Sullivan stopped. "Candice, say goodbye to Dr. Hayes."
Candice Tate waved awkwardly at Dr. Hayes. "Goodbye, Dr. Hayes!"
"Goodbye, Candice."
Dr. Hayes’s expression softened a little, and the corners of his mouth seemed to lift slightly.
But when Sierra Sullivan took a closer look, everything was back to normal.
It was as if what she had just seen was a figment of her imagination.
Long after Sierra Sullivan’s group had walked away, Dr. Hayes remained standing at the door, watching the direction they had gone.
One of Dr. Hayes’s assistants walked over, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke in a low voice, "Dr. Hayes..."
"What is it?"
Dr. Hayes replied, pulling his gaze away and looking at his assistant. He was back to his usual self.
The assistant thought Dr. Hayes was acting a bit strange today, but if pressed to say exactly how, he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Just as he was about to ponder it more carefully, Dr. Hayes’s gaze suddenly turned much colder. "You don’t want to work anymore?"
The assistant instantly snapped back to reality, hastily shaking his head. "No!"
"Then get to business!"
Before the assistant could say another word, Dr. Hayes turned and strode back inside.
Watching Dr. Hayes’s back, the assistant secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Not daring to waste any time, he immediately followed.
’Dr. Hayes is truly terrifying!’
’Those people just now... they were actually able to chat with Dr. Hayes. They’re incredible!’
Meanwhile, Sierra Sullivan and her group had reached a fork in the road.
"Regarding the matter I discussed with you before, please consider it carefully and give me an answer as soon as possible," Hector Grant said earnestly. "I’m not trying to rush you, but this is for your own good."
Sierra Sullivan nodded. "I know. I accept."
"It’s good that you know. I was just—what did you just say?"
Hector Grant stared at Sierra Sullivan in disbelief, as if he couldn’t trust what he had just heard.
Sierra Sullivan repeated herself. "I said, I accept."
Sierra Sullivan had accepted too quickly, too decisively.
So much so that even after hearing it twice, Hector Grant still couldn’t believe his ears.
"You said you accept? Why?"
Sierra Sullivan raised an eyebrow. "Why ’why’? The way you’re asking, Captain Grant, it sounds like you don’t want me to accept."
"No—" Hector Grant didn’t quite know how to explain himself and finally sighed. "Never mind. It doesn’t matter why you accepted. Since you did, it’s the best possible outcome. It’s New Year’s Eve, so go back and celebrate properly. We can talk about everything else tomorrow."
"Alright. We’ll come find you tomorrow morning."
After settling things with Hector Grant, the two groups parted ways at the fork.
They hadn’t gone far when Sierra Sullivan heard Candice Tate’s voice.
"Sierra, did you accept because of me?"
Sierra Sullivan looked at Candice Tate, a little surprised. "Candice, why would you ask that?"
"I could feel it."
Sierra Sullivan had originally planned to deny it and comfort Candice.
But after hearing Candice say that, the comforting words caught in her throat and she couldn’t get them out.
’In a way, isn’t Candice a human lie detector?’
’It might not be 100% accurate, but she can sense people’s true thoughts and reasons.’
’That means, naturally, no one can lie to her.’
’This Superpower is too amazing!’
Sierra Sullivan looked at Candice Tate with a hint of envy.
’Candice must be a favored child!’
’Her innate talent for Superpowers was already high enough, and now she’s awakened such a miraculous one.’
’Candice will definitely be able to grow up safely and live a good life!’
"Sierra!"
Candice Tate spoke again.
"I don’t want you to force yourself because of me. I want you to do what you like."
Hearing Candice Tate’s words, Sierra Sullivan’s heart softened.
"You’re such a good kid, Candice! But don’t worry, I won’t force myself. While you were part of the reason for my decision, you definitely weren’t the whole reason, so you don’t need to overthink it! I don’t have any plans to leave Subterra for now, so following Captain Grant is a pretty good option, don’t you think, Candice?"
Candice Tate thought about it seriously before replying, "Captain Grant is a good person."
It was a good thing Hector Grant wasn’t there. If he had heard Candice Tate also giving him the "good person card," who knows what he would have thought.
"Let’s go!" Sierra Sullivan took Candice Tate’s small hand. "Let’s hurry back. Everyone’s waiting for us! It’s New Year’s Eve, after all!"
The three of them hurried on their way, and just as they reached the door, they smelled the rich aroma of food.
It wasn’t a single aroma, but a mixture of various scents that was mouth-watering just to smell.
Sierra Sullivan was only thinking about it, but the people living nearby were already actually drooling.
It was New Year’s Eve, and they had also prepared tasty food, but it was nothing compared to the meal the Everett Family had prepared.
Smelling the aroma in the air and then looking at the ingredients they had prepared themselves, they felt that their own food didn’t seem fragrant at all anymore.