Therefore, Shabia had an unwritten rule: no dating within the company. This was to prevent situations where a high probability of offspring inheriting traits from both parents might arise, potentially impacting the next generation's development and the company's image.
After chatting until past four, the snow stopped, and the temperature hovered around ten degrees Celsius. The thin layer of snow likely wouldn't last past noon.
And before the snow melted, we would probably be heading back to the Northeast.
"Let's go back," I said, tossing my now-cold coffee into a trash can by the car. "Let's get another nap."
"Ah? You want me... to sleep with you?" Shen Xingyue asked, surprised.
"Do you dare?" I asked with a smile.
"No way!" Shen Xingyue said decisively. "Last time you slept in my office, you made me so nervous, I was practically useless."
"That's because your bed was too small. Get a bigger one, and I'll sleep on yours often."
"You little rascal! I'll get you!"
We chased each other playfully in the snow, returning to the laboratory area. Just as we were about to board the shuttle bus, I noticed a set of footprints on the ground.
"Do you guys keep chickens in your lab?" I asked casually.
"No, we don't. Where would a chicken come from?" Shen Xingyue asked.
I pointed to the footprints in the snow. They were distinctly chicken tracks, originating from the bushes and leading to the laboratory entrance. It must have wandered inside.
"Haha, so we can have roast chicken tomorrow morning?" Shen Xingyue chuckled.
I had a faint sense that something was wrong. How could a chicken sneak into the lab undetected? Wasn't it supposed to be heavily guarded, to the point where not even a fly could get out?
I got off the shuttle bus and followed the chicken tracks to the laboratory entrance. There was no snow inside, but there were some wet footprints left by the chicken, indicating it hadn't been gone long. Ahead was a large, straight tunnel leading underground for the shuttle bus. Where was the chicken?
I activated my Qi sensing technique and quickly found it. It was already three hundred meters away and still running fast. The distance was too great, and the light was dim, so I could only vaguely see a small white dot flickering as it receded.
"Let's go," I said.
We got on the shuttle bus. Its speed was naturally faster than the chicken's. Soon, we caught up. The little white chicken even knew to let us pass, standing by the wall, quietly waiting for Shen Xingyue and me to go by.
"According to your regulations, you don't need to catch it, right?" I asked Shen Xingyue.
"There are no regulations specifically for chickens. Besides, this is just an underground passage, not the core experimental area. We don't need to bother with it. Let's go," Shen Xingyue said as she drove the shuttle bus.
"...I still feel something's a bit off," I shook my head.
After the shuttle bus drove a few dozen meters, I looked back. The little white chicken had followed us again, proceeding along the same route with its distinctive gait.
Was it lost and thought this was the way home?
Chickens are very timid creatures. Even if very tame, they become wary when their owner approaches. But this little guy was peculiar. There was more than one shuttle bus in the tunnel; I had already seen three vehicles pass by the little white chicken. Of course, everyone understood the rules and didn't bother with it, unless a chef saw it and, out of professional respect, might take it back to be prepared as a delicious meal.
"Did you bring a gun?" I asked Shen Xingyue.
"No, don't you have one?"
Oh, right. Shen Xingyue had given me that dagger-gun. I took it out, turned to face the rear seat, and aimed at the little white chicken, using the backrest for support. But just as I was about to pull the trigger, the little white chicken spotted me and immediately turned, running to the side and hiding behind a large box!
"Stop! Something's not right!" I whispered. An ordinary chicken wouldn't know to dodge bullets! This was a spy chicken!