The young researcher frowned, his tone extremely serious: "No appointment? No approval? No visitor pass?"

"I'm sorry, but there are strict regulations in the laboratory. Unauthorized personnel cannot enter at will, especially in areas involving core technologies and critical data. Please leave immediately, or I will have to call security."

Unauthorized personnel?

Wherever leaders go, they're always in the spotlight, never regarded as unauthorized. The childlike anticipation and curiosity on his face instantly froze, a hint of offended anger swiftly flashed through his eyes.

However, he quickly realized his expression was inappropriate, so he took a deep breath, remembered the initial purpose of this visit, and his promise to "not respond to insults, not retaliate to aggression," forcefully suppressing the discomfort, only allowing his mouth to twitch slightly.

Dean Xia's heart was in his throat. He quickly stepped forward, slightly leaning his body, with an awkwardly stiff smile on his face: "Student, let me explain, we are indeed..."

"Who do you call a student?" The researcher rudely interrupted Dean Xia, his tone stiff, carrying a scientist's unique obstinacy and almost rigid respect for rules. "Please show your identification! Work ID! Personal ID!" Although his voice wasn't loud, it sounded exceptionally clear.

The leader instinctively patted his jacket's inside pocket and pants pocket, finding nothing.

With his status, items like IDs and phones are usually properly kept by his entourage. He hardly ever carries such "burdens" himself, so he couldn't possibly bring out these IDs now.

Dean Xia usually carries his Sanbo Hospital work ID, but this time, he didn't, instead locking it in his desk drawer.

"We... we didn't bring our IDs." Dean Xia stammered, his old face burning red.

"Didn't bring IDs? Wait a moment, don't leave just yet!" The researcher swiftly pulled out his phone, and cautiously moved a few steps away, blocking them from exiting the corridor leading to the door.

"Comrade, calm down! Please, stay calm!" The leader, seeing the researcher was really about to press the speed dial to security, felt a bit anxious too.

If they were escorted out of the laboratory all the way by a few security guards, how embarrassing would that be in front of everyone?

Spreading the news would be a small matter, losing personal dignity. Most importantly, it would violate the original image of "non-interference." If it's non-interference, why sneak in for an inspection? Once this causes an uproar, the good image built would collapse instantly.

He tried hard to make his smile appear more gentle and sincere, exhibiting a senior's tolerance toward juniors. "We really mean no harm. Look at our age, our attire, do we seem like bad people? We just want to experience the research atmosphere of our top laboratory."

The researcher, hearing this, scrutinized them even more carefully.

The leader wore a plainly but well-tailored dark jacket, his hair neatly groomed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with an elegant demeanor. Dean Xia appeared the typical scholar type, though his physique was indeed somewhat too robust, making him appear a bit clumsy.

They indeed didn't look like the sneaky villains in movies, but is villainy written on someone's face? Often villains appear more decent than good people, and researchers are trained and wouldn't be fooled by a few words. Once out of this door, they might disappear without a trace. Who would bear the responsibility if issues arise then?

The researcher, about to press the number on his phone, also intended to seek help from colleagues inside the laboratory, lest these two, in desperation, carry out some harmful extreme actions.

Seeing the situation was lost, Dean Xia's mind went blank, disregarding everything, he dashed forward, almost whispering directly into the researcher's ear in a hurried, almost breathless murmur: "I'm Dean Xia Changjiang! I'm one of our own!"

He mustn't let this youngster cause a stir. Once this matter becomes public and known to Tang Shun, it would be troublesome. Tang Shun is a loyal subordinate of Yang Ping; he would certainly report this to Yang Ping. If he informed Yang Ping that leaders were sneaking into the laboratory for inspection, it could easily lead to misunderstandings and be perceived as covert monitoring, collapsing the usually established "non-interference" image.

The two leaders had the same thought. As leaders, image is especially important.

If this matter truly became public, it would have been better to conduct the inspection openly from the start, at least avoiding misunderstandings, at worst saying bureaucracy affected the laboratory's normal operation.

The researcher halted his hand from pressing the phone, swiftly turned his head, and stared wide-eyed at Dean Xia's face, which was flushed with tension and embarrassment, filled with suspicion: "Dean Xia?"

He had heard of Dean Xia, but in his impression, he had never seen him in person. Most researchers spend almost all their time in the laboratory, and Dean Xia seldom visits the lab. Some researchers, especially new ones, don't know Dean Xia at all.

He again scrutinized Dean Xia. To be honest, he didn't recognize him. This is a top-priority laboratory, always maintaining a relaxed and free environment, and the dean rarely comes to the lab.

However, he had heard stories of Sanbo Hospital's few imposing men, and the middle-aged man before him, tall and nearly six-foot-three, with both his torso and limbs extraordinarily large, indeed bore some resemblance to the legendary imposing dean.

The researcher began to hesitate. If it really was Dean Xia, it wouldn't be appropriate to catch him as a thief, leading to a ridiculous mistake.

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