Reborn to Expose the Lab's Favorite Angel

The research assistant at the pack research institute claims she has a condition that makes her wolf go out of control. Strangely enough, she only ever pours ethanol into the samples for the wolf-healing experiment I'm in charge of. After she ruins my research project, she bursts into tears and says, "I was just trying to help... I guess clumsy people like me shouldn't even try." The project lead forces me to forgive her, and the team leader calls me heartless. They even deduct my allowance so they can buy her Moon Dew. Later, she sabotages several joint projects run by multiple pack research institutes and pins the blame on me. Then, she tearfully claims that I bully her at the institute, which gets me fired and buried under a mountain of damages. In the end, I lose all hope and jump off a building. After I'm reborn, I place my researcher ID badge right next to the cure for silver poisoning that the project lead has spent three years developing. Sure enough, she has another episode. This time, I want to see if they'll still tell the victim to be the bigger person. Chapter 1 Vivian Bennett, the research assistant on our project team, claimed she had a condition that made her wolf go out of control. She was the clumsy beauty who couldn't tell one serum from another whenever an episode hit. She couldn't tell experimental serums apart from discarded ones, so whenever I wasn't looking, she poured ethanol into my experimental samples. By the time I noticed it, all that was left in the test tubes was a clump of blackened, hardened gunk. "I just saw how hard you were working every day and wanted to help... I guess clumsy people like me shouldn't even try." She cried so pitifully that anyone watching would have thought I was the villain. Marcus Thorne, our project lead, and Caleb Hayes, our team leader, both came over and persuaded me to let it go. "Vivian didn't do it on purpose. Her father is a pack elder, and her family has always spoiled her. She's never worked with healing serums before, so of course she wouldn't know any better. As a researcher on the team, you should be more understanding." "Don't take it out on her just because she had a family who loved her and you didn't." As a result, not only did I fail my associate researcher evaluation, but I also had to find new experimental samples and make the serum all over again. Later, Vivian poured a bottle of highly concentrated wolfsbane extract into the experimental samples for a joint project between several research institutes. When the project team tried to hold someone accountable, she shifted the blame onto me. She even took it to social media, claiming that I had bullied her at the institute and forced her to take the fall. I was publicly condemned across the entire industry and fired from the institute. I even faced a massive lawsuit for damages, and in the end, I was so hopeless that I jumped off a building. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she first secretly ruined my experimental results. This time, I didn't fight. I simply placed my ID badge on the ultra-low-temperature freezer that held the cure for silver poisoning, which Marcus had spent three painstaking years developing. … There was a faint, all-too-familiar hissing sound. It was Vivian pouring ethanol into the test tubes of my wolf-healing serum. The moment the serum came into contact with the ethanol, its protein stability was compromised. The sharp smell of alcohol was so strong that it made my throat tighten. I stood at the lab doorway and watched her pour the entire bottle of ethanol over my serum tubes. In my past life, I had rushed over to snatch the test tubes away and gotten into a huge fight with Vivian. However, she had turned the tables on me, and the whole institute was notified that I had bullied a coworker. This time, I didn't move. Instead, I leaned against the doorframe and quietly watched her pour out the last drop. Vivian turned around and met my gaze. Her hand trembled, and the empty ethanol bottle hit the floor with a sharp clink. "Luna, I'm so sorry. My wolf went out of control again, and I couldn't tell the healing serum from the alcohol." She lowered her head and twisted her hands together as her voice began to tremble. I stared at Vivian. "If you couldn't tell them apart, why pour the ethanol in at all? Why didn't you just drink it instead?" Just then, Marcus and Caleb walked into the lab. The latter strode over and immediately stepped in front of Vivian. "Luna Baldwin, what's with the attitude? Vivian didn't do it on purpose." Caleb stood there like a guard dog protecting its master, raising his chin. "She just wanted to help you. What's wrong with that? This is what she gets for being nice? Would it kill you to be a little more understanding?" I walked over and glanced at the wolf-healing serum, which had already begun to clump into cloudy flakes. I said, "This is the independent project I'm supposed to submit next week. It directly affects my review for the associate researcher position." Then, I turned to Vivian. "My bottle was clearly labeled 'Wolf-Healing Experimental Serum.' If you can't tell serums apart, can't you at least read the label?" Vivian's eyes instantly reddened, and tears fell into the liquid one after another. "I knew those were your test tubes, but whenever I have an episode, my mind just goes blank." She grabbed the hem of Caleb's shirt, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. "Mr. Hayes, I really didn't mean to ruin Luna's work. I'll compensate her for the loss." Caleb was absolutely heartbroken. He glared at me and hissed, "You heard her, didn't you? Vivian already offered to compensate you. Why are you still making such a big deal out of this?" Marcus stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back, acting like a leader who had everything under control. He said, "That's enough. Coworkers should get along. There's no need to fight over something so small." He glanced at the clumped serum and added. "Luna, Vivian's situation is special, and everyone at the institute knows that. You're a researcher, so if the serum is ruined, just make it again. I'll give you a one-week extension on your evaluation." I looked at Marcus. "Dr. Thorne, these are samples of a wolf-healing serum I've been researching for three months. They've been through multiple experiments. It's not something I can replace by simply mixing a few potions together." Marcus frowned, clearly displeased. "Luna, don't be so harsh. Are you trying to drive your coworker to the breaking point?" Seeing that both Marcus and Caleb were taking her side, Vivian chimed in quietly, "It took everything I had to apologize. What more do you want? Clumsy people like me just can't do anything right. Caleb quickly backed her up. "Don't be sad, Vivian. Luna gets the researcher allowance every year, so this little loss is nothing to her. Luna, can't you be the bigger person for once?" In my past life, no matter how far Vivian went, the three of them had always ganged up on me and forced me to give in. I wondered if they would still be just as united once their own interests were on the line. "Fine. Since Dr. Thorne puts it that way, I forgive Vivian." I stopped arguing, bent down to pick up the ruined glass test tubes from the rack, and walked toward the trash can. Saying even one more word would have been a waste of breath. Marcus nodded, satisfied. "That's more like it. Helping each other out is what the Nightfall Pack Research Institute is all about." Caleb smiled too. "See? Was that so hard, Luna? You didn't have to make Vivian cry." Vivian stood behind Caleb with her head down, but I could clearly see a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. In my previous life, I had been too angry to notice. This time, I saw everything clearly. She wasn't sick at all. She had been targeting me on purpose all along. Chapter 2 Over the next month, Vivian's wolf "went out of control" two more times. The first time, it was my moonlight herb serum. The second time, it was the wolfsbane treatment blood samples I had stored in the moonlight incubator. Each time, Vivian waited right there for me and then started crying. "Luna, I had another episode. I couldn't control my hands." I stared at her. "Vivian, your condition is really fascinating. There are over 60 people at this institute with experimental samples, yet you never touch anyone else's. Somehow, you always manage to target mine." Vivian covered her face and sobbed. "I don't know why either. Every time I get close to your test tube rack, my mind goes foggy." Once again, Marcus stepped in and told me to let it go. "Luna, you need to be considerate of Vivian. She's sick." I looked at Marcus and argued, "This is the third time. I've lost my chance to pass my year-end evaluation. Who's going to take responsibility for that?" Marcus sighed. "You're one of the top researchers on this project team, so you should look out for those who are more vulnerable." He continued, "Here's what we'll do. As a disciplinary measure, your review for this year will be canceled. Your project allowance will go toward buying Moon Dew for Vivian to help settle her wolf, since you've scared her so badly lately that her condition has gotten worse." I thought I had heard him wrong. "She ruined my research, and now I'm supposed to pay her with my own money?" Caleb pointed a finger at me. "Luna, can you stop bringing up money all the time? Vivian is sick. Can't you show her a little compassion?" I didn't argue or make a scene. After reading the disciplinary notice on the bulletin board stating that my year-end evaluation had been canceled, I returned to the lab without saying a word. I got a heavy-duty rune lock, gathered all the serum tubes under my name, and arranged them in a cabinet. Then, I locked everything securely. On top of that, I locked all my research files, memory crystals, and access tokens inside my private locker. When Marcus came by for an inspection, he frowned at the newly locked cabinet and the empty test tube rack. He said, "Luna, everyone shares this lab. Being this guarded sends the wrong message to the team." I met his gaze and replied, "Vivian is sick. If I lock my things up, she won't accidentally touch them. I'm just preventing more losses for the institute." Marcus thought it over and couldn't find a way to argue, so he dropped the subject. However, Vivian was clearly getting anxious. One afternoon a few days later, I pretended to head to the restroom and left the door ajar. Vivian slipped over to my workstation and reached for the cabinet handle where I stored my serums, but it wouldn't budge. Then she went through the research files I had left out, only to find they were nothing but blank scrap paper. "Looking for something?" I pushed the door open and walked in. Her hand jerked, and she nearly knocked over the workbench beside her. "N-Nothing. I just noticed you've been locking your cabinet a lot lately, so I was curious if you were working on some big project." I replied, "Actually, I am. Our project team took on a core project in a joint study with several pack research institutes, and the Elder Council is involved. The files and serum samples are extremely valuable, so they need to stay locked up." Vivian's eyes lit up for a split second before she quickly covered it up. "Oh, I see... Well, congratulations." She turned and hurried out of the lab, and I could sense the eagerness in her retreating figure. I knew that she'd taken the bait. Since my ordinary experimental samples no longer satisfied her appetite for destruction, I would give her something truly worth ruining. Chapter 3 The opportunity came sooner than I expected. On Tuesday morning, Marcus took a phone call in the lab. His usually stern face instantly lit up with a huge grin. He said, "Grand Elder, please don't worry. We're testing the data every single day. Yes, yes, the serum's activity levels are excellent. There's absolutely nothing to worry about. You're coming to inspect it the day after tomorrow? Wonderful, I'll pick you up personally." After he hung up, Marcus called Caleb and me into his office and announced, "Grand Elder Alaric Blackwood is coming the day after tomorrow to sign off on that batch of silver poisoning cures." Marcus deliberately lowered his voice, but he couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes. He added, "Several pack research institutes have spent three years developing these serum samples together. This will decide whether I get a seat on the Elder Council this year, and it's a huge step forward in treating silver poisoning in werewolves. It'll be a massive breakthrough. "I have a meeting with the Elder Council tomorrow. Luna, you're the most careful person here, so you'll be in charge of observing the serums and recording the data tomorrow. Caleb, you'll assist Luna. There can't be a single mistake." The silver poisoning cure samples and their files were stored in a separate isolation lab in the back courtyard. Normally, no one was even allowed through the door. Caleb seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He asked, "Dr. Thorne, Luna has been acting really weird lately. What if she messes up something this important?" Marcus waved him off. "She's the most skilled researcher on the team. Don't let your personal bias against her cloud your judgment." I nodded. "Don't worry, Dr. Thorne. I'll make sure to record everything on time." Early the next morning, I put on my crisp white lab coat and headed to the isolation lab in the back courtyard. As soon as I stepped out of the hallway, I heard footsteps behind me. Vivian had followed me. She must have heard that I had been given an important task. Coupled with the bait I'd laid earlier about a "core project between several research institutes," there was no way she would pass up this chance. I pushed open the isolation lab door and walked to the rack holding the silver poisoning cures. The serums had already reached stability. They sat in test tubes of different sizes, all glowing the same pale gold. I took out my ID badge and casually hung it on the most noticeable spot on the counter by the rack. Then I collected samples and took my time observing, recording, and organizing the files. At the far end of the hallway outside the lab, the hem of a white coat flashed past. When I was done, I left my ID badge on the counter and walked out of the lab with only my data logbook. Around noon, Marcus sent a message to everyone in the project team's group chat. "No unauthorized personnel are allowed near the isolation lab on the top floor. Anyone who breaks this rule will be fired on the spot!" I picked up my phone and muted the group chat. Then I casually locked my phone in my cabinet. Vivian had been keeping a close eye on the project group chat, so she must have seen the message. After all, the more off-limits a place was, the more likely it was hiding something "good". At 2:00 pm, the others were all napping in the institute's dorms. I sat in a blind spot of the lab's security cameras and poured myself a glass of water. A slight breeze stirred outside the window. The show was about to begin. Chapter 4 A harsh crash of shattering glass came from the lab. It was immediately followed by Vivian's shrill, panicked scream. "Help!" Someone ran into the lab, shouting, "Something happened in the isolation lab on the top floor! Vivian fell in there!" Caleb rushed out first, running so hard he even lost a shoe. I set down my glass and calmly followed behind the crowd into the elevator. The isolation lab door was wide open, and a strong, pungent smell hit us in the face. We could tell that it was highly concentrated wolfsbane extract. Vivian sat slumped on the floor next to the counter with a small scrape on her knee. Her eyes were red as tears streamed down her face. Meanwhile, the silver-poisoning cure samples sat on the test tube rack behind her. The once-stable, pale-gold serum was turning cloudy in the clear test tubes, right before our eyes. An empty bottle of wolfsbane extract had been tossed onto the floor. "Vivian, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Caleb rushed over to help her up, his face full of concern. Vivian leaned into Caleb's arms and pointed at the serum samples that were rapidly spoiling. She was sobbing so hard that she could barely breathe. "Mr. Hayes, I had another episode again just now. I saw Luna's ID badge here, so I thought this was her test tube rack. She always works so hard, so I wanted to help her clear out the discarded serums... I really didn't know which ones were the experiment samples!" The coworkers around us began whispering among themselves. Someone mumbled, "The whole batch is ruined. That's brutal." Another chimed in, "Luna's promotion project is completely down the drain this time." Just then, Marcus had returned to the institute from his meeting. He pushed his way through the crowd and demanded, "What's going on? What's with all the commotion?" Caleb immediately turned around and pointed at me, since I had only just arrived. "Dr. Thorne, you need to do something about Luna! She left her experimental serums here on purpose, and because of her, Vivian had an episode and almost poisoned herself! If Luna's project is ruined, that's on her! But if anything happens to Vivian, the institute won't be able to handle the consequences!" Marcus followed Caleb's finger and looked at the test tube rack in the lab. His briefcase slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a loud thud. Meanwhile, Vivian was still crying her heart out. "Dr. Thorne, please don't blame Luna. She just wanted her project to go well. I was only trying to help, but I made a mess of things. I'm willing to pay her back with next month's meal allowance." She looked up at me with a pitiful expression, as if she were the one swallowing her pride. "Luna, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me, okay?" Caleb shielded her and glared furiously at me. "Luna, Vivian already apologized to you, so hurry up and say something! Don't be so ungrateful!" I stood where I was, neither exploding in anger nor demanding answers. Instead, I simply looked at Vivian as a faint smile tugged at my lips. "Pay me back?" I pointed at the ID badge on the test tube rack, adding, "Take a good look. I simply left it behind when I came here to record the data. The experimental serums in here aren't mine." Vivian froze, and even her crying stopped for a beat. "T-They're not yours? Then whose are they?" I turned to Marcus, who stood stiff as a board beside us. "That's the silver poisoning cure Dr. Thorne spent three years painstakingly developing with several pack research institutes. It was supposed to be handed over to Grand Elder Blackwood for inspection tomorrow."