From Trash to Treasure: The Sinclair Family's Beloved Genius

Ever since they were late on the first day of military training, Zoe Yates and Sylvia Holloway never dared to be late again.

But the weather had been unusually hot these past few days, leaving the university students drained and listless under the sun. Ten days had passed, and everyone was several shades tanner.

The only exception was Chloe Sinclair, who stood out in her formation, so dazzlingly radiant it was hard not to notice her.

As a result, whenever Chloe went to eat over the next few days, she would inevitably be approached by boys—and even some girls—offering to treat her to a meal.

But after Chloe’s tactful rejections, by the end of the military training, there was hardly anyone trailing after her anymore.

Once the military training was over, the school gave the students a break. Sylvia Holloway, being a local, invited her roommates to her house—everyone except Chloe Sinclair.

Chloe didn’t mind. As soon as the break started, she went to find Jasper Shaw.

—

Shaw Group Headquarters

The man’s jet-black eyes were fixed intently on the contract in his hands.

Ian Winters spoke a few words with his head lowered. Hearing him, the man looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"The Sinclair family’s little girl is in Emberfall already?"

He had thought it would be a while longer, but he’d been so busy with overtime these past two months that he’d lost track of time.

"Boss, it’s already September first."

’Miss Sinclair has already finished her military training, and you’re only just realizing.’

Unfortunately, Jasper Shaw didn’t catch the subtext in Ian Winters’s words. He paused for a few seconds before asking, "She’s on her way over?"

"Yes, Miss Sinclair is on her way here now."

Jasper Shaw’s hand, holding the documents, paused. "When the Sinclair girl arrives, bring her to my office," he said thoughtfully.

Ian Winters wasn’t surprised.

After all, even though Jasper Shaw had only met the Sinclair family’s little princess a few times, he had already made numerous exceptions for her.

"Wait..."

Just as Ian Winters was about to leave, Jasper Shaw suddenly called him back.

A few seconds passed as Ian waited quietly for his boss’s instructions.

"You go back to your work. I’ll go get her myself."

With that, he stood up and grabbed the suit jacket from the back of his chair.

Seeing this, Ian Winters cleverly stepped aside to clear a path for Jasper Shaw.

However, he returned a moment later and asked, "Besides the things you mentioned last time, what else do young women usually like to eat?"

The corner of Ian Winters’s mouth twitched. ’I’m so busy I barely have time to breathe,’ he thought. ’How would I know anything about dating?’

But the big boss had a question, and as his assistant, how could he not be helpful?

His mind raced, and then he said, "Durian-flavored cake! With extra cream!"

Upon hearing this, Jasper Shaw’s brow furrowed instinctively.

But seeing Ian’s confident expression, Jasper left, though he was still skeptical.

He went to a dessert shop on the ground floor of the company building. Jasper Shaw glanced around and saw that it was filled with women from the surrounding corporations and students. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Dressed in his formal suit, Jasper Shaw looked completely out of place in the dessert shop.

"Do you have any recommendations?"

Ignoring the stares from those around him, Jasper Shaw walked up to the counter and asked in all seriousness.

The clerk stared blankly for a good while. It wasn’t until Jasper asked again impatiently that she snapped out of it, her face instantly flushing red. "Our durian mille-crêpe is very good," she quickly said.

Jasper Shaw frowned slightly, now certain that Ian Winters hadn’t been lying to him.

He took some money out of his wallet. "I’ll take one."

After getting the cake, Jasper Shaw stood by the entrance, waiting for Chloe Sinclair.

Half an hour later, he finally spotted Chloe Sinclair’s figure in the bustling plaza.

As if she sensed his gaze, she looked up toward a certain spot and saw Jasper Shaw standing on the steps.

Chloe Sinclair navigated through the crowd and jogged over to him.

Jasper Shaw quickly held out the durian mille-crêpe cake.

After a moment’s thought, he said earnestly, "I bought you a cake."

Then he added, "It’s durian-flavored."

Chloe Sinclair’s outstretched hand suddenly froze. She thought she must have misheard.

"You don’t like it?"

Seeing her reaction, Jasper’s heart began to race. ’I’m definitely docking Ian’s pay when I get back,’ he thought.

Chloe was taken aback for a second, then she smiled, a slight curve on her lips. "I love it."

Even as she said it, she already knew who must have suggested the durian mille-crêpe.

Indeed, Jasper Shaw noticed her smile was a little forced and immediately threw his assistant under the bus.

"Ian Winters said you young women like this stuff."

It was exactly as she’d guessed. Chloe didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

To keep Ian Winters from getting his pay docked, she changed the subject. "Mr. Shaw, is my laboratory ready?"

"It is. It’s right near Emberfall University. If you have time, I can take you to see it."

Of course, Chloe Sinclair wasn’t going to refuse.

They took Jasper Shaw’s Phaeton to a building that was only seven or eight stories tall.

The lab was near Emberfall University. There weren’t many shops around, but it was close to the main street, just a few minutes’ walk from the campus.

Most importantly, the location was very quiet!

Chloe Sinclair looked up, her eyes filled with excitement.

Seeing this, Jasper Shaw knew she was very pleased, and he instantly relaxed.

"This must have cost a fortune."

With just a casual glance, Chloe saw several pieces of equipment that were incredibly hard to procure.

She hadn’t expected Jasper Shaw to have somehow acquired all of them through his connections.

Jasper Shaw’s expression remained unchanged. "If there’s anything else you need, just send a list to Assistant Winters."

Chloe Sinclair glanced around the lab and nodded. "I will."

After speaking, she reached out and touched the instrument in front of her with extreme care.

"Mr. Shaw, you have this much faith in me?" Chloe Sinclair smiled, her tone teasing. "Aren’t you afraid of losing your entire investment?"

Scientific research is the ultimate money pit.

Many scientists in the past spent their entire lives and fortunes—hundreds of millions, even tens or hundreds of billions—researching a single subject, only to end up with nothing.

Jasper Shaw was truly worthy of his title as the God of Investment; he had never failed on something he’d set his sights on.

But his next words left Chloe Sinclair stunned.

Jasper Shaw said lightly, "If it were anyone else, I would naturally be worried. But if it’s you... I am willing to trust you with all my heart."

Chloe Sinclair’s appearance hadn’t caused a major upheaval in his life, yet it had inadvertently altered its trajectory.

He had originally decided to give up on the field of high-temperature superconductivity.

After all, there was no shortage of researchers studying it in the country.

But after so many years, the results were not proportional to the potential returns.

Today, there were no more than ten laboratories in the entire country researching high-temperature superconductivity.

But when Chloe Sinclair explained her theory, Jasper Shaw was willing to spend the money to help the young woman see it through.

It had nothing to do with money or profit.

He saw the complex expression on her face and explained, "Chloe, you are very smart, which is why I believe in you. I hope you can have confidence in yourself too, because you have all the financial backing you need."

The Shaw Group’s annual profits exceeded five hundred billion. Even if Chloe Sinclair’s experiments burned through money, he could afford it.

Because he was her backer.

It took Chloe Sinclair a long moment to process this, her eyes growing red.

She suddenly remembered her past life, when Jasper Shaw had said the very same words to her.