My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 66

**Chapter 66: The Favored Protégé**

As Leo donned his lab coat, he barely glanced in James’s direction, his focus entirely on the task at hand. He rummaged through the rack, searching for a coat that would fit Luna, who stood nearby, her anticipation palpable.

In a tone that was surprisingly tender for someone so often consumed by the demands of research, Leo addressed her, “Your size needs to be custom-made. For the next few days, you can wear mine.”

A smile spread across Luna’s face, radiating warmth and gratitude. “Thank you,” she replied, her voice soft yet filled with a hint of excitement.

James, still reeling from the unexpected exchange, stared at Leo in disbelief. After a prolonged silence, he finally managed to stammer, “Leo, are you feeling okay?”

The weight of his gaze carried a multitude of questions, laden with unspoken implications. Having been part of the research group for two years, James had never witnessed Leo exhibit such warmth and gentleness towards any junior colleague.

Just yesterday, Leo had been adamant about keeping the new Luna—who was still learning the ropes—out of the lab. And now, here he was, actively offering her his spare lab coat. The shift was bewildering.

“Does this even make sense?” James pondered, confusion etched across his features.

Leo furrowed his brow slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face as he stated matter-of-factly, “Luna and I are old acquaintances. From now on, I will be personally responsible for overseeing her research progress.”

“You’re overseeing her, Leo?” James echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. This was unprecedented! Leo had never voluntarily set aside his precious lab time to mentor a newcomer.

Could it truly be as simple as their past connection? The astonishment on James’s face was unmistakable.

Luna, observing his shock, felt a surge of triumph within her. She had done her homework before arriving at Jindiwood. Leo was not just any researcher; he was a prodigy in medical research, a star pupil of Mr. Flint, and the most esteemed protégé in the field.

The realization that she had unwittingly stumbled upon such a significant advantage thrilled her. No, it wasn’t just one advantage—it was five substantial ones. The five children whom Niall had saved years ago had blossomed into remarkable individuals, each carving out their own niche through sheer perseverance.

Just last night, Leo had gathered them all to meet her. Despite their painful past—knowing she had been mistakenly identified as the daughter of Niall and Rory, only to learn that their true daughter was likely gone forever—they had welcomed her with open arms. Their grief had transformed into a deep-seated desire to repay their debt of gratitude to her.

As Leo had pointed out, Luna had been raised by Rory for over a decade, treated as a genuine daughter. The bond formed through nurturing was just as profound, if not more so, than that of blood. How could they differentiate between an adopted daughter and a biological one when she was so deeply embedded in their lives?

Luna felt a swell of joy at the thought. Even if her identity had been a mix-up, she believed she was entitled to this affection and acceptance. Guilt had no place in her heart.

Whether it was through her connection with Xander or the five determined young men eager to repay a debt, everything was a testament to what the Steele couple and Oriana owed her!

Oriana, who had enjoyed a life of luxury with the Sterling family for over a decade, was merely reclaiming what was rightfully hers. What was wrong with that?

Initially, Luna had worried about how to win over these senior and junior colleagues, but with Leo standing firmly beside her, those concerns melted away.

James could only retreat, rubbing his nose sheepishly under the intensity of Leo’s glare.

“Oh, right, Luna,” James said, shifting the topic. “I wanted to tell you today that this year, it’s our university’s turn to organize the Gastric Cancer MDT team. We’re going for observational learning. Do you want to join?”

“Of course I do,” Luna replied eagerly.

A thought struck her. “Are there conditions for signing up?”

“Of course there are. But our group is different. The professor is a core member of the team, so all his students definitely get to go. For other departments, they have to pass an application review,” James explained, puffing out his chest with pride.

“James, you’re so impressive,” Luna said, her eyes sparkling. She casually added, “I thought my sister would want to join too, right?”

Leo, who had just finished sterilizing equipment, stepped out and happened to overhear. “Sister?” he inquired, curiosity piqued.

Luna explained calmly, “It’s the girl raised by my biological parents’ family. She’s also at Jindiwood University Medical College.”

“Damn, how could she even think about it? I’ll definitely not approve it!” James burst out, launching into a tirade, embellishing the story Luna had told him yesterday with indignation, relaying it all to Leo with fervor.