Leaving the conference together under many curious eyes, Olive and Adam banter with Holden and decide to skip the social events. Olive insists on an all-you-can-eat conveyor-belt sushi place, where their playful teasing and easy conversation give her a reprieve from the day’s trauma. Adam offers quiet companionship, agreeing to avoid talking about science or the conference.

Back at the hotel, Adam carries Olive when her feet hurt and discreetly hides all conference materials to spare her painful reminders. They plan to watch a movie; Olive showers and changes into Adam’s oversized “Biology Ninja” T-shirt. When Adam mentions he leaves tomorrow, Olive’s vulnerability shows. He urges her not to let others ruin science or her pride in her work, prompting her to admit she briefly felt confident while presenting but now fears she’s mediocre.

To counter her doubt, Adam confides his own history: an abusive Ph.D. adviser who humiliated students, manufactured competition, withheld credit, and punished collaboration. He nearly quit for law school until Holden and Tom helped him; Tom mediated with their adviser, while Holden derailed Adam’s law applications. Adam contrasts that abuse with his own mentoring philosophy—direct, about the work, not the person—and explains why victims rarely reported powerful abusers.

Adam then reassures Olive that SBD abstracts are blind reviewed and calls her research important and rigorous, saying he wishes she could see herself as he sees her. Moved, Olive initiates a slow, tender kiss. Adam responds but breaks away, citing power imbalance, her lodging dependence, and his belief she loves someone else. Olive pushes back; he reveals his desire yet reiterates caution.

Olive clarifies she’s sober, on birth control, and suggests they can do other things. Though worried she might regret it, Adam’s restraint erodes. The chapter ends with Adam’s hand finding her skin beneath the borrowed T-shirt, signaling the beginning of their intimacy.