Chapter 127: Chapter 110: Huo Zhanting’s Group of 3 Prepares an Ambush

「Five minutes later.」

Shen Zueran rushed back from his office with previous data on how epidemics were handled, presenting it to Yu Lan.

"Lanlan, look. The various symptoms shown in this record are very similar to the current symptoms on Garbage Star."

"We can use this as a reference and continue our research in this direction."

Shen Zueran quickly shared his various findings with Yu Lan.

But Yu Lan, whose eyes would usually sparkle with joy upon learning of such research data, was quiet today.

Instead, she looked at Shen Zueran somewhat sheepishly and spoke in a low voice.

"I’m sorry, Director. I need to step out around one-thirty this afternoon. It might delay things a little."

"But don’t worry, I’ll make up for the lost time. I’ll work overtime tonight to catch up. Is that okay?"

Shen Zueran froze for a moment.

He raised his long, strong hand to Yu Lan’s forehead, then gently stroked the lovely female’s soft cheek.

His voice was filled with concern.

"Lanlan, are you not feeling well?"

This was completely out of character for Yu Lan.

Ever since joining the Science Research Institute, Yu Lan had basically never taken a day off.

So, Shen Zueran could only guess that Yu Lan was feeling so unwell that she had to take time off to see a doctor.

At this thought, the man’s voice grew anxious. He wished he could give the lovely female a head-to-toe examination right then and there.

"Lanlan, if you’re not feeling well, you have to tell me."

"Let me take you to the hospital right now, okay?"

"No, no, no."

Yu Lan hurriedly refused, not expecting Shen Zueran to jump to that conclusion.

She quickly explained:

"It’s Jun Lin Yuan."

"I just made plans with Jun Lin Yuan to meet at two this afternoon, at a coffee shop not far from the Science Research Institute."

Oh!

’So she’s going to see Jun Lin Yuan.’

Shen Zueran relaxed. As long as Yu Lan was fine, that’s all that mattered.

But in the next second, as Shen Zueran processed who Yu Lan was going to see, a subtle, dark gloom flashed across his face.

’That damn Jun Lin Yuan.’

’That shameless number five.’

They had been on high alert, the four of them trying every method they could think of to keep him from appearing before Yu Lan.

Yet he had somehow still found a way. He’d used the few short minutes Shen Zueran was away from Yu Lan’s side to lure away their Female Master’s heart.

If Jun Lin Yuan were to appear before Shen Zueran at that moment, Shen Zueran would undoubtedly march right up and land a heavy punch on him without a second thought.

Shen Zueran considered the Science Research Institute his home turf. On the surface, he was a cool, rational, and restrained man, but in reality, he had a domineering side.

Within the Science Research Institute, he alone could monopolize all the time spent with Yu Lan. They understood each other, their hearts in sync, sharing common topics and goals.

So what if there was Imperial Marshal Huo Zhanting?

So what if there was Genius Lieutenant General Su Xingye?

So what if there was the top tycoon Li Yucheng?

No matter what tricks those three pulled, they couldn’t take Yu Lan away from his side.

Except for this damn Jun Lin Yuan.

’What kind of goddamn shameless tricks did he use?’

"Director, Director, is it okay?"

Seeing Shen Zueran remain silent for so long, Yu Lan couldn’t help but feel a little flustered and anxious.

Her soft, rosy lips pressed together into a pitifully cute pout, and her amber eyes looked at Shen Zueran, full of expectation.

No one could ever refuse a Yu Lan like this.

"Of course, you can."

Shen Zueran smiled and nodded in agreement, each word practically forced through his gritted teeth.

’This is’

’...so infuriating!’

’I can’t be the only one to suffer this fury.’

Shen Zueran took a deep breath and, when Yu Lan wasn’t looking, opened his phone.

He tapped into a small, four-person group chat named "Lanlan’s Main Husbands" and sent a message.

Shen Zueran: [Jun Lin Yuan is meeting Lanlan at two this afternoon.]

The next second, a message from Li Yucheng popped up immediately.

Li Yucheng: [Shen Zueran, are you that useless? Lanlan was right there in your lab and you still let him whisk her away?]

Li Yucheng: [Where’s that ruthlessness you showed when you provoked me last time?]

Males who had already secured their position would naturally do everything in their power to suppress any male who was eagerly trying to climb the ranks.

’Are you kidding me?’

There was only one Lanlan. If another guy came along to share her affection, the time he got with Lanlan would be cut from their own shares.

Li Yucheng was furious and absolutely did not want Jun Lin Yuan to join them.

Su Xingye’s question appeared.

Su Xingye: [Shen Zueran, do you know where Lanlan is meeting him? Send the address to the group. @Shen Zueran]

Huo Zhanting: [It’s been so many days. It’s about time we met Jun Lin Yuan.]

The two males from the military, powerful and immensely proud, couldn’t be bothered with schemes when faced with a provocation from someone else.

A single punch would do the trick.

Number five, who was trying to climb the ranks, would naturally learn to behave.

Li Yucheng started fanning the flames in the group chat.

Li Yucheng: [Yes, yes, yes, @Shen Zueran, hurry up and send the address to the group. I’ll go ahead and book the entire place.]

Li Yucheng: [I’d like to see what other shameless stunts this male, who had the gall to ask out someone else’s Female Master, can pull.]

Li Yucheng: [Lanlan is young and kind, so she’s easily deceived. We can’t blame her. It’s the fault of all those bad males out there. We need to teach them a good lesson about what kind of price they’ll pay for coveting a female who already has males.]

These men had already decided to teach Jun Lin Yuan a lesson.

Watching the new messages constantly flood the group chat, Shen Zueran let out a soft sigh of relief. The gloom he’d felt upon learning that Yu Lan was taking time off specifically to meet Jun Lin Yuan finally dissipated.

Shen Zueran: [Address.]

Shen Zueran: [Lanlan just asked me to monitor the data for her in the lab this afternoon, so it’s not convenient for me to go. I’m counting on you guys this afternoon.]

Li Yucheng: [Hah, you damn white lotus. As if you’re the only one who can read data.]

’So what if that damn Shen Zueran knows how to do research? What’s the big deal?’

’I’ll just throw money at the problem and hire a whole research team to build a lab.’

’Then I’ll have things to talk about with Yu Lan too.’

However, what the other three men left unsaid was that they, too, had secretly been envious of Shen Zueran for sharing more common ground with Yu Lan in their careers, and for getting to spend more time with her.

*

「1:30 PM」

Yu Lan put down her lab equipment right on time.

She gathered her things, ready to head out and meet Jun Lin Yuan.

Just before leaving, she didn’t forget to call out to Shen Zueran, who was standing not far from the instruments.

"Director, I’m heading out now."

"I’ll be back in a bit."

"Could you please keep an eye on the data for me? Please, please."

The lovely female pressed her palms together in a cute, pleading gesture. Because her face was so exceptionally beautiful, it looked as though she were trying to be coquettish.

Even though the two had already confirmed their relationship, Yu Lan still preferred to maintain a professional attitude in the lab to avoid affecting their work.

Seeing Yu Lan act this way so suddenly, Shen Zueran’s heart instantly softened.

Just as he was about to say something, the lovely female was already gone like a gust of wind, quickly pushing open the lab door and running out.

Only the lingering, sweet scent of her perfume remained in the air.

The thought that Yu Lan was in such a hurry to meet another man made Shen Zueran’s face darken instantly.