Chapter 48: Chapter 43: Jealous Rivalry, Shen Zueran’s First Victory

「After a long moment」

Huo Zhanting finally let out a cold scoff.

"Su Xingye, you’ve got some nerve."

His tone was a mix of praise and mockery.

’Trying to steal a female from his own superior officer.’

’Just my luck.’

Huo Zhanting’s brow furrowed, his ferocious aura on full display.

A slight smirk played on Su Xingye’s thin lips as he offered an infuriatingly pleasant thank you for Huo Zhanting’s "compliment."

"Thank you for the praise, Marshal. I’ll be sure to keep up the good work."

’A beautiful wife is on the line. Who cares about a superior officer?’

「The standoff ended」

In a panic, Su Xingye quickly turned and chased after the beautiful little female who had left. For a moment, his emerald eyes darkened.

His keen male senses picked up the strong scent of Shen Zueran clinging to Yu Lan.

’Something must have happened between them that I don’t know about.’

’Another detestable male trying to seduce Lanlan to get ahead.’

Su Xingye clenched his jaw, his aura growing oppressive.

「He hadn’t gone far」

He spotted the beautiful female’s slender, delicate figure in a small garden near the hospital.

Su Xingye’s eyes instantly lit up.

His entire demeanor shifted, becoming gentle and harmless again, like that of a bright, sunny youth.

He quickly walked over and stood beside Yu Lan.

The mature, handsome man’s lips parted, a subtle, fitting blush gracing his cheeks.

"Lanlan, about yesterday..."

Su Xingye didn’t elaborate on the intimate events of the previous day.

’The beautiful female’s hand was so soft and smooth, like a wisp of a cloud.’

He had only said a few words, but Yu Lan’s eyes immediately widened, her face flushing red.

Seeing Yu Lan blush, the man grew even more flustered, his own face flushing furiously. Mustering all his courage, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her slender wrist. Then, as if there was no turning back, he spoke:

"Lanlan, move in with me."

"Move to Core District One."

’The security in the Aristocratic District where Yu Lan currently lived wasn’t perfect. Otherwise, how could Huo Zhanting have snuck into her villa?’

’That level of security was practically nonexistent to a 3S-level male beast.’

’But it would be different if she lived with me.’

’I’m young, strong, and highly alert, with boundless energy.’

’If any man trying to seduce the beautiful little female snuck in, I’d be wide awake and ready to fight the interloper in an instant.’

’Most importantly, if we lived together, I could be all lovey-dovey with Yu Lan every day.’

Su Xingye was already lost in a blissful fantasy of his happy time alone with Yu Lan. ’What perfect, wonderful days those would be.’

He never expected to be met with Yu Lan’s unhesitating refusal.

"No."

Yu Lan forcefully pulled her hand back from Su Xingye’s grip, shaking her head repeatedly with an undisguised look of rejection on her face.

’The original owner of this body had dreamed of moving into one of the males’ homes, of leaving the Aristocratic District for an even higher-class villa district.’

’But Yu Lan had no such thoughts at all.’

’She was very clear-headed.’

’If I live in someone else’s house, they have the right to kick me out at any time.’

’The villa in the Aristocratic District isn’t huge, but it’s more than enough. I’m very comfortable here.’

"There’s no need. I’m very comfortable living alone in my villa right now."

"If."

As if a thought had struck her, Yu Lan’s amber eyes, translucent in the sunlight, swept over Su Xingye and Shen Zueran. She took a breath and said everything on her mind in one go.

"If you’ve developed some sort of feelings for me because of what happened these past two days, or if you feel sorry for me and want to take responsibility, there’s absolutely no need."

"Lanlan..."

Su Xingye finally understood the flustered desperation Huo Zhanting had felt just moments ago while trying to explain himself.

He tried to take Yu Lan’s hand again to show her his true feelings.

’How could his feelings for Yu Lan be out of pity or a sense of responsibility? It was clearly because he liked her!’

Before Su Xingye could speak, Yu Lan cut in.

"Let me finish first."

The beautiful female’s amber eyes were exceptionally calm, reflecting the figures of the two men standing before her.

Her gaze fell on Su Xingye first as her soft, pleasant voice sounded:

"Major General Su, that day, you suddenly went into a rut. Without a female to soothe you, your spiritual power would have collapsed. I couldn’t bear to see that happen, which is why I acted as I did in the heat of the moment."

"As for the Director," Yu Lan looked at Shen Zueran and pressed her lips together, "it’s just as you said. That was a sacrifice for science, so personal feelings shouldn’t be involved."

"I think you can both understand that, right?"

"From now on, let’s just forget what happened these past two days."

’Understand?’

’Understand what?’

’HAHAHAHAHA!’

’This is insane.’

’Only a madman could understand.’

’Just when they were filled with joy, wanting to be all lovey-dovey with the beautiful female, it turned out that Yu Lan had been perfectly calm and rational the whole time, not the least bit swept away.’

After experiencing the soothing of a beautiful, soft female, they could no longer bear the thought of using a cold soothing agent alone.

Their hearts hammered wildly in their chests, screaming with an intense craving for the female.

These young, arrogant elites wished they could use their privilege right now to forcefully imprison the female, to silence those soft, sweet lips that spoke such hurtful words.

Their muscles tensed. Yet, when these high and mighty noble males met Yu Lan’s clear, limpid eyes, all they could do was watch helplessly as she walked away, their own eyes crimson with suppressed desire.

「This confrontation」

Ended with the males’ temporary defeat.

But the scorching fire of desire in their hearts only burned hotter, never to be extinguished, awaiting the next chance to blaze into a wildfire.