Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Shen Zhuoran: She Likes Me

"That’s not what it is."

Yu Lan scrambled to explain.

She absolutely couldn’t get a reputation like that. Otherwise, what would her colleagues at the Science Research Institute think of her?

Yu Lan’s face flushed with embarrassment. Anxious to explain, she impulsively grabbed Shen Zueran’s sleeve.

"It’s not from... messing around with a male. Oh goodness..." Yu Lan couldn’t get the words out, explaining in a jumbled rush,

"My pet did it! It’s just so clingy, it must have happened by accident."

"You know how it is. It’s totally normal for pets to be clingy."

Yu Lan’s words were a mess. She blushed just thinking of the more sensitive terms, too embarrassed to say them out loud. All she could do was look at Shen Zueran with pleading eyes, hoping he would believe her.

The beautiful female looked so adorably pitiful at that moment.

Her reputation had been unfairly tarnished, and she was scrambling to explain, her face flushed red from the effort. Her amber eyes, moist with unshed tears, were fixed on him, and even the tip of her delicately upturned nose was rosy.

Shen Zueran hummed softly in response. His foul, irritable mood inexplicably lifted a little at Yu Lan’s explanation.

His voice was cool and crisp, like jade striking silver. "I believe you."

"Oh, good. Thank you, Director."

Seeing that Shen Zueran was willing to believe her, Yu Lan clutched her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

’Good, good.’

’If Shen Zueran believes me, then my colleagues from the other labs probably will too if I explain it to them.’

’But it would be weird to just go around explaining it out of the blue.’

’It’s a classic case of protesting too much.’

Yu Lan’s brow furrowed in frustration. The next second, her gaze fixed on Shen Zueran intently.

"Director, do you have a bandage?"

"What?"

Shen Zueran froze, a flash of concern crossing his face.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

Yu Lan blushed. "I want to cover this up."

"It feels so weird having it exposed like this."

’It was fine when I didn’t know, but now that I do...’

’Yu Lan found it absolutely unbearable.’

Shen Zueran lowered his gaze, only to see the young female aimlessly tugging at her collar, trying to cover the red mark on her neck.

’An unidentifiable emotion flickered through him.’

He slowly took a medical bandage from the pocket of his white lab coat.

Yu Lan’s eyes lit up. She immediately reached out to take it, thanking him sweetly.

"Thank you, Director."

But unexpectedly...

But just as Yu Lan’s fingertips were about to touch it, Shen Zueran suddenly closed his hand around it.

"Director?" Yu Lan looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.

Shen Zueran cleared his throat. ’He didn’t know why he’d done that either. The impulse had struck, and he’d acted on it before he could think. Now he had to find an excuse.’

His gaze lingered on the beautiful female for a moment. "You can’t see the spot. Will you be able to apply it properly?"

"Let me help you."

Without giving Yu Lan time to react, Shen Zueran was already peeling the wrapper off the bandage.

He glanced at Yu Lan, who was standing there stunned, and gave her a look that urged her to move.

Swept up in the moment, Yu Lan quickly lifted the dark hair from her neck and tilted her head, exposing the elegant, pale curve of her throat.

The man’s cool fingertips brushed against her skin for just a moment before pulling away.

"Done."

Shen Zueran’s voice was slightly hoarse.

Yu Lan, also feeling a little awkward, lowered her gaze and offered her thanks.

"Thank you, Director."

"It’s nothing. Just be more careful next time." Shen Zueran maintained his usual cool and aloof demeanor, as if he were a man above worldly matters.

But no one knew that a tempest was raging inside him.

’How could a female like this exist?’

’She was so beautiful and intelligent. She should have grown up surrounded by elite males, basking in their adoration. She should have been nourished by their affection, blooming ever more radiant.’

’And yet, Yu Lan was so endearingly shy.’

’To think she would explain the red mark on her neck to him.’

’Why would a female explain something like that to a male?’

’It was almost as if... she was afraid of making him jealous.’

’Could it be... that she likes me?’

At that moment,

it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck his mind. All of Yu Lan’s actions over the past few days suddenly made sense.

’For instance, her coincidental appearance at the Science Research Institute’s convenience store. Then, the very next day, she submitted her resume, requesting to join. And how angry she had been earlier when, due to a misunderstanding, she was asked to leave.’

’If he factored in this new reason, everything fit perfectly.’

’Yu Lan liked him. She wanted to be closer to him. That’s why she came to the Science Research Institute. That’s why she was so furious when she found out he’d ordered her access rights revoked without giving her a final decision.’

A moment of pure epiphany.

Shen Zueran’s heart began to POUND.

He had ascended to a high position at a young age, becoming the powerful and influential Director of the Science Research Institute.

Shen Zueran had been different from other males since he was young. During puberty, even the most aloof of his dorm mates couldn’t help but harbor romantic fantasies about the pretty, gentle females.

But not Shen Zueran. All his time and energy were focused on his scientific research, big and small.

He had won countless awards throughout his life.

At this very moment,

Shen Zueran felt a rare sense of bewilderment. His heart was racing, and an unfamiliar emotion stirred within him.

The only thing Shen Zueran could be sure of was that he didn’t dislike this feeling.

The next moment, Yu Lan’s voice broke the silence.

"Director, about the X11 material..."

Yu Lan shook the empty test tube, her expression pleading. "The experiment is at its most critical stage right now."

"Please let me try just a few more times. I’m certain I’ll get a result."

Yu Lan felt a bit apprehensive making such a bold promise.

To her surprise, Shen Zueran didn’t refuse her outright, nor did he demand she fill out any of the usual application forms.

He turned and walked a few steps, then noticed Yu Lan hadn’t followed. He tilted his head, beckoning her.

"Come on."

’Are we going to get the X11 material?’

A flash of joy lit up Yu Lan’s eyes, and she followed Shen Zueran with a spring in her step.

In the next moment,

Shen Zueran was leading her through a winding series of corridors until they arrived at a laboratory door.

Shen Zueran tapped a few times on the screen by the door. After a moment, he stepped back to make room and looked at Yu Lan, his tone flat.

"Put your hand on it."

"Hm?"

Confusion flickered in Yu Lan’s eyes, but seeing Shen Zueran’s unquestionable expression, she silently placed her hand on the screen.

The next moment,

a mechanical voice sounded.

[Registering fingerprint... Fingerprint information for Advanced Researcher Yu Lan has been entered.]

[Welcome, Advanced Researcher Yu Lan.]

"This is?"

Yu Lan turned to look at Shen Zueran. This wasn’t her assigned laboratory.

Every researcher at the Science Research Institute had their own assigned lab, and their access rights could only open the door to that specific lab.

Shen Zueran’s expression didn’t change in the slightest; he maintained his cool and aloof demeanor.

"This is my personal laboratory. It’s fully stocked with all the materials you’ll need. You can conduct your experiments here from now on."

"Ah! Director, I couldn’t possibly," Yu Lan stammered, conflicted.

"And why not?" Shen Zueran retorted, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.