Chapter 158: Chapter 141: 5-Person Tea Party
Yu Lan: [Zhuoran, I’m so sorry. Something urgent came up and I can’t get away.]
Yu Lan: [Can we reschedule?]
Yu Lan: [I’ll bring you some treats at the lab tomorrow. I’m really, really sorry!]
Yu Lan: [Pitiful face.jpg]
The smile that had just begun to form on Shen Zueran’s lips froze the moment he received the messages.
His large hand tightened its grip on his phone, veins bulging on the back of it. The latest interstellar model, just released this year, looked like it was about to be crushed.
Just a second before the screen went black,
Shen Zueran took two deep breaths, forcing himself to suppress the rage boiling inside him as his fingers flew across the screen.
Shen Zueran: [Okay, it’s no problem.]
Shen Zueran: [Lanlan, if you’re busy, just focus on that. Don’t work too hard.]
Shen Zueran: [If you need help with anything, you can always ask me. I’m always here for you.]
Seeing Shen Zueran’s concerned replies, Yu Lan couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.
She felt even more awkward about admitting that her so-called "urgent matter" was just Pei Shiyi making a fuss again.
The handsome Merfolk was currently standing before a full-length mirror, unhurriedly adjusting his hair and the hem of his clothes. He then turned to Yu Lan, his eyes sparkling.
"Lanlan, I’m ready. We can go on our date now."
That’s right.
She was still going on a date today.
It was just that, thanks to Pei Shiyi’s clamoring, fighting, and "little pearl" attacks, her date had been switched from Shen Zueran to him.
Seeing Pei Shiyi, who was full of anticipation and had already taken her arm to lead her toward the door, Yu Lan found she couldn’t bring herself to say no.
She thought guiltily, ’Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye are busy at military headquarters, and Li Yucheng and Jun Lin Yuan have their own things to do.’
’As for Shen Zueran, since I just texted him to cancel, he probably won’t be bored enough to go wandering around outside.’
’In that case, if I go on a date with Pei Shiyi now, we probably won’t be seen by anyone.’
Although she tried to convince herself, Yu Lan placed a small hand on her chest, feeling her heart pound relentlessly.
A strange sense of unease washed over her.
Yu Lan swallowed hard and, just as Pei Shiyi was about to step out the door, she hurriedly called out:
"Wait, wait, Pei Shiyi! Let me grab a hat first."
Pei Shiyi’s brow furrowed slightly. His gaze fell on Yu Lan’s beautiful, radiant face. With a face like that, there was no telling how many shameless males would try to hit on her.
Even if they knew the pretty little female already had Beast Husbands.
Pei Shiyi never underestimated any male; after all, that was how he’d gotten to where he was.
At this thought, Pei Shiyi’s brow smoothed out. He nodded and agreed in a soft voice.
"Alright, I’ll wait for you here."
*
「Meanwhile」
Shen Zueran stared at his phone, which had fallen silent. His face, usually as calm and composed as jade, instantly darkened, his black eyes becoming murky and unreadable.
’Yu Lan has something urgent to do?’
For someone like Yu Lan, whose life was extremely routine, her world consisted of two points: the Science Research Institute and her villa. The only exceptions were her occasional outings with them.
’Since she stood me up today, she must have someone else with her.’
And Shen Zueran couldn’t think of anyone else it could be but Pei Shiyi.
’Pei Shiyi actually stole my date with Yu Lan!’
The moment this thought flashed through his mind, it took firm root in his heart, sprouted, and grew into a towering tree in an instant.
Shen Zueran’s dislike for Pei Shiyi was skyrocketing off the charts.
The tall, handsome man with a grim expression stood at the entrance of the most bustling mall on Central Street. He opened a group chat on his phone, #Yu Lan’s Harem (5)#, and sent a message.
Shen Zueran: [@everyone, where are you guys now? I’m coming to find you. Care for a little chat?]
Li Yucheng: [Well, well, well, @Shen Zueran. How does the great Dean Shen have time for us? Aren’t you on a date with Lanlan today?]
Jun Lin Yuan: [And who was it that said "the mere Pei Shiyi is nothing to worry about," and that we were being too cautious, treating him like a major threat?]
Su Xingye: [So Lanlan didn’t go on a date with you today?]
Su Xingye hit the nail on the head, striking right at the heart of the matter.
Li Yucheng twisted the knife.
Li Yucheng: [I bet it’s more than that. She probably just stood him up for a different date.]
Jun Lin Yuan: [Hahahahaha, Shen Zueran, you finally got what was coming to you.]
This guy usually used all sorts of convoluted research projects at the Science Research Institute as an excuse to monopolize Yu Lan’s time.
And yet, they could only fume in silence, not daring to speak up.
If they argued about it, they risked looking like lovesick fools who didn’t support her career in Yu Lan’s eyes.
Who would have thought that a ruthless character like Pei Shiyi would appear and snatch a date right out from under Shen Zueran’s nose.
’Impressive. Truly impressive.’
Seeing everyone in the group chat laughing at his predicament, Shen Zueran’s eyes darkened.
Males were all the same. They were rivals. Even though they needed a temporary united front to deal with Pei Shiyi, seeing Shen Zueran get his date stolen...
...they still couldn’t resist kicking him while he was down and throwing in some sarcastic remarks.
Just as Shen Zueran’s hand, which was clutching his phone, began to tighten its grip, Huo Zhanting’s profile picture popped up in the chat.
Huo Zhanting: [Location.]
Huo Zhanting: [Get here now, @Shen Zueran.]
Shen Zueran tapped on the address, only to find, to his surprise, that the location they had chosen was right inside the mall on Central Street.
The third-floor terrace of the mall.
Shen Zueran’s fingertip tapped the screen, and he looked up, scanning the area.
"Hey!"
Li Yucheng eagerly poked his head over the terrace railing and waved at Shen Zueran.
"We’ve been waiting for you for a long time."
Shen Zueran froze completely, his face ashen. A profound sense of speechlessness and rage toward Huo Zhanting and the others surged through him.
’So,’
’these four bastards have been standing on the terrace watching me this whole time.’
As for why they chose this spot, it was painfully easy to guess.
There were only a handful of fun places on Central Star, and Yu Lan wasn’t willing to take a Starship to travel elsewhere for fun.
Other than bringing Yu Lan to the mall on Central Street, Shen Zueran had no other options.
Since Shen Zueran had been shameless enough to schedule a date with Yu Lan ahead of them, they had no choice but to find another way to join in.
For example, turning a date for two into a gathering of six wasn’t out of the question.
’They gather together to condemn Pei Shiyi, but they’re no better themselves.’
Shen Zueran took several deep breaths. Five minutes later, he appeared on the third-floor terrace.
The usually calm and composed Scientific Research Institute Director now resembled a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Beneath his cool facade was a barely suppressed fury.
"So, what’s your plan for Pei Shiyi?"
"You’ve been discussing it for this long. Have you come up with a plan or not?"
"Don’t let an outsider play you all for fools like last time."
Shen Zueran’s gaze was fixed directly on Jun Lin Yuan.
