"Lanlan, I was wrong."
"Let go of me."
Yu Lan had no patience to listen to Shen Zueran any longer. The moment his large hand gripped her wrist, she violently yanked hers free.
All she could think about was getting back as quickly as possible.
Staying here any longer was a complete waste of her time.
Yu Lan even started to think how ridiculous her initial decision to fight for a position at the Science Research Institute had been.
She had misjudged Shen Zueran. She had thought he was a fair and just person, willing to give everyone a chance. She had even looked forward to working with him after passing the assessment, hoping to forge a new path of research together.
But while she had been working hard to answer the questions, Shen Zueran had already ordered her access to be revoked.
He hadn't given her any chance to prove herself.
A furious fire raged in her chest.
And yet, Shen Zueran was still trying to get closer to her, trying to bridge the distance between them.
Yu Lan felt a wave of disgust. She hated being near people like him. She turned, guarded, looking at Shen Zueran like a hedgehog with its quills raised.
"Stay away from me."
"You're truly detestable."
THUMP!
It was as if someone had forcefully squeezed his heart.
The blood flowing through his veins froze in an instant.
A sharp pain erupted from the depths of his heart.
Pain.
So much pain.
It hurt so much that the usually proud, privileged, powerful, and cold elite could barely stand up straight.
Shen Zueran had never felt such heartache.
If someone had told him just a day ago that he would be devastated by a simple sentence from a female, he would have just given them a cold, emotionless glance.
Because such a thing was absolutely impossible.
But now, it had happened, as real as could be.
An inexplicable panic spread through his heart, enveloping Shen Zueran completely.
Shen Zueran found he absolutely could not stand the cold, emotionless look in Yu Lan's eyes.
'Don't look at me like that.'
Just a moment ago, Yu Lan had smiled at him—a smile so sweet and soft. It was as if stars were twinkling in her beautiful, slightly rounded eyes.
The extreme contrast made this heart-devouring pain even worse.
Shen Zueran absolutely refused to accept their relationship turning out like this.
In the next second, Shen Zueran did something that utterly shocked everyone.
He suddenly grabbed Yu Lan's wrist, guiding her small, delicate hand to SLAP him across his own face.
The other researchers present all stared with wide, shocked eyes.
Even Yu Lan was completely stunned, her eyes widening slightly as she stared blankly at Shen Zueran.
The pretty, polite female, who wouldn't even utter a curse word, had never slapped anyone before. Even though Shen Zueran had forced her hand to do it, Yu Lan still felt a pang of guilt.
Her soft, red lips parted, as if to say something.
In the next second, Shen Zueran's apologetic voice rang out:
"Lanlan, I'm sorry. I was wrong just now."
"I was too arrogant and underestimated you. You are the most intelligent and capable female I have ever met."
"Letting you leave would be the Science Research Institute's greatest loss. Of course, if you can forgive my previous transgression and stay, our Science Research Institute can also provide you with a better and bigger platform."
"I hope you won't be angry because of a wrong decision I made out of a moment of arrogance."
"I did wrong. You can punish me however you see fit."
The tall, handsome male stood before Yu Lan, his head slightly bowed, looking at her with the utmost sincerity.
On his pale skin, the red mark from the slap Yu Lan had just delivered was extremely conspicuous.
Yu Lan averted her gaze slightly. She had been very, very, very angry, but Shen Zueran's act of slapping himself in apology immediately deflated her anger.
Now, he was apologizing so sincerely and had even acknowledged her worth.
Yu Lan pursed her lips, becoming hesitant.
Her pretty brows furrowed slightly, her lovely face unable to hide her distress.
Everyone knew that Yu Lan was now deep in thought.
Shen Zueran even quieted his breathing. His large hand gripping her wrist was hot and strong. The Scientific Research Institute Director, who was usually at ease no matter what experiment he was conducting, was for the first time facing something uncertain. It felt as if his soul was floating in mid-air, and his heart was THUMP-THUMP-THUMPING.
He waited for Yu Lan to speak, to decide his fate.
Yu Lan's decision came quickly. She was a pretty female who was gentle but also had a sharp edge.
She was brave enough to fight for a chance to stay at the Science Research Institute, yet she could also turn and walk away without hesitation when faced with Shen Zueran's unfair decision.
But now, after Shen Zueran's sincere apology and a moment of thought, Yu Lan felt she could stay.
In front of everyone, Yu Lan nodded.
"Alright, I can stay."
"But," Yu Lan's gaze was fixed on Shen Zueran, her pretty face full of earnest conviction.
"Shen Zueran, you remember this: you're the one asking me to stay. I am not some piece of trash who came to the Science Research Institute to mooch a stipend."
"Mm."
Shen Zueran nodded. 'If Yu Lan is trash, then what does that make the ordinary researchers at the Science Research Institute?'
'Even worse than trash?'
Shen Zueran apologized seriously to Yu Lan once more:
"I'm sorry. I was too arrogant just now."
Hearing Shen Zueran apologize yet again.
The few Advanced researchers secretly exchanged frantic glances.
'What is going on?'
'Did hell freeze over?'
'This is the first time we've ever seen Shen Zueran like this!'
'Look at him just now. There's no doubt that if Yu Lan had refused, Shen Zueran might have burst into tears on the spot.'
'Is this still our forever calm and composed, elite-looking director?'
Afraid that knowing too much would get them silenced later, the few Advanced researchers silently took a few steps back to distance themselves from Shen Zueran and Yu Lan.
At that moment, Yu Lan was looking earnestly at the still somewhat anxious Shen Zueran:
"It's okay. You've already apologized to me. The fact that I agreed to stay means I've already forgiven you."
"I believe you made that decision because you don't know me. Once we get to know each other better in the future, misunderstandings like this won't happen again."
"I hope that in the future, you will think things through before making a decision."
"Mm."
Shen Zueran looked at Yu Lan's small, serious expression, and with an equally serious face, he nodded earnestly.
'How can she be so cute!'
It was as if a happy little deer was leaping around in his heart.
'Did she just say she would get to know me better in the future?'
'But that's something a female only does when she wants to build a relationship with a male.'
'Is Yu Lan... inviting me?'
Shen Zueran's heart pounded.
In such a short time, his emotions had been on a wild roller coaster.
If it were someone in poorer health, they might have collapsed already. But Shen Zueran, on the contrary, felt a hundred times more energetic, his entire being radiant.
"Let's go. Come to my office, and I'll grant you access."