Jiang You stared at the broad shoulders and narrow waist, the eight-pack abs, the lean waistline...
"This isn’t quite right, is it?" Jiang You’s pink eyes flickered.
’A handsome man is showering, and I get to watch for free?’
But even as she thought this, she didn’t look away.
"Like the abs?" Shen Lan asked in a low voice.
"Y-Yes, they’re nice," Jiang You subconsciously nodded.
Shen Lan’s lips curled into a smile. "If you want to look in the future, you can just look at your boyfriend’s. No need to look at anyone else’s."
Jiang You felt a little awkward.
Shen Lan was really letting her watch him shower.
He was especially indulgent, asking, "Where do you want to look?"
Jiang You put on an arrogant front, but she didn’t hang up the terminal.
She said nothing, affecting a look of demure reserve.
Since she was silent, Shen Lan continued to ask questions while observing the changes in her expression, gradually figuring out what she wanted to see.
His abs were flushed red from the hot water.
His collarbones were flushed, too.
The young man’s blue hair was soaked through, water beading at the tips. His handsome, expressive face wore an indulgent and doting smile.
"You like looking here?"
"Or do you prefer looking here?"
...
"You little pervert," Shen Lan finally chuckled.
After they disconnected the terminal, Jiang You buried her face in her pillow and started berating herself again.
’Oh god, Jiang You, how can you be so pathetic!’
’How can you be such a pervert!’
’It was because you were a pervert that you got caught and forced to slave away here, have you forgotten?!’
’And now you still haven’t learned your lesson, you’re still hopelessly addicted to handsome men.’
Jiang You banged her head against the soft pillow.
And then, she went to sleep just like any other night.
「The next day.」
Jiang You arrived at the research team’s office as usual.
A few people were scattered around the office.
The moment Jiang You walked in, all eyes were on her.
The girl was delicately beautiful and stunning, with an outstanding presence that always made her the center of attention.
Li Yu saw her and paused. ’I have to admit,’ he thought, ’Jiang You is really beautiful. If she stared at me for too long, I’d probably blush.’
But the girl had never given him the time of day.
Still, he asked, "How’s the data organization coming along?"
’Jiang You might not do her work, but he still had to do his,’ which included supervising her progress.
"Don’t worry, I’ll finish on time." Jiang You didn’t even look at him, waving her hand dismissively. Her tone made it clear she couldn’t care less about what he said.
Hearing this, Li Yu shook his head. ’This pampered miss definitely won’t finish on time.’
Then he saw Jiang You push open the door to the research area and walk inside.
Li Yu: ...
’Just as I thought, she’s here to chase after our God Xi. Someone like her won’t last long in this group.’
’God Xi hates being disturbed during his research more than anything.’
’I probably won’t even have to talk her into quitting. God Xi will just throw her out of the group himself.’
Seeing Jiang You head toward the research area, a few people in the office gathered to whisper among themselves.
"Chairman Xi is discussing the medium for Beast Soul absorption with Zhou. If she goes in now, she’ll definitely disturb them. She’s sure to be kicked out."
"Yeah, this is going to be good."
The group waited, gloating over her impending misfortune.
...
Jiang You pushed open the door to the research area and walked in. Beside the lab bench, she saw not only Xi Cheng but also the female lead, Zhou Yan.
The two of them were studying something together.
Zhou Yan held out a hand, a small black fish swimming above her palm. She was showing her soul beast to Xi Cheng, apparently explaining something.
Jiang You already knew the female lead was inside. Her mission was to burst in on the male and female leads studying together, so she let her anger flare.
According to the plot, by this point, the female lead should have already received Long Yu’s golden rose brooch, marking her as one of his people. No one would dare to bully her.
That’s why the "vicious supporting character"—Jiang You—only dared to bully the female lead’s brothers.
But Jiang You noticed that the female lead was still wearing the gray rose brooch on her uniform.
Deep in their discussion, the two of them didn’t notice Jiang You enter at all.
"So you’re saying you were unconscious and don’t know how you absorbed it?" Xi Cheng’s brow furrowed in thought. "Can you recall anything about the circumstances?"
Just as Zhou Yan was about to speak, an imperious voice cut in, shattering her train of thought.
"What are you two doing?!" Jiang You strode over and roughly pulled Zhou Yan away.
Zhou Yan froze, staring at Jiang You without a word.
"My man? Is he someone you think you can touch?" Jiang You stood in front of Xi Cheng and addressed Zhou Yan coldly.
’Xi Cheng had never even agreed to be her boyfriend, but the villainess’s logic was different: anything she set her sights on was hers, and no one else was allowed to touch it.’
Jiang You found she could now deliver such outrageous lines with perfect inner calm.
’According to the plot, I should be unceremoniously thrown out, after which I’ll fly into a rage out of sheer humiliation...’
Zhou Yan glanced at Jiang You, then back at Xi Cheng.
She had no idea why Jiang You thought there was something going on between her and Xi Cheng.
On the day of the opening ceremony, Zhou Yan had developed a favorable impression of Xi Cheng after he’d answered her question, but that goodwill vanished when the pastry she offered him was thrown on the ground.
She realized their arrogance was ingrained, so there was no point in trying to get along with them. All she needed to do was work hard and improve herself.
Since joining this research team was advantageous for her, she had done so without a second thought.
"When did I become your man?" Xi Cheng’s unhurried voice drifted over.
"I’ve taken a fancy to you, so now you’re mine!" Jiang You said angrily.
Xi Cheng glanced at Jiang You, then at Zhou Yan, and said, "You should leave for now."
Zhou Yan was about to leave.
Jiang You whirled on him, furious, assuming he was talking to her. "Damn it! She’s not as pretty as me, her family isn’t as good as mine, and you’re telling *me* to get out?!"
She continued angrily, "Listen, playing hard to get is fine once in a while, but any more than this is just pathetic, you know?"
[Mission complete.]
Jiang You spun around to storm off but was suddenly stopped by a hand gripping her arm.
Xi Cheng’s unhurried voice sounded again. "I told her to leave, not you."
Jiang You froze. She saw that Zhou Yan had already turned and was walking out.
Jiang You was stunned. Her expression flickered, and that strange feeling welled up inside her again.
’The plot’s gone so far off the rails, I don’t even know what to say anymore.’
Xi Cheng knew she was on a mission. He had known she was coming to complete one.
The people outside, who were waiting for Jiang You to get kicked out, saw the door open and eagerly looked over. They were shocked to see Zhou Yan walk out instead.
Everyone: ?
What happened? Why was it Zhou Yan who came out, and not the other girl?
No one knew.
Inside the research area, Jiang You was at a loss. Having been inexplicably pulled back, she had no idea what to say.
"You like me?" Xi Cheng murmured, looking down at her. One of his hands still held her wrist, while the other gently brushed through her pink hair.