Chapter 522: He's still quite cute

Ah?!

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan was completely dazed.

He froze in place, even forgetting to soothe the sweet cone in his arms...

Lin Yuan's eyes widened, his heart pounding 'thump-thump' wildly.

After a while, Lin Yuan finally found his voice, his tone trembling uncontrollably: 'Really, really?'

Qin Bore suddenly bent down and snatched the sweet cone from Lin Yuan's arms.

She held the sweet cone tightly in her arms, rubbing her cheek against the kitten's soft fur, her voice soft and sweet: 'Sweet cone, I love you to death.'

Lin Yuan: '???'

He was completely dumbfounded; the surprise on his face froze instantly, replaced by a wave of embarrassment...

It turned out that her remark just now was addressed to the kitten sweet cone.

Qin Bore held the sweet cone, turned her head, and looked at him puzzled.

In Qin Bore's drunken, hazy eyes lay only confusion: 'You just asked me... really? What's real, what's fake?'

Lin Yuan quickly turned his face away and gave an embarrassed cough.

Lin Yuan unconsciously scratched the back of his head: 'No, no, I was just asking casually.'

Qin Bore blinked her watery eyes, suddenly seeming to understand something.

She curled the corner of her red lips into a sly smile, deliberately leaned close to Lin Yuan, her alcohol-laced breath brushing his ear: 'You wouldn't think I was saying 'I like you' to you, would you?'

Lin Yuan's cheeks instantly flushed red, and he quickly stepped back half a pace to avoid her gaze.

Lin Yuan broke into another embarrassed cough, stammering and unable to speak.

He simply didn't know how to explain the earlier misunderstanding.

'Pfft.' Qin Bore couldn't help laughing at his embarrassed state.

She poked his shoulder, saying, 'You're really funny; how could I possibly like you? Even if I liked the sweet cone, I wouldn't like you, after all you're not as cute as the sweet cone.'

Qin Bore shook the sweet cone in her arms, her tone half-joking: 'If you turned into my cat, then I'd like you.'

Lin Yuan didn't know why, perhaps stimulated by her teasing... or perhaps that hidden feeling deep inside was acting up...

Lin Yuan's head heated up, and he impulsively replied: 'Fine, then I'll become your cat.'

The air fell silent in an instant.

Qin Bore's smile also froze.

Her hand gripping the sweet cone tightened slightly as she stared blankly at Lin Yuan, seemingly not expecting him to say that.

After a few seconds, Qin Bore finally reacted.

A faint blush rose on her cheeks; she quickly turned away, feigning disdain: 'I don't want your big male cat at all—it's not cute at all, and it's clumsy.'

Lin Yuan's face grew even redder; he lowered his head embarrassedly, his breathing becoming cautious.

Qin Bore also seemed to sense the subtle atmosphere, holding the sweet cone as she sat down on the sofa.

She waved her hand dismissively: 'It's getting late; I'm going to take a shower and sleep. You can head back—be careful on the way.'

Lin Yuan felt as if pardoned, quickly nodding: 'Alright, you rest well; I'm leaving first.'

After bidding farewell to Qin Bore, he almost fled from her home.

The door clicked shut.

The living room instantly fell silent.

The intoxication on Qin Bore's face seemed to dissipate somewhat.

She lowered her gaze to the sweet cone in her arms, gently poked the kitten's forehead, and whispered: 'Sweet cone, sorry about using you as a shield earlier.'

She paused, the corner of her mouth unconsciously twitching upward, and added softly: 'But sweet cone, you also think he's actually quite cute, right?'

The sweet cone seemed to understand, snuggling into Qin Bore's embrace, letting out a soft 'meow' and rubbing its head against her hand.

Qin Bore smiled, holding the sweet cone as she walked to the window.

She lifted a corner of the curtain, looking down at the floor-to-ceiling window: Lin Yuan hurried out of the apartment building and got into that familiar Tesla.

Only when the car's taillights vanished into the night did she reluctantly lower the curtain and turn toward the bathroom...

……

In the following days, Lin Yuan and Shen Nan Zhi continued developing the X vaccine.

Lin Yuan's traditional Chinese medicine methods helped solve the key bottleneck in X vaccine development.

Originally, the core key technology of Su Group's X vaccine had all been stolen by Qian Renhao.

The technical team was also poached.

But now, with Lin Yuan's help, Su Group's X vaccine development can continue.

Furthermore... if research is accelerated, Su Group's X vaccine development speed could surpass Qian Renhao's company.

Su Monong was very pleased with Lin Yuan's performance.

Therefore, she prepared to secretly reward Lin Yuan.

That night.

Lin Yuan had just finished a day's experiment and returned home, about to change clothes, when he heard a knock at the door.

He thought it was a delivery person, but froze upon opening the door?

Standing outside the door was actually Chairman Su Monong.

Su Monong wore a well-tailored professional suit, a gentle smile on her face, and held an exquisite gift box in her hand.

'General Manager Su? How did you come here?' Lin Yuan quickly stepped aside to let her in, his tone full of surprise.

'Sorry for disturbing you so late; I hope I didn't affect your rest.' Su Monong walked into the living room, her gaze sweeping over the simple rental, a fleeting hint of allure flickering in her eyes.

'No, no, please have a seat.' Lin Yuan quickly poured a cup of warm water and handed it over, asking, 'What do you need me for?'

Su Monong took the water cup, placed the gift box on the coffee table, and looked at Lin Yuan seriously saying: "I'm here to give you a reward. Recently you helped advance the X Vaccine's development; you performed well, the company must properly reward you."

"A reward?" Lin Yuan felt doubtful, "Hasn't the company already given me the project bonus?"

"That's the company's reward; tonight's reward is truly my personal intention." Su Monong said in an alluring voice, handing the exquisite gift box to Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan curiously opened it and looked—then he was completely dazed??

Inside the gift box were, astonishingly, all kinds of ……

……

Blood‑weeping Blade.

Shadow War Axe.

Endless War Blade.

Witch's Cloak.

……

After one night.

The next morning.

Lin Yuan and Su Monong were both extremely exhausted.

Su Monong went completely limp in Lin Yuan's arms.

Her neck was sore at this moment, because……

Su Monong leaned against Lin Yuan's embrace.

Her jade finger drew circles on Lin Yuan's chest.

Su Monong sighed softly: "Lin Yuan, the X Project can now proceed, but I still have a worry."

Lin Yuan asked: "What worry?"

Su Monong sat up slightly, the laziness on her face replaced by…… seriousness.

Su Monong said solemnly: "There is still a biggest problem: the person in charge of the X Project, the Group Medical Director, Shen Nan Zhi, she is a member of the Sun Licheng Faction."

"Sun Licheng holds great authority over the pharmaceutical R&D department."

"If we let Shen Nan Zhi handle the X Project research, I always feel it's unsafe."

"Unless we find a way to lure Shen Nan Zhi over and make her one of us."

Hearing Director Su's words, Lin Yuan furrowed his brow.

Shen Nan Zhi's ability in R&D is evident to all; she is indeed a key figure.

He recalled Shen Nan Zhi's usual care for him, and for a moment he hesitated.

"Sister Nan Zhi is upright; she probably wouldn't play tricks because of faction issues, right?" Lin Yuan voiced his thought.

Su Monong shook her head, she smoothed her messy long hair behind her.

Then she got up, picked up the pajamas beside her, and draped them over her shoulders.

"The marketplace is like a battlefield; people's hearts are unfathomable; we cannot gamble."

She walked to the window, watching the street below gradually awaken.

"Sun Licheng has always wanted to turn the pharmaceutical R&D department entirely into his own sphere of influence; the X Vaccine is a key project of the group, he will certainly not let it go."

"Shen Nan Zhi was promoted by him personally; even if she herself is blameless, Sun Licheng will still interfere from behind."

Lin Yuan fell silent; Su Monong's words indeed made sense.

"Director Su, what do you plan to do?" Lin Yuan asked.

Su Monong sighed: "I have wanted for years to win Shen Nan Zhi over, but never had the chance."

"This Shen Nan Zhi has a peculiar personality; she doesn't like money, nor does she like power. She only wants to focus on medical research."

Lin Yuan nodded; during this period of contact with Shen Nan Zhi, he had roughly figured out the character of this beautiful director.

Shen Nan Zhi is an absolute female genius in science and engineering.

She devotes herself solely to pharmaceutical R&D, having no interest in other power struggles, money, or such external things.

Su Monong sighed: "I used to be unable to persuade her to side with me; but now I feel there is an opportunity."

Lin Yuan blinked, then asked: "What opportunity?"

Su Monong looked at him, her voice faint: "The opportunity lies with you."

Lin Yuan: "Ah?? With me??"

Su Monong nodded: "You and Shen Nan Zhi are very close. Moreover, I can see that your relationship seems quite good; she also has a good impression of you."

"I think you can give it a try."

Lin Yuan helplessly shook his head: "Director Su, I also can't get Director Shen to defect to us; I lack that authority, after all we are merely colleagues."

"At most I'm just an ordinary friend to her; I can't persuade her at all."

Su Monong said: "But what if you two became lovers?"

Lin Yuan was dazed: "Director Su, what do you mean by that?"

Su Monong's gaze was faint: "I want you to become Shen Nan Zhi's man."