Chapter Eighteen: The Entire Research Institute Was Stirred

To show sincerity.

In front of Yulan, Shen Zhuoran personally authorized her one by one on the intranet accounts.

In the past, such trivial matters would never require the Director of the Research Institute, who was busy managing countless affairs, to handle personally.

At most, he might condescend to instruct his subordinates to deal with it, which was already a high compliment.

The Research Institute had dedicated staff responsible for all logistical and miscellaneous tasks.

But now, doing such petty tasks—previously deemed a waste of time—Shen Zhuoran unexpectedly felt a profound sense of fulfillment.

The faint, sweet, and soft fragrance emanating from the beautiful female gently spread to his nose, lingering around him as if he were immersed in a sea of sweetness, overwhelming and filling his senses.

It was a scent of happiness and delight.

Shen Zhuoran even considered turning off the air freshening system to preserve this fragrance in the room for a long time.

However, that would be too abrupt an action, so he reluctantly gave up the idea.

“All done.”

Shen Zhuoran pressed the final confirm button.

“I’ve approved everything on my end. You can check by clicking inside again.”

“I’ve also updated your position.”

Yulan tapped on the pale blue software interface; sure enough, the next moment, the system’s welcome message appeared.

[Welcome, Senior Researcher Yulan.]

Yulan’s fingers lovingly traced the words “Senior Researcher.” When she looked up again, her entire delicate face radiated joy and happiness.

“Thank you, Director Shen.”

Her voice was crisp and sweet.

Yet Shen Zhuoran’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.

Even inexperienced males instinctively want to show off in front of a beautiful female, hoping to receive special treatment different from other males.

He did not want to hear the cold, explicit tone of the director’s official relationship.

Standing up from his seat, Shen Zhuoran turned to face Yulan and opened a black safe-like box.

He took out a new nameplate and handed it to Yulan.

Seeing Yulan’s slightly puzzled gaze, he patiently explained.

“Each nameplate corresponds to a position and grants different access permissions. Your original Research Assistant nameplate only allowed free entry to the Research Institute and a few related laboratories.”

“But now that you are a Senior Researcher, your permissions will be much broader.”

“Every Senior Researcher’s nameplate is personally granted by me. Later, we’ll take a photo together to upload to the intranet and make a congratulatory poster.”

“So,” Shen Zhuoran’s dark eyes sparkled with a smile as he looked at Yulan, extending his left hand toward the beautiful female. Resting there was a nameplate with a color very similar to the one on Shen Zhuoran’s chest, shimmering with a graceful arc of light.

“Can you give me your Research Assistant nameplate now?”

Yulan responded with a soft “Mm.”

She handed over the assistant nameplate she had been clutching tightly in her palm.

Their fingertips touched.

In that instant, they both felt each other’s body warmth.

One minute later,

Yulan and Shen Zhuoran’s joint photo was uploaded to the Research Institute’s internal website.

The headline, [Congratulations to Research Assistant Yulan for successfully passing the Senior Researcher competition], was enlarged and bolded, pushed to everyone’s phones.

The next moment,

Zhao Song’s message came through instantly.

Zhao Song: [Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, Lanlan, you, you, you…]

Shocked, Zhao Song repeated “you” three times in a row.

Even though he had personally escorted Yulan into the Research Institute’s gate that morning and was very familiar with her face,

seeing Yulan standing next to Shen Zhuoran, wearing the Senior Researcher nameplate, still left him in a daze.

Yulan deeply understood Zhao Song’s shock.

Kindly, she tapped a reply.

Yulan: [Yes, the news is true—it’s me.]

Zhao Song: [Oh my god!!!!!!]

To express his astonishment, Zhao Song used six exclamation marks.

Zhao Song: [Wait, why did the director just ask me to delete your permissions?]

Zhao Song: [Hmm, let me check…]

“I’m stunned!”

Zhao Song exclaimed aloud from his seat.

He had intended to see who handled re-authorizing Yulan’s permissions.

Unexpectedly, it was the director himself.

No way—the director, who was so lofty and focused only on research, actually did this?

Zhao Song’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

At the same time,

In the Second Laboratory,

Yulan went to participate in the researcher competition; Louisa, being only a Research Assistant, naturally had no right to observe.

Unless she insisted on watching using her royal princess status, but that would contradict her usual gentle and harmless public demeanor.

Moreover, the reason she endured such tough work at the Research Institute was partly to be close to Shen Zhuoran.

After all, she was not the queen’s biological daughter. If the scandal from years ago surfaced, everything she had now would vanish in an instant.

Therefore, she had to, while there was still a chance, marry several high-ranking males to gain the backing of their families.

Thus, even if it was revealed that the disappearance of Yulan years ago was their doing, it would no longer matter.

Because Yulan had now become a useless female without healing abilities.

Choosing the successor would be a simple matter.

Louisa looked at the piles of experimental drugs on the workbench, feeling a wave of frustration.

At that moment, a notification sounded with a “ding!”

She took out her phone to check, and the next second,

The laboratory erupted in loud cheers.

“Yulan passed the Senior Researcher competition!”

It was Allen.

During their brief meeting at the lab’s entrance, this young and talented hero had already fallen for Yulan.

Seeing the news of her success, he was happier than anyone and immediately cheered aloud.

Louisa, who hadn’t seen the message yet, was stunned and hurriedly opened her phone to check the top notification.

“No, it’s impossible.”

“How could Yulan pass the competition?”

“She’s clearly useless now.”

Louisa refused to accept the news.

But on the intranet,

In the most central and important section, usually reserved for the most critical announcements,

there was now a bold photo of Yulan and Shen Zhuoran together.

The Senior Researcher nameplate displayed on her chest was dazzlingly bright.

Louisa clenched her teeth tightly, her voice dark and menacing.

“Yulan!”

Soon, the news of a beautiful female becoming a Senior Researcher through the competition swept through the entire Research Institute.

The beautiful, obedient, and sweet female had already captivated countless males.

Not to mention that Yulan now demonstrated remarkable abilities.

All the males in the Research Institute were completely stirred into a frenzy.

“Even if it’s just to be one of Yulan’s male attendants, I’m willing.”

“Do you think if I volunteer to be her pillow companion, she’ll accept?”

Countless single, talented males discussed among themselves while casting wary glances at familiar colleagues they considered rivals.

The Research Institute, known for its calm, rational, and restrained atmosphere, was thoroughly stirred.

At that moment, a sharp alarm sounded again.