Chapter Eight: Shen Zhuoran’s Jealous Interruption

The communication device in Yu Lan’s hand was immediately taken by the guard on duty and respectfully handed over to Belina.

The first thing Belina did upon receiving it was to check the call records.

As expected, there was a string of calls made to several men.

On average, over a hundred calls a day.

Belina nearly felt faint as she stared at the list.

Her expression instantly turned cold, and her gaze toward Yu Lan was filled with icy reprimand.

“Right now, Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye are on the battlefield. How could they possibly have time for your petty affairs?”

“Yu Lan, you must consider the bigger picture.”

“Don’t forget, you’re a useless female without healing abilities. You can’t even perform the most basic task of soothing the males through their mating season or ease their mental unrest.”

“They have the right to reject you.”

“Don’t embarrass yourself by clinging on so desperately.”

“I’ll have the steward prepare a new phone for you.”

After saying this, Belina rested her head on one hand, looking somewhat pained as she waved dismissively.

“Leave now.”

What was supposed to be a smooth visit ended up with her phone confiscated.

Yu Lan was fuming.

Regarding Belina’s words about soothing the males during their mating season—

The strong, powerful males were born warriors, whether in human or beast form, possessing immense strength.

Yet, at the same time, they experienced an animalistic mating season.

After reaching eighteen years of age, they would enter their estrus period, which required the females to use healing powers to calm them; otherwise, their mental energy would spiral out of control, leading to death.

The Research Institute had once developed a suppressant to temporarily ease the mating season, giving males time to find a female mate.

But suppression was not relief—the harder the suppression, the more violent and frequent the next outbreak would be.

It started with once a year, then evolved into every six months, every month, and eventually every week.

Yu Lan’s eyes flickered briefly.

What about Su Xingye and Huo Zhanting now?

No matter.

Yu Lan shook her head and clenched her fist firmly.

As long as she had strength, she would never be limited to merely soothing males or serving as a comfort object.

She was determined to find another way.

Lost in thought, a sudden dryness in her mouth reminded her of the scorching sun mercilessly beating down on her pale, delicate face.

Her smooth forehead was already dotted with a fine sheen of sweat.

Her cheeks flushed, and her petite, refined nose glistened with tiny beads of perspiration.

It was unbearably hot.

The palace’s central district forbade hovercars from entering.

As an unloved, useless princess, Yu Lan couldn’t even live in the core area and had to reside in the outer noble district.

She had to rely entirely on her own two feet to traverse the entire core district.

Under the sun’s glare, Yu Lan grew hotter and thirstier.

Her two fair hands shielding her forehead were no match for the blazing light.

In the sunlight, her fair skin, as delicate as snow, seemed about to melt.

She urgently needed water.

Passing by a wide glass door, she felt a rush of cool, transparent air flow out, making her shiver involuntarily.

“Ah, so comfortable!” Yu Lan sighed.

Comfort washed over her as she closed her eyes happily.

She wished every strand of her hair could soak up the coolness.

Her legs stood rooted to the spot; she didn’t want to move anymore.

Curious, she peeked inside this generously air-conditioned place.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Inside was a convenience store.

And there, in the fridge, was the ice water she longed for.

At the checkout counter, several people dressed in matching uniforms queued to pay.

If Yu Lan had been more observant, she would have noticed the tags identifying them as members of the First Research Institute.

Unbeknownst to her, the place she stood before was the First Research Institute’s own internal convenience store.

Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the steaming cold bottles of water inside.

She licked her dry, chapped lips, imagining the bliss of gulping down an icy drink.

Without hesitation, she charged in, heading straight for the water.

She grabbed a few snacks as well and obediently joined the queue at the back.

Her flushed cheeks made her look like a ripe, juicy peach.

So sweet and demure, the tall males inside the store were all stunned.

“She’s so well-behaved!”

“Looks so tiny.”

“So polite, even queuing up! Where have you ever seen a female queue up?”

“Don’t you think she smells amazing?”

“Smells? I caught that too. So fragrant, really fragrant.”

“I want to lick the sweat off her cheeks.”

“So pretty, so fragrant—she must be a high-ranking female. I want her to be my mate.”

The group of males lowered their voices, but Yu Lan remained oblivious.

She just frowned slightly, puzzled and a bit distressed.

Why was the line moving so slowly?

She was so thirsty.

She licked her lips again.

Suddenly, a wave of gasps erupted.

One male nearby, overwhelmed by the scent, fainted on the spot.

The males around scrambled to catch him.

The once quiet, orderly, and even austere convenience store erupted into lively chaos with Yu Lan’s arrival.

The air itself seemed to shimmer with an intoxicating energy.

News of a soft, pretty little female appearing at the Research Institute’s convenience store instantly spread through their internal chat group.

Some bold males even secretly snapped photos of her and posted them online.

“Such a beautiful female.”

“Oh my god, is she really at the convenience store? I’m coming right now.”

It was the Research Institute’s morning break.

Upon seeing the messages, the males spritzed on perfume, tidied their hair, and hurried off towards the store.

In the interstellar era, a beautiful female with a good temperament was as rare as a beacon in the night.

The single males were eager to use every trick to win Yu Lan over.

Yu Lan was completely unaware of the stir she had caused.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she finally reached the front of the line.

At last, she could drink deeply and quench her thirst.

“Next!” the cashier called out.

When the male in front of the counter saw Yu Lan, his voice dropped slightly.

He quickly scanned her items and announced the total.

“That’ll be thirty-eight star coins. Just swipe your work ID.”

“W-work ID?” Yu Lan’s pretty face froze. “I don’t have one.”

“No worries, you can use mine,” the male behind her said with a bright smile, stepping forward.

He placed his work ID on the scanner, and a series of beeps confirmed the transaction.

“All set.”

He explained to Yu Lan, “This is our Research Institute’s internal convenience store. You just swipe your work ID, and it’s deducted from your salary.”

“Oh, I didn’t know,” Yu Lan murmured, pressing her lips together.

She was so thirsty that she hadn’t realized she had wandered into someone else’s internal store.

How embarrassing.

Her cheeks flushed as she quickly said, “Let’s exchange contact info—I’ll transfer you the money.”

Waiting for this moment, the male’s eyes lit up as he promptly took out his phone.

“My name’s Xue Zhenyu. What’s yours?”

“I’m—”

Before Yu Lan could finish, a cold-faced man approached, cutting her off.

His expression held a possessiveness even he didn’t fully understand.