The villains are redeemed, and the heroines cry and beg for forgiveness.

He couldn't help but rub his forehead.

Even a career-oriented woman like Xue Xiling, who is focused on her studies, is indeed very concerned about her career.

In fact, not only Cheng Caimeng, but Gu Ran also knew that her younger sister Cheng Youmeng was equally impressive.

This must be hereditary; there's no use in Xue Xiling being envious.

"Alright, I've had the chicken soup too." Gu Ran said to Cheng Caimeng, "Is there anything else? Don't you dare trespass into my lab again next time."

"By the way, how did you get into my lab?"

Gu Ran used his telekinetic powers to check every corner of the room again, but found no signs of damage.

Could it also be due to the power of her special cultivation technique?

Thinking of Cheng Caimeng's body-refining techniques, Gu Ran couldn't help but recall the "bone-shrinking technique" from the martial arts novels he had read. Could this be how Cheng Caimeng entered the martial arts world?

Gu Ran couldn't help but use his mental power to check if there was any part that could be used to perform the Bone Shrinking Technique or a similar technique.

However, Gu Ran ultimately did not find any such gaps.

His research lab, like Xue Yingsong's, was custom-made. Even the ventilation openings were specially protected, with the openings no larger than the size of a finger.

Such a passage would be difficult for even an earthworm to crawl through, let alone a person.

Even if there really were a technique called bone-shrinking skill, it would be absolutely impossible to achieve this level of skill.

Seeing Gu Ran's puzzled and questioning gaze, Cheng Caimeng couldn't help but chuckle.

"Haha, you seem so suspicious. Actually, it's nothing. Aren't you planning to recruit some students as researchers for your so-called artificial... mechanical project?"

“But you were out and not at school, so Principal Xue temporarily arranged for your researchers to stay in your research lab to get acquainted with them. I just told them I was there to bring you chicken soup, and they said ‘oh’ and left.”

Gu Ran: "......"

He could even picture the group of people jeering.

Because he didn't know how long it would take to resolve the "evil god's consciousness," Gu Ran briefly told Xue Yingsong about his plan to recruit researchers before leaving, asking him to make arrangements for the few promising candidates he had selected.

As for being assigned to Xue Yingsong's research lab, it was probably because there was no better place for him at the moment.

He didn't keep any highly confidential documents in his research lab.

The most confidential information is either with Xue Yingsong or in his mind.

So there was nothing wrong with arranging those students, and he also left enough low-class information in the research lab, as well as some semi-finished and finished mechs, which were piled up in the storage room next to the research lab for them to familiarize themselves with.

Therefore, Gu Ran did not find anything wrong with Xue Yingsong's arrangement.

However, Cheng Caimeng resolved the situation in such a way, allowing this "outsider" to easily take over the research lab.

"I never expected she knew about social engineering..."

Gu Ran shook his head slightly, feeling quite helpless towards Cheng Caimeng.

"Alright, since you didn't come here to make me fulfill the bet, then go back."

Gu Ran prepared to see the guest off.

"Do not."

To everyone's surprise, Cheng Caimeng refused outright.

"I'm not leaving. I painstakingly made chicken soup for you, and you didn't even finish it." Cheng Caimeng's eyes held a hint of grievance, making her look pitiful. "Even if you want to kick me out, you should at least finish the chicken soup. If you're worried about any dangers, I can take half a sip first, and then you can take half a sip, okay?"

Xue Xiling was dumbfounded.

Immediately, an image flashed in her mind: Cheng Caimeng and Gu Ran sitting together, Xue Xiling scooping up a spoonful of soup, taking a sip herself first, and then giving a sip to Gu Ran, the two of them looking extremely intimate.

Xue Xiling's fair cheeks turned bright red in an instant.

"Can't!"

A shout suddenly rang out in the study room.

Gu Ran and Cheng Caimeng turned to look at her in surprise.

"What can't I do?" Gu Ran asked, puzzled.

"Ah, I, no, no, please don't, it's not what you think." Xue Xiling tried to explain incoherently, but even she didn't know what she was saying.

She desperately wanted to stop the scene she was imagining from happening, but she didn't know how.

What reason would she have to stop it?

For a moment, she was so anxious that she almost cried.

I just felt like I was so stupid.

Cheng Caimeng glanced at Xue Xiling, then at Gu Ran, seemingly lost in thought.

"Alright, don't rush things. Think things through slowly. The more you rush, the less you'll be able to say what's on your mind."

Cheng Caimeng said softly.

"Here, have a bowl of chicken soup first. I put some herbs in it to refresh your mind, and it tastes pretty good."

Cheng Caimeng held the bowl, scooped up a spoonful, and without saying a word, brought it to Xue Xiling's lips.

Smelling the aroma of chicken soup and hearing Cheng Caimeng's comforting words, Xue Xiling subconsciously opened her mouth and drank the chicken soup.

Seemingly finding the taste quite good, Xue Xiling finished the soup in the spoon and then subconsciously licked her lips.

"Thank you!"

Xue Xiling couldn't help but think of Cheng Caimeng licking her lips just now. Realizing that she had misunderstood the other party, she felt ashamed and left as if she were fleeing.

Cheng Caimeng put down her bowl, turned to look at Gu Ran, smiled gently, and said, "If you had to choose between me and Researcher Xue, which one would you choose?"

235. Two women's feelings, a sudden accident, Xue Xiling critically ill? 4k

"Alright, you don't need to say anything more."

No sooner had she asked than Cheng Caimeng stopped her before Gu Ran could answer.

She sighed and said, "Never mind, your answer definitely won't make me happy anyway."

Gu Ran shrugged slightly.

Cheng Caimeng's feeling was right; Gu Ran's answer was indeed likely to upset her.

Because he wanted to answer, "Can I choose none of them?"

In fact, he once dreamed of being surrounded by beautiful women, with women on both sides of his body.

However, after experiencing real heartbreak, this thought faded considerably.

In addition, his self-control is exceptional, and this level of physiological instinct can no longer sway his thoughts.

Moreover, a shadow always lingered in his heart, keeping him away from Xue Xiling and Cheng Caimeng.

—Those around him will suffer misfortune and be rejected by the rules of the world.

If he had been skeptical before, Alice's death completely shut the door in his heart.

Although Cheng Caimeng had always acted as if she had ill intentions towards him, Gu Ran had already learned through his own observation and investigation that she was actually a good girl.

Xuexi Ling is the same.

So, on the one hand, it was because of heartbreak that he closed his heart, and on the other hand, it was for their own good, so that they wouldn't have to get involved with him, this jinx.

As for Xue Yingsong's statement that marrying Xue Xiling could help Lanxin University avoid a crisis,

Gu Ran held a deep skeptical attitude.

The diary of the first president of Lanxin University did indeed "predict" that Xue Xiling would not live past the age of nineteen, and it also "predicted" the crisis of Lanxin University.

However, the way to avoid the crisis was something Xue Yingsong discovered herself by "peeking" into fate.

The future he "glimpsed" was that he would marry Xue Xiling and then continue to develop, transforming Lanxin University into a true academic mecca for the human alliance.

When Xue Yingsong "sneaked in," Xue Xiling was already well over nineteen years old, but she was still alive and well, and she and Gu Ran had developed Lanxin University so well.

Therefore, Xue Yingsong concluded that it must be because Gu Ran was the "destined one" who rewrote the fate of Xue Xiling and Lanxin University.

This is one of the two main reasons why he has been so eager to bring Xue Xiling and Xue Xiling together; the other is naturally because Xue Xiling is interested in him.

But when he thought of the little seashell and Alice, he hesitated.

Is things really as wonderful as Xue Yingsong imagines?

Gu Ran's suspicions were the main reason why he kept his distance from Xue Xiling.

"Alright, let's make a deal, how about it?" Cheng Caimeng placed the chicken soup in front of Gu Ran with a smile. "I know you find me annoying, but as long as you finish the chicken soup, I'll leave immediately, how about that? Isn't this a good deal?"

"If you want special services, I don't mind sitting on your lap and feeding you."

Gu Ran reluctantly finished the chicken soup in one gulp.

"Okay, is that alright now?"

Cheng Caimeng looked aggrieved: "Fine, you hate me that much and want me to leave quickly, huh?"

But in an instant, her mood brightened: "Alright, I'll do as you say. But there's also the stuff in the box. That's something people worked so hard to make, we can't waste it."

Gu Ran had no choice but to pour out the chicken soup that was in the casserole dish in the box and drink it all.