Damn it, I'm surrounded by insane Alphas!

The next day, Shi Ran was transferred away from the Speed ​​Heart project team.

He didn't know whether it was Lu Lin's decision or Gu Chen's.

They both seemed very busy these past few days. When they occasionally ran into Lu Lin at the company, he would just brush past them in a hurry.

He heard from Wang Cheng that the project team had been preparing for bidding recently, and they hadn't even gotten off work until late. Fortunately, Jifeng had won a place in the recent international competition and gained a lot of fame.

Everything seemed to be running smoothly, but sometimes I felt like... something wasn't quite right.

After the incident at the bar that night, Lu Lin barely spoke to him.

Was he completely unaware, or... was he angry after discovering he had been marked that day?

So he kicked himself out of the project team?

It doesn't matter anymore.

Anyway, Gu Chen has already promised that you'll be satisfied with this year's year-end bonus.

After the project was handed over, Shi Ran was transferred to a charity project department whose name itself evokes love and peace – the "Star Children Mutual Aid" charity project department.

I heard that Wang Cheng was in charge before, but they transferred him over because they were short-staffed.

He thought these non-profit public welfare projects were easy jobs, but when he opened the door to the project office, he saw Wang Cheng scratching his head in front of a pile of documents.

The moment Wang Cheng saw him enter, it was as if he had seen a savior.

"Thank God! Finally, someone's here to suffer with me!"

Shi Ran's eyelids twitched: "Suffering?"

Wang Cheng immediately straightened up and said righteously, "What's so difficult about it? This is caring for children with autism, such meaningful work!"

Well, he confessed without being asked.

Shi Ran sighed and began to look through the project materials that Wang Cheng had sent over.

The more he looked, the more his brows furrowed.

Simply put, this project involves pairing children from Y City Primary School with autistic children from several special education institutions, organizing regular activities, and having them play and learn together.

The idea is good.

But the question is, what kind of place is the affiliated primary school?

The most prestigious private schools are filled with sons of wealthy and powerful families who have been pampered since childhood. They are then sent to help others.

Forget about patience; we should just be thankful if we don't cause any trouble.

Wang Cheng had already made several attempts to coordinate, but he was driven to distraction by the arrogant parents and spoiled children. He revised the activity plan eight times, but it still hadn't been approved.

After listening to him finish speaking, Shi Ran felt dizzy and realized that she had jumped into a new fire pit.

On the way home that night, Shi Ran was still frowning as he studied child psychology.

He was worried that his face was too distorted, but when he turned his head, Gu Chen's brows were also furrowed.

This is rare; Gu Chen's emotions are rarely revealed in a way that allows Gu Chen to easily detect them.

Shi Ran couldn't help but lean in and smell him. "What's wrong? You look terrible."

Gu Chen paused for a moment as he typed on the keyboard.

He does have a bit of a headache today.

Several shipments of goods from Huanyu in Southeast Asia were detained by customs under mysterious circumstances, with all sorts of strange reasons, but the procedures were all legal and compliant.

At first, he thought it was just bad luck, but one after another, it became clear that someone was deliberately targeting him.

After much investigation, the clues actually pointed to Fu Yanshen.

He didn't expect Fu Yanshen to realize it was him so quickly, and to retaliate so swiftly and accurately.

If Fu Yanshen weren't currently stuck in Hong Kong and unable to come to the mainland, the two of them would probably have already faced off.

He turned his head to the side, slammed the laptop shut with a "click," and casually tossed it aside.

Then he opened his palms, facing upwards, in a waiting posture.

Shi Ran readily placed her hand on him and moved closer to Gu Chen.

He also released a faint, sweet fragrance, which lingered around Gu Chen in a sycophantic manner.

Gu Chen's tense shoulder line relaxed slightly. He enjoyed Shi Ran's initiative, but at the same time, he could also feel his almost addictive dependence on Shi Ran's pheromones.

He found it increasingly difficult to tolerate not smelling natural pheromones for extended periods.

Sometimes, even a two-hour separation would make him restless and crave occasional physical contact.

Perhaps it's because the feeling of the last temporary marking is fading.

He needs to be marked again.

The problem is that if forced marking is done, it could very likely cause permanent damage to Shi Ran's glands. So, would Shi Ran be willing to mark herself voluntarily?

He stroked Shi Ran's hand and asked, "How's your charity project going? Is it easy to run?"

This question finally provided an outlet for Shi Ran's emotions.

"Don't even mention it, they're all demon pills. It's just that the kids from Nancun are bullying me and Wang Cheng because we're old and weak. Tomorrow he insists on taking me to the scene. If I don't get home by tomorrow night, it's like I've been driven crazy..."

Shi Ran got more and more excited as she spoke, and the driver in the front seat couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The laughter was particularly clear in the quiet carriage.

Shi Ran's voice stopped abruptly, and he turned his head to look at the back of the driver's seat.

The driver quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Mr. Shi, I didn't mean to..."

Shi Ran waved her hand helplessly, "It's okay, I know you really couldn't help it."

Gu Chen's previously tense lips couldn't help but curve upwards slightly. He deliberately seized the opportunity to ask Shi Ran, "Is it this hard? Should we transfer you back to Lu Lin's project?"

Shi Ran shook her head almost immediately, "I don't want to."

Gu Chen's words betrayed no truthfulness. "Back then, when we wanted to transfer you, weren't you reluctant?"

Startled, Gu Chen had no idea that when Lu Lin asked him that question, he was pinned against a cabinet in the lounge, his hands groping him.

Shi Ran explained guiltily, "Others are already bidding, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to steal the credit, although I don't know if I can win..."

Gu Chen, however, was very confident: "We will succeed."

"Hmm? Is there some inside information?" Shi Ran thought for a moment, "That's right, Lu Lin and Yu Siran are getting engaged..."

"Yu Siran is indeed getting engaged, but... not to Lu Lin. Just the day we went back to the old house for dinner last time, Lu Lin told his family that it was absolutely impossible for him to get engaged to Yu Siran."

"What about his project?"

"Yes... he completely disregarded the project and refused the engagement. Why do you think that is?"

Shi Ran felt the gaze on him and changed the subject, saying, "Then why did you say you could win the bid?"

"Lu Lin went to beg his father; the Yu family had no other choice."

Shi Ran was taken aback. He remembered that in the dungeon, Lu Lin and his father had a very bad relationship.

Once, when the two of them got drunk at a roadside food stall, Lu Lin slumped into his arms and mumbled, "He always says he wishes he didn't have a son like me... Ha, I wish I didn't have a father like him either."

"You want me to bow down to him? Dream on."

Shi Ran was momentarily dazed. What was it about Lu Lin that made you bow your head now?

"The engagement party is the day after tomorrow, and they've sent us all invitations."

She suddenly snapped out of her daze, "So fast? Who is he engaged to?"

"Lin Jianshen is the only son of Lin, the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee."

The deputy secretary of the provincial party committee is a figure who truly stands at the top of the power in the province, which is practically a leap forward for the Yu family.

No wonder it was decided so quickly.

Gu Chen deliberately asked, "Are you going?"

Shi Ran shrugged nonchalantly, "Why? The invitations have already been sent out, of course I'm going. I'm curious about who this Young Master Lin is!"

A hint of satisfaction appeared on Gu Chen's lips.

As expected of his people, they think exactly the same as him.