Chapter 42 Jealousy Can Increase Affection

In an instant, the eyes of the three men all focused on Ning Shuyin.

Loran's scrutinizing gaze seemed to pierce through her.

Gu Lei casually dusted off his robe, glanced over, and his pink eyes held a hint of appreciation.

Finally, it's Situ Linchen.

His dark eyes remained fixed on her, unmoving.

“It seems there’s nothing more for me to do here,” Gu Lei said with a smile. “As promised, I must evacuate safely.”

After saying that, he stood up and walked straight toward the door, his light blue hair disappearing into the corridor.

Now, only Loran remains in the room.

Situ Linchen turned to him, his tone utterly impolite: "Dr. Loran, please excuse us as well."

Ning Shuyin initially thought Luo Lan might make trouble. But the man merely darkened his red eyes, got up and left with a displeased expression, without saying anything more.

The room fell silent again.

"What do you want to say?" Situ Linchen's gaze was fixed on her.

Ning Shuyin looked him straight in the eye and said, "I can go see Zhou Zhiheng and get the Purification Crystal."

Just now, when Situ Linchen showed a troubled expression, she had already made her decision.

This is the best bargaining chip she can currently offer.

A hint of surprise flashed in Situ Linchen's eyes, but he quickly composed himself.

He pressed further, "What are the conditions?"

The Alliance Marshal would not take this for granted as an unwarranted gesture of goodwill.

Ning Shuyin said sincerely, "You said in the courtroom before that you would protect me and not let Loran hurt me during our date."

“Now… I think this promise can be extended. Even after my three dates with Loran are over, you will continue to protect me.”

Currently, Situ Linchen has the highest favorability rating among the men.

His combat strength is also strong enough.

In Ning Shuyin's survival-driven considerations, Situ was the strongest shield she could find.

If he could keep her away from the threat—saving him would be the same as saving Ning Shuyin herself.

Situ Linchen hesitated almost without hesitation.

"I promise you."

He agreed too quickly.

Ning Shuyin didn't even have time to use the other excuses she had prepared.

Situ Linchen had his own considerations.

He has known Lorraine for over two hundred years.

He knew Luo Lan, this medical genius, better than Ning Shuyin did.

Loran's interest in this girl undoubtedly stemmed from her special abilities.

Situ Linchen didn't know the details of what had happened between Ning Shuyin and Luo Lan. It was nothing more than that she had suffered cruel torture at Luo Lan's hands.

But now, the situation is different.

Ning Shuyin's special abilities have already been revealed. Situ Linchen believes that even if Luo Lan commits evil deeds, she wouldn't resort to extreme measures to harm her.

On the contrary, Loran is very likely to come and fight for her—to snatch her away from his fleet.

The Allied fleet already had a shortage of navigators.

After removing You Lingfei, there is an urgent need to replenish the leadership force.

Now that Ning Shuyin wants to get away from Luo Lan, it's exactly what he wanted, and couldn't be better.

“Lorraine is ruthless and vicious. Stay away from him. I will provide you with protection if necessary,” Situ Linchen added.

At this moment, the deal is done.

"So, Ning Shuyin, how do you plan to trade with Zhou Zhiheng? What will you use in exchange?"

Situ Lin was somewhat curious about this.

Ning Shuyin pursed her lips slightly.

“I plan to trade my right to ask him out on dates for it.”

Upon hearing the words "date invitation," she noticed that the man's expression turned noticeably unpleasant.

But afterwards, he didn't say much, he just gestured for her to enter.

The meaning is clear: do as you say.

Ning Shuyin lowered her head and manipulated the computer with her fingers.

She opened the Rose Society's interface.

After some editing, she sent Zhou Zhiheng a "date invitation".

A minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

Silence fell over the room.

Situ Linchen frowned slightly, seemingly feeling that a date invitation alone wouldn't be enough to get the "Purification Crystal" from someone like Zhou Zhiheng.

At this moment, Ning Shuyin was also filled with anxiety.

She didn't believe that a date invitation would make Zhou Zhiheng obediently comply.

So, at the end of the invitation, she wrote a postscript that she felt carried enough weight.

Ning Shuyin wasn't entirely sure whether those words would move Zhou Zhiheng.

Almost half an hour has passed, and there is still no news.

Their patience was almost exhausted.

"Beep beep beep—"

Suddenly, Ning Shuyin's personal computer rang.

A video call request popped up on the screen from Zhou Zhiheng.

Situ Linchen was taken aback.

Instead of confirming through the Rose Club's software or replying via text, they called directly via video.

Does this prove that Ning Shuyin's invitation to a date really has that much power?

[Target person Situ Linchen's favorability increased by 15 points.]

[Current favorability: 5.]

The system's sudden notification about the favorability rating startled Ning Shuyin.

She couldn't understand it.

Why did Situ Linchen's affection for her increase after she asked Zhou Zhiheng out on a date?

What's wrong with this man?

Could it be that he has developed a "sense of crisis"?

Are you jealous?

So your favorability rating has increased?

That can't be right.

But in any case, the favorability rating jumped to an amazing positive value, which is a good thing.

"You still dare to contact me?"

Zhou Zhiheng's beautiful and pleasant young voice came through, his tone arrogant and domineering.

A holographic projection unfolded in the narrow shelter compartment. Zhou Zhiheng's place was incredibly luxurious.

A magnificent, golden conference room.

At the head of an antique black long table, Zhou Zhiheng sat upright.

The young man's high ponytail was tied up with an amethyst hair crown.

This young master wasn't wearing traditional Chinese clothing today, but rather a gorgeous black satin suit.

On either side of the long table, a dozen or so middle-aged men dressed very formally were sitting, with data terminals open in front of them.

This is clearly a high-level business meeting.

Zhou Zhiheng did not interrupt the meeting, but instead directly activated the virtual reality mode during the meeting.

His handsome yet arrogant face revealed undisguised displeasure when he saw Ning Shuyin and Situ Linchen sitting next to her.

It seems that Ning Shuyin's invitation to a date was quite a stimulus for him.

Zhou Zhiheng glared at him coldly, exuding an extremely strong aura.

Ning Shuyin adjusted her breathing to make herself appear confident enough.

She said loudly, "Mr. Zhou, it seems you've accepted my invitation. So, regarding the Crystal of Purification, I'd like to use our first date to discuss its ownership."

Zhou Zhiheng chuckled.

"You? A commoner with no talent, you dare to negotiate with me?"

His purple eyes swept over Situ Linchen, his tone contemptuous: "Let me tell you, even if the marshal is backing you up, it's useless. It's his business if he's blind to have taken a liking to you, but I—won't."

After the young man finished speaking, he said to his group of senior executives, "Continue."

He seemed to be in no mood to bother with her anymore.

However, Ning Shuyin's lips curled up slightly.

Zhou Zhiheng seemed indifferent, but he didn't hang up the phone. This was enough to show that the "postscript" had hit a nerve.

Situ Linchen was unaware of the inside story.

But his intuition was so sharp that he clearly saw the situation tilting in Ning Shuyin's favor.

He turned his head casually and said to Ning Shuyin in a light tone, "He can refuse to see you. Let's go have a meal."

Upon seeing this, Ning Shuyin immediately nodded and made a move to get up.

"stop!"

On the other end of the communication, Zhou Zhiheng abruptly interrupted the ongoing meeting.

His beautiful eyes were furrowed, and his tone was reluctant:

"Ning Shuyin, what exactly do you want?"