Chapter 76: Protecting Ling (1)

In the Yu residence, Yu Xi was idly scrolling through his phone, trying to stave off boredom. Since Sheng Ye was staying home today, he too was stuck in the house with nothing to do.

As he aimlessly browsed the internet, he decided to check the campus forum for Shenghua High School. After Jian Yiling's last post had caused quite a stir, he found himself visiting the forum more frequently.

Suddenly, he stumbled upon another trending post, and it was about Jian Yiling again—a confession post this time!

"What the heck! Who is this wolf cub? Jian Yiling is still so young, and he's already thinking of going after her?" Yu Xi exclaimed, his surprise evident as he stared at his phone.

At the same time, Zhai Yunsheng, who was sitting at his computer, abruptly stopped typing. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about our neighbor, Yiling! Someone set up a bunch of flowers and balloons at the school gate to confess to her!" Yu Xi replied while scrolling through the post.

As he continued flipping through the replies, he came across the final photo of the confession, showcasing a young man who looked rather scruffy. His eyes were beady, and he appeared emaciated, with a style reminiscent of punk culture, looking every bit the part of a small-time thug.

"Holy crap!" Yu Xi shot up from the sofa, clearly agitated. "What is this nonsense? How dare this kind of person go after Yiling? He should at least take a good look in the mirror first!" His face was twisted in disgust, feeling like a thousand angry horses were galloping through his mind.

"Let me see that." Zhai Yunsheng's voice was calm but commanding, prompting Yu Xi to hastily hand over his phone.

Zhai Yunsheng quickly skimmed through the post. "Hmph." He let out a cold laugh, his expression darkening.

---

Meanwhile, in the laboratory, Cheng Yi received a message from Jian Yiling: [Need two security personnel.]

The agreement signed between Jian Yiling and the Huailing Medical Research Institute included a clause that stipulated the institute would be fully responsible for the personal safety of its members. The research institute had significant security measures in place, as the value contained within its walls could rival that of some bank vaults. Additionally, the researchers themselves represented a considerable asset.

Thus, it was the institute's duty to ensure the safety of its personnel! Although Jian Yiling's official start date was next month, the agreement took effect as soon as it was signed. They finalized the contract earlier that morning, right before Jian Yiling arrived at school. The Huailing Institute wanted to act quickly to prevent her from being lured away by other research organizations. Hence, they had prepared the agreement overnight and rushed to school to finalize it before classes started.

Cheng Yi was taken aback by Jian Yiling's message and quickly replied: [What happened?]

[I'm in a bit of trouble.]

[Where are you now?] Cheng Yi pressed.

[At school.]

[Wait for me; I'll bring people over right away. Don't be afraid.]

Cheng Yi didn't know what kind of trouble Jian Yiling had encountered that required security personnel. However, since she had reached out for help, he knew something must be wrong.

He immediately set aside his work. He could have just sent security personnel, but his concern for her made him decide to go in person. The thought of Jian Yiling's cute, soft demeanor coupled with the fact that someone was trying to bully her compelled him to take responsibility for protecting the only true "sister" in their research team, especially since she was also the youngest member.

As Cheng Yi was about to leave, he was stopped by his colleague—one of the only two female researchers at the institute, Luo Xiuwen.

Luo Xiuwen was the only female researcher at the institute before Jian Yiling signed her contract. Her biological gender was female, but her psychological identity was a bit more complicated...