Meng Yan was teased by Secretary Wang, and his dark face instantly flushed bright red.
“Secretary Wang… you, you, I…”
Before he could finish, Gu Xiangwan stepped forward to rescue him: “Secretary Wang, you really shouldn’t bully honest people.”
She glanced at Zhou Wangye’s expression, which clearly showed amusement. On one hand, she felt a little upset that he wasn’t jealous, but on the other, she was secretly relieved that her gamble had paid off.
Indeed, President Zhou seemed to enjoy watching Meng Yan and herself together.
Everyone else chatted and laughed, but Lin Ran remained quiet.
She was hesitating—should she copy Meng Yan’s earth-based ability?
Her own copied abilities were already at level two.
And with her lightning and spatial abilities both at level three, she felt that her copied abilities were also improving, almost brushing against the level-three barrier.
Meng Yan was completely unguarded around her.
It was as if a city gate had been thrown wide open, allowing her mental energy free rein to enter.
Copying his ability would be as easy as flipping her hand.
Just moments ago, she had even tentatively let her mental energy lightly weave around his ability core, flowing delicately.
The docile core didn’t resist at all—instead, it rippled subtly in response, obediently.
She could clearly sense the flow of energy within it. With just a thought, she could complete the replication instantly, making the ability her own.
But Meng Yan was now the female lead’s official boyfriend.
And in the end, the female lead would be with the male lead.
In the story, anyone who blocked the protagonists never ended well.
She feared that Meng Yan wouldn’t survive long.
She regretted skipping chapters to read ahead.
Back then, she had only cared about the steamy parts between the protagonists and hadn’t paid much attention to the supporting characters.
Forgive her, she was just a mischievous girl at heart—and the original novel was a light romance anyway.
Anyway, she decided not to copy the earth-based ability for now.
After all, she already had six elemental abilities, enough for her needs.
Before everyone got in the car, Lin Ran suddenly felt the urge to pee.
Considering that the return trip would take nearly an hour, she couldn’t wait until reaching the villa.
She turned to He Sheng: “I need to use the restroom. He Sheng, accompany me.”
He Sheng quickly waved his hands: “Miss Lin, you shouldn’t call me that yet.”
He couldn’t handle being called “Brother He” by her, since President Zhou was technically her senior.
Earlier, when facing the cape zombie, he had pinched her hand, and she had instinctively called him “Brother He.” He thought she had just misspoken in a panic.
Normally, when she was in a good mood, she called him by name; when annoyed, she referred to him as “that guy.”
But now, with President Zhou watching, He Sheng didn’t want Zhou to think he was overstepping.
Lin Ran was desperate, not caring about etiquette: “Brother He, hurry! I can’t hold it!”
She grabbed He Sheng and started heading toward the restroom.
She remembered that about 200 meters ahead was the staff lounge, which should have a restroom.
Zhou Wangye didn’t know why he reached out to stop her.
Before today, he had wanted nothing more than to keep his distance from Lin Ran.
But hearing her call a man “Brother” so intimately, and asking him to accompany her to the restroom, left him strangely unsettled.
“I’ll go with you,” he said. “You’re already a grown woman. You can’t just casually drag a man along to the restroom. You’re not a student anymore.”
Lin Ran didn’t want Zhou Wangye to accompany her.
Earlier, when they were alone collecting supplies, it couldn’t be helped. But now, given the choice, she wanted to stay away from the male lead.
“But Brother, didn’t you say I should stay two meters away from you?”
Zhou Wangye: …Why didn’t she listen like this before?
Lin Ran didn’t waste time talking—she was desperate. “Brother He, hurry! I really can’t hold it!”
He Sheng looked at Zhou Wangye awkwardly. He couldn’t just let her go alone; what if something went wrong?
At that moment, Gu Xiangwan stepped forward. “Perfect, I also need to use the restroom. I’ll go in with Miss Lin, and Brother He can wait outside. That works, right?”
He Sheng quickly nodded: “Secretary Gu, follow her quickly.”
He went ahead to escort Lin Ran.
Lin Ran really did need to use the restroom, but she wasn’t in a rush.
She remembered that not far from the lounge were two containers, one with high-end jewelry, the other with imported RVs.
Earlier, with Zhou Wangye around, she hadn’t been able to take them.
Now, away from others, she could sneak them into her ring space.
To her surprise, after taking the jewelry and RV, she noticed that the nearby containers held all kinds of clothing for all seasons—imported, top-quality items. Collect!
Her wardrobe for life was secured!
There were also containers of high-end outdoor gear—extreme cold-weather jackets, sleeping bags, climbing shoes, headlamps, tents, backpacks—all taken!
Even snowmobiles and skis—she was incredibly lucky; it was as if they had been prepared just for her.
“Miss Lin, where are you?”
She was happily collecting items when she heard He Sheng’s voice.
After storing an entire container of appliances into her space, she called out, “Brother He, I’m here! Come get me, I’m lost!”
Once He Sheng picked her up, he exhaled in relief.
Luckily, Miss Lin hadn’t gotten into trouble.
At the restroom door, Gu Xiangwan was waiting. “Miss Lin, you shouldn’t run off like that. What if you encountered zombies?”
Lin Ran glanced at her: “Some dogs never change their habits.”
“You…” Gu Xiangwan fumed, but seeing He Sheng nearby, she quickly added, “You should consider Brother He’s safety too. If anything happens to you, wouldn’t he get scolded by President Zhou?”
He Sheng quickly waved his hands: “Secretary Gu, it’s not that serious.”
Miss Lin had just gotten a little lost—she hadn’t shouted or attracted zombies.
Lin Ran looked at Gu Xiangwan with a seemingly casual yet sharp expression: “Brother He isn’t like that idiot Zhou Wangye. He sees clearly and won’t fall for your tricks.”
He Sheng immediately covered his ears: thank heavens, he hadn’t heard anything.
Gu Xiangwan took a deep breath, suppressing her malice: “Miss Lin is joking. Let’s not waste time—just use the restroom quickly and return.”
Once inside, Lin Ran hurried to relieve herself.
She had heard that holding in urine is bad for the bladder and can lead to leakage in old age.
She definitely didn’t want to wear diapers every day when she got older.
But as her body relaxed, she sensed something odd.
Gu Xiangwan made no sound in the restroom, which was unusual.
Besides opening and closing the stall doors, there was nothing—no urination, no defecation.
Why had she come along to the restroom if not to go?
That woman wasn’t that kind-hearted to just accompany her.
From the look in her eyes earlier, Gu Xiangwan seemed like she wanted Lin Ran dead.