As a show of good faith.
Shen Zueran personally granted Yu Lan permissions one by one through the intranet, right in front of her.
In the past, such miscellaneous tasks would never have fallen to the ever-busy Scientific Research Institute Director to handle personally.
In fact, if he had even deigned to order a subordinate to handle it, it would have been considered holding that person in high regard.
The Science Research Institute had personnel specifically responsible for all sorts of logistical and miscellaneous affairs.
But at this moment, while doing such a trivial task—something he would have previously considered a waste of time—Shen Zueran felt a spontaneous sense of deep satisfaction.
A faint, sweet fragrance from the beautiful female drifted to the tip of his nose and lingered around him. It was as if his entire being was submerged in honeyed sweetness, an overwhelming scent that flooded his senses.
It was the scent of happiness and bliss.
Shen Zueran even wanted to turn off the air purification system to keep this scent in the room forever.
However, such an action would be far too abrupt, so he could only give up the idea, his heart filled with regret.
"All done."
Shen Zueran pressed the final confirmation button.
"I've approved everything on my end. You should try clicking into it now."
"I've also updated your position."
Yu Lan tapped on the light-blue application. Sure enough, a moment later, the system's welcome message appeared.
[Welcome, Advanced Researcher Yu Lan.]
Yu Lan lovingly caressed the words "Advanced Researcher" with her finger. When she looked up again, her small face was beaming with joy.
"Thank you, Dean Shen."
Yu Lan's voice was crisp and sweet.
But Shen Zueran's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Even a male who hadn't yet come to understand romance would instinctively want to show off in front of a beautiful female, hoping to receive special treatment that set him apart from other males.
He didn't want to hear "Dean," a term that so clearly defined their cold, professional relationship.
Shen Zueran stood up from his seat and, turning to face Yu Lan, opened a black, safe-like box.
He took out a new nameplate and handed it to Yu Lan.
Seeing her slightly puzzled gaze, he explained patiently.
"Each nameplate corresponds to a position and grants different permissions. For example, your initial research assistant nameplate only allowed you free access to the Science Research Institute and a few labs related to your work."
"But now that you're an Advanced Researcher, you will have far more permissions."
"The nameplate for every Advanced Researcher is bestowed directly by me. In a moment, we'll also need to take a photo together to upload to the intranet. It will be made into a congratulatory poster."
"So," Shen Zueran said, his dark eyes filled with mirth as he looked at Yu Lan. He extended his left hand toward the beautiful female. A nameplate lay on his palm, strikingly similar in color to the one on his own chest, catching the light in a beautiful glint.
"May I have your research assistant nameplate now?"
Yu Lan murmured her assent.
She handed over the assistant nameplate she had been clutching tightly in her palm.
Their fingertips touched.
In that instant, each felt the warmth of the other's skin.
「One minute later」
A photo of Yu Lan and Shen Zueran together was uploaded to the Science Research Institute's internal website.
The headline, "Congratulations to Research Assistant Yu Lan on successfully passing the selection for Advanced Researcher," was enlarged, bolded, and pushed to everyone's phones.
「The next second」
Zhao Song's message popped up instantly.
Zhao Song: [Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, Lanlan, you, you, you...]
Overcome with shock, Zhao Song had stuttered "you" three times.
Even though he had personally greeted Yu Lan at the entrance of the Science Research Institute just this morning and was now very familiar with her face, seeing her standing next to Shen Zueran with an Advanced Researcher nameplate on her chest still left him in a daze.
Yu Lan completely understood Zhao Song's shock.
She good-naturedly tapped out a reply.
Yu Lan: [Yep, the news is real. It's me.]
Zhao Song: [Oh my god!!!!!!]
To express his shock, Zhao Song had used a string of six exclamation points.
Zhao Song: [But wait, then why did the Dean have me delete your permissions just now?]
Zhao Song: [Huh, wait, let me see...]
"Holy shit!"
Zhao Song exclaimed loudly from his seat.
He had wanted to see who had handled re-approving Yu Lan's permissions.
He never would have imagined it was the Dean himself.
'Wait, the high and mighty Dean, who supposedly has eyes only for research, would actually do something like this?'
Zhao Song's face was a picture of utter shock.
「At the same time」
「Second Laboratory」
While Yu Lan was attending the researcher selection, Louisa, being merely a research assistant, naturally didn't have the clearance to observe.
Unless she used her status as a Princess of the Royal Family to force her way in, but that would starkly contrast with the gentle and harmless persona she usually projected.
Besides, another reason she had come to the Science Research Institute to do such arduous work was to get closer to Shen Zueran.
After all, she wasn't the Queen's biological daughter. If that incident from many years ago were to be exposed, everything she had now would vanish in an instant.
Therefore, she had to do everything in her power to marry several High Level males and gain the support of their families while there was still time to turn things around.
That way, even if it were later revealed that they were the ones behind Yu Lan's disappearance back then, it would be useless.
After all, Yu Lan was now just a useless female with no Healing Power.
Choosing who should ascend the throne would be the simplest of decisions.
Louisa stared at the piles of research reagents on the lab bench, a wave of irritation washing over her.
Just then, a message notification chimed. BEEP!
She pulled out her phone to check it. The next second—the laboratory erupted in a huge cheer.
"Yu Lan passed the selection for Advanced Researcher!"
It was Allen.
During their brief encounter at the lab entrance earlier, the young, elite male had already lost his heart to Yu Lan.
Now, seeing the news that Yu Lan had successfully passed the selection, he was happier than anyone and couldn't help but cheer out loud.
Louisa, who hadn't yet seen the message, froze. She hastily opened her phone to check the top notification.
"No, impossible."
"How could Yu Lan have passed the selection?"
"She's clearly a useless nobody."
Louisa refused to accept this news.
But...
On the intranet,
in the most central, prominent spot—a place usually reserved for only the most important announcements—
was now a photo of Yu Lan and Shen Zueran together.
The Advanced Researcher nameplate she wore on her chest was dazzlingly conspicuous.
Louisa gritted her teeth, a sinister voice emerging from her lips.
"Yu Lan!"
Soon, the news that a beautiful female had become an Advanced Researcher through the competitive selection swept through the entire Science Research Institute.
A beautiful, sweet, and fragrant female had already captivated countless males, making them fall for her.
To say nothing of the fact that Yu Lan had now demonstrated considerable ability.
All the males in the Science Research Institute were thrown into a complete frenzy.
"I'd be willing to become even just one of Yu Lan's Male Servants."
"If I go and offer myself to her later, do you think she'll accept?"
Countless single, elite males discussed among themselves, all while eyeing their once-familiar colleagues with the wary gaze one reserves for a love rival.
The Science Research Institute, famous for being a place of cold, rational, and restrained minds, was in a complete uproar.
Just then, a shrill alarm began to blare once more.