Chapter 314

One hundred and twenty-third page Compensation

After leaving us behind, Cherry Sauce went home to pick up her mother.

I looked at the newly settled activity house and asked, “Speaking of which, how did this house end up in the middle of the rock cavern?”

Not only the teleportation platform, even Professor Shi’s stone chair was covered over.

Lín Huā also echoed, “I thought all the laboratories here would be arranged around the central square! No, wait, this isn’t a laboratory, right?”

The new laboratory was about the same size as the previous three, after all, the barn could only be built so large, but it was taller than the previous ones.

“Little Lingmeng, come help me take off…”

Miss Kē Màn turned around and signaled me to pull down the zipper of that heavy protective suit.

Even though Lín Huā and Yòu Zi were both girls (female beasts?), she had me, a big man, help her…

Ripping open the Velcro, pulling down the zipper, the fresh sweat smell burst out from the tightly sealed protective suit, mixed with the scent of shower gel, shampoo, and pheromones. Despite her mature inner self and appearance, Miss Kē Màn was only eighteen years old, in the prime of her youth. Her sweaty hair was tied up, revealing her fair neck.

Though it was just taking off the protective suit, the fragrant and wet Miss Kē Màn was indeed very tempting.

“Gulp…” I swallowed saliva.

Unconcerned with my reaction, she wiped the sweat from her forehead before answering my question.

“Because it’s high enough here. This house can be stacked. We plan to build three floors to support the rock cavern.”

This hollow rock cavern was vast, with the entire cave supported by a single piece of rock layer. Without a reinforced pillar, there would indeed be concerns about collapse.

This should also be part of Professor Shi’s planning, right?

“Even if Professor Shi isn’t here, you all haven’t stopped.”

When I mentioned Professor Shi, Miss Kē Màn smiled bitterly, “It’s better for us to work freely without her. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have any chance to get involved. She wants to personally plant every blade of grass and tree. If Boss hadn’t confiscated her precious welding staff, this infrastructure fanatic would never stop.”

“Huh? This room is… a dining hall?”

Lín Huā, who ran inside to take a look, asked, “Director Kē, are you moving the cafeteria in too?”

“It’s a reception center, with kitchen facilities added on the side.”

I peeked inside as well. This activity house was indeed several levels higher than the previous laboratories.

In addition to the reception desk, there was a bar counter, cooking area, and a rest area with sofas. The unfinished iron lamps were also quite luxurious, giving an upscale Nordic style.

I asked, “Does a secret research institute need such a reception center?”

“In the future, we might receive patients who cannot be treated by conventional means, of course, without exposing the existence of magic.”

Clearly, not everyone can enjoy the medical techniques of the senior sister, and the best screening method is financial capability.

I asked, “Is the senior sister planning to generate revenue here?”

“Yes, maintaining the Magic Research Institute requires money. The pharmaceutical company needs to maintain its financial data, so they can’t endlessly supply funds here. Therefore, we need a new source of income.”

I frowned.

To be honest, I’m quite resistant to using magic as a means of making money, and it easily exposes the secrets of magic. After all, more people mean more chances of accidents.

But including Miss Kē Màn among the researchers, they all need to eat, so it’s impossible to conduct magic research out of love alone. Stable income is necessary.

As if reading my thoughts, Miss Kē Màn continued to describe their plans.

“The barn, which is above the research institute, will be converted into a convalescent home. This floor will also become part of the convalescent home, so the reception center is necessary. As for the research institute itself, it will continue to expand downward, deeper underground. You don’t need to worry about the secrets of magic being discovered.”

The senior sister plans to build a convalescent center?

The surrounding streets were somewhat dilapidated, but next to the bustling Balance Commercial District and near the city’s main road, this plot of land indeed has great potential.

“Wouldn’t the residents nearby refuse to move? Is the senior sister capable of handling this?”

I didn’t know much about the pharmaceutical company’s strength, but compared to real estate, it still falls short, right? The Lin family and Xia family couldn’t handle these stubborn residents, so does the senior sister have the ability to make them move?

Miss Kē Màn looked at me and Lín Huā and smiled, “What do you think Boss and your grandmother talked about? With the Huangfu family’s support, it’s like opening a green channel. Otherwise, we wouldn’t even consider building a convalescent institution.”

It sounds completely like a conspiracy. Are they really telling us everything?

On the surface, it’s a regular convalescent center;

Underneath, it’s a high-end diagnostic facility;

But no one would ever guess that it’s actually a mysterious research institute!

“If Grandma is saved, she would definitely support your plan. But if she fails, Mom might not be able to continue helping… Hmm!”

Lín Huā was halfway through when Miss Kē Màn smiled and tugged at the corner of her mouth. Lín Huā’s wrist still wore the bracelet given by her daughter.

“Don’t show such an expression when visiting the elderly. Even if you have to force yourself, smile! And since last night, Grandma’s condition has been pretty good.”

I asked, “There hasn’t been any rejection reaction?”

“There will always be some rejection reaction, but it’s very mild. However, the kidney that has just resumed blood flow hasn’t started working yet, which is a bit worrying.”

I asked again, “Then what about ‘Qiǎnxià’?”

“What about her?”

Miss Kē Màn’s tone was like that of a homeroom teacher mentioning the most mischievous child in class in front of the parents.

“Since this morning, she’s been acting like nothing happened, wandering around the research institute. In the morning, she enthusiastically helped the researchers solve problems, but in the afternoon, she locked herself in the ward to fiddle with her complex spell. How does this look like someone who just had surgery and only has one kidney?”

I pursed my lips, unsure of how to respond.

Her personality注定她闲不住，而且她也没有那么多时间可以浪费……

Behind me, a voice called out, “Língmèng? You’re here?”

There was a teleportation platform set up in the reception center. Sister Zǐ appeared with a golden light curtain. She looked similar to the senior sister in the white coat.

“After the sinking, Director Kē hasn’t reported back, so I came down to check the situation.”

So, she was on leave today.

“I’m sorry, I chatted with Xiao Kǎi and the others, and made you worry.”

Miss Kē Màn apologized. Sister Zǐ just shook her head and walked to my side, towering over me with her height.

“Uh, Zǐ?”

I was confused by her actions.

“I haven’t seen you properly for two days, let me look at you for a while…”

She whispered softly, but her face got closer and closer. Afraid of hurting her feelings, I didn’t dare step back, and it seemed like our lips were about to meet.

“…No, it’s still a bit difficult.”

She retreated first, giving me a chance to catch my breath and ask, “What are you doing?”

“Zǐ, you’re really timid? Me and that idiot both tasted Kǎi-Chan’s lips! Puck-puck~”

Lín Huā said teasingly from the side, puckering her lips as if kissing.

I finally understood Sister Zǐ’s intentions.

Surely, Lín Huā must have told her about what happened that night, and she, being one of my girlfriends, felt left behind because she missed out on my first kiss (?!). This made her feel she was lagging in the competition.

—“Shouldn’t you make it up to her?”—

Cherry Sauce wouldn’t miss the opportunity to stir things up.

I scratched my slightly heated cheek and suggested quietly, “Zǐ, if you don’t mind, we could…”

Lín Huā pushed Miss Kē Màn back into the house.

“…Make it up.”

“Mm.”

Sister Zǐ’s response was softer than a cat landing. She wasn’t good at such topics, so I had to take the initiative… although I wasn’t good at it either.

At this moment, Sister Zǐ was blushing and closing her eyes, her eyelashes trembling nervously, holding her breath tightly.

“Cough, can you bend down a little? I’m a guy, and I don’t want to kiss you while standing on tiptoes.”

Trying to lighten the mood to ease her tension, I found myself getting nervous too, my tongue stumbling.

But I was experienced, so I couldn’t back down here.

Accepting my suggestion, Sister Zǐ, still holding her breath, bent down slightly in an uncomfortable position. I swallowed hard and leaned in. The closer our noses got, the faster my heart beat, and the blood rushed through my veins, making my mind dizzy.

Until our lips touched, I stopped thinking, only feeling the soft sweetness and warm breaths between us.

Time seemed to freeze, seconds stretching infinitely…

Compared to Lín Huā and Xiǎo Lěi, the gentle kiss with Sister Zǐ was much milder, not because of experience, but because both of us were more defensive in emotions, or perhaps more like herbivores.

So she wasn’t as passionate as Lín Huā, nor as full of… appetite as Xiǎo Lěi.

She was simply cooperating with me, accepting me, then responding with the fruity scent of lip balm.

Click—

A crisp sound, the shutter of a camera snapping.

Realizing someone was taking a photo, Sister Zǐ jumped away from me like she was electrocuted, then glared angrily in the direction of the sound.

“Sister Qiǎnxià! Isn’t that inappropriate?”

Old Lady stood at the door of the ward, holding her phone to take photos of us, shamelessly urging, “Don’t mind me! Keep going, the atmosphere is great!”

Despite being taller than me, Sister Zǐ hid behind me.

I sighed, “How can we continue like this?”

Another scene of chaos.

Cherry Sauce returned with the Spatial Jewel. She first threw Little Qínglán beside me, then “air-dropped” Mom onto Old Lady’s head. The latter opened her arms and gave her lover a princess hug, spinning in place.

“You小子! Let me show you how lovers should kiss!”

While Mom was still bewildered, Old Lady leaned down and kissed her, though there was still some distance between them, I could clearly hear the “puck-puck” sound of their kiss.

Mom, caught off guard, soon softened under Old Lady’s assault, her red eyes falling into Old Lady’s embrace. The latter looked up at me with a “take note” expression.

Lín Huā whistled and teased,

“Tsk tsk, I wonder what it was like when they were dating.”

Sister Zǐ stared at me thoughtfully and muttered.

“You’re just like your father, aren’t you? The girl won’t take the initiative, right?”

… What does she want to do?