Chapter 123: Even Ji Laili Must Protect You

“Lord Garna, the person has arrived.”

With a cold expression, Wen Qiushui walked in. Laurie gave a reminder before quickly shrinking back into a corner.

Everyone in the base knew about the tension between the two—this was the kind of situation that ordinary workers like him would rather stay out of.

Ji Laili curiously glanced at Wen Qiushui. If his guess was correct, she was the one who developed the Omega conversion agent that Shen Yu injected, as well as that helmet.

Setting aside the issues of allegiance and purpose, there was no doubt—this person was truly a genius.

A stark white silhouette entered his view. She wore a pristine lab coat over a matching white shirt, with not a single speck of dust or crease in sight. Even her trousers were pure white.

The only contrast to the monochrome was her long, jet-black hair.

The delicate-featured Omega kept a cold face and looked directly at Garna. “I have work to do in the lab. Keep it brief.”

Garna was already annoyed just seeing her, and his tone was impatient. “Lance wants to join your lab.”

Wen Qiushui’s gaze flickered slightly, but she rejected him outright. “The lab doesn’t need any extra Alphas. They’d only get in the way.”

“If you try to force him in, I will report it to the higher-ups. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

“No need for Alphas? Then what about test subjects?”

Shen Yu suddenly spoke.

In an instant, all eyes turned toward him, filled with shock.

But Shen Yu didn’t seem to think he had said anything surprising. Looking at Wen Qiushui’s paused figure, he imitated Lance’s tone and said with disdain, “Your progress is slow.”

“Utterly useless.”

“The Empire is being dragged down by people like you. Instead of this, why not let me be the test subject?”

Wen Qiushui turned back, frowning. Her tone was as cold as ice. “Do you even know what being a test subject entails?”

“This isn’t some power game you can play!”

“Oh? Would a test subject die?” A curious voice chimed in.

As everyone turned to look, Ji Laili blinked innocently, as if he were just purely inquisitive.

“Would the consequences be severe?”

Wen Qiushui took a deep breath before explaining, “I will inject an incomplete drug into your body based on your genetic makeup.”

“The conversion agent—it changes your gender. Do you understand?”

Her face was serious.

Although a finalized Omega conversion agent already existed, it was still incomplete. The differentiation process was long and arduous.

Some test subjects couldn’t withstand the chronic pain of the transformation and ended up dying due to genetic collapse.

Due to certain political incentives, Wen Qiushui had been ordered to perfect this drug.

As the lead researcher, she was well aware of the agony test subjects would endure. Even though she had little sympathy for Alphas, she still warned him:

“The experiment isn’t as simple as you think. Whether you succeed or fail, neither outcome will be good for you.”

Shen Yu hadn’t expected her to say something like that—it almost sounded like she was trying to stop him from throwing himself into a dangerous experiment. As if she didn’t want him to die from it.

But he had already made up his mind.

After a moment’s thought, Shen Yu mimicked Eugene’s tone and said unhappily, “Are you doubting my resilience?”

Wen Qiushui frowned. “This isn’t about resilience. It’s about your safe—”

Shen Yu cut her off. “So you’re questioning me personally?”

Wen Qiushui: “……”

She suddenly felt like a fool for even trying to explain the risks.

“Do as you wish.”

She turned and left.

That was as good as an agreement.

Just as Shen Yu had expected.

With a highly compatible Alpha as the test subject, even if Wen Qiushui didn’t want to proceed, Garna would force her to comply.

—Because the Empire needed this experiment.

However, Wen Qiushui’s initial refusal had been an unexpected twist.

“Now that this is settled, why are you all still standing around? Don’t you have work to do?”

On Garna’s own turf, other Alphas were visibly displeased. One of them cast a dark, shadowy glare at Laurie.

Laurie cursed inwardly but forced a flattering smile. “Lord Garna, I’ll take them away now.”

He signaled Ji Laili with his eyes, and Ji Laili smartly followed him.

As for the other person… Laurie hesitated.

Strangely, even though he had recently witnessed this curly-haired Alpha’s extraordinary abilities, he still found it easy to interact with him.

Lance, on the other hand—

The moment their eyes met, Laurie felt a shiver down his spine.

It was as if Lance hated him, his dark eyes full of malice, scheming how to kill him.

The words Laurie wanted to say got stuck in his throat.

Fortunately, Lance only gave him a cold glance before stepping forward on his own.

Laurie let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly took the lead, making sure the two Alphas didn’t stray from the correct path.

He walked ahead, while Ji Laili and Shen Yu naturally fell to the back.

After glancing at Laurie’s back, Ji Laili slowed his pace. Sensing the person beside him matching his steps, and with some distance now separating them from the front, he finally had a chance to talk to Shen Yu.

But before he could say a word, a fingertip hooked onto his.

A quiet, lowered voice murmured:

“Baileys scent… Was it you, Lailai, helping me?”

Ji Laili immediately recalled what he meant.

Right now, he was Ji Laili, not Lance.

This guy… he actually remembered all the way until now.

Ji Laili pressed his lips together to suppress a smile, letting the other’s fingers hook onto his without resistance.

“Your Lailai is gone. Now, I’m Ji Laili.”

“Oh…” The voice dropped a notch, sounding obviously disappointed.

Then, a moment later—

“I miss Lailai.”

That made Ji Laili frown. “Is Ji Laili not good enough?”

Shen Yu responded, “Ji Laili is too distant from me.”

So that meant… he wasn’t good enough?

Ji Laili pouted, grumbling in protest, “But the one who helped you just now was Ji Laili, not Lailai.”

The little pup argued righteously, “That means Ji Laili is great too!”

Ji Laili suddenly tightened his grip on Shen Yu’s fingers. He heard Shen Yu’s calm voice, tinged with satisfaction.

“Didn’t you say Ji Laili and Lance don’t know each other? Then why did you still help Lance?”

—A misstep.

No wonder that little butterfly had said those things. It was all part of his scheming!

Ji Laili suddenly realized the trap he had walked into and deeply regretted not catching on sooner.

Since he had already lost ground, of course, Shen Yu was going to press his advantage.

“Why isn’t Lord Ji Laili saying anything?” Shen Yu pursued.

Ji Laili replied, “Why must Lord Ji Laili speak?”

“Because I really want to know what you’re thinking. May I?”

His voice was clear and cool, gentle yet low, carrying a quiet plea.

As if he had no choice, Ji Laili sighed softly, his brows arching in reluctant amusement. He gently swayed their still-entwined fingers.

“Even if I’m Ji Laili, I still have to protect you.”

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Shen Yu’s heart trembled. The words “Are you still mad?” never made it past his lips, yet he already had his answer.

Behind them, it was eerily quiet.

Laurie, walking ahead, noticed the lack of noise and turned back suspiciously.

He was met with the sight of two Alphas standing shoulder to shoulder, both wearing cold expressions, locked in an intense stare-off.

“So what if your pheromones are strong? Want to fight?”
“Then let’s fight. I don’t mind at all.”

The tension crackled between them, as if they were about to throw punches at any second.

Laurie’s eyes widened—he had only looked away for a few minutes. What had he missed?!

“Hey, what’s wrong with you two? Talk it out properly! Don’t start fighting here, or Lord Garna will kill us!”

He was too busy trying to break up the brewing conflict to notice the fingers still secretly intertwined in a hidden corner.

Or the words he never got to hear—

“Lord Lance will protect himself, too.”

So that I can protect you.