After Picking Up the Rival Boss, It Smells Really Good - Chapter 16

Qin Gou was thrown onto the bed by Lu Lian with a skillful grappling move, then completely restrained with a reverse lock. Their bodies pressed together with almost no gap between them, allowing them to feel each other’s breathing rhythms.

Qin Gou saw a pair of eyes like gray stars gazing at him.

Lu Lian stared at him for a moment before loosening his grip, though he still pinned him down: “What are you doing?”

Truthfully, Qin Gou could have easily broken free from this hold, but he seemed stunned, staring unblinkingly at Lu Lian.

Lu Lian: “?”

Qin Gou blinked, then turned his head away: “I should be asking why you’re pinning me down.”

“Has no one ever told you not to casually enter other people’s rooms?”

Hearing this, Qin Gou turned his head back: “This seems to be my house.”

“Don’t approach me when I’m resting.” Lu Lian finally released all pressure and got up from him, “Unless you want to get hurt.”

As Qin Gou watched Lu Lian stand up and prepare to turn away, he suddenly reached out and grabbed his shoulder. Caught off guard by this move, Lu Lian momentarily lost balance and fell back onto the bed.

Seizing the opportunity, Qin Gou swiftly flipped over, completely reversing their positions.

Lu Lian only froze for a moment upon losing balance before quickly reacting and locking Qin Gou’s hands. Despite the forceful grip, Qin Gou didn’t even flinch, pressing down firmly.

Lu Lian glanced at him and released Qin Gou’s hands.

Now Qin Gou had complete control, firmly pinning Lu Lian beneath him. His sharp and rebellious features loomed large before Lu Lian’s eyes.

Qin Gou: “What, afraid I’ll get hurt?”

“Just wanted to see what you’re really after.” Though pinned beneath the man, Lu Lian remained expressionless, “Go on, what are you looking for?”

Qin Gou smiled: “I’m looking for too many things.”

Lu Lian watched him.

“Want to find out what you took from Caberry?” Qin Gou looked down at Lu Lian from above, still facing that impassive expression.

Qin Gou leaned closer until their noses were almost touching. He could almost feel Lu Lian’s steady breath: “And want to know your purpose for coming to Gorgona Island.”

As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly, their noses brushing past each other. Gray hair tips touched Qin Gou’s cheek as his hand felt Lu Lian’s chest through the pajama fabric. He leaned close to Lu Lian’s ear and said in a deep voice: “And I want to find out if your Core Inhibitor is really here?”

Lu Lian’s body noticeably stiffened for a moment, though his expression remained largely unchanged: “Young Master Qin should know that investigating a citizen’s Core Inhibitor location is illegal.”

“Ha.” Qin Gou raised an eyebrow, “On Gorgona Island, Young Master Lu still wants to discuss laws with me?”

Lu Lian said flatly: “Then what should we discuss? Force?”

Qin Gou studied him for a while before getting up and shaking his hand: “Better not. The only registered S-class Nuclear Inhibitor Possessor from the main planet – I’m no match for Young Master Lu.”

He shrugged while looking at Lu Lian: “I live in constant fear of being killed by Young Master Lu.”

“Is that so.” Lu Lian leisurely sat up on the bed, straightening his clothes, “Your behavior doesn’t seem to show any trace of fear.”

“That just means I have more faith in our cooperation.” Qin Gou said.

“Our partnership doesn’t stipulate that I need to report anything else to you.” Lu Lian stood up and turned on the bedroom light. The gloom was instantly banished, brightness flooding every corner. “Do what you’re supposed to do, and we remain temporary partners.”

“Ahhh, true enough.” Qin Gou nodded. “But I can probably guess – your coming to Gorgona Island has something to do with Caberry.”

“Coincidentally, I’ve found some clues about Caberry. Care to hear them?”

Aside from “Weeds,” the island’s second largest bar was located in the residential area of the southwest district. Unlike Weeds, “Red Millet” attracted mostly unregistered individuals who fell through the cracks of the system. At Red Millet, mixed cocktails were far less common, with cheap hard liquor being the preferred choice.

The bartenders here were no longer refined young men either, but rather rougher types. Qin Gou casually ordered two glasses of their signature hard liquor at the bar before returning to their table, slinging an arm around a rather cool-looking guy with blue-gray hair, wearing a black T-shirt and a steel ring necklace.

“With such impressive skills, Doctor Bai should’ve brought them out sooner instead of making our Young Master Lu wear that mask for so long,” Qin Gou said with a roguish grin.

After adjustments using Bai Xianzhe’s newly developed Nano Disguise Technology, Lu Lian’s facial features had undergone subtle yet precise changes. Not only were his hair and eyes now blue-black, but his sharp eyebrows and eyes had been slightly altered to appear more expressive and animated.

“So much cooler!” Qin Gou whistled.

“You think this looks better?” Lu Lian surprisingly asked.

“Since when does Young Master Lu care about appearance? Hmm…” Qin Gou crossed his arms thoughtfully. “You do look more approachable now, but.”

“I still prefer your original gray eyes.”

Lu Lian lowered his gaze, looking down as if pondering something.

“Alright, we’re counting on you for this plan.” Qin Gou pulled him closer by the shoulder. “Dean told me Caberry’s been active around here for about a week.”

“Strange, he was always around Weeds before. Why would he suddenly change locations?” Qin Gou turned to look at Lu Lian. “Does Young Master Lu know?”

Lu Lian: “Why don’t you catch him and ask him yourself?”

Qin Gou snapped his fingers: “Good idea. Let’s lure him out first. But a useless guy like me without a Core Inhibitor probably won’t catch Caberry’s attention – that’ll have to be you.”

Lu Lian offered no response to this remark.

Qin Gou handed him a glass: “This drink tastes mediocre. I’m going to order something else.”

With that, the two separated. Qin Gou went to the bar and ordered another drink, but showed no intention of returning to their table, instead sitting at the counter and taking small sips.

Red Millet was incredibly crowded, the constant flow of people nearly blocking Qin Gou’s line of sight. The blue-gray hair gradually disappeared into the crowd.

Gray was still better looking, Qin Gou thought to himself.

After a while, a beautiful red-haired woman approached that hint of blue-gray, holding a glass of her own.

Qin Gou focused his gaze.

“Handsome, all alone?” The beautiful woman tossed her vibrant red hair, appearing seductive and alluring.

Lu Lian glanced up: “Originally.”

The woman rested her chin on her hand, a strand of hair falling beside her cheek, creating a uniquely charming effect: “Originally?”

Lu Lian reached out and gently brushed aside the woman’s stray strands of hair. His voice, which should have been as cool as a mountain spring, now seemed fermented into wine, carrying an intoxicating charm that lured one into drunkenness unknowingly: “Not anymore.”

Qin Gou downed the drink in her hand in one gulp.

“Hahaha.” The woman narrowed her eyes, as if the words pleased her greatly. She raised her glass and took a shallow sip, tilting her head back.

Then she offered the crimson liquor forward. The glass bore the faint imprint of her fiery red lips, layered with a hazy allure: “Handsome, care for a taste?”

Lu Lian lifted his gaze, stared at the faint lipstick mark for a moment, and reached out. A vague smile touched the corners of his lips: “I wouldn’t dare refuse.”

The bar’s multicolored lights flickered, and the crowd surged. A large group of revelers, drowned in drunken extravagance, swept past Qin Gou, blocking her line of sight.

Qin Gou frowned slightly, her fingers tapping the countertop absently as she gripped her glass.

Only after the last person had passed did she look back toward where Lu Lian had been.

The figure in blue-gray was gone.