After Picking Up the Rival Boss, It Smells Really Good - Chapter 9

An inexplicable feeling arose in Qin Gou’s heart. Though he knew it was merely due to their cooperation, Lu Lian’s numerous actions gave Qin Gou the impression that he held a special place in Lu Lian’s heart. This realization inexplicably made Qin Gou feel as if the blood in his veins was flowing a little faster.

His gaze darkened as he stared at Lu Lian, slowly picking up the bite inhibitor and placing it against that handsome yet cold face, attempting to adjust its position.

Lu Lian offered no resistance. He simply returned Qin Gou’s gaze with a calm expression, seemingly unintentionally raising the hand Qin Gou had bitten earlier, and said in a low voice, “I think you need this equipment more.”

“Ah,” Qin Gou replied with a smile at the corner of his mouth, “I already have a mask on my face. There’s no room for a bite inhibitor.”

Qin Gou reached behind Lu Lian’s neck to adjust the device. The man before him slightly lowered his head, revealing the vulnerable skin of his neck. When Qin Gou’s hand inadvertently touched the warm skin, he clearly felt Lu Lian stiffen.

“Young Master Lu seems a bit sensitive,” Qin Gou couldn’t resist teasing at this moment.

“In the jungle, no creature easily exposes the back of their neck to others,” Lu Lian replied with an unchanged expression. “I’m restraining the urge to kill you.”

“Alright,” Qin Gou tilted his head and pulled the switch of the bite inhibitor. “Then keep restraining yourself for a while longer, Young Master Lu. I haven’t finished putting it on yet.”

Qin Gou’s movements in adjusting the bite inhibitor were exceptionally slow. If he were to apply for a job as a zookeeper, he’d likely be ruthlessly rejected for his inefficiency.

“It’s a slipknot. You can undo it yourself,” Qin Gou finally completed his task. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that Qin Gou hadn’t actually fastened the bite inhibitor. Instead, he used the adjacent straps to let it hang on Lu Lian’s face like a mask.

The contrast between Lu Lian’s calm brows and the gray-black bite inhibitor was striking, as if a noble snow leopard willingly tamed by a hunter yet still retaining its beautiful ambition and nonchalance. Qin Gou clicked his tongue: “Cool.”

“073, why are you taking so long to put on a bite inhibitor?” Even 096 grew impatient, urging him from outside while curiously peeking inside.

“Putting this thing on experimental subjects seems to be to prevent them from going berserk. What are they planning to do?” Qin Gou pointed at the hood of Lu Lian’s sweatshirt before turning around. “I’ll go check the situation. Contact me if anything happens.”

Lu Lian lifted his eyelids to glance at him as a response.

As soon as Qin Gou stepped out of the Experiment Pod, he heard a heart-wrenching scream. Following the sound, he saw the human experimental subject from the first iron cage being pinned to the ground by two guards. Then, one of the guards forcibly injected a dark red potion into his chest.

The moment the potion entered his body, the man let out an extremely agonized scream, struggling violently to break free. However, the two guards held him down firmly until the entire dose was injected. Throughout the process, Blaise stood by with his hands tucked in his white coat, watching coldly.

The man who had been injected lay on the ground as if exhausted, gasping for breath. Soon, his breathing became chaotic, and he began to roar uncontrollably.

The area on his chest where the injection had been administered was rapidly festering. The man thrashed wildly, as if trying to escape something, but to no avail. Soon, his movements slowed before finally ceasing altogether, leaving him motionless.

“Useless,” Blaise remarked without even a glance, instructing two guards to carry the clearly lifeless man away.

Using the same method, Blaise injected the second experimental subject. Initially, this man also let out agonizing screams, but after a while, he calmed down. Though his chest showed similar signs of festering, the extent was far less severe than the first subject.

Adjusting his glasses, Blaise appeared noticeably more excited. He turned and ordered an assistant to bring a solvent box.

Qin Gou focused his attention on the box. When opened, it revealed a red Core Inhibitor, identical to the one inside the Tibetan Mastiff.

So this must be the Artificial Forbidden Core.

Next, Blaise personally retrieved tools and carefully lifted the Core Inhibitor from the box. The red crystalline core emitted an eerie glow. Like a venomous snake, he slowly approached the man, while two guards forcefully restrained him.

“Ahhh!” The moment the Core Inhibitor touched the wound on the subject’s chest, it produced a sizzling sound reminiscent of ancient branding. The man screamed again. Immediately, Qin Gou noticed the man’s eyes turning red as he erupted with immense strength, flinging the two guards aside with a loud “bang.”

The man dropped to all fours, resembling a true wild beast.

A dark red Mental Sea radiated from his body a typical Class D Mental Sea. Qin Gou heightened his focus but noticed no one around retreating.

In the next instant, blue light emitted from the glass walls of the Experiment Pod, suppressing the Mental Sea. This light appeared to be a specialized material designed to counteract such red spiritual seas.

Although temporarily suppressed, the man did not cease expanding his Mental Sea.

Qin Gou frowned, realizing the man had lost control over his Mental Sea. Due to the prolonged expansion of his Mental Sea Domain, his mental energy began to collapse. He thrashed violently, attacking the empty air before him, but soon his struggles weakened, and like the first man, he eventually fell still.

“Tch.” Blaise was clearly disappointed. He casually tossed the solvent box aside and leisurely stepped back. “How dull! We’ll test the remaining subjects tomorrow. No point killing them all at once that would be boring!”

In his eyes, these lives were no different from lab rats. A deep sense of revulsion welled up in Qin Gou’s heart.

“That’s the situation,” Qin Gou reported, standing beside Lu Lian and glancing at him. Despite wearing a bite inhibitor, Lu Lian remained composed, seemingly unaffected. “This dark red potion and the Artificial Forbidden Core are biotechnologies not yet publicly disclosed. If such technology becomes widespread, it’s hard to imagine how many people would”

“Best to obtain the experimental data,” Lu Lian stated succinctly.

Qin Gou nodded: “The experimental data should be stored in his laboratory. I’ve already inquired about it, but the problem is how to get inside.”

“Time is running short.” Qin Gou pressed his temples. “According to what Blaise said, they’ll conduct experiments on you tomorrow. The consequences would be unimaginable then whether successful or not, we must leave here tonight.”

Lu Lian gave him a thoughtful glance.

“073!” 096 blocked Qin Gou’s path as he stepped out of the Experiment Pod. “I’ve noticed something off about you. Why do you always talk so long with that Experiment Subject?”

Qin Gou paused, offering no reply, his right fist clenched tightly behind his back silently shifting into a preparatory attack stance.

“Ah, you tight-lipped gourd. If you like him, just say it outright.” 096 gave his shoulder a heavy slap. Qin Gou stiffened momentarily, then slowly unclenched his fist.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed? The way you looked at him from the very first time was anything but ordinary!”

“Not to mention he’s genuinely good-looking. If I weren’t straight, I’d probably, ahem.” 096 coughed strategically a few times. “But I heard he’s scheduled for experiments tomorrow too. I’m afraid it might be a one-way trip!”

“That Blaise really is inhuman. He used to only experiment on cats and dogs, but now he’s even targeting people. Damn it, if he hadn’t set me up in that underground fighting ring, I’d never be doing this morally bankrupt work.”

Lu Lian keenly caught the information in his words. He remained silent but gave 096 a look urging him to continue.

096 indeed took the hint smoothly and went on: “I know all of us were tricked by that black-hearted pet hospital owner into being cheap labor here. The guy’s crazy in a special way. who knows, if he runs short on Experiment Subjects someday, he might just use us instead.”

“Damn, you saw it yourself earlier it’s practically nine deaths and one survival. Even if you live through it, you might as well be dead!”

“…”

“Listen to me, you haven’t been here long. You don’t know the full situation yet. Let me tell you, I’ve already mapped out the entire factory’s layout and patrol patterns.” After all this buildup, 096 finally revealed his intention. “Want to partner up? You can take that silver-haired hottie with you. We each get what we need absolutely no loss!”

Qin Gou was momentarily stunned this was like receiving a pillow when drowsy. Moreover, from 096’s earlier remarks, it seemed he and 073 hadn’t known each other long either, meaning he could attempt to negotiate with 096.

“I want to take him away.” Qin Gou first feigned introversion and shyness, speaking in a low voice.

“Got it, got it,” 096 patted his chest. “As long as you’re willing to work with me, it’s absolutely no problem.”

Qin Gou continued pretending to hesitate: “But how do we avoid the patrols?”

“Hey, you’ve asked the right person! Let me tell you, I’ve already figured out their patrol patterns. Between 2:00 and 3:00 at night, there’s a 15-minute gap during shift changes that’s when we make our move!”

Qin Gou voiced concern: “But what if we get caught.”

“With me covering you, just relax! I’ll make sure you lovebirds return home together safely!” 096 quickly bolstered his confidence, determined to recruit Qin Gou into the plan.

Qin Gou hesitated for a moment, then gave a small, uncertain nod in agreement.

“Now that’s what I call a real bro!” 096 said with great satisfaction. “Alright, alright. You should also talk some sense into this silver-haired hunk forget about the Core Inhibitor, staying alive is what matters most! I won’t be a third wheel and disturb you two any longer!” With that, he shoved Qin Gou back into the Experiment Pod, gave him a thumbs-up, and thoughtfully closed the door for both of them.

Qin Gou: “…”

Lu Lian looked at Qin Gou who had returned: “?”