Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Chapter 131 It’s Hardest to Accept the Favor of a Beauty

The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft and tranquil light into the room. As usual, Chen Shuo woke from his sleep and looked down at Mao Lilan in his arms. She curled up in his arms, her face peaceful and serene, a faint blush still on her face, and faint traces of the previous night's scars visible on her skin.

Chen Shuo smiled bitterly, with a hint of pampering and helplessness in his eyes, and thought to himself: Kogoro, I'm sorry... This is really irresistible.

Mao Lilan seemed to be awakened by his slight movement, her tired eyes slightly opening. Seeing Chen Shuo gazing at her with eyes full of love, she felt a surge of happiness in her heart, and couldn't help but recall her bold behavior last night. Her cheeks suddenly flushed, and she hurriedly buried her head in Chen Shuo's arms, like a shy kitten, both adorable and a little charming.

Chen Shuo couldn't help but smile at her. However, his little brother couldn't help but have his own thoughts, which made Mao Lilan quickly feel something was wrong. Her face turned pale, and her voice became weak with shyness: "Brother Shuo... take a break... Yesterday..." She was too embarrassed to continue.

Chen Shuo looked at her with a smile, bent down and kissed her forehead, and said softly: "Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who doesn't know the limits. You continue to sleep, I'll get up first." As he spoke, he gently wrapped Mao Lilan in the quilt, then put on his clothes and quietly walked out of the room.

After the door closed, Mao Lilan finally emerged from under the covers, her face still as red as a ripe apple. She bit her lip, her mind involuntarily replaying the events of last night. She muttered unconsciously, "Why is it different from what Sonoko wrote in the book I gave her... The book said that men... would be fine soon..."

After saying that, she covered her blushing face with her hands, feeling both shy and sweet in her heart, as if her whole heart was immersed in warm spring water.

Chen Shuo walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind him. He glanced back, his heart inexplicably mixed. He walked down the hallway and into the empty living room. The morning sun streamed through the window onto the sofa, adding a touch of tranquility to the room. He sat down on the sofa, sighed softly, and leaned back, his gaze vacantly fixed on the ceiling.

The absurd scenes of last night flooded back to Chen Shuo: Mao Lilan's audacity, his own loss of control, and her shy look in the morning—everything made him smile bitterly. This should have been a happy memory, but instead, his heart felt heavy. The complex web of emotions, like an invisible net, entangled him tightly.

He closed his eyes and the chocolate gift box from last night emerged in his mind - the shyness hidden behind Haibara Ai's calmness, Sonoko's nervousness as if nothing had happened, Emi's blushing face of gratitude, Qinglan's charm and tenderness... These fragments intertwined together, forming a heavy pressure that made him unable to help but smile bitterly.

"I'm not one of those idiotic male protagonists in light novels. How could I not understand their intentions?" Chen Shuo rubbed his brow, knowing full well. These girls' feelings for him weren't just ordinary affection; they held deeper emotions. Each one carefully expressed their feelings, anticipating his response.

But it was precisely because of this that he became even more distressed.

"Logically, I should be a good man, draw a clear line with them immediately and reject them explicitly." Chen Shuo muttered to himself, with a bitter smile on his lips, "But..." His voice stopped abruptly, and he shook his head. He knew better than anyone that he couldn't do it.

He wasn't a heartless person, nor was he a saint without emotion. He wasn't indifferent to everyone's feelings, but at the same time, he knew he had been deeply attracted by Mao Lilan's gentleness and determination. He couldn't, and didn't want to, betray her.

But the problem is, this isn't simply a matter of choice. They're all by his side, and no one is more important than the other—they're friends, partners, even family members who trust each other. Faced with their cautious yet sincere feelings, how could he be so heartless as to cut them off?

Chen Shuo took a deep breath, rubbed his brow, and tried to calm himself. "Relationships, the more you try to sort them out, the more complicated they become," he chuckled softly to himself. "But sooner or later, this relationship will give them an answer." He knew that day wouldn't be far off.

The living room remained quiet, the sun still warm, yet Chen Shuo felt as if a heavy burden weighed down his heart. He rubbed his temples, stood up, and tried to pour himself a glass of water to sober up, muttering softly, "Things will work out when the time comes... Things will work out... I'm such a despicable bastard..."

---

At the breakfast table, the atmosphere seemed calm, but in reality, there were hidden waves. Chen Shuo sat at the table, helping Mao Lilan pick up some food, while the other girls ate their breakfast quietly, but they all glanced at Mao Lilan intentionally or unintentionally.

Ran Mouri was wearing a turtleneck sweater today. Even though it was 26 degrees Celsius, she covered herself up so tightly that beads of sweat even appeared on her forehead. This appearance made the other girls look at her with a hint of teasing and envy, but they wisely kept silent. Only Haibara Ai frowned, her tone revealing a hint of concern: "Ran, it's 26 degrees Celsius today. Are you sure you want to dress like this? The way you walked this morning didn't seem right. Did you sprain your ankle? I have some medicine here."

As soon as these words were spoken, the others who had been holding back could no longer hold back.

"Poof!" Ran Mao Li and Chen Shuo almost simultaneously spat out the soy milk they had just drunk, instantly causing chaos on the table. Ran Mao Li was frightened and choked, coughing violently, her face flushed red. Chen Shuo immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks, hurriedly patting her back to ease her embarrassment, while secretly glancing at Huihara Megumi, his eyes full of help.

Huihara Emi understood what she meant and immediately smiled. She took Huihara Ai's hand and changed the subject in a relaxed tone: "Ai, have you been researching any new drugs recently? I see that your laboratory is full of bottles and jars."

Although Haibara Ai was a little dissatisfied with this answer, she was still attracted by it. She turned around and started talking to Haibara Megumi, and did not ask about the condition of Mouri Ran anymore.

Yuanzi, the queen of gossip, keenly sensed the topic had been opened. Her eyes lit up, the corners of her mouth curled slightly, and she was clearly about to speak up. However, Chen Shuo, who knew his apprentice's true nature well, was unlikely to let her seize this opportunity. He simply picked up a hot steamed bun and stuffed it into Yuanzi's mouth with unerring precision.

"I'm going out today. Come with me and I'll let you broaden your horizons!" Chen Shuo said seriously.

Yuanzi blinked, her mouth stuffed with steamed buns, clearly not expecting Chen Shuo's sudden change of scene. But the words, as soon as they left her mouth, certainly caught her attention. Yuanzi nodded rapidly, uttering a murmur of excitement, "Really? That's great!"

Watching the interaction between the master and disciple, the others were either speechless or bursting into laughter. Pu Siqinglan, on the other hand, quietly ate her breakfast, her eyes gentle, clearly unsurprised. She was still here, not only because she wanted to personally deliver the Valentine's Day gift to Chen Shuo, but more importantly, Chen Shuo had already informed her yesterday that there was something important going on today that required her participation.

Meanwhile, Mao Lilan finally recovered after taking two sips of soy milk, the blush on her face fading slightly. She tugged at Chen Shuo's shirt, blinking curiously and asking, "Brother Shuo, do you have any plans for today? Can I come with you?"

Chen Shuo looked down at her clear eyes and smiled dotingly: "Are you... convenient?"

This sentence made Mao Lilan's face, which had just recovered, turn red again. She bit her lip and whispered shyly, "No problem! I can do it!"

Chen Shuo shook his head helplessly, but he couldn't resist her insistence and finally nodded: "Okay, let's go together."

At this time, Huiyuan Ai's curiosity was also aroused. She put down the cup in her hand, looked up and asked, "What activities are there today? I want to participate too!"

Chen Shuo smiled and ruffled her hair, his tone revealing a bit of pampering and helplessness: "Today's activities are not suitable for you. You look inconvenient."

Huiyuan Ai frowned, but didn't press the issue. She'd always known Chen Shuo wouldn't hide anything for no reason. If he didn't say anything, it meant it wasn't the right time for her to know. So, she simply nodded with a hint of disappointment and continued to eat her breakfast in silence.

Huiyuan Huimei was completely focused on the food in her hands and had no interest in these conversations. She was now fully focused on the operation of Jingxin Coffee Shop, all her energy was focused on adjusting the menu and customer feedback, and other things were completely unattractive to her.

After a pleasant breakfast, Chen Shuo packed up and said goodbye to the Haibara sisters with Mao Lilan, Sonoko, and the others. Pu Siqinglan had already left, heading to the garage to prepare the car for the day. Her mission for the day was clear: to be Chen Shuo's driver and bodyguard.

As you walk out of the villa gate, what comes into view is a brand new Rolls-Royce Corniche V. This car is undoubtedly an absolute visual feast.

This car, a new luxury convertible model launched this year by Rolls-Royce, boasts an elegant and imposing appearance. Its deep black body gleams with a subtle metallic sheen in the sunlight, and its lines flow smoothly and naturally, as if every detail has been meticulously crafted. The classic Parthenon grille on the front, a Rolls-Royce signature, complements the sharp LED matrix headlights on either side, creating a powerful presence. Directly above the grille, the shimmering "Flying Goddess" statue appears lifelike in the morning light, as if poised to take flight at any moment.

The slender and elegant profile of the car, with its gleaming 21-inch multi-spoke wheels, exudes an understated luxury that is undeniable. The doors feature Rolls-Royce's renowned bi-fold design, offering ultimate convenience for ingress and egress. The convertible roof imbues the car with a distinctive aristocratic presence, whether stationary or in motion.

The rear section is more concise and modern, with the through-type taillights blending perfectly with the black paint, further enhancing the futuristic feel of the vehicle. The sleek and elegant lines of the rear section fully conform to Rolls-Royce's pursuit of luxury aesthetics.

When Chen Shuo and the others reached the door, Pu Siqinglan had already parked the car steadily at the entrance of the villa. She gracefully got out of the driver's seat, walked around the front of the car, opened the back door, and gestured for them to get in. "Boss, please get in."

Yuanzi's eyes lit up and she ran to the passenger seat excitedly: "Oh my God! Brother Shuo, you bought a new car again? It's so cool! I don't even have one at home!"

Chen Shuo smiled and watched the excited Yuanzi get into the passenger seat. Then he turned around and helped Mao Lilan sit in the back seat: "Xiaolan, be careful, don't hit your head."

Mao Lilan nodded gently. As she climbed into the car, her eyes were captivated by the luxurious design. The interior, a black and gold color scheme, featured premium leather and natural wood trim everywhere, showcasing a distinct sense of refinement. The seats were wide, soft, and incredibly supportive, creating a sense of being in the clouds. The center armrest refrigerator even came with crystal champagne flutes, adding to the luxurious details.

Chen Shuo also got into the back seat, leaning slightly against the headrest, feeling the temperature-controlled massage function of the seat. He couldn't help but sigh, "It's worthy of being a Rolls-Royce. Even the details are handled so perfectly."

Pu Siqinglan closed the car door and walked back to the driver's seat, her movements smooth and neat. She started the car, and the low engine sound was as mellow as a whisper, unassuming yet awe-inspiring. She turned her head and asked gently, "Boss, ladies, are you ready?"

Yuanzi nodded excitedly: "I've been preparing for this for a long time! Let's drive! I want to experience the elegance of this luxury car!"

Chen Shuo glanced at Mao Lilan, who was looking at the scenery outside the car window with curiosity, and said softly, "Qinglan, let's go."

Pu Siqinglan smiled slightly, stepped on the accelerator lightly, and the car drove away from the villa gracefully and calmly like a black ghost, starting today's journey.