CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: SUFFOCATING JEALOUSY

After several consecutive days of rainy weather, Ruan Li didn’t feel like going out and just stayed at home like a cozy lazybones.

"Ruannuan, it’s sunny today. Do you want to go out for a walk?" Bai He handed her a cup of warm water.

Due to work reasons, Shi Jue and Zhe Ye have been leaving early and returning late these days, and Xu Mo also seems busy with something, so only Bai He and Xi Han are at home with Ruan Li, but they just keep her company at home.

Although Xi Han wanted to get close to her, every time he approached Ruan Li, she would stare at his face as if she were facing a formidable enemy, making Xi Han start to doubt whether his face had become ugly.

Yet, the Mermaids’ faces are recognized as unparalleled in beauty across the interstellar.

Xi Han even consulted how to maintain their looks within the clan, but to be honest, Mermaid appearances are extraordinary, even at forty or fifty years old, there’s no situation where they are considered ugly, let alone Xi Han, a 22-year-old young Mermaid.

"Hmm, okay." Ruan Li got up from the sofa and accepted the water cup from Bai He.

Xi Han’s straightforward gaze fell on Ruan Li, and his meaning was all too obvious.

Ruan Li didn’t really dislike him, she just couldn’t resist that face, so, "Xi Han should come along too."

Those blue eyes shone with joy, yet only a slight smile appeared on his lips, "Okay."

The streets seemed especially lively today, and even from above, Ruan Li could see from the vehicle that there appeared to be more people around.

"There are so many people on the streets today, what’s going on?"

Bai He said, "It seems there’s a celebration, the Federation has sent people these days to establish diplomatic relations with the Empire, and one of the schedules is set on Star A."

Ruan Li nodded, "Then we better not join the crowd, places like these surely aren’t safe."

"The military should have dispatched quite a few people to maintain order. Ruannuan, where do you want to go?"

"Are there any fun places left on Star A?"

"... The famous places don’t allow tourists to enter recently."

"Forget it, let’s go to the mall." She just figured that with the relations with a few Beast Husbands easing recently, she could buy some gifts for everyone; otherwise, seeing seventeen or eighteen zeros in her personal account each time but not spending would be a sheer waste.

The vehicle stopped at a mall entrance a bit farther away from the bustling streets, making it seem rather deserted here.

Ruan Li jumped off the vehicle and headed straight to the mall.

Clothing store? Not good, she didn’t know each man’s size.

She visited several stores and finally chose a jewelry store, picking a scarf corresponding to the eye color for each of the five men, then selected a bunch of beautiful or quirky accessories for herself.

Of course, all these bags and parcels were thrown into the men’s Space Hub.

While riding the elevator up, Ruan Li suddenly felt the whole floor shake for a moment.

The two men beside her each grabbed one of her hands.

"Are you alright?"

"Don’t be afraid"

Luckily, it seemed that they were only affected by an explosion from afar...

Explosion?

The elevator seemed to have been affected by the previous tremor; it was originally supposed to rise to the fifth floor but got stuck halfway at the third floor.

Bai He: "Xi Han, protect Ruannuan well, I’ll check what’s wrong with the elevator."

Xi Han nodded and wrapped Ruan Li entirely in his embrace.

Bai He first pressed the reset button on the control panel, but the elevator didn’t respond at all, so he calmly pressed all the buttons on the control panel.

Screech—

A harsh metallic collision sound suddenly erupted, and the previously stuck elevator began to rise slowly, but only half a meter up before it stuck again with a booming sound, the elevator floor now showing a slight tilt.

Bai He grabbed onto the handrail to avoid falling and turned to look at Ruan Li, thankful that Xi Han was holding her, with no mishaps occurring.

"It might be the previous tremor that caused some structural change in the elevator, disrupting the elevator’s balance system."

Seeing Ruan Li’s half-understanding expression, he explained: "This elevator uses magnetic levitation technology, so incidents are unlikely to happen easily."

Bai He tried to contact the mall’s security, but received no response.

"Now we just have to figure out a way to get out safely, as for damaging public facilities..." he said helplessly, "we’ll explain it to security when they arrive."

Before Ruan Li could react to his meaning, she watched as Bai He manually pried open the elevator doors, supporting himself with one hand on the half-open floor at the elevator entrance, his fair but muscular biceps bulging, slightly lifting his hoodie, which now clearly outlined the smooth lines of his arm.

Ruan Li watched wide-eyed as he supported himself with one hand on the outside ground.

The elevator began to rise slowly with a squeak.

There was no sign of effort on his face.

Bai He turned to Xi Han and said, "Take Ruannuan out first."

Xi Han blocked Ruan Li’s overly focused and shocked face, holding her as they went out.

In her ear, he whispered with a hint of defiance, "I’m better than him."

Bai He came out of the elevator, dusted off his hands, looked back at the seemingly deformed elevator, "I wonder how much it will cost to compensate."

"It’s okay, I have money."

Bai He laughed, "The Female Head’s assets, could probably buy a small planet."

Ruan Li had never thought of such a thing, but with her lifelong passion for infrastructure, it sparked an idea in her.

They were currently on the mall’s fourth floor, but...

"Isn’t it a bit too quiet here?"

Ruan Li glanced around the deathly silent interior and murmured.

Bai He said, "It is indeed too quiet."

Xi Han frowned slightly, "It seems as if something very powerful is hidden here."

Ruan Li tugged on Xi Han’s sleeve, lowering her voice, "Then let’s go quickly."

She pointed at the stairs nearby.

The three of them tiptoed quietly down the stairs.

Reaching the first floor, Ruan Li breathed a sigh of relief.

She indeed had the knack for avoiding danger.

However, before she could even fully exhale, she noticed the two men’s faces suddenly became tense.

Xi Han wrapped an arm around her waist, lightly tapping his toes, leaping with Ruan Li to another empty space, while the spot where they had been standing was already smashed into a large hole.

The widespread dust gradually settled, revealing an enormous and hideous silhouette.

It resembled some kind of large animal, but its skin was wrinkled and hideous, with over a dozen long legs crawling along the ground.

Ruan Li’s fear of dense clusters flared up at once, rubbing the goosebumps on her arm: "What kind of monster is this?"

"Seven-star Mutated Fierce Beast, very troublesome,"

Xi Han said calmly.

"Hey, if we kill it, would its crystal core be highly beneficial to Shi Jue?"

Her words made the two men’s eyes spark as they looked at Ruan Li.

The faint smell of jealousy was palpable.

Bai He softly said, "Its crystal core is a great supplement for any male Beastman."

"But clearly, killing it is nearly impossible."

"The power of mutated fierce beasts is many times greater than that of ordinary fierce beasts, with all my might I might not be able to kill it," Xi Han calmly analyzed.

"Then we’ll just run."