TSBSPAAM Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Basketball Game Invitation

Shen Bumian thought Zhou Yizhou was with Chen Hebin and didn’t pay it much mind, but Zhou Yizhou didn’t come back that night.

Shen Bumian tried calling him directly but couldn’t get through. He only found out what was going on after finding Chen Hebin.

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law. Zhouzhou is busy with an experiment. He joined a laboratory recently.”

Shen Bumian’s pupils unconsciously widened. “A laboratory? What laboratory?”

Shen Bumian had known Zhou Yizhou for over a decade; he was not the type to join a lab at all. Shen Bumian was very confused.

Chen Hebin rubbed his neck. “Huh? You didn’t know, sister-in-law? Zhouzhou was probably so busy he forgot to tell you.”

Chen Hebin told Shen Bumian everything Zhou Yizhou had been up to for the past few days. Zhou Yizhou had joined Dr. Lu’s laboratory, an experiment focused on enhancing abilities.

This experiment had been started by someone many years ago but was interrupted for some unknown reason. It was only recently restarted by Dr. Lu, who had been admitted by special exception.

Shen Bumian’s confusion was not dispelled; in fact, he was even more puzzled. Dr. Lu? Since when did the First Military Academy have a Dr. Lu?

He opened the First Military Academy’s website and searched. There was indeed such a special person.

Lu Shuqiao, SS-class Alpha, externally hired doctor at the First Military Academy.

He conducted experiments at the First Military Academy but did not teach. He was not even bound by the school’s regulations; for example, he did not need to clock in and out according to the academy’s schedule. One could say his time was completely free.

The photo showed a handsome young man with gentle features and a faint smile. To anyone, the first impression would be of a refined and gentle person, but Shen Bumian felt a sense of incongruity.

He even went to ask Qin Luzhi, but Qin Luzhi had only been here for a year and didn’t pay attention to experiments, so he didn’t know much about Dr. Lu either.

Shen Bumian temporarily set aside his doubts. Zhou Yizhou finally returned before midnight. After washing up, he explained the laboratory matter to Shen Bumian. He was very happy to learn that Shen Bumian had joined Gu Yixi’s lab and even said they should celebrate.

Zhou Yizhou said he wanted to improve his ability or pheromone level, and this lab might give him some inspiration. Only then was Shen Bumian completely reassured.

It was all approved by the school, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

Zhou Yizhou was really too tired. He fell asleep as he was talking. Shen Bumian tucked him in and got up to go back to his own room.

The next day, Zhou Yizhou was a man of his word and immediately gathered everyone together to celebrate.

Chen Hebin found a shop with a five-star rating. The group arrived one after another, along with a few of Qin Luzhi’s classmates who were on the same squad, so they were all invited.

It was a barbecue restaurant.

Shen Bumian sat down next to Zhou Yizhou. Qin Luzhi, who arrived a step later, naturally sat on Shen Bumian’s other side.

Soon, all the ingredients were served, and the group started grilling meat. Chen Hebin and He Jing scrambled to compete with a group of Alphas for the food.

“Damn it, can you guys be a little more civilized? Sister-in-law is still here!”

“Mind your image! Don’t lower my standards!”

The group acted as if they hadn’t heard. But when Shen Bumian looked up, their actions all paused. The way they were acting… it really did seem a bit inappropriate.

“Sorry, sister-in-law. We’re a rough bunch. We didn’t scare you and your friend, did we?”

The speaker was a black-haired Alpha named Lin An. His face was a little red. The atmosphere had gotten heated just now, and he had forgotten Shen Bumian was also here.

He really hadn’t expected to be eating barbecue at the same table as Shen Meiren one day. He quickly used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of cooked meat and place it in Shen Bumian’s bowl.

His eyes sparkled with anticipation, completely oblivious to Qin Luzhi’s unfriendly gaze.

Shen Bumian was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this move. He then came to his senses and didn’t refuse the kind gesture. “Thank you.”

This action alerted the other Alphas present, who all followed suit, scrambling to show their attentiveness. Shen Bumian was truly a bit stunned now.

Qin Luzhi let out a meaningful “tsk.” He shouldn’t have invited this group. He thought He Jing was just being polite, but he didn’t expect these guys to actually tag along.

“Eat your own barbecue. Stay away.”

The group didn’t realize the problem, thinking Qin Luzhi just disliked people getting too close to him. They all knew his temperament.

Hearing this, they all backed away. Shen Bumian subtly breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Luzhi turned his head slightly to speak to Shen Bumian: “Don’t mind them. You just eat.”

Qin Luzhi was also grilling meat, but his movements were more elegant. Even while grilling, he looked very noble, more like he was playing the piano.

Shen Bumian didn’t notice he was staring until Qin Luzhi placed the grilled meat on a plate and pushed it over to him. Only then did he snap back to reality.

“This is for you. Eat slowly. You don’t have to compete with them.”

Shen Bumian felt like he probably hadn’t slept well; he was always zoning out. “For me?”

Qin Luzhi didn’t say anything more, just nodded and continued to grill meat, as if worried Shen Bumian wouldn’t have enough to eat.

Shen Bumian lowered his head and ate the meat Qin Luzhi had grilled in silence. That strange, tingling feeling came over him again.

The group ate for nearly an hour before heading back to the school. Shen Bumian was a bit full, and he and Qin Luzhi went for a walk together.

The evening wind was already very cool, and many people were already wearing thicker clothes. When Shen Bumian shivered from the wind once again, Qin Luzhi took off his jacket and put it on him.

Qin Luzhi pulled him to a bench that was more sheltered from the wind. “Wait here for me for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

The residual warmth from the Alpha’s clothes did have an effect. Shen Bumian felt less cold. He watched the spot where Qin Luzhi had disappeared, wondering where he was going.

However, he quickly found out. Qin Luzhi returned with a cup of hot milk tea that Shen Bumian could hold to warm his hands, but it wasn’t scalding.

It was just right.

“You just went to buy this?”

“Yeah, they said drinking this would be warmer.”

Qin Luzhi had overheard it from someone in the Alpha dorm building, who was probably on the phone with their significant other. Qin Luzhi happened to hear it.

He didn’t know if it would be useful, but seeing the milk tea shop across the street, he decided to trust it.

The straw was already inserted. Shen Bumian drank a few sips; it wasn’t very sweet and wasn’t at all cloying—it was a flavor he liked.

“Are you still cold?”

Qin Luzhi’s voice carried the cold wind, yet no coldness could be detected in it.

Shen Bumian shook his head, holding the milk tea. After sitting for a while, they got up to return to school.

With Qin Luzhi walking in front to block the wind, Shen Bumian barely felt cold; the fingertips holding the milk tea cup were even slightly hot.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice the Alpha in front had stopped. He unexpectedly bumped into him, his forehead hitting Qin Luzhi’s firm back and instantly turning red.

“Why did you stop?”

Shen Bumian rubbed his forehead, looking at Qin Luzhi with a mix of confusion and accusation.

Qin Luzhi subconsciously lightly touched Shen Bumian’s reddened forehead with his finger. His fingertip tingled for a moment, and his hand, which was hanging down, rubbed slightly, carrying a sense of restraint. Shen Bumian was more delicate than he had imagined.

“Sorry, I wanted to tell you something.”

Shen Bumian took a step back to create distance. He now felt his forehead was also a bit hot, and his gaze was somewhat evasive. “What is it?”

Qin Luzhi forced himself to look away, but after a moment, he looked back at Shen Bumian. “The basketball game in a few days, will you come and watch?”

Basketball game? Shen Bumian was a bit out of the loop. He knew this sport hadn’t been eliminated in the interstellar era because many Alphas liked it.

But he didn’t know there was one in a few days. He thought for a moment and asked Qin Luzhi, “Are you playing too?”

“Mhm, it’s a match between first-years and second-years. You don’t have to cheer for me; just come and watch.”

In that case, it wouldn’t be good for Shen Bumian to cheer for Qin Luzhi; he needed to stick to his stance as a first-year. “Okay, I’ll go and watch.”

Qin Luzhi felt a little excited; he thought he could put on a good performance in this game.