Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Chapter 145 She Unbuttoned

The car drove steadily in the night. The atmosphere inside the Rolls-Royce seemed particularly depressing. It was so quiet that only the low roar of the engine could be heard.

Pu Siqinglan sat expressionless in the driver's seat, her hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. Her stern aura seemed to blend seamlessly with the night, and even without a word, an invisible sense of tension permeated the entire car.

Suzuki Sonoko sat in the passenger seat, seemingly relaxed, but her bright eyes were constantly scanning the rearview mirror and surroundings. One hand rested casually on the edge of the car window, the other resting lightly on her knee. Vermouth knew that hand was only a few centimeters away from the pistol hidden in her coat. If there was any sign of trouble, this seemingly harmless young lady would not hesitate to take action.

In the back seat of the car, Chen Shuo and Vermouth sat side by side.

Chen Shuo leaned back in his seat, legs crossed, body slightly tilted back, eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the silence in the car. His breathing was steady, his movements leisurely, but the invisible pressure was impossible to ignore, as if even when he was doing nothing, he was still in control.

Vermouth sat quietly in a corner of the back seat, her back slightly leaning against the door, her eyes sometimes lowered, sometimes quickly scanning the other people in the car. She seemed relaxed, but her shoulders were slightly tense, and her fingers were lightly clasped around her knees, clearly showing some unrest.

She wasn't bound, but she didn't dare move. Vermouth knew that each of the three men in the car had the power to kill her instantly. Pu Siqinglan's coldness, Suzuki Sonoko's forbearance, and even the danger hidden behind Chen Shuo's calmness made it clear to her that she was at a complete disadvantage.

She couldn't help but glance at Chen Shuo beside her. He still had his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to her presence. This attitude only made her feel even more oppressed. She gritted her teeth, clenching her fingers slightly, but then quickly loosened them. She leaned back in her seat, as if resigned to her fate, a wry smile playing on her lips.

“How ironic.” Vermouth sneered in her heart: “Monsters are surrounded by monsters…”

She glanced again at Suzuki Sonoko, who was sitting in the passenger seat. She carelessly smoothed her short hair, adjusted her sitting position slightly, and a faint smile played on her face. Despite this, her bright eyes were as sharp as an eagle, constantly observing the movements inside and outside the car.

"Even this seemingly delicate young lady is so dangerous." Vermouth sighed and turned her gaze to the window again.

The car continued to drive, and the streetlights outside the window quickly retreated backwards, reflecting the complex expression on Vermouth's face. Although her posture remained elegant, the helplessness and vigilance hidden in her face never disappeared.

The silence in the car remained, with only the low engine sound, like the whisper of fate in the night, making the journey seem even longer.

---

Returning to Chen Shuo's home, Vermouth walked in slowly like an ordinary guest, her steps graceful, but her eyes held a subtle, searching gaze. As soon as she entered, she glanced around, as if searching for something. However, the figure she was expecting didn't appear in her sight.

Her eyes dimmed slightly, and the faint smile on her lips faltered. Vermouth smiled bitterly inwardly: "At the last moment, I still can't see my Angel?" A sense of loss spread through her heart, causing her steps to pause slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.

She slowly sat down, her eyes casually scanning the living room, but she couldn't hide the complex emotions in her heart. In fact, she had long hated Calvados. "That stupid idiot, he completely ruined everything." She cursed inwardly, her fingertips tapping lightly on her knees, as if trying to suppress her emotions.

Thinking back on what happened, Vermouth couldn't help but curse inwardly. She had originally intended for Calvados to assassinate Miyano Shiho, but she hadn't expected this crazy guy to actually snipe Chen Shuo directly.

She slowly closed her eyes, a familiar figure flashing through her mind. That person, whom she considered her only "Angel," was practically the only one who could shake her icy heart. Without Chen Shuo and her own abilities, the chaos would have been out of control. At this thought, Vermouth felt a surge of mixed emotions.

"Luckily, my Angel is quite strong. And I have a monster like Chen Shuo to protect me. Otherwise, I would really regret it to death."

She let out a long breath, a complex look flashing in her eyes. Her emotions kept fluctuating between struggle and calmness, but she knew that no matter how much she regretted it, she had no way out now.

At this moment, Chen Shuo slowly walked into the living room, glanced at Vermouth calmly, and said lightly: "It seems that you already understand your situation."

Vermouth opened her eyes and looked at Chen Shuo with a self-deprecating smile on her face: "Situation? To be honest, I feel like I've been thrown into a fire pit, but it doesn't matter. At least now, I still have a chance to breathe."

Chen Shuo didn't respond to her teasing. He just walked to the sofa, sat down casually, and said calmly: "I'm giving you this chance to breathe. Don't waste it."

Hearing Chen Shuo's words, Vermouth was slightly startled, then quickly regained her signature charming smile. She leaned gently against the sofa, a hint of teasing in her eyes, her tone still lazy: "Oh? Mr. Wuchen, who is so decisive and ruthless, how could you give me such an opportunity? This is not like your style."

Her smile was like a mask, completely concealing the turmoil within her. However, Chen Shuo simply glanced at her indifferently, completely ignoring her deliberate display of charm. His voice was calm and cold, like a sharp blade pointing directly to the core: "Do you... know Mao Lilan? And do you have a good impression of her?"

Vermouth's smile froze.

In an instant, her expression completely collapsed, the shock in her eyes unconcealed. At that moment, she felt as if she had seen a monster that could see everything. Her breathing suddenly stopped, her heartbeat instantly accelerated, and she stared at Chen Shuo intently, as if trying to determine how much he knew.

“You…” Vermouth finally spoke, her voice revealing a hint of shock and panic that was difficult to conceal, “How… did you know?”

Chen Shuo didn't answer her question, but simply leaned back on the sofa, his gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable pressure. His tone remained steady, yet it struck Vermouth's heart like a hammer: "Don't ask how I know. I just want to hear your answer."

Vermouth stared intently at Chen Shuo, as if trying to find any emotion in his expression, but was disappointed. His face remained as calm as water, without a ripple.

She took a deep breath and whispered, her tone filled with tentativeness and suppressed anger: "If I say that I know her...what will you do?"

Chen Shuo slowly raised his eyes to look at her, his tone still calm, but every word was as heavy as a mountain: "I will evaluate. Mao Lilan is the woman I love most. I will eliminate anyone or anything that may become a threat to her without hesitation. For her, I can eliminate all sources of danger."

These words pierced Vermouth's heart like a sharp blade, causing her breathing to quicken. She abruptly stood up, slamming her hands on the table. Anger and resentment burned in her eyes, and her voice was tinged with a roar: "Then why did you let her enter this world? Why did you let her get involved in these dirty fights!"

Her rage seemed to burn everything, completely lacking the demeanor of a "prisoner." She glared at Chen Shuo, her voice questioning him, nearly exploding in the room.

Pu Siqinglan and Yuanzi drew their guns almost at the moment when Vermouth slammed the table. Their movements were swift and clean, and the black muzzles of the guns were aimed at Vermouth's head without hesitation.

"Sit down!" Pu Siqinglan shouted coldly, without a trace of emotion in his tone, as if pulling the trigger in the next second was the most natural thing.

Vermouth's lips trembled slightly at the threat, but she still didn't flinch. Her eyes held a stubborn and frantic look, and now she no longer cared about her own safety, only wanting to vent her anger.

She stared at Chen Shuo, her voice hoarse and angry: "Do you know how beautiful she is? How kind she is? Why let her be exposed to this dark world? Do you know what this world will become of her?"

Chen Shuo remained seated, unfazed. He waved his hand gently, signaling Pu Siqinglan and Yuanzi to lower their weapons. The two exchanged glances, hesitant, but still obeyed and sheathed their weapons, returning to their original positions.

Chen Shuo's gaze fell on Vermouth, his tone still chillingly calm: "I let her come into contact with this world, not to change her, but to protect her. She entered this world not because I wanted to, but because reality forced her to."

His voice deepened slightly, carrying a hint of unquestionable strength: "Xiaolan's kindness and innocence will not be destroyed by this world. I will protect her and let her always stand in the light, no matter how strong the storm."

Vermouth was stunned, her mouth slightly open, but she couldn't utter a word. Her anger seemed to be extinguished by Chen Shuo's words, turning into a feeling of powerlessness and complexity.

“So—” Chen Shuo’s voice suddenly turned cold, his gaze piercing Vermouth like a knife. “If you really care about her, then you should understand that anyone who tries to hurt her will not end well, including you.”

Vermouth fell silent. She slowly stood up, the anger on her face gradually fading, replaced by a deep sense of exhaustion. She knew that every word Chen Shuo said was a fact that she could not refute.

Vermouth was silent for a long time, her drooping eyelids concealing the complex emotions in her eyes. A tense silence filled the air.

After a long moment, Vermouth suddenly raised her head, a bitter yet relieved smile hanging on the corner of her mouth. Then, she slowly raised her hand and began to unbutton her coat.

"What are you doing?" Pu Siqinglan frowned slightly, a hint of warning in her tone, and subconsciously leaned forward, ready to stop her at any moment. Yuanzi also looked at Vermouth in surprise, her hands subconsciously placed on her waist, ready for any eventual reaction. Chen Shuo looked calm, leaning back on the sofa and watching Vermouth, not rushing to intervene, allowing her to continue.

As Vermouth's coat slipped off, she gracefully stood under the light, revealing her tight sweater. The garment, clinging to her curves, perfectly outlined her graceful figure, exuding a unique charm and sensuality. Her movements remained calm, as she slowly lifted the sweater upwards, as if completing some ritual.

When the pale belly was exposed to the light, Pu Siqinglan and Yuanzi's gazes froze. A hideous gunshot wound was visible on the supposedly smooth, flawless skin. The wound was an irregular circle, the surrounding skin deeply sunken. The scar, a mixture of dark red and grayish-white, seemed to be the mark of a deep wound.

This scar is a paradox. Its horror contrasts sharply with Vermouth's fair, tender skin, adding a touch of cruel beauty to her sensuality. The scar is like a silent accusation, revealing the cruelty of her past.

Yuanzi frowned, her expression distorted, as if the pain of the scar was directly transmitted to her: "What do you want to say?"

There was a hint of confusion and incomprehension in her tone, while Chen Shuo beside her just raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at Vermouth quietly, waiting for her explanation.

Vermouth said nothing, simply standing calmly and removing her tight sweater from her head. As the garment slipped off, her exquisitely shaped figure and delicate lingerie were exposed to the light. Her movements were unhurried and unrestrained, as if she were not a prisoner standing before the crowd, but a dancer in full control of the situation.