64. Clubbing at Night

64. Clubbing at Night
Her experience of encountering aliens and everything mysterious about outer space had made Rose quieter lately. She lived her days focused only on work and more work. Seeing how unenthusiastic she had become, her two colleagues, Jarvis and David, watched her with concern.
“Rose! Come with us after work!” Jarvis said.
“For what?” Rose replied while peeking into the microscope.
“To a club, of course! Let’s have some fun!” David chimed in.
“Do researchers even go clubbing? No, thanks. If I get drunk, I won’t be able to work tomorrow,” Rose replied.
“Just drink a little!” Jarvis said.
“No. You and David can go by yourselves,” Rose answered lazily.
“Ew, no way! I don’t want people thinking I’m gay just because I hang out with him all the time!” Jarvis complained.
“Wow! Don’t act like you’re handsome! Who would want you anyway?” David replied, throwing Rose’s notebook at Jarvis’s face.
“Ouch! You’re dead, you hear me?!”
“Hey! That’s my notebook. If you want to fight, do it somewhere else!” Rose snapped, glaring at them as they messed up her desk.
“Come on, Rose! Please come with us!” Jarvis begged again.
“Pretty Rose, come with us! We’ll take care of you, okay? If you don’t want to drink, I’ll buy you fruit juice. And hot pot is delicious, right? We’ll definitely have fun tonight!” David asked.
“Oh my God, you two! Fine, go on. Let me finish my work first,” Rose finally agreed.
“Okay!” Jarvis and David answered in unison.
Jarvis and David grinned with excitement. For the past month, all they had done was work and more work. Going out at night would help relax their minds, and spending time with friends would bring them closer and strengthen their bond.
Late at night, the Atom Point office had grown quiet. Rose tidied up her desk, and as soon as she walked out, two men stretched out their hands toward her.
“Let’s go, Princess!” Jarvis greeted her.
“We will be your bodyguards, Miss!” David added.
“Stop acting sweet. Go on, I can walk by myself,” Rose replied lazily.
The three of them walked to the parking lot. Jarvis grabbed his car keys and the two friends hopped in—both choosing to sit in the back.
“Hey! Why are you both sitting in the back? One of you, move to the front! I’m not your chauffeur!” Jarvis protested.
“I want to keep Rose company in the back, of course. What if people start rumors about us dating if I sit in front with you?” David complained, giving excuses.
“As if anyone wants you! Rose, you’re pretty… sit in the front with me,” Jarvis coaxed sweetly.
“You two are impossible. Can’t I just sit peacefully?” Rose grumbled, but she still ended up taking the front seat beside Jarvis.
“So I’m alone in the back then?” David protested.
“Stop complaining! Do you want to drive instead?”
“No way!”
“Then shut up! Let’s go!” Jarvis said.
Rose sat quietly, watching the road. Jarvis focused on driving, while in the backseat David was busy removing his lab coat and changing his clothes.
“What are you doing?” Jarvis asked.
“We’re going to a club, obviously I have to look cool!” David replied.
“Wow, you’re really putting effort into this. I didn’t bring anything. But my shirt is already stylish! And I’m handsome, so I’m fine,” Jarvis joked.
“Oh please, stop being full of yourself! Your shirt makes you look like an old man. Meanwhile, I look way younger in this outfit!” David shot back.
“Don’t girls these days prefer older, more mature guys? Right, Rose?” Jarvis said, asking for support.
“I’m not getting involved! If you two want to argue, go ahead! I just want to eat and go home!” Rose snapped.
Both of them looked at Rose and shook their heads.
“Typical boring lab girl,” David commented.
“Good thing she’s pretty, or she’d be hopeless,” Jarvis added.
“You’re talking about me! Let me out right here!” Rose snapped, glaring at them.
“Step on it, Jarvis! We’re kidnapping Rose tonight!” David laughed loudly.
Everyone burst into laughter. They didn’t want to argue with Rose because they knew that once she started ranting, she could be terrifying. But they also knew Rose had been really gloomy these past few days, so they purposely brought her out to have some fun.
When they arrived at a club, there were handsome, stylish men and beautiful women dressed sexily everywhere. Jarvis quickly took off his lab coat and looked at Rose.
“You’re still wearing your lab coat?”
“Oh—right, I forgot!” Rose immediately took it off.
Just like Jarvis, Rose was also wearing a shirt, but Jarvis wasn’t wrong—Rose was naturally beautiful, so she still looked stunning anyway.
“One more thing,” David said as he removed Rose’s hair tie, letting her beautiful hair fall loose.
“A gorgeous girl with long hair. Absolutely perfect,” David said.
“You two aren’t planning to sell me off here, are you?” Rose raised a suspicious eyebrow.
“Haha! Of course not!” David burst out laughing.
“Tonight you have to have fun! No looking gloomy like a bunny about to get dissected!” Jarvis chimed in.
“Exactly! And I’ve got a black card—we’re drinking on me!” David said proudly.
“Oh my God! So you really planned all of this, didn’t you?”
“Come on, Rose. We don’t know what your problem is, but we want you to cheer up a little!” David said as he gently pushed Rose’s shoulders from behind. “Let’s go in.”
The three of them entered the club, got a table, and ordered lots of food and drinks. They ate enthusiastically, and after a while, something unexpected happened. A group of male models walked into the room, and Jarvis stood up with a grin.
“They’re all handsome, Rose! Pick whichever one you like! I know you don’t have a boyfriend, so at least you can practice!” he said jokingly.
“This one’s muscular, this one’s really handsome, and this one has a cute face. Which one do you like?” David teased her even more.
“You guys are insane! Tell them to leave right now!” Rose yelled.
Jarvis and David exchanged glances and grinned mischievously. Instead of fixing the situation, they ran off.
“Have fun, Rose!” David shouted.
“Don’t be shy! Just pick whoever you like!” Jarvis added before disappearing after David.
“Hey, you two…!”
Rose was confused as several men immediately sat around her. They were indeed handsome and incredibly friendly, offering her food and drinks as if they were eager for her to go on a date with them.
“Uh, you guys…! Hold on, okay? I need to go to the restroom for a moment! Wait here!” Rose said, making an excuse.
With a forced smile, Rose quickly dashed away and escaped without Jarvis and David noticing. She ran out of the club and was instantly out of breath.
“Those jerks! I’ll deal with them tomorrow!”
Rose walked along the city street, looking at the streetlights and the busy crowds passing by. But despite the lively atmosphere, her heart felt empty—so empty.
“I should just go home.”
Rose had no idea that misfortune was waiting for her.