Maybe he had talked too much all at once. Xin Hexue paused to catch his breath, his thin chest rising and falling with each inhalation.
His collar wasn’t fastened properly, and the hollow of his collarbone was exposed. In this slightly hunched straddling posture, Yan Ji’s eyes inadvertently caught a glimpse under the warm sleepwear.
Skin as white as melted goat milk.
Yan Ji’s gaze froze.
He saw two pink nipples on the chest…
A sudden rush of heat surged inside him. Yan Ji quickly turned his head away, his jawline tight from clenching his teeth.
‘Pink?!’
‘Seriously?!’
Yan Ji’s lips pressed into a tight line, and his mind experienced the first Big Bang of the universe, and all the particles spelled out “look again”.
Because he was forcibly suppressing the clamoring thoughts, his whole body was extremely stiff, and he was as solid as steel.
Maybe his expression was too ridiculous, the young man sitting on him chuckled.
The laugh was light, but it seemed to ring in his ears, just like a spark igniting a fuse, a tingling and electric pleasure flowed through Yan Ji’s body.
Xin Hexue’s voice was gentle, his hand lightly stroking his hair. “Did I scare you?”
He comforted in a soft voice, “It’s okay. A well-behaved Sentinel wouldn’t be treated like this.”
He had just called him a bad dog with no warmth, but now his tone was warm again.
Yan Ji’s heart was in turmoil because of him.
The young man’s dominance was subtle but obvious; it wasn’t overwhelming, but you could clearly feel the boundary.
Maybe it was because the Sentinel he faced was three years younger, so he didn’t see him as a threat and could tease him at will.
Yan Ji speculated.
At the same time, he thought to himself…
He wasn’t scared. But he couldn’t guarantee that if Xin Hexue sat back a little, he wouldn’t be scared by him.
Just as Yan Ji was caught in this dilemma, the young man above leaned over and pressed his light weight on his shoulders. His black hair was soft and he gave off a faint cold fragrance.
A hot breath from the fever landed on Yan Ji’s earlobe.
The Sentinel’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice visibly.
‘Too scary.’ Yan Ji felt like his earring was about to melt from the heat.
“A-are you okay?” As soon as he spoke, Yan Ji was startled by his own hoarse voice.
Xin Hexue’s voice was even softer than usual. “It seems like… the medicine is making me a bit sleepy.”
His eyelashes fluttered in vain, and the figure in his field of vision became increasingly unclear.
Finally, he quietly closed his eyes and said, “Goodnight.”
Yan Ji lay stiffly on the bed like a corpse. After a long time, he slowly turned his head to look at Xin Hexue sleeping beside him.
Aside from the faint pink at the corners of his eyes, Xin Hexue’s face was pale with sickness.
Yan Ji knew clearly that the Guide in front of him was so weak, one push and he’d fall.
Even forcing himself on him now would be effortless.
But Yan Ji didn’t think he was that much of a beast.
So he got off the bed, carefully tucked Xin Hexue in, then went into the bathroom dejectedly.
He even respectfully chose the guest bathroom from his last sleepover.
The sound of running water, muffled by a room and hallway, didn’t wake Xin Hexue.
The high fever of 39.8 degrees had left him in a drowsy haze.
Xin Hexue could vaguely feel a cold towel being repeatedly placed on his forehead to bring the temperature down.
Yan Ji tried to wipe his palms with alcohol, but the moment he touched Xin Hexue’s exposed hand, the hand immediately curled up, like a mimosa folding its leaves, showing an abnormally strong reaction to external stimulation.
Yan Ji found it a bit strange, but Xin Hexue had already instinctively withdrawn his hand back under the blanket.
After several failed attempts to communicate with the sleeping patient, he had no choice but to abandon the method of using alcohol to wipe and cool down.
When Xin Hexue woke up, the curtains that had not been fully drawn and the water streaks on the floor-to-ceiling windows had already dried.
The rain and snow outside had stopped.
The evening sun cast a golden hue on the floor of the room.
He felt a little better than when he woke up at noon today.
Xin Hexue supported himself at the edge of the bed and put on his cotton slippers.
He found a pair of his gloves on the bedside table.
An itch rose from within his chest, and Xin Hexue let out a muffled cough.
The sharp-eared Sentinel heard the noise and quickly stepped away from his busy work in the first-floor kitchen. He ran to the corner of the stairs and shouted up toward the second floor, “You’re awake? There’s hot water in the kettle on the counter, and the thermometer is in the top drawer. Remember to drink some water, then take your temperature again.”
Yan Ji added, “I’m almost done making dinner. Come down and eat in a bit.”
The young Sentinel, having just stepped into adulthood, now showed the reliability of someone with many years of independent living experience.
Xin Hexue slowly walked downstairs.
Yan Ji was taking off the apron tied around his waist. Xin Hexue’s gaze swept past him, and when he saw the little bear printed on the apron, he calmly looked away.
As the patient, he consciously took a seat at the dining table.
A small pot of pork bone and winter melon porridge sat in the center. The porridge was stewed until soft and thick, with steaming white mist blending with the aroma of the food.
The leftover winter melon, preserved vegetables, and duck meat were used to make an additional pot of old duck soup.
There was also a plate of stir-fried autumn squash and a small dish of tribute vegetables.
There was nothing particularly exquisite, just home cooked dishes, but they exuded the warmth of daily life.
Xin Hexue’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
Yan Ji noticed it keenly and raised his eyebrows, “…Is there something you don’t eat in it?” He had learned from last time and had carefully avoided using scallions and garlic this time.
Xin Hexue shook his head and accepted the bowl of porridge and spoon that Yan Ji handed over.
The rich aroma of the porridge spread gently in his mouth. Xin Hexue held the bowl and said, “It’s delicious.”
Yan Ji’s plan to casually show off his cooking skills had succeeded. He barely managed to suppress the proud smile and cleared his throat, “Hmm, it looks like my cooking isn’t bad. Eat more.”
His eyes were full of life as he kept putting food into Xin Hexue’s bowl.
Until Xin Hexue moved the bowl aside and firmly refused.
Only then did Yan Ji finally stop for a while.
Xin Hexue’s gaze quietly settled on the tabletop.
He almost never stepped into the kitchen. When He Botian was still around, if he had time, it was always He Botian who cooked.
On the rare occasions when He Botian was too busy with work, they would order takeout.
After He Botian left, if Xin Hexue didn’t eat at work, he would have the part-time helper auntie cook meals for him.
Although called a part-time worker, she was actually someone specially sent by the White Tower to take care of a Guide who had moved out but was going through difficult times.
In the eyes of the White Tower, Guides were treasures of the world.
And now, their most outstanding treasure was facing a difficult time in life.
From the White Tower’s perspective, Xin Hexue was no different from a homeless stray cat, and he had just lost his bound slave less than half a year ago.
Given the fact that the Guide had already moved out of the White Tower, they couldn’t forcibly bring the little cat back against his will. All they could do was offer help secretly in every way.
So actually, even if Yan Ji hadn’t come today, the cleaner sent by the White Tower would’ve discovered Xin Hexue’s condition in the afternoon.
After Xin Hexue was almost done eating and set down his bowl and spoon, Yan Ji went back to the kitchen and brought out the stewed snow pear with rock sugar.
Yan Ji said, “Your cough seems to be a bit severe.”
Xin Hexue was genuinely surprised by everything he had done, and so he looked at Yan Ji for a bit longer.
The Sentinel couldn’t help wagging his tail like a canine. “Mm… you don’t need to be too touched. I’m actually quite talented when it comes to home life and cooking. It’s really easy for me.”
“Especially in situations like yours, when you’re sick and no one’s there to take care of you…this is something I should do.”
Yan Ji emphasized the words “no one’s there to take care of you,” not even bothering to hide his thoughts.
Having been passively stanned twice in a single day, K: “…”
[Gege, are you feeling a bit unhappy?]
Xin Hexue let out a soft laugh.
K said stiffly: […No.]
Xin Hexue replied, [It’s okay. I know my gege treats me well.]
A casual coaxing sentence successfully soothed his partner’s mood.
K: […Mn.]
If there was a system notification for love level, K’s love for his little cat partner had probably already exceeded the limit.
Sentinels had much bigger appetites than Guides. Yan Ji devoured everything on the dining table like a whirlwind, not wasting a single bite.
He noticed that Xin Hexue’s home kitchen was equipped with a dishwasher.
But Yan Ji still chose to wash the dishes by hand without hesitation, not because he was pretending, but because it made him seem more down-to-earth.
The sound of rushing water came from the kitchen.
Suddenly, there was a sharp crackling noise from the living room outside, which was extremely jarring.
Yan Ji shook the water from his hands and didn’t have time to dry them as he hurriedly ran out. “What happened?”
Xin Hexue was crouched beside the sofa, coughing, his shoulders trembling.
The light green carpet had been stained by a patch of water, and after soaking through, it turned dark green, making it particularly eye-catching.
The glass cup had struck the edge of the coffee table and shattered into several pieces.
K quietly took note: this was the fifth time the host had broken something made of glass.
Yan Ji helped Xin Hexue sit on the other couch. “Wait here.”
He quickly and carefully cleaned up the mess, sweeping the glass shards into the trash can.
While checking to make sure there were no fragments left, Yan Ji’s gaze swept across the coffee table.
He frowned.
This was not the same pack of medicine for reducing fever.
Yan Ji subconsciously memorized the name of the medicine.
Because of this, he didn’t notice the look Xin Hexue gave him from behind.
…
Illness came like a landslide and went like pulling silk.
By the third day, Xin Hexue’s high fever had completely subsided, but his cough lingered for more than a week.
Using concern for his health as a reason, Yan Ji came and went freely at the villa. He obtained a spare key and even had his facial data registered in the villa’s smart access system.
For nearly half a month, he came every day before class to prepare Xin Hexue’s meals, made sure he took his medicine, ate dinner with him, and then rushed back to the dormitory before the gate closed at midnight.
Even with such a schedule, Yan Ji didn’t slack off on his combat simulation training.
His ambition to grow stronger became more and more intense. Yan Ji wanted to stand by Xin Hexue’s side rightfully. Having a natural 3S combat power wasn’t enough, he needed an impressive resume and military merit. At the very least, he had to match Wei Zhuo, who had already reached the rank of Lieutenant General.
Yan Ji felt like the past eighteen years of his life had been empty. He had no goal, no urgent desire to live, always maintaining a mindset of “it’s fine to live, but dying wouldn’t matter either.” He was like a hollow person.
But now, he finally felt alive. He was no longer hollow.
He wanted to be Xin Hexue’s dog.
What He Botian? What Wei Zhuo? They all had to step aside for him, Yan Ji.
That evening, Yan Ji told Xin Hexue over dinner, “My application to the school and military has been approved. The test is tomorrow. If nothing goes wrong, I’ll be joining the reserve legion.”
Joining the reserve legion meant being able to enter the mentorship system within major military groups and personally participate in front-line combat.
Of course, reserve Sentinels who hadn’t graduated yet wouldn’t be sent to Folded Zones above Grade B.
But even so, this was different from the training simulations in the training hall.
Simulations would even warn you about incoming waves of monsters and display information about them in real time.
In actual combat, anything could happen.
Every battle was a precious experience and an accumulation of merit.
Yan Ji was already itching to begin.
He had it all planned out. “If things go quickly, I’ll go on my first mission this weekend.”
Yan Ji had asked senior students already in the reserve legion. The first mission would take place in Folded Zone No. 351, in the North East, called Dongshan. Its danger level was D.
Although not high in risk, the region was made up of cold, mountainous plateaus.
And the flower Xin Hexue had been interested in before, Drayas, had already disappeared from all the safe zones. According to available data, this plant mostly grew in the upper grassland tundras of alpine forests.
So, it should still be found in Folded Zone 351.
Maybe he was being too impatient, but Yan Ji had even planned when to confess.
He couldn’t wait to get official recognition from the young Guide, to receive a personal collar.
And…
The medicine he saw on the coffee table last time.
Yan Ji had gone back to investigate. Among the names of the medications, almost none could be found in any records. The only one that turned up was Paroxetine, which had had anti-anxiety effects. As for the remaining drugs, the most likely explanation was that they belonged to a class of special medications not yet made public, typically prescribed by military research institutes.
He had never heard of a Guide taking psychiatric medication.
Let alone Xin Hexue, who was a Guide with the highest mental power.
Yan Ji wanted to know the truth.
When he returned from Folded Zone No. 351, carrying the Drayas with white petals and yellow stamens, he would ask Xin Hexue for a clear explanation.
Xin Hexue smiled at him and said, “Be careful.”
………
As a member of the reserve legion, Yan Ji went to Folded Zone No. 351 on a mission during the last weekend of November.
Since the difficulty level of the Folded Zone wasn’t high, he was expected to return in five days.
On the way there, he kept sending messages to Xin Hexue.
Although most of them were simple greetings like good morning, good night, or asking if he’d eaten.
But Xin Hexue patiently replied to every one of them.
Until one day later, when Yan Ji entered the Folded Zone and lost signal.
Xin Hexue’s communicator finally quieted down.
Afterward, he received a message from Wei Zhuo:
[Wei Zhuo: I have something to tell you.]
[Wei Zhuo: Did you bury He Botian’s other set of combat uniform in Wuhai Mountain?]
That was the highest mountain in the Northern Desert City.
[Wei Zhuo: This time, we discovered an anomaly in the northern Folded Zone.]
Wei Zhuo sent a photo.
Xin Hexue’s communicator suddenly had signal issues.
He had to get up from the bed, and as he approached the floor-to-ceiling window, the endlessly loading screen finally stopped and revealed the full image.
Xin Hexue realized this was a still frame taken from a combat recording.
It was gray and hazy, like the static on a black-and-white TV.
Monsters filled the sky and the ground, the air was thick with spores, and shadows of trees were dense. Suddenly, Xin Hexue spotted a human figure in the far corner on the right side of the image.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t exactly human.
It was hard to define it as a human being, but at first glance, under the blurred light and shadow, it looked like a Sentinel.
The combat uniform was custom-made.
Xin Hexue could never mistake the silver epaulets on it.
