Chapter 21: “Let Me Kiss You Back and We’ll Call It Even…”

Nanzi had sought out You Fuzhou that day because he truly had urgent business.

He had obtained intelligence on a military operation from the Ares Empire. Their target was the location where they had previously hidden the Cat Clan’s beastmen.

You Fuzhou and the others had no idea how the Ares Empire had learned of that spot. Perhaps it was a lucky discovery, or maybe… someone had leaked it.

Either way, they needed to prepare.

The moment Nanzi confirmed the intelligence that the Ares Empire was indeed mobilizing troops, You Fuzhou and his team swiftly convened a meeting to plan their countermeasures.

Yu Yan was present at the meeting. He said nothing when You Fuzhou spoke of rushing to the rescue, but when he realized the tactical arrangements left no place for him, a frown creased his brow.

Once the meeting broke up, Yu Yan blocked You Fuzhou’s path, his expression cool and distant. “And what about me?”

You Fuzhou’s reply came swift and firm, revealing he’d made up his mind from the start. “You stay here.”

Yu Yan’s face turned icy. “You Fuzhou, I don’t need that kind of protection.”

Of course You Fuzhou knew as much. He softened his tone as he explained to Yu Yan, “Most of the Guides and support staff are aboard the mothership, Rong Yao included… I need you to protect them.”

Yu Yan wasn’t buying that he had no ulterior motive. “You know this could be a joint trap from the Ares Empire and the Yashe Empire, baiting you into coming. Take me along—my mental power can shield you all and keep you hidden.”

He wouldn’t stand in You Fuzhou’s way when it came to saving lives. If their positions were reversed, he’d do the exact same.

But he hated being sidelined like this.

In that instant, Yu Yan even regretted the times he’d played up his fragility in front of You Fuzhou.

“I know,” You Fuzhou murmured.

“That’s exactly why I need you here to safeguard them. I’m taking Li Santian this time too… There won’t be any Sentinels left on the ship. They’ll depend on you.”

From nearby, Nanzi prompted him. “Boss?”

Time was pressing. They had to move out now.

You Fuzhou gazed at Yu Yan, whose anger simmered just beneath the surface. He understood why Yu Yan wanted to join him—he was worried.

So You Fuzhou met Yu Yan’s eyes, set his jaw, leaned in close, and brushed the lightest of kisses against Yu Yan’s cheek.

He didn’t dare glance at Yu Yan’s reaction, nor did he have the time. He just muttered in haste, “Don’t worry. Wait here for me to get back.”

With that, You Fuzhou gently pushed Yu Yan aside and rushed off to the battlefield.

Yu Yan remained rooted to the spot, silent for a long beat. “…”

Who the hell taught his Sentinel that move?

Yu Yan’s face stayed impassive.

~~~

You Fuzhou had said there was no need to worry, and he was right—they didn’t need to be overly tense.

These past days, with Yu Yan’s guidance sessions, his condition had improved dramatically from before. An S-Class Sentinel’s innate dominance over lower ranks was no joke. And this wasn’t some elaborate scheme after all. The Ares Empire had simply stumbled upon these beastmen and gotten greedy, scheming to round them up as slaves.

Without any S-Class Sentinels from the Ares Empire in the mix, You Fuzhou made short work of their forces alongside his team.

The beastmen clan would have to relocate once more. You Fuzhou and Li Santian divided responsibilities—Li Santian oversaw the beastmen, while You Fuzhou prepared to head back to the mothership first.

Before he left, Li Santian and the others ribbed him good-naturedly. “Having a partner changes everything, doesn’t it? You used to handle all this yourself, but now it’s all on us.”

You Fuzhou rarely flushed in front of fellow Sentinels. “You’ve been under me for two or three years now. Time to learn to stand on your own two feet, right?”

He turned to Li Santian and the rest. “You planning to have me babysit you forever?”

Every Sentinel had his pride. They followed You Fuzhou, sure, but they burned to prove themselves too.

Li Santian shivered and snapped to attention. “Rest easy, Boss! Mission accomplished!”

And so You Fuzhou made it back to the mothership.

The moment his fighter touched down, he spotted Yu Yan waiting.

You Fuzhou stepped out, mouth opening to speak—only for Yu Yan to pull him straight into an embrace.

You Fuzhou went rigid.

Yu Yan lifted a hand to the back of his head, guiding it down to rest on his shoulder.

You Fuzhou froze solid. Even walking side by side, a Guide’s presence overwhelmed his S-Class senses; now, wrapped up like this, it was inescapable… like he’d devoured Yu Yan whole.

Nose, throat—all flooded with his scent, settling heavy in his gut.

It wasn’t Guide Pheromone. Just Yu Yan’s unique aura.

Seeping from skin and flesh… strangely addictive.

Yet You Fuzhou didn’t pull away. He let Yu Yan hold him, listening as Yu Yan spoke in even tones. “You Fuzhou.”

Done for.

You Fuzhou’s heart dropped.

He’s pissed.

Yu Yan went on. “I don’t like you pulling stunts like that.”

Earlier, with You Fuzhou in such a hurry, Yu Yan had rattled off the risks and benefits only to get brushed off. He hadn’t given chase—couldn’t hold up the mission. But now came time to settle up.

Yu Yan gripped the back of You Fuzhou’s head and tugged it up, forcing their eyes to lock. “Don’t you dare claim you didn’t station me here to protect everyone else… just in case I got hurt.”

You Fuzhou couldn’t lie.

That was precisely his reasoning…

And they were too damn close.

You Fuzhou’s pulse quickened, thoughts fracturing. No room for strategy now—he was entirely in Yu Yan’s grasp.

Yu Yan pressed. “Ever stopped to think how you’d feel if it was me coming back banged up?”

You Fuzhou blurted the first thing in his head. “I’m your guard. I won’t let you get hurt.”

Yu Yan had no clue who’d filled You Fuzhou’s head with such notions.

“You Fuzhou.”

He repeated firmly. “I told you—I don’t need protecting like that.”

You Fuzhou went quiet. Yu Yan’s fingers tightened on the nape of his neck. “Did you hear me?”

“…I don’t want you getting hurt.”

You Fuzhou whispered. “It hurts. A lot.”

A Sentinel’s amplified senses turned agony razor-sharp.

You Fuzhou knew it hurt like hell. He could shrug off his own pain, but that didn’t erase it.

Yu Yan hadn’t seen that coming.

He’d braced for excuses about worry or fear, ready with a lecture. Instead…

Yu Yan’s voice gentled, though his hold didn’t slacken. He fixed You Fuzhou with a steady look. “Waiting here in the dark, staring down an unknown fate—that’s the real pain.”

Patiently, he coaxed the bafflingly earnest Sentinel. “Picture it: You’re stuck behind while I charge into something deadly. Wouldn’t your stomach be in knots?”

You Fuzhou stilled for several seconds. Then he nodded.

He’d insist on sticking with Yu Yan.

“I’m sorry,” You Fuzhou said quietly.

To Yu Yan: “Don’t be mad. Next time, you’re coming with.”

The corner of Yu Yan’s mouth quirked up.

This was one thing he genuinely adored about You Fuzhou. Quick to own his mistakes—and quicker to fix them.

Young Sentinels were a dream to handle like this: Teach once, and it stuck. They actually listened.

“I’m not mad,” Yu Yan assured him. “I just don’t like it when you do that.”

You Fuzhou: “…”

He couldn’t stop himself. “Dislike sounds even worse…”

“Nah.”

Yu Yan’s smile widened. “Tell you I dislike it, you skip it next time—problem solved. Mad means grudges. Dislike doesn’t. We’ve only known each other a short while; it’s natural to step on toes without meaning to. Isn’t it?”

You Fuzhou: “Mm…”

Yu Yan’s words flowed soft and coaxing. “I even told you I like your assignments for me… You didn’t mess up this time. But next round, if I pipe up, you listen to me. Deal?”

You Fuzhou nodded without hesitation. “Mm.”

Yu Yan bit back a grin, temptation rising.

Gazing up like that, You Fuzhou was pure obedience—a big, hazy-eyed cat. Cool and striking on the surface, but pet him twice, sweet-talk him, and he’d rumble with purrs, nuzzling close, belly all but begging for scratches.

Adorable.

So Yu Yan held his ground, trapping You Fuzhou in place. “Now for the last item on the ledger.”

You Fuzhou, clueless on this fresh offense: “…?”

Eyes crinkling with mirth, Yu Yan’s smile turned teasing. “When you kissed me, did it cross your mind that Sentinels and Guides don’t just kiss on a whim?”

You Fuzhou: “…”

His ears blazed scarlet in an instant, heat racing down to the back of his neck where Yu Yan’s palm pressed—scalding.

Yu Yan pressed on mercilessly. “You Fuzhou. Did you think about it?”

You Fuzhou wanted the deck to swallow him. “I was just… soothing you…”

“So soothing lets you kiss me whenever?”

Yu Yan arched a brow. “Now I’m calling you on it. Your move?”

You Fuzhou surrendered. “…What do you want?”

Yu Yan made a show of pondering. “Hmm…”

Savoring You Fuzhou’s flustered face, he drawled leisurely, “Let me kiss you back. Clean slate. Sound fair?”

You Fuzhou: “…”

Accounts worked like that?

Did he even get a vote?

Saying no would just spark another round of Yu Yan’s silver-tongued logic… Guides were impossible to outtalk.

At last, You Fuzhou squeezed his eyes shut and breathed a faint assent.

Yu Yan paused.

His gaze lingered on You Fuzhou’s closed eyes, something shadowed flickering deep within.

You Fuzhou didn’t sense Yu Yan’s movement right away. Instead, he felt Yu Yan pause there, watching him intently. A flicker of confusion stirred in him, and he was just about to open his eyes and ask what was wrong when something cool pressed against his lips the next instant.

It was soft, accompanied by the faint warmth of breath brushing across his face.

Startled, You Fuzhou’s eyes flew open in disbelief. Yu Yan was staring straight at him, those pitch-black eyes so profoundly deep they seemed bottomless.

Yu Yan’s hand cradled the back of his head, his arm looped firmly around You Fuzhou’s lower waist, trapping him completely. There was no room for You Fuzhou to pull away.

They were pressed together, bodies flush.

Truth be told, if You Fuzhou had wanted to, Yu Yan wouldn’t have stood a chance against him.

In this relationship, he had every ability to rebuff all of Yu Yan’s physical advances.

Yet when Yu Yan’s eyes curved slightly, softening the predatory hunger in his gaze—as if he wanted to devour You Fuzhou whole—and he murmured against his lips in a coaxing whisper, “Open your mouth,” You Fuzhou didn’t recoil in flustered retreat. Instead, he parted his lips.

The moment the seam of his mouth yielded, Yu Yan seized the opportunity. His tongue slipped inside, gliding over You Fuzhou’s lips and teeth before delving deeper.

Yu Yan watched as You Fuzhou’s lips trembled and his eyes fluttered shut once more. Desire pooled and thickened in his gaze, making his grip on You Fuzhou’s head tighten involuntarily.

You Fuzhou felt it, of course.

Kissing was utterly foreign to him.

He had never even imagined a day when he would do something like this…

And it wasn’t mere release.

It was just a kiss.

A pure, simple kiss.

~~~