Chapter 20: “As long as it’s you and Xiao Yu together, I can rest easy….”

So the next day, You Fuzhou really did start keeping a bit of distance from Ye Songhua and the others.

Even from the other Sentinels.

It was because Yu Yan had gently mentioned that even after suppressors were invented, Sentinels still developed crushes on Guides pretty often.

You Fuzhou had no choice.

Aside from Yu Yan, he treated everyone the same, maintaining a polite distance.

Li Santian and Nanzi didn’t notice much. Most Sentinels had nerves of steel, and someone as perceptive as You Fuzhou was a first for Yu Yan.

After all, Sentinels couldn’t sense mental energy, so Yu Yan couldn’t quite figure out how You Fuzhou was so sharp. Was it some innate intuition? But that was usually a Guide’s trait.

In any case, just as Yu Yan had hoped, You Fuzhou looked his way more often now. When he spoke to him, his eyes stayed fixed on Yu Yan’s face. He kept a perfect friendly distance from Nanzi and the rest. And when it came to Yu Yan’s guiding sessions, You Fuzhou no longer shied away as much.

Part of it was definitely his desire to wake Rong Yao sooner. But You Fuzhou also felt like he’d grown a little addicted.

You Fuzhou always trained alone with Yu Yan, teaching him the ropes.

Yu Yan picked things up fast, but he still couldn’t beat You Fuzhou in a spar. No matter what, You Fuzhou could dodge every single move if he wanted to.

Yu Yan had no obsession about being stronger than his Sentinel. He just thought his Sentinel was really damn strong.

He envied it a little, but he was even happier. In a way, that power belonged to him too.

After training, Yu Yan would guide him right there in the empty training room, just the two of them.

They sat down, and You Fuzhou reached out to him. Yu Yan took his hand, feeling that his condition wasn’t great today. “What’s wrong?”

You Fuzhou lowered his eyes. “Had a nightmare.”

A Sentinel’s spiritual world was fragile like that. Sometimes a single phrase, sometimes a poignant memory, sometimes a nightmare—that was all it took.

Yu Yan poured more mental energy into the guiding, asking patiently, “What kind of dream?”

Unthinkingly, You Fuzhou leaned toward him, his shoulder pressing against Yu Yan’s. “…I dreamed I never found Rong Yao.”

Rong Yao’s situation was still a knot in You Fuzhou’s heart.

Until she woke up, he could never let it go.

Yu Yan knew that, so he didn’t try to talk him out of it. Instead, he silently shifted his hand, lacing their fingers together. He took full control of You Fuzhou’s palm, making the contact more intimate.

You Fuzhou didn’t notice. Yu Yan’s mental energy felt different from his body heat—it was warmer.

Warm enough to make someone dive in headfirst and never want to come up for air.

Since he hadn’t slept well, the intensified guiding soon brought a wave of drowsiness crashing over You Fuzhou.

Unlike before, Yu Yan was now firmly in his circle of trust. So You Fuzhou let his guard down completely and slumped against Yu Yan’s shoulder.

Yu Yan froze for a second.

He looked down at the sleeping You Fuzhou leaning on him and curved his lips in a silent smile.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yu Yan decided against pulling him into his arms.

A Sentinel’s senses were too sharp, and You Fuzhou was one of the best. He wasn’t sure if moving would wake him.

So instead, Yu Yan tilted his head carefully, resting it atop You Fuzhou’s. He closed his eyes and sank into the moment with his Sentinel.

You Fuzhou slept more soundly than he ever had.

The best rest of his life.

Until Nanzi knocked on the door, looking for him about something.

You Fuzhou frowned as he woke, immediately aware of how they were cuddled up together. “…”

He went rigid for a few seconds, then carefully tried to support Yu Yan’s head and shift it to his own shoulder so he could keep sleeping.

He hadn’t meant to wake Yu Yan. But the moment his hand brushed Yu Yan’s cheek, Yu Yan’s eyes snapped open.

They were so close—close enough for You Fuzhou to count the patterns in Yu Yan’s irises.

You Fuzhou’s breath caught. Before his ears could even turn red, Yu Yan murmured, “Were you about to kiss me?”

You Fuzhou: “？！”

He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but Yu Yan was faster. He pinned You Fuzhou’s hand in place, pressing the palm firmly against his face.

You Fuzhou froze, at a complete loss. Then Yu Yan nuzzled into his hand, a touch of dependence in the motion, and sighed softly. “Instructor Xiao You, your hand is so warm.”

You Fuzhou: “…”

He was seriously about to explode from the flirting. “You… give me a break.”

He lowered his voice. “Nanzi’s right outside.”

Yu Yan found it funny. Why did it feel like they were sneaking around?

He let go and lowered his gaze. “Oh.”

You Fuzhou: “.”

Not this again.

He took a breath to steady himself, then coaxed Yu Yan first. “I didn’t mean it like that… Nanzi needs me for something.”

Yu Yan lifted his eyes, amusement sparkling in them. “I know. Go handle it.”

You Fuzhou knew he was just teasing, so he wasn’t annoyed. He just composed himself and headed out first.

Watching You Fuzhou leave—and close the door behind him—Yu Yan smiled, his eyes crinkling as he touched his cheek.

He hadn’t meant to tease You Fuzhou on purpose. It was just… so warm.

You Fuzhou’s touch was gentle, just like the man himself.

It was hard to believe a twenty-year-old Sentinel could be so good at taking care of people.

~~~

You Fuzhou finished talking with Nanzi and them, then saw on his communicator that Yu Yan was still in the training room. So he went back. “Why didn’t you leave?”

Yu Yan smiled warmly. “Waiting for you. You closed the door—didn’t that mean you wanted me to stick around?”

You Fuzhou: “…”

Had he?

He couldn’t explain that split-second impulse himself. But once Yu Yan pointed it out, he realized what his instincts had done.

Knowing Yu Yan would draw a crowd of Sentinels if he came out while You Fuzhou was off talking business…

You Fuzhou felt a pang of regret, but before he could apologize, Yu Yan said, “I’m glad.”

You Fuzhou: “?”

Yu Yan grinned. “You’re jealous. That makes me happy.”

He hadn’t deliberately hung around those Sentinels. They were You Fuzhou’s friends—if they wanted to chat, Yu Yan went along with it. It was a good way to fish for info on You Fuzhou from them.

With the right prompts, they’d spill everything they knew about his past, big and small.

You Fuzhou: “…”

Realization dawned, and he tried to set Yu Yan straight. “You know that’s not okay, right…?”

Even if it was jealousy, you couldn’t use that as an excuse to restrict someone’s freedom!

Yu Yan: “Of course I know.”

He told You Fuzhou, “I’m only happy because it’s you. I know you won’t hurt me.”

A Sentinel who held back out of fear of harming him would never actually do it.

And besides…

Yu Yan gazed at You Fuzhou tenderly.

It was hard to say who was really the hunting net here.

Yu Yan stepped closer, leaning in. “Do you want me to keep my distance from them from now on?”

You Fuzhou: “.”

He struggled for a moment. “That’s your freedom to choose your friends…”

Yu Yan tilted his head slightly. “Do you need me to? If you do, I will. If not, I won’t stop them from crowding around me.”

You Fuzhou’s resistance crumbled. “…”

He said carefully, “I figured you’d tell them I’m your bodyguard.”

If Yu Yan did that, Li Santian and the others would back off for sure.

“Because I know they’d tease you about it. They’d ask how things are going between us.”

Yu Yan chuckled low. “You’d turn into braised lion’s head.”

You Fuzhou: “.”

Yu Yan watched him shut down inwardly. You Fuzhou had such a handsome face—naturally cool and aloof most of the time, giving off this intense, suppressed edge. But Yu Yan always managed to tease out all sorts of little expressions from him… so adorable.

Yu Yan’s smile deepened. “But if you think it’s fine to say it, I’ll find a megaphone and announce it.”

You Fuzhou: “?”

A what now?

He stared at Yu Yan in shock. “Hold on…”

But Yu Yan grabbed his hand. “Leave it to me, okay?”

Sudden mental energy flooded in—warm guiding, laced with insistence.

You Fuzhou felt like a sea monster had dragged him deep underwater from its hiding spot. His thoughts scattered in an instant.

Fine.

Whatever Yu Yan wanted.

As long as he was happy.

You Fuzhou stared at him steadily.

He looks so good when he smiles.

~~~

Yu Yan’s “megaphone” wasn’t literal—it was a person.

You Fuzhou watched with his own eyes as Li Santian sidled up to Yu Yan, saying he wasn’t feeling well and asking if Yu Yan could guide him.

You Fuzhou: “…”

He frowned, not yet saying a word, when Yu Yan replied amiably, “You should ask You Fuzhou if that’s okay.”

He added, “He’s my bodyguard.”

You Fuzhou paused.

Over there, Li Santian whipped his head around in shock. You Fuzhou: “…”

He didn’t say anything, just stared back expressionlessly, tacitly agreeing with Yu Yan.

Li Santian: “!”

He felt like he was done for.

He’d even told You Fuzhou before that he wanted to pursue Yu Yan… Wuwuwu, Boss hadn’t slapped him dead on the spot—Boss was such a good guy T^T.

With Li Santian as the megaphone, word spread in less than two hours. Everyone knew You Fuzhou was Yu Yan’s bodyguard now.

Even the Guide team’s supervisor couldn’t help running over to ask You Fuzhou, “Little You, are you together with Yu Yan now?”

You Fuzhou: “…”

“…I’m his guard.”

You Fuzhou could only put it that way.

But everyone just assumed that a guard meant the two of them were an item. This Guide was someone You Fuzhou respectfully addressed as “teacher,” so she figured he was just being bashful. She smiled warmly. “I get it, I get it.”

You Fuzhou: “…”

No, you really don’t.

He felt helpless but in the end chose not to explain.

He knew he could clear things up if he really wanted to, but there was no point.

Neither he nor Yu Yan were exactly innocent when it came to each other. Even if he laid it all out, they’d probably still end up together—so what would be the use?

The Guide went on. “As long as it’s you and Xiao Yu together, I can rest easy. You’re both such good kids.”

You Fuzhou paused for a moment. “…Yeah.”

He nodded. “He’s a really good person.”

~~~