Chapter 69 Just Tone It Down

Chapter 69: Just Dial It Back

The reactions of the two made Lu Wenchuan beside them frown.

"What's wrong?"

Zhong Wan pointed toward the entrance.

"A Chuan, do you remember that person?"

Lu Wenchuan followed his gaze.

Shen Ke was standing there, with an unfamiliar-faced guide beside him.

What really shocked Fang Ran and Zhong Wan, however, was Shen Ke's uniform.

The dark blue guide uniform.

This indicated that Shen Ke's status was different now.

Lu Wenchuan remained silent, but his frown deepened even further.

"That's strange," Zhong Wan whispered beside him. "Wasn't he a therapist before?"

"I’ve never heard of a therapist becoming a guide."

A murmur of discussion began to ripple through the conference room.

Many people’s eyes were drawn to the two figures at the entrance.

But Shen Ke wasn't the focus—the person beside him was.

Fang Ran’s gaze followed that person as well.

The reason was simple.

This guide was stunningly beautiful.

With exquisite features and a unique, magnetic presence.

Fang Ran couldn’t quite put it into words, but there was something irresistibly attractive about this guide’s presence.

An innate quality that made it impossible to look away.

Amid the whispers, Shen Ke and the guide picked up their pace.

They followed behind Fu Zhangzhou and also walked onto the speaker’s platform.

By then, the others at the front had already taken their seats at a long table on the platform.

Naturally, Lu Tianlin took the center seat, with Lu Wenshan on one side and Fu Zhangzhou on the other.

The guide sat beside Fu Zhangzhou.

The lighting on the platform was much brighter than at the entrance.

When the guide lifted his head, Fang Ran thought he caught a glimpse of a faint teardrop mole under the corner of his eye.

His heart felt as if it had been pierced by something, and his entire body froze on the spot.

Noticing his odd behavior, Zhong Wan asked, "Fang Ran, what’s wrong?"

Fang Ran shook his head, making himself relax.

"Nothing."

His eyes stayed locked on the guide’s face.

It was too far away.

There was no way he could clearly see such a small teardrop mole.

Yet, something about this guide felt off.

He glanced at Shen Ke beside him.

These two...

One had taken the name of the protagonist *shou*, and the other seemed to have taken the appearance of the protagonist *shou*...

It was creepy... and weird.

Just as his mind swirled with questions, his terminal vibrated.

Looking down, he saw a message from the Sentinel.

"Is that person good-looking?"

"......"

That question again.

Fang Ran looked up and found Fu Zhangzhou on the platform staring intently at him.

Under the spotlight, that gaze was intense and hard to read.

"Not good-looking."

After typing his reply, Fang Ran looked up again.

The Sentinel had changed his position.

The corners of his lips curled up slightly once more as he propped his chin lazily with one hand, his demeanor casual and totally different from the rigid posture of others on the platform.

Fang Ran saw his hand move.

A moment later, another message appeared in the dialog box.

"Then who’s better-looking, me or 98.99%?"

"......"

Fang Ran hesitated, knowing the guy was undoubtedly simmering with irritation.

Better to humor him a little.

He typed the same answer as last time.

"You’re the best-looking."

He suddenly heard a commotion beside him.

He looked up.

It turned out that the person on stage was smiling.

Truth be told, Fu Zhangzhou’s eyes and brows were exceptionally handsome, though the lines of his face were too harsh.

This smile mellowed some of that edge.

His eyes, filled with laughter, seemed to shimmer like spring water.

He was genuinely attractive.

“I’m telling you two…” Zhong Wan couldn’t help but nudge him again. “Just keep it down a bit.”

“In front of all these people…”

“Director Lu is already watching.”

Fang Ran paused and shot a sidelong glance.

Sure enough, Lu Tianlin’s gaze was fixed on him.

Cold, scrutinizing, and probing.

These three, father and sons, were really like icicles, each colder than the last.

The meeting had already started by then.

Lu Tianlin was delivering a speech.

The content was very routine—reviewing the past and looking to the future.

But his voice was deep and commanding, carrying a sense of authority.

“The work arrangements for the Fourth Security District are proceeding smoothly…”

“...The reclamation operation in DT332 area has been successfully completed, but it also exposed many problems.”

“Considering the situation in the Fourth Security Zone, the Central Office has specially dispatched an S-rank Guide.”

“Next, let me introduce…”

“Wen Qi.”

Applause erupted instantly in the venue.

Fang Ran watched as the Guide beside Fu Zhangzhou slowly stood up.

Wen Qi gave a gentle smile to the audience in front.

The angle of his slightly lowered head, the curve of his smile—everything was just right.

Perfectly executed, as if carefully designed.

His alluring aura was on full display at that moment.

“Hello, everyone.”

“My name is Wen Qi.”

“I am…”

“a newly awakened Guide.”

Fang Ran’s heart lurched.

Many in the audience drew sharp breaths, and even Zhong Wan beside him tutted twice.

Because this person had openly stated he was an Awakened.

An Awakened.

Rare, special, not bound by rank, disregarding compatibility ratings.

The kind of Guide many Sentinels dream of.

Some even live incognito for their own safety.

Yet this person had declared it so boldly.

The applause in the venue grew even more enthusiastic.

Wen Qi stayed standing, as if he had more to say.

He lifted his chin slightly, his gaze shifting to a farther point.

Fang Ran’s eyes suddenly stung.

He blinked, feeling uneasy, and rubbed his eyes.

“Everyone,” Wen Qi spoke up.

He looked in a certain direction in the audience and smiled again.

“Nice to meet you.”

......

After the meeting concluded, it was time for the press session, so the employees in the audience were to exit first.

“Fang Ran, aren’t you waiting for Fu Zhangzhou?”

“No.”

Fang Ran shook his head.

Earlier, Fu Zhangzhou had sent him another message, saying he had unfinished business and telling Fang Ran to wait for him patiently.

Who would wait for him?

That asshole is so presumptuous…

The crowd leaving the venue was large, and the aisle was a bit narrow, making jostling unavoidable.

Fang Ran’s shoulder was bumped by someone pushing past from behind.

It stung a little.

He hunched his shoulder.

"Why is it this guy again!" he exclaimed. "Still as rude as ever."

Fang Ran followed his voice and glanced over.

He raised his eyebrows involuntarily.

Zhao Fan again?

"Zhao Fan's here too?" he asked.

"Yes," Zhong Wan confirmed, "Maybe a day or two before you."

"I've bumped into him a few times."

"I saw him again during the rank confirmation test the other day."

Zhong Wan said angrily, "He was in the group right before mine. The testing machine broke right when he was using it."

"Really?"

Fang Ran watched Zhao Fan's back, recalling that he had indeed encountered him in the testing room that day.

"Fang Ran, I still have to go do a purification mission," Zhong Wan said to him. "Want us to drop you off at your dorm first?"

"Sounds good."