Chapter 70 Stop Pretending

Chapter 70: Cut the Act

The weather in July could change in a heartbeat.

Just as Fang Ran stepped onto the dormitory entrance steps, dark clouds rolled in.

Without any warning, the once clear sky instantly turned gloomy.

A low rumble...

By the time he opened the dormitory door, distant thunder was already rumbling outside.

The window in the room was cracked open, and the curtains were whipping noisily in the wind.

Fang Ran hurried over to close it.

As he reached out, he spotted two figures on the path below.

It was Zhong Wan and Lu Wenchuan, who had just walked him back.

The two were walking close, leaning into each other, moving slowly.

Zhong Wan seemed to be saying something, and Lu Wenchuan kept looking down at him.

A sudden downpour...

Raindrops suddenly began to fall.

Both looked up at the sky simultaneously, with Lu Wenchuan cupping a hand over Zhong Wan’s face.

A bright flash suddenly appeared.

The Sentinel conjured a Psychic Shield, holding it above his Guide.

Fang Ran couldn’t clearly see Zhong Wan’s expression, but he must’ve been smiling.

How sweet.

After watching for a while, he quietly closed the window and pulled the curtains shut.

The room instantly darkened.

The dormitory room was small, fitted with just a single bed, a wardrobe, a bedside table, and a small stool under the window.

Fang Ran sat on the bed, listening to the sound of the rain for a while.

He then pulled out his device and found that Central Command had already published the official statement for the meeting.

"Lu Tianlin Assumes Post in the Fourth Security District"

The content was straightforward and dull.

He scrolled down further and saw that other media outlets had also published reports.

These were much more interesting.

"Major Personnel Changes in District 4! S-Rank Guide Takes Office, Is Fu Zhangzhou Finally Seeing the Light?"

"BREAKING! S-Rank Guide Appears, 3S-class Sentinel Beaming From Ear to Ear!!!"

"HOT! Chemistry Among High-Level Ability Users, Rumors of an Impending Bond!"

"......"

Heh.

These headlines just keep getting more sensational.

Fang Ran’s eyes lingered.

The Center’s attitude... was somewhat strange.

In the past, Fu Zhangzhou’s tabloid stories would mostly be scrubbed.

Even if some slipped through, there wouldn’t be many.

Now, with Wen Qi in the picture, they’re actually letting it slide?

He casually clicked on one of the headlines.

The top image was a candid photo from the stage.

The Sentinel was looking straight ahead, but the Guide beside him was sneaking looks at him.

The ambiguous atmosphere was spot-on.

Just based on appearances, the two were indeed a good match.

Fang Ran flipped his device over.

He lay down.

The dormitory walls were bare white, with no color at all.

It made him feel restless and somewhat irritable.

On some level, he felt a little unhappy.

People are such complicated creatures.

Fang Ran closed his eyes.

No use dwelling on it.

......

Tap, tap, tap.

Tap, tap, tap.

It sounded like raindrops hitting the window.

Fang Ran opened his eyes.

The light in the room was even dimmer now.

The room smelled damp.

Did he doze off?

It was still raining, it seemed.

"Knock, knock, knock."

There was that sound at the window again.

"Fang Ran."

He thought he heard that person calling him.

The curtains were still drawn.

The room was too dark, but the moonlight outside outlined a figure.

Blurry, yet familiar.

Fang Ran looked for a moment, as he'd expected it. He sighed and finally got up and walked over.

He gripped the curtain tightly and pulled it aside.

There he was.

The tenth floor was naturally nothing for a high-level sentinel.

Fang Ran glanced outside nervously.

The moon was out already, and it was still drizzling.

The streets were nearly empty.

Good thing... or else someone might have seen this guy clinging outside his window.

He asked, "What are you doing here?"

The sentinel smiled. The rain had wet his eyelashes, so they quivered slightly. Water dripped down his face, highlighting his amber eyes, making this strong guy seem almost vulnerable.

"Fang Ran, were you waiting for me?"

"......"

"Fu Zhangzhou, quit playing pitiful. You can't come in."

The sentinel tilted his head in confusion. "Why?"

Fang Ran let out an exasperated laugh.

He said, slowly and clearly: "Guide dormitory. Sentinels are forbidden from entering."

"Isn't that common knowledge?"

"The moment you step inside, alarms will blare throughout the entire headquarters. Everyone will know."

"Really? That suits me just fine."

"......"

The sentinel smiled again. "Don’t worry."

"I’m in my Spiritual Body form right now," he blinked. "You know... my situation is special. The alarms won’t go off."

"......"

Fang Ran shot him another look, then finally turned and stepped aside.

The sentinel outside the window instantly lit up, all trace of pity gone. He leaped into the room.

Whether intentional or not, he knocked over the low stool placed under the window.

"Clunk, clunk, clunk."

The wooden stool rolled a bit before finally coming to a stop.

Fang Ran froze.

The noise wasn’t very loud, but he wasn’t sure if Zhong Wan had returned yet...

Sure enough.

A few seconds later, there was a knock at the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Fang Ran, are you in there?" Zhong Wan asked from outside.

"Are you... alright?"

Fang Ran immediately turned and glared at the sentinel.

Fu Zhangzhou wiped the rain from his face, spread his hands innocently, mouthing the words:

I didn’t do it on purpose.

Fang Ran scoffed inwardly.

As if I’d believe that.

"Fang Ran?" Zhong Wan was still outside.

"Zhong Wan," Fang Ran replied. "I... I’m fine."

"I just... woke up and accidentally kicked the stool."

"Oh." Zhong Wan’s voice sounded somewhat relieved. "I left dinner outside for you."

"Okay, thank you, Zhong Wan."

Then came the sound of faint footsteps as Zhong Wan seemed to walk away.

Fang Ran sighed in relief.

He turned around.

The sentinel was right in front of him.

He lowered his head, his hair still dripping with rainwater, his voice a little rough.

"Fang Ran, I really didn’t do it on purpose."

"I missed you... I wanted to stay with you... a little longer."

The room was too dark, making the sentinel’s eyes gleam, faintly, like stars in the night sky.

Something seemed to be moving through the air.

Fang Ran’s throat moved as he swallowed a mouthful of air.

It was sweet.

It was his own pheromones.

The sentinel’s face seemed to be drawing nearer.

But at that moment, the terminal on the bed vibrated.

The screen lit up.

The light broke the darkness, and Fang Ran’s pupils instantly contracted.

What?

He snapped back to his senses.

He turned around, trying to hide his panic.

But the person behind him kept moving closer, forcing Fang Ran to reach for the light switch.

_Click._

The light turned on, filling the room with light.

The sentinel behind him let out a soft laugh. "Fang Ran, what are you avoiding?"

Fang Ran turned to look at him but said nothing.

"I won’t do anything," the sentinel said helplessly, raising both hands. "But I’m completely drenched."

"Could you... lend me some clothes?" He made a move to take off his wet clothes.

Fang Ran clicked his tongue in annoyance.

This guy really had no shame.

"Fu Zhangzhou, stop pretending."

"Forget about my clothes fitting you—"

"You’re in your Spiritual Body form right now. What does it matter if you’re getting rained on?"

The sentinel was deeply disappointed.

He shook his head and sighed. "Fang Ran, you still don’t trust me."

"......"

"There’s... a towel in the closet."

Hearing this, the sentinel finally smiled and turned around.

Perhaps the room was too small, or perhaps the sentinel was too large.

He accidentally knocked over the low stool again.

_Thump, thump, thump._

_Bang!_

The wooden stool rolled again, only stopping when it hit the closet door.

Fang Ran was utterly speechless.

"......"

_Knock, knock, knock._

"Fang Ran, Fang Ran, what’s going on with you?" Zhong Wan’s anxious voice sounded from outside the door.

Fang Ran took a deep breath, shot a glare at the sentinel, and reached out to turn off the light again.

He opened the door a crack.

Zhong Wan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the door open.

"What’s wrong?"

"Why is there so much noise in your room?"

"Nothing," Fang Ran averted his gaze, not daring to meet his friend’s eyes. "I just slept too long this afternoon... and just got up to do some stretching exercises. I knocked over the stool."

"Really?" Zhong Wan peeked through the crack in the door.

"Why didn’t you turn on the light while exercising?"

"...I forgot."

"Oh?" Zhong Wan craned his neck, squinting as if trying to see past him.

"Zhong Wan," Fang Ran leaned against the door, blocking the view behind him. "I’m really fine."

Zhong Wan held the doorframe, staring at him for a moment before his expression gradually turned knowing. "Fang Ran, when exercising..."

"Don’t overdo it."

"Use protection."