Chapter 2: Li Wuya’s Schedule

Chapter 2: Li Wuya's Schedule

7:00 AM, Li Wuya wakes up.

Got cleaned up, downed a nutrient shake, fired up his terminal to skim the military paperwork from his deputy, and shot a message to Qin Shu.

By 7:40, done with military paperwork, no terminal messages.

8:00 AM, on-site, meeting, no terminal messages.

9:30, overheard staff discussing Qin Shu, no terminal messages.

10:00, deputy reports: Finance Commissioner Gu is waiting outside with a guide, not looking to meet. No terminal messages.

10:55, terminal screen flickers.

"Kongtong Buyue 7432: Mornin'.

L51: Mornin'.

L51: You up?

Kongtong Buyue 7432: ...

L51: Skipping work again, huh?

Kongtong Buyue 7432: .

L51: Is your paycheck even worth saving?

Kongtong Buyue 7432: Uh... yeah."

Let out a chuckle, Li Wuya sent some credits and threw in, "It's fine, even without a salary, you've got me."

"Kongtong Buyue 7432: Daddy."

Mood lifted, Li Wuya finally told security to let Gu in.

11:00, Commissioner Gu shoves the young guide's head down for a deep bow.

Apologies—ignored. Gifts—ignored. Li Wuya twirled his pen, all casual: "Nice eye, Commissioner. War's been over less than two months, and you found the perfect scapegoat to latch onto. Powerless, easy to use. Figured one guide could buy his loyalty—and his whole worth?"

Silence.

12:05, on the way to the mess hall, deputy reports Gu Shi already left on the last flight to the outer rings.

12:11, terminal pings—nice sound.

"Kongtong Buyue 7432: Ring Star, 6 PM—down?"

Li Wuya s-l-o-w-l-y typed.

"L51: Pass.

Kongtong Buyue 7432: ??? Love gone cold?

L51: Kongtong Buyue 7432.

Kongtong Buyue 7432: ...

Kongtong Buyue 7432: We're good—neither of us is into guys.

Kongtong Buyue 7432: Last straight bros in the galaxy, got it?

L51: ."

1:00, heads to the White Tower to confront the director.

White Tower guides—same script, always start with Qin Shu: "What's up with him and that guide?"

Li Wuya, stone-faced: "Qin Shu's not getting into anything until he marries me."

The director snickered: "Qin Shu's genes are a rarity—loads of high-compatibility guides out there. You think he'd settle for a Sentinel? Oh, I forgot, he still likes 'women.' Why not just switch genders for him?"

Li Wuya, not even looking up: "Tried that. He steered clear like I was a plague."

Director spewed his tea.

1:30, director caves under threats, unlocks match permissions. Li Wuya deletes Qin Shu's file himself, walks out satisfied.

2:00, back in office, waiting out the clock.

2:30, spars with troops—done in three seconds flat, waiting out the clock.

4:00, uncle calls to nag about marriage, three grunts and it's done, waiting out the clock.

5:20, impromptu leadership meeting—strike while the iron's hot, so he beats up Finance Minister Gu, meeting gets shut down, Empress steps in to mediate.

5:30, bails early, weighing options: crash at Qin Shu's or head straight to the restaurant.

5:31, decides on the restaurant.

Qin Shu was always very conspicuous.

-

Whether on the battlefield or at this moment in the mall.

Sharp and clean features, low browbone, cold and deep pupils, a temperament unsullied by dust, yet on the battlefield, he was that cold star that made enemies soil themselves.

In five years of war, Li Wuya's deepest memory was always the moment when Qin Shu slew a Star Beast, every single moment.

That hand suited for playing the piano, stained with blood; those indifferent eyes tinged with excitement; the flash of the blade, the slicing of flesh.

Dazzling, magnificent, brilliant. Galaxy high above, cold star staring down, corpses piled, blood dripping from his lashes—then everything goes transparent.

No one needed to disturb this beauty; Li Wuya would handle everything.

...Everything?

Li Wuya clearly realized his memory was flashing back—classic battlefield PTSD, triggered by crowds, and the therapist? Useless.

But it didn't matter. Li Wuya had high control over his body; he could still accurately receive external signals.

Qin Shu was a hundred meters away, two guides at seven o'clock thirty meters were discussing Qin Shu's face, someone at six o'clock seventeen meters wanted to go over and hit on him, and at five o'clock eleven point three meters, a familiar face, cheeks flushed, holding a bouquet, dirty gaze fixed on Qin Shu.

It was hard to imagine that such a high-level Sentinel with such a strong presence could silently merge into the crowd, but Li Wuya did it.

He reached out, grabbed someone by the neck, and dragged them back into the shadows.

The crowd was still the same.

-

At 5:57 PM, Li Wuya stepped out of the dim alley. The subordinates waiting outside greeted him respectfully before entering to handle the scene.

He made sure there was no obvious dirt on him—as long as it wasn’t too noticeable, it was fine. Qin Shu had sharp senses but was slow on the uptake.

The advantage of being Qin Shu’s close friend was that he would freely get close to him, tolerating all his peculiarities.

As for the disadvantage of being Qin Shu’s close friend—

Stepping back into the crowd, his friend immediately sensed his presence, looked up, shifted his gaze, and walked over beaming.

A cool mint scent. His star-like eyes fixed on him. He sniffed, leaned in, bent down, and his high-bridged nose brushed against Li Wuya’s collar.

“Wuya, what were you up to just now? I smell blood.”

Li Wuya pressed down on his soft hair, calm and composed: “I talked a gay guy into going straight.”

At 5:58 PM, Qin Shu clapped Li Wuya on the shoulder hard: “You’re really my best friend!”

-

The disadvantage of being Qin Shu’s close friend was that Li Wuya had been forced to act as the straight man for five years.