Chapter 7: There’s a Straight Top Who Cares About You

Chapter 7: A Straight Man Really Cares About You

The term "Straight Men's Universal Alliance" was first coined by Qin Shu.

Back then, he was a Sergeant, and he'd only recently become Li Wuya's partner.

Li Wuya was a young master fallen from grace, while Qin Shu was hitting rock bottom—with "three to five men confessing to him daily."

Call it a low point, but he was loving the fights.

Qin Shu felt he was naturally suited for the cosmic battlefield—kill one Star Beast at a time, or wipe out a whole swarm when they came in groups.

He used to have to watch his back, but now that Li Wuya had become his partner—ruthless, quiet, and good at covering the rear—their teamwork was like a tiger with wings—unstoppable!

But the problem seemed to be that the two of them were too invincible, making countless young men swoon.

After every battle, someone would blush and avert their eyes, stopping him to launch into a confession like "Qin Shu, from the first time I saw you..."

Some were Sentinels, some were Guides—all of them men, every single one.

Qin Shu was dejected. Qin Shu was lonely. Qin Shu was flat-out depressed.

He felt cursed. Back on Earth, he hadn't thought he was that popular. Why, after transmigrating, had he become a hot target for gay men?

Did he really look that gay?

Too many guys came at him. No matter how many times he said he liked women, they all pretended not to hear him!

So Qin Shu went from politely rejecting them to just turning on his heel and walking off.

At the time, Li Wuya wasn't close to him. They clicked on the battlefield but barely talked off it, watching those people's advances with cold indifference—

or at least, that's what Qin Shu thought.

Until one day, Li Wuya out of nowhere asked.

"That's the fifteenth one, Qin Shu. Don't you think it's disgusting?"

Qin Shu had just turned down a young sentinel's confession and turned his head: "What?"

Back then, Li Wuya made no effort to hide his sharp tongue.

"You clearly don't like men, yet they pester you like flies… This kind of feeling is disgusting enough—why do they have to voice it?"

Qin Shu was caught off guard—and thrilled.

He couldn't help it. This world was just too weird.

Everyone was used to same-sex confessions. Men would randomly lock lips with each other on the street, and Qin Shu's preference for women was never understood or respected.

And now, someone other than him actually felt the same discomfort?

To be precise, Qin Shu didn't think homosexuality was disgusting. He just felt uncomfortable being liked by other men. But that didn't stop him from thinking he'd found a comrade, an ally, a kindred spirit.

Qin Shu was almost moved to tears: "So you feel that way too!"

All the grievances surged up. Qin Shu vented to Li Wuya for a solid half hour about the inhuman treatment he'd suffered since transmigrating, finally concluding: "Wuya, you're truly my soulmate. From now on, we'll be best friends forever!"

At that, Li Wuya froze, his expression shifting strangely—troubled, confused, bewildered—before finally murmuring a low "Mm." After that, they quickly grew close.

Qin Shu quickly realized that Li Wuya wasn't like him at all.

When Qin Shu said he was homophobic, he meant he'd just steer clear, but when Li Wuya said "disgusting," he genuinely meant it.

He made no effort to hide his hostility toward homosexuality: male guides who confessed to Qin Shu could get lost, and male sentinels? They deserved to die even more.

From then on, Li Wuya became the universe's number-one anti-gay ambassador, a mountain every man who had a crush on Qin Shu had to climb.

Guides protected by White Tower law could handle it, but sentinels? When Li Wuya chased them for ten star miles with a blade, they'd better hope they were tough enough!

It was definitely a bit extreme, but Qin Shu was just touched.

Now that's a brother who's got my back!

The number of confessions Qin Shu got dropped like a rock, and Li Wuya always knew his limits, stopping just short of actually hurting anyone.

"That" was three years ago.

That year, something small and unusual happened.

It was that little thing where Qin Shu accidentally found out he could do mental guidance and saved Li Wuya when he was at death's door.

After that, Li Wuya changed in a subtle way.

He hid his sharp edges, putting on a fake calm, but he got even more ruthless.

When Li Wuya tried to kill a guide who'd crossed Qin Shu, Qin Shu knew something was seriously wrong.

Was his brother going too far?

Li Wuya said coldly, "He tried to force a mental link on you. I can't think of any reason he should live."

But that didn't deserve death, did it?

Qin Shu tried to talk sense into him, but Li Wuya wouldn't listen, doing whatever he wanted. Qin Shu snapped, "Li Wuya, are you out of your mind?"

"He broke the rules, but the White Tower has its own way of dealing with this. This ends here. Nothing should make you actually go after someone's life!"

Qin Shu couldn't really remember what Li Wuya said back, but that day they had a huge fight. In the end, Li Wuya listened to him and didn't touch that guide.

After that, Qin Shu became very cautious.

He deeply felt that Li Wuya's hatred for homosexuality had reached a severe level, and he had to keep Li Wuya from crossing the red line of taking a life lightly.

While educating Li Wuya every day, he also began to avoid having confession scenes appear in front of Li Wuya.

It didn't spoil his good brother's mood, and it also protected some people's lives. Qin Shu thought he was very clever.

He had done well for two years, but after returning to the capital post-war, the two were no longer together day and night. Getting used to an easy life, he had actually let his guard down!

Under the sunlight, in the shade of the trees, Qin Shu felt helpless.

So how did this young sentinel dare to do it?

If that word "like" had been spoken, news of today's events would spread. Even if Qin Shu repeatedly ordered Li Wuya not to care about it, Li Wuya's attitude was clear, and countless people would be more than willing to eliminate dissidents for the General.

Where there are people, there is a cruel society. Because of a single confession, ruining one's own life and career... what was this person thinking?

It would be fine to secretly admire someone from afar, but why say it out loud, and right in front of Li Wuya?

The young sentinel's face was very red, and he trembled involuntarily—had he finally come to his senses and started to regret it?

Regret wouldn't help.

"I'll give HR a heads-up later. You can request a transfer on your own, go anywhere you like, just don't stay here, okay?" he said to the young sentinel, as if discussing it.

He didn't bother waiting for an answer, either—he had already heard footsteps, Li Wuya's.

Qin Shu made a quiet gesture to the young sentinel, mouthing the words to leave as soon as he was gone.

The young sentinel nodded seriously, his eyes still sparkling.

Qin Shu stood up, straightened his clothes, picked up the young sentinel's chocolate and put it in his pocket, then strode away.

It was just a small piece, no big deal to carry.

-

Once out of the bushes, he saw Li Wuya.

Arms crossed, wearing an expression that demanded an explanation.

"What are you running from?" Li Wuya said.

Qin Shu guessed whether Li Wuya had heard anything... well, did he even need to guess? If he hadn't heard, he wouldn't be a sentinel.

But Qin Shu was determined to play dumb to the end.

"I wasn't running."

Li Wuya brushed a leaf off his clothes.

Then he paused slightly and pulled a piece of chocolate from his coat pocket.

Qin Shu: ...

He took the chocolate back without looking aside and stuffed it into his pocket.

Silence.

Li Wuya chuckled.

Qin Shu: ...

Bro, can you not laugh so creepily? Your adjutant looks like he's about to faint.

He cleared his throat, put his arm around Li Wuya's shoulder, and said, "Come on, come on! We've wasted so much time, don't you have a meeting to go to?"

The black-haired young man tilted his head slightly, his lips brushing against the other's ear, warm and moist breath.

"Don't pursue it. I've already had him apply for a transfer. You're not allowed to be angry or upset—it's just a kid. Let's not take it to heart—"

Li Wuya suppressed the itch: "A Shu is very popular."

Qin Shu refused to be sidetracked: "I'll check in a month. Don't let me find out he's come to any harm."

"Got it."

"Really got it?"

Li Wuya chuckled again—two laughs in one day, a real miracle. "Do I look like someone who's that petty?"

Qin Shu: ...

Hard to say.

-

Anonymous forum on the intranet.

"[Screenshot protection enabled] Real-time post you know! Enter now for updates! Deleted after the fact."

": OK, so my Shu Ge just boldly eloped with someone right in front of the general, right?

: I jump, you jump?

OP: OK

OP: I just want to say one thing.

OP: Being lwy is so satisfying, being coaxed like this by qs. Sigh."

"———— This post has been deleted ————"

—

Li Wuya closed the forum with restraint.

He was in a meeting, and Qin Shu was lounging next to him, propping his head up and listening to the report.

A piece of paper was slid over.

Four characters in his vigorous handwriting: "Stop daydreaming."

Got it.

Li Wuya squinted his eyes and gave Qin Shu another slight smile.

Another piece of paper came over: "Are you smiling out of anger?"

Li Wuya: ?

Why would that be.

Li Wuya was genuinely happy.

A Shu would rather jump from the seventh floor with a stranger than let that person say the word "like" in front of him.

To take care of his feelings, A Shu went to such lengths.

How could he care about the logistics department's B317, who was saved by Qin Shu two years ago? A mere person whose confession was nipped in the bud by Qin Shu before it even left his mouth. He had stopped investigating after finding out that the person's parents were ordinary civilians.

He had more important things to do.

Like deciding what to eat with A Shu this afternoon.

Or the meeting with the Marshal tomorrow morning.