Chapter 9: The Unlucky Straight Top Keeps Being Unlucky

Chapter 9: The Unlucky Straight Guy Keeps Getting Screwed Over

Qin Shu followed Braid Guy to the meeting room.

Braid Guy was He Yunyan, the top guy at the White Tower, basically the boss of a dating agency, a matchmaker pro... wait, no, a male matchmaker pro.

He Yunyan sat down, smiling: "Colonel, if you were coming today, why didn't you give me a heads-up?"

Qin Shu's face went stiff: "Well, you know now, don't you?"

He Yunyan just smiled without speaking.

He switched topics: "You're here for a checkup, right? To sign the breakup contract? And Old Zhang's retirement contract—want me to handle that for you too?"

Qin Shu got wary: "You're not trying to screw me over, are you?"

"..."

He Yunyan glanced over at the printer.

A thick stack of papers was already printed. He grabbed it and said with a grin: "These are the profiles of high-level guides who just sent in match requests for you. Let's look at them together."

Damn, he really is trying to screw me over!

Qin Shu was about to bail tactically when He Yunyan said lazily: "The door's locked. Two hundred and thirty-nine profiles. You've gotta pick one."

Qin Shu couldn't believe his ears: "Two hundred and thirty-nine? You gotta be kidding me!"

There aren't even that many high-level guides in the whole capital branch!

He Yunyan seemed to read his mind: "Not just the capital. The branches nearby heard you needed a guide and sent in apps right away."

"Colonel, you're one popular sentinel."

You want this kind of luck? Didn't think so.

Qin Shu pressed his lips together and laid out his demand: "Cut out all the unmarried male guides of age."

Ten minutes later, only three sheets were left.

Qin Shu: ...

The three were: a kid three days from turning 18, a married male guide, and a widowed one.

Qin Shu: ............

He Yunyan's perfect smile cracked a little.

You guides, can't you be any less obvious and desperate? Old and young, all showed up? What a disgrace to the White Tower!

He talked faster: "Colonel, we're really sorry. The pickings for high-level guides are slim. Would you be open to thinking outside the box?"

"Think about marriage. If you find a guide you really like and want to form a deep bond with, then the level doesn't matter—"

Qin Shu's face went cold: "He Yunyan, you threatening me on behalf of the White Tower?"

A sharp, cold pressure slammed into him.

He Yunyan went a little pale. He forced a smile: "No, Colonel, we're just worried about your mental state... You know no sentinel can go without a guide entirely."

"You're compatible with most guides. If you want, we can set you up with a suitable female guide—"

Qin Shu, who thought he had a good temper, was now almost laughing in anger.

"'Set you up with a suitable one'? How's that different from human trafficking?"

The cold pressure grew heavier. The black-haired man in the cap stepped closer, one step at a time.

He Yunyan's senses went haywire. He wanted to hit the alarm, but it was like he was frozen solid—couldn't move a muscle.

One hand grabbed the alarm and tossed it aside like garbage.

Then that hand pressed against He Yunyan's throat.

Long, slender fingers covered his Adam's apple. The touch was warm, but it felt ice-cold.

He Yunyan knew Qin Shu's mental pressure was bearing down on him.

His senses were a mess, illusions everywhere. He should fight back, stabilize his mental domain, but all he could do was shake, staring frozen at the man in front of him.

A strikingly handsome face, thin lips curved in a cold, almost polite smile. His eyes were still bright, but the glint in them was cruel and blinding.

"He Yunyan, you're not bad yourself."

Looking down from above, the light seemed to magnify and slam into He Yunyan's heart. Completely uncontrolled heart racing and dizziness, that hand gripped his chin.

Warm? Or cold?

"You're a high-level guide, married, experienced in soothing, and have no interest in me. How about being my temporary guide?"

"..."

Are you joking?

In his mind, a certain general's cold murderous intent instantly materialized. He Yunyan's lips trembled. His will to survive made him break through his limits, and he spoke tremblingly: "No, no, sorry, Colonel Qin—"

Qin Shu stared at him.

"Today I have offended. The selection of temporary guides has nothing to do with marriage. This is your freedom. The White Tower only serves as an auxiliary..."

The pressure receded like a tide. The hand finally released. A narrow escape from death.

Cold sweat had soaked his back. He Yunyan held onto the table, gasping for air.

He secretly regretted his carelessness.

Qin Shu's performance so far had been too compliant. He Yunyan had almost forgotten that the White Tower's current bargaining chip was only Qin Shu's respect for the rules.

All of the White Tower's actions depended on this sentinel's tolerance. Once he felt that these rules were not worthy of his respect, the White Tower would be nothing!

Moreover...

Qin Shu was still threatening seriously: "Your White Tower is not a human trafficking organization. If a girl is unwilling, you are not allowed to force a match."

"Of course. Our White Tower values human rights."

"From now on, I don't want to receive any more match applications. I will find one myself."

"Okay, okay."

"Handle the contract termination procedures quickly, and send them to Teacher Zhang in half an hour."

"Alright..."

"Seeming to have nothing more to add, Qin Shu turned and left."

"He effortlessly pulled the door open, ignoring the lock entirely."

-

"Closing the door, the tension in Qin Shu's face eased, only to turn stern again."

"He felt this White Tower was too eerie; he had to get home right away!"

"But the floor was too high; jumping down would likely cause too much damage. Regretfully, Qin Shu opted for the elevator."

"Of course, someone was waiting for him at the elevator entrance."

"A sense of dread washed over him. Qin Shu pretended he'd taken a wrong turn and turned to leave, but the person shouted, "Brother Qin Shu!""

"Qin Shu: ..."

"Is there no end to this?"

"He turned back in anger, and the person charged at him like a small cannonball. Qin Shu sidestepped, but the person missed and spun around to face him again."

"It was a short, youthful-looking boy with a bright, handsome face, surprisingly wearing a knee-length skirt."

""Brother Qin Shu, did you see my application?""

"...A little... what, a boy-girl?"

"Qin Shu silently stepped back."

""Brother Qin Shu, don't you remember me?" the kid said. "You saved me five years ago! I'm Xiyou!""

"Xiyou, a very fruity name. Qin Shu remembered now. Five years ago, he had rescued a kid who insisted on being his future partner. Qin Shu had taken it as a joke."

"But now..."

""I'm a few days away from being an adult, Brother Qin Shu. I want to be your Guide!" he said eagerly. "I know you like girls, so I wore a skirt. Do you like it?""

"...So that application was from him?"

"Qin Shu, with a headache, said, "Go back to your studies, kid.""

""Brother, I've graduated! Just graduated from the Guide Academy. Will you be my husband? I'm a high-level guide, and my little dad is a duke. We'll treat you well!""

"What is all this nonsense?"

"Feeling like he'd seen a ghost, Qin Shu peeled the kid's hands off him and pressed the elevator button."

"The elevator doors slid open, and a man stepped out."

"A faint, lingering fragrance, long hair trailing, a modified suit adorned with intricate ornaments—an androgynous man smiled and said, "Little Xiyou, don't trouble your Brother Qin Shu.""

"The little boy said, "Dad, you're here!""

"He tried to cling to Qin Shu again. "Brother, this is my little dad. My real dad died years ago. We have a lot of money at home. If you don't want to marry me, you can marry my little dad—""

"Qin Shu didn't hear a word; he just felt the danger closing in. He turned without a second thought, and the faint fragrance thickened for a moment."

"The long-haired, effeminate-looking... man had somehow gotten close, his intricate ornaments casting a cold gleam."

""Greetings, Colonel. We haven't been introduced properly—why rush off?""

""...""

""Little Xiyou truly likes you. He's wanted to marry you since he was a child. Why won't you accept him?" the man's voice was unhurried, a mix of calm and persuasion."

""Is it that you don't like that kind of thing?""

"He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sliding over Qin Shu's sharply defined arms and the neck half-hidden by the tactical vest, where black clothes and pale skin created a tempting contrast."

"Finally, his eyes met Qin Shu's eyes like cold stars."

""What about me, then?""

"The words fell lightly."

""I'm a high-level guide, with plenty of experience soothing sentinels in the past. I'm currently single, with only Xiyou as my child. It's a tough world for a weak guide to survive alone, and a large estate needs someone to manage...""

"He smiled. "How about choosing me as your exclusive guide, Colonel?""

-

"Qin Shu... Qin Shu felt he must have forgotten to check the calendar before leaving today."

"Two hundred and thirty-nine applications, a matchmaker who threatened him, a skirt-wearing fruit-boy, and now a duke who wanted him to marry into the family."

"A duke with a child, expecting him to be a stepfather, male, and with an effeminate look!"

"He took a deep breath, mentally calculating the feasibility of jumping from this floor and the number of people on the first floor, ultimately reluctantly concluding that it would definitely hurt people and cause a commotion."

"So he could only brace himself for it."

"He kept a straight face and said, "No.""

""Why not, Colonel? I have power and money. I can get you anything you want. And little Xiyou is very cute.""

""I don't like men.""

"The fruit-boy raised his hand and said, "I'm wearing a skirt, brother!""

"Got it, kid— even in a skirt, you're still a guy!"

"The duke seemed to suddenly understand. "I see, Colonel.""

""It's not that you're opposed to marriage; you already have someone in mind, so you won't accept others, right?""

"Qin Shu was baffled. "Who?""

""General Li.""

"Qin Shu's expression turned serious. "What does this have to do with Wuya?""

"He began to wonder if this duke was an enemy of Wuya, but he usually paid no attention to such things and didn't know anyone in politics."

"The duke, however, remained composed."

""The twin stars of the empire, you share a very special bond, don't you?""

""You share military merits, act together, and even your political stances are highly aligned. It's rare for two sentinels to form such a tightly bound common interest group. You treat him too well.""

"Qin Shu frowned."

"Wuya was his only true friend. If he didn't treat Wuya well, who else would he be good to?"

"The duke smiled again. "I think you resist marriage because you don't want to share your resources, connections, and influence with another faction. Colonel, you treasure him so much, but I'm curious—""

""General Li, Director Li, the current head of the Li family... that Li Wuya, does he give you the same affection in return?""