Chapter 12: What Does It Mean When a Bro Sends Me Flowers?

Chapter 12: Bro, What Do You Mean by Sending Me Flowers?

A few days later.

During the lunch break, Golden Retriever was hovering at the entrance of the Star Union Agency.

After standing guard for a while, he returned to the office in disappointment.

"The General didn't come to deliver lunch today either," he announced dramatically to his teammates.

A group of sentinels immediately sighed and groaned.

Qin Shu bit into a chocolate bar. "Wuya's been busy lately. I've only seen him three times this week."

Golden Retriever was startled. "What?! Captain, you haven't been meeting every day? Is the General gonna dump you?"

Qin Shu: ...

"Wuya and I never had a thing!" he declared seriously.

The teammates exchanged glances.

Golden Retriever quickly corrected himself. "Then our captain and the General's relationship must be very open and aboveboard!"

Qin Shu nodded in satisfaction.

Golden Retriever, thinking he'd won favor, leaned in to ask Qin Shu, "Captain, that watch of yours is really nice. Where did you buy it? I couldn't find the same model on the Star Net."

Qin Shu glanced at the silver watch he was wearing today.

"Wuya gave it to me. I don't think there's another one like it."

Golden Retriever: ...

Another teammate darted over. "Captain, do you know what the General's been busy with lately?"

Qin Shu suddenly straightened up.

The teammate immediately tensed. "What's wrong, Captain?"

"Nothing, go on." Qin Shu took out his communicator.

He suddenly remembered that last night he was too engrossed in gaming to reply to Li Wuya's message.

"Oh, Captain, I was gonna say, I saw in the news that the General's been frequently attending those noble gatherings..."

"[Yesterday 21:21]

L51: The duke who insulted you that day has been taken care of by me.

L51: [Image]

L51: Sorry, I've been swamped lately and haven't had much time with you, but I miss you every moment."

Qin Shu opened the image.

It was an internal document, seemingly about a duke having many ill-gotten gains confiscated and his entire family being relocated to a desolate border planet to reclaim wasteland.

Looking at the photo, it turned out to be that duke who cross-dressed he met at the White Tower.

His surname was Shangguan, and the Fruit Boy's full name was Shangguan Xiyou.

"[12:11]

Kongtong Buyue 7432: Bro, you're so loyal! Sending me confidential files.

Kongtong Buyue 7432: I miss you too. Gaming without you just isn't as fun."

That's a lie. Last night, he had a great time playing alone.

Li Wuya still hadn't replied, probably still busy.

Had he even eaten?

"Captain..." a nearby teammate stammered.

Qin Shu came to. "Oh, Li Wuya attending noble gatherings, what about it?"

The teammates huddled together, squirming in front of Qin Shu.

Little Fang fussed. "Captain, you know, that thing. You don't know?"

Qin Shu: ?

"That!" Little Fang gestured. "Those gatherings have so many guides. Feels like they're setting the General up on blind dates!"

A thunderbolt.

Qin Shu almost choked on his chocolate.

Nobles setting Li Wuya up on blind dates? How is that different from piglets, calves, and fish offering sacrifices to humans?

Li Wuya had been going after noble officials lately!

Bob spun his communicator around.

A photo showed Li Wuya in his military dress uniform, gazing intensely at a guide holding red wine.

"So suggestive," Golden Retriever shouted. "Is the General hooking up?"

Little Fang gasped. "He's cheating?!"

Qin Shu just said, "Oh."

Golden Retriever shook him frantically. "Captain, that's your only reaction!"

Qin Shu kept eating his chocolate. "Wuya's look says, 'If you dare spill that wine on me, you're dead.'"

Teammates: ...

"Don't worry, Wuya isn't interested in men. How could he ever—"

Qin Shu almost said it but caught himself just in time.

That was close! He almost got dragged into it by these little morons!

Golden Retriever: "Captain, you shouldn't say that. You're a man too, and you and the General have always been close."

"True that."

The room fell silent for a moment, and the team members scattered to goof off.

Qin Shu started spacing out.

Although Li Wuya’s attitude toward romance had always been “stay the hell away from me,” you can’t rule out a one-in-a-million chance.

Would Wuya ever actually date someone?

If he did, would he start ghosting him?

After all, once you’re in a relationship, your girl comes first. They wouldn’t be able to duo queue every day anymore, let alone Wuya cooking for him and Venmo-ing him cash.

But would Wuya even get a girlfriend?

“Captain, whatcha thinking about?” Bob suddenly asked.

Qin Shu answered instinctively, “I’m thinking what Wuya would be like if he got a girlfriend.”

Smelling gossip, everyone swarmed back.

“What would that be like?!” Goldie’s eyes lit up.

Qin Shu thought it over. “Probably pretty chill. He’s always easygoing, low-key but straight-up.”

“He’s also dependable, reliable, and an amazing cook. Downside? Maybe a little insecure and stubborn…”

He suddenly paused, looking at the dead-silent team members. “Why’s everyone so quiet?”

Bob’s face twisted. “That’s some thick-ass rose-colored glasses, Captain.”

Goldie added, “It’s like we don’t even know the same general, dude.”

“Well, I’m close to him, so of course I see the best of him.” Qin Shu bit into his chocolate, his tone matter-of-fact.

“Dating Li Wuya would be amazing. I don’t get why no girl’s ever given him a chance.”

Little Fang chimed in, “Captain, no girl’s given you a chance either, right?”

Damn, you had to go there!

-

A bunch of little morons—three days without a beating and they’re climbing the walls!

After the lunch break, pissed off by the comment, Qin Shu dragged everyone to the training ground.

Nobody’s leaving till they drop!

That said, he’d been slacking off lately, and his skills had seriously rusted.

Easily taking down Goldie as he charged in, Qin Shu frowned and rolled his shoulder. “Feels like my bones are getting rusty.”

He glanced sideways at the half-dead team members and smirked. “Good thing you guys still suck.”

They charged at him again with a yell.

After ten minutes of single-handedly wrecking his own team, a colleague wandered into the chaos.

Soon, more and more people joined, and somehow, by the afternoon, it had turned into a one-sided beatdown of the entire Star Union Agency’s young officers against Qin Shu.

The fight moved from the underground training ground to the playground. Twenty minutes later, Qin Shu stood on the flag-raising platform, looking down at all his losers!

“Not a single one worth my time,” he said, all smug.

Suddenly, he felt a chill at his back.

Qin Shu immediately reached back and caught—sure enough, it was a sentinel trying to sneak-attack him, holding a training dagger.

To his surprise, the sentinel dodged the grab and lunged low with a stab—a very precise angle.

Qin Shu raised an eyebrow, surprised, twisted and lifted his leg to stomp.

The metal heel of his tall boot hit the ground, and the young sentinel hit the ground with a thud!

“Not a bad sneak attack, pretty solid.” With his boot on the sentinel, he praised him out loud, bending down to see the guy’s face. “But why didn’t you dodge that last move?”

He clearly could’ve dodged it.

The sentinel stammered, staring at…

Where?

Following his gaze, Qin Shu looked at his own waist.

The black, tight tactical suit had been sliced open with a small tear, revealing the skin underneath.

Even though it was a training dagger and couldn’t really hurt anyone, in the sentinel’s hands, it still had some bite—enough to cut through ordinary fabric.

But since he’d gotten through his defense, why not press the advantage? Why freeze up there?

Qin Shu hauled him up and said seriously, “Still green in combat. Keep practicing.”

“Ah, okay! Th-thanks, Qin-ge!”

Suddenly, his communicator buzzed, and Qin Shu casually opened it.

Li Wuya’s voice came through: “A Shu, are you free now?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“…”

There was a pause on the other end—rare for Li Wuya to hesitate.

Years of understanding didn’t need words. Qin Shu stepped off the platform, called a team member to cover for him, and walked to a quiet spot.

“No one’s around now, Wuya. What’s up?”

Li Wuya said quietly, “A Shu, can you help me out?”

-

Whatever Li Wuya asked, Qin Shu had to say yes.

Through hell or high water, through space or games—he’d follow without a second thought.

So even if Li Wuya’s request today was a little weird…

Qin Shu walked as he opened his communicator. “Xiao Huang, call off the arena for today. Let them go. I’ve got something to take care of…”

Back in the office, Qin Shu took the quickest shower ever and pulled out the Star Union Agency director’s uniform he’d hardly ever worn.

Just as he buttoned the last button, he heard Little Fang yell, “Captain, the general is here!”

Damn, how the hell is he here already!

Qin Shu bolted out of the door, instinctively leaping down from the window ledge.

The moment he landed, he remembered he had just carefully styled his hair.

A bit annoyed, he messily ruffled it and kept rushing forward.

The match had just ended, but the training ground was still packed with officers watching the excitement.

Qin Shu paused—why did it have to be now?

Hesitating here was useless; he could already see Li Wuya's car pulling into view.

Qin Shu took a deep breath, deciding to brave the flood of destiny head-on!

-

"Isn't that the duke's crest on the car?"

"Call him Duke Li now."

Two sentinel officers murmured.

"Why did the duke bring out the car Her Majesty the Empress gave him? It's not like he's going to the palace."

"He must be here to pick up Shu."

"He's never been this formal before."

"..."

The low murmurs died down as the black-haired sentinel approached.

The black uniform with gold trim was impeccably tailored. Two rows of cold silver buttons lined his chest, tassel chains swaying with each step; a belt cinched his sharp waist, and tall boots hugged his calves in a perfect curve.

Qin Shu was usually laid-back, but today he was unusually serious, dressed in the uniform neatly and properly.

His shoulders were squared, his brow furrowed, a fierce light in his eyes—a dangerous solemnity as if heading into battle.

The watching sentinels instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons, adopting combat stances.

Silence fell.

All eyes were on him.

The luxurious black-and-silver car ahead slowly came to a stop.

With a click, the door handle, embossed with stars and a silver ouroboros, was pulled open.

First, a large bouquet of flowers appeared.

The colors were bright but not glaring, with orange-red main blooms piled high, white and yellow interspersed, and champagne-colored ribbons cascading from the bottom, soft and flowing.

Then, the person holding the bouquet stepped out.

It was Li Wuya.

A grand white military uniform hugged his form, silver and gold trim gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Medals and sashes layered across his chest.

In full dress uniform, Li Wuya cradled the warm, vivid bouquet.

Coldness and softness, iron and life—strange yet harmonious.

In the dead silence among the crowd, he walked forward, ribbons fluttering as he walked, turning the stone ground into a red carpet until he reached Qin Shu.

Under everyone's shocked gaze, he stopped before Qin Shu, lowered his head, and extended his arm in a graceful salute.

"Please accept my flowers."

He said in a gentle, tender tone.

Qin Shu paused for two seconds.

"Okay."

As if receiving a military order, he took the bouquet and held it in his arms.

The ribbons hung between them, shimmering with a dreamy luster.

Qin Shu calmly thought about what he should say next.

"Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome."

Li Wuya's lips curled slightly as he took Qin Shu's hand and guided him into the black-and-silver car.

-

The door closed, the privacy partition went up, and Li Wuya thoughtfully took the bouquet from Qin Shu's arms, setting it aside.

The next moment, the perfectly composed Qin Shu suddenly covered his face with both hands.

"Wuya, I feel like something inside me has shattered."

Li Wuya was in a great mood now: "Don't let it shatter."

"Seriously! I feel like half my reputation is gone!"

With so many people watching, word must have gotten around the entire Star Union Agency about Li Wuya giving him flowers.

To help his brother, Qin Shu had already gone above and beyond—at least ten times over!

Li Wuya soothed him: "It's fine, my reputation is shattered too."

Qin Shu hugged him and wailed: "Then our fate is so cruel! What are we going to do now?"

"It's okay, a straight foot fears no crooked shoe," Li Wuya said.