CH 63

In addition to fake candles, there are fake roses, fake fireworks, fake people, fake smiles—everything’s a sham.

Every time Xiao Zhenyun’s face pops up on the screen, the editing wizard slaps on a ring of colorful roses, the spinning kind, matching the style of banners. Xiao Zhenyun seriously suspects it’s the receptionist from the rose garden who’s doing the editing.

When Si Chu appears, things get even funnier. He tries several times to step out of the fake candle formation, but Xiao Zhenyun won’t allow it. So, he ends up huddled inside, struggling with words, creating a comical scene.

Then, Xiao Zhenyun is seen sitting in a pumpkin carriage pulled by My Little Pony…

Si Di watched with interest from start to finish. When he saw Xiao Zhenyun stiffly reciting a confession and sneakily glancing at a small note hidden in his sleeve, he lay on the bed laughing, “You’re not dedicated enough, didn’t memorize it?”

“Why should I be dedicated to Si Chu?” Xiao Zhenyun casually replied.

“Yeah, you’re dedicated enough to me.” Si Di flipped over on the bed, and pressed onto Xiao Zhenyun, “Since you’ve rehearsed, when are you going to have a formal one with me?”

Xiao Zhenyun doubtfully asked, “You like this show too?”

“…Of course, I don’t mean this show.”

“Let’s talk about it later…” Xiao Zhenyun yawned, “I’m tired… I have a lot to do tomorrow, better rest early.”

“It’s only this time, and you’re going to sleep? No more gummy bears?” Si Di smirked, getting closer to Xiao Zhenyun. He tried to lift the edge of the blanket, but Xiao Zhenyun stopped his hand, “Eat more, and they’ll fall off.”

Si Di defended himself, “I’m very gentle.”

“You probably have a misunderstanding about the word ‘light’,” Xiao Zhenyun said. “Besides, no matter how light, it can’t compete with your relentless nibbling.”

“Then, will you scoff at my gummy bear?” Si Di’s interest is high now. Anyway, he doesn’t want Xiao Zhenyun to rest so easily. The guide pretended to sleep with closed eyes but couldn’t withstand the sentinel teasing him by continuously poking the gummy bear at his mouth. Xiao Zhenyun reluctantly opened his eyes, meeting Si Di’s teasing gaze. Just as he was about to speak, his mouth was covered by Si Di’s hand, and the gummy bear was forcibly shoved into his mouth.

Xiao Zhenyun bit it, pushed Si Di away, and placed his arm between them, saying, “This is your last chance.”

Si Di paused for a moment, immediately thinking of the intense pleasure he felt being manipulated in the basement before, the kind of out-of-control joy. Back then, he couldn’t completely indulge in sensory enjoyment due to suspicions about Xiao Zhenyun. Now, without such concerns…

The sentinel sensed the danger behind Xiao Zhenyun’s words. His love for excitement made him hesitate for a few seconds before intensifying his rubbing against the guide. Xiao Zhenyun’s eyes darkened, and within the next hour, he gave Si Di a solid ‘lesson.’

The next afternoon, Xiao Zhenyun, Si Di, and Xiao Jiali appeared in Xiao Jingfeng’s office. Besides the four of them, there were three sentinel interns inside, all young and handsome.

“Why did Captain Si come along… keeping an eye on things?” Xiao Jingfeng is evidently not surprised by Si Di’s arrival, but he still teased him.

Si Di’s gaze swept over the faces of the three sentinels, and he said with a hint of meaning, “I’m lucky I came.”

Xiao Zhenyun sat silently on the side, drinking a whole cup of hot water. Xiao Jiali has been in frequent contact with Xiao Jingfeng lately. He’s no longer as restrained as before in front of the chairman, but due to his personality, he still likes to sit neatly with his knees up and hands on his thighs, resembling an elementary school student listening attentively in class.

Duan Fei, the military academy student who was once classmates with him, said that Xiao Jiali was moody back then, indifferent to others. This small detail quickly became a story fabricated by his friend Lily, suggesting that Xiao Jiali was probably bullied on campus due to family issues, forcing him to suppress his soft and kind nature, intentionally using sharpness to disguise himself.

Duan Fei listened thoughtfully, while Xiao Jiali blushed, feeling like he was reading some second-rate romance novel.

During the back-and-forth banter between Xiao Jingfeng and Si Di, the three sentinels remained silent. One of them even slyly glanced at Xiao Zhenyun and Si Di, while the other two maintained a disciplined posture, as if they were statues.

Ten minutes later, Xiao Jingfeng finally remembered the main task for the day. Guided by him, Xiao Zhenyun conducted tests on the sentinels’ spiritual domains using his spiritual abilities. Since Xiao Zhenyun was already bonded with Si Di, the impact of his spiritual power on other sentinels would be discounted, weakening both offensive and soothing effects.

Several rounds of experiments were conducted, including but not limited to releasing a large amount of spiritual power until the spiritual pool dried up, and carefully maintaining a balance between releasing and conserving spiritual power. Undoubtedly, Xiao Zhenyun’s spiritual power recovery speed was much faster than it was on the deserted island. This was a result of his education in the White Tower, altering the relationship between spiritual power and guide elements. As long as the release speed was appropriate, he could achieve an endless flow of spiritual power.

It was a terrifying concept, limited only by his C-level status.

Xiao Jingfeng received the data and commented, “Interesting… Your situation is completely opposite to mine. I’m a natural attack-type guide, and your fast recovery is more suited for soothing sentinels. Attack is a momentary thing, the faster, the better. It requires a vast spiritual pool, instantly mobilized, rendering sentinels helpless. But soothing is a continuous process, requiring endurance… It’s a pity that Captain Si has taken you over. With your constitution, even as a C-level guide, countless sentinels would have fought to be under your command.”

Xiao Zhenyun chuckled softly. Xiao Jingfeng immediately turned to the three sentinels and asked, “Is that right? Do you want the Vice Chairman to be your guide?”

All three sentinels nodded knowingly. “Yes.” “We really want it.” “Definitely want it.”

The room was filled with Xiao Zhenyun’s guide element. Si Di, who was initially enjoying the scene with narrowed eyes, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. The three sentinels quickly amended their statements, “But we’re not worthy.”

In the end, Xiao Jingfeng tailored a set of exercises for Xiao Zhenyun to better control his spiritual power. This regimen would help him leverage his unique spiritual power recovery speed to a greater extent, solidifying his advantage.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Xiao Zhenyun said meekly. Xiao Jingfeng smiled at him, “There’s no need to thank me. I’m your only relative, who else should I consider if not you?”

Then, he playfully beckoned Xiao Jiali with a finger, and Xiao Jiali nervously swallowed, fingers involuntarily clutching the clothes on his knees, “Ch-Chairman…”

“Haven’t gotten used to it yet?… Well, there’s really no way to get used to such things.” Xiao Jingfeng stood up, walked over to him, gently stroked his hair, “Old rules, don’t resist me, don’t oppose me, just relax and accept.”

Xiao Jiali took a deep breath, removed the sensory suppressor, nodded, indicating he was ready.

The expected intense pain soon arrived. Xiao Jiali trembled all over, tears streaming down instantly. His voice went from a sharp scream to gradually breaking, intermittently turning into suppressed gasps.

Soon, Xiao Jingfeng opened his eyes. “Good news, the speed of his spiritual power consumption has significantly slowed down. The sensory suppressor is uncomfortable, but the effect is remarkable…” There was obviously bad news to follow, but Xiao Jingfeng didn’t say it. He just stroked Xiao Jiali’s hair again, looking at his tear-stained face, “Go wash your face… I heard you guys are going camping tonight?”

“Yes, we are…” Xiao Jiali went to the bathroom, looking pitiful.

Xiao Zhenyun asked, “Uncle, do you want to join us?”

“I really can’t come,” Xiao Jingfeng laughed, shaking his head. “Just look at the pile of files on my desk. You might all be asleep, and I’ll still be working overtime.”

After that, they didn’t leave. They simply took over the chairman’s office, waiting for Si Chu and Ye Feiran to finish work and for Xiao Nian to finish school. Exhausted after crying, Xiao Jiali fell asleep on the sofa. Xiao Jingfeng then shared the bad news with Xiao Zhenyun and Si Di:

“Saying it’s delayed means extending his lifespan from one year to three, but dragging it like this is the only option as long as Xiao Jiali’s spiritual domain can’t be treated. However, no matter how much we delay, three years is the limit… After three years, Xiao Jiali will only be 22 or 23 years old, still in the prime of his life…”

On that evening, the camping activity was entirely orchestrated by Si Chu. The location, transportation, camping necessities like tents and barbecue grills, and even the ingredients – he handled everything effortlessly.

At the campsite, Si Di and Si Chu set up the tents, Ye Feiran and Xiao Jiali cooked dinner, Xiao Nian did homework, and Xiao Zhenyun was responsible for playing frisbee with a wolf and a dog. A chicken and a deer watched nearby, especially Tian Lu, occasionally plucking a few leaves to eat.

Xiao Jiali’s pet eagle was also present, but since it was a real animal, Xiao Jiali hadn’t fully trained it and didn’t dare to release it. It had to stay in the cage.

As for his spiritual body, it was forever asleep in the artificial spiritual domain, never to wake up again.

After three seconds of depression, Xiao Jiali, under Ye Feiran’s “It’s burned, it’s burned, it’s burned” shouts, dared not to mull over it and focused on grilling meat. He was afraid that if he brooded for a few more seconds, he wouldn’t even make it to a year and would starve to death on the spot.

This unique camp, as compensation for Si Chu’s upcoming loss of half a month of freedom, began amid the delightful aroma of slightly burnt food. Ye Feiran and Xiao Jiali weren’t particularly skilled in barbecue, either burning the chicken wings until they were tough or leaving them undercooked. Xiao Zhenyun felt they were both playing at being bad cooks, furrowing his brows. He took matters into his own hands, grilling a skewer of chicken wings, resulting in a miraculously charred skin and bloodied insides.

Stubbornly, he continued to grill mushrooms because no one was sure what they were supposed to look like when done. In the end, with everyone’s efforts, they got four limp, shriveled mushroom corpses.

Si Di, who thought they were about to eat after setting up the tents, “…”

“Back then on that deserted island with nothing, I raised you plump and chubby, with a greasy mouth and a round belly.” Si Di held up the mushroom, shrunken like an old lady’s toothless mouth. “Now, in the suburb only two hours away from the city center, with grills costing thousands and smokeless charcoal, you’re giving me this to eat?”

Having thoroughly played the ‘foolish beauty’ character, Xiao Zhenyun chose not to say much. “The capable should take more responsibility; I’ll leave the grilling to you.”

“If you want me to do this and that, you’ll have to bribe me, right?”

Pretending not to hear, Xiao Zhenyun gave a look to Si Di. The little dog immediately obediently shouted, “Little uncle! Brother wants you to give him some benefits!”

Ye Feiran, also feeling mischievous, joined in, “Uncle Zhenyun! Xiao Chu says that Brother Di wants you to give him some benefits tonight!”

The pressure then shifted to Xiao Jiali. “Um… Mr. Xiao, Captain Si is asking you for some benefits in the tent tonight?”

“What benefits?” Xiao Zhenyun looked at Xiao Jiali seriously. “Those with the surname Xiao are all one family. We should unite and jointly resist those from other surnames.”

“But…” Xiao Jiali hesitated, “Among all the people surnamed Xiao, none of us can cook, though.”

Xiao Zhenyun: “…”

He and Xiao Jiali simultaneously turned their gazes to Xiao Nian, who had just finished homework and was hungrily munching on cucumbers…

Five minutes later, Xiao Nian, armed with a hand of withered and blackened chives, successfully persuaded Xiao Zhenyun to promise that Si Di would receive a tremendous ‘benefit’ from him tonight.

Dinner finally officially began at 7:00, after all the commotion. Everyone was hungry, and whatever Si Di grilled disappeared in an instant, with everyone praising his cooking skills. Even Xiao Nian, who usually had an administrator demeanor, eagerly joined in the grabbing, afraid of missing out on Si Di’s grilled meat and having to settle for the mushrooms grilled by Xiao Zhenyun later.

They ate intermittently and chatted, continuing until 9:30 in the evening, completely clearing out the purchased ingredients, even the ones that were overcooked were taken care of by the spiritual bodies.

Clutching his round belly, Si Chu gazed at the starry sky and held hands with Ye Feiran. Although the two hadn’t bonded yet, judging from their innocent hand-holding, they probably hadn’t kissed much either. Unlike his brother, who, after finishing work, went to his uncle to ask for benefits, claiming he was going to the restroom. However, half an hour had passed, and there was no sign of them returning. They probably fell into some pit.

The lights and starlight reflected in their amber-colored pupils as Si Chu and Ye Feiran sat quietly on the grass. Xiao Jiali, looking up at the sky for a while, murmured to himself, asking where the edge of the universe was, why humans were so small, and whether time could be rewound.

Beside him, Xiao Nian, “…”

Later, Xiao Jiali thought of something, took off his coat, and covered Xiao Nian with it. “Don’t catch a cold, Nian Nian.”

Xiao Nian: “…”

In the small grove, Si Di bent over in the wheelchair to kiss Xiao Zhenyun for a while. Finding the position somewhat uncomfortable, he tried a few more times. Eventually, he decided to lift Xiao Zhenyun out of the wheelchair, raised one leg, bent his knee against the tree trunk, and spread Xiao Zhenyun’s legs, letting him straddle Si Di’s lap.

Xiao Zhenyun allowed Si Di’s actions until Si Di finally settled on a comfortable position and kissed him again.

Originally, there was no appearance of their fused state, but unable to resist Si Di’s constant teasing, Xiao Zhenyun summoned his deer tail. The sentinel immediately captured the furry golden tail in his palms, gently stroking it with his five fingers.

The thick black wolf tail occasionally slapped the ground. Xiao Zhenyun supported himself on Si Di’s shoulders to stabilize his body. His right hand moved slowly to the sentinel’s cheek, then pinched his wolf ear, and gradually moved downward, from the exposed seam where the wolf tail emerged, exploring inside.

“If you want it, go a bit deeper. Don’t tease me ambiguously from the outside,” Si Di complained, finding a moment to speak.

Xiao Zhenyun smiled with lowered eyes and simply withdrew his hand. “Si Di, considering my spiritual recovery speed, tonight I want to try providing you with uninterrupted mental grooming to ensure you have a better spiritual state for the kidnapping operation on Sunday.”

Si Di paused, “You…”

Si Di, “…Then I thank you.”

Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters.  (๑>ᴗ