CH 40

“I’ve called you so many times,” he said, “but you never answered.”

“… “

“I heard from the council that you wanted a boat to go out to sea on your own,” he continued. “I was worried you’d get into trouble, so I knocked on the door and let myself in.”

With that, Si Di turned his gaze to the three service staff in the room, each with their own unique charm. Their service attitude was genuinely sincere, or perhaps they had long been accustomed to all sorts of unexpected situations. They didn’t bat an eye, even in the midst of subtle tensions in the room. As long as Xiao Zhenyun didn’t stop them, they continued to work diligently, every step of their movements flawless, their spirits commendable.

— At most, their eyes involuntarily cast a glance at the area where Xiaozhenyun’s loose sleepwear suddenly protruded; others were in front, but this one was in the back.

Xiao Zhenyun touched the antler and deer ears on top of his head and didn’t ask Si Di how he had gotten in. He had personally given Si Di the room’s access code. Especially during the flirtatious atmosphere of their conversation last night, things had escalated to the point that instead of telling him the hotel room code, he would’ve had to reveal his bank card code to him. In comparison, the room code was definitely a safer secret to share.

“Cough.” Xiao Zhenyun gave the council member a sidelong glance, and the latter immediately transformed his startled expression into a matter-of-fact tone. “The chairman has been busy all day, and it’s only right to have a leg muscle massage to prevent complications such as blood clots and joint contractions, and so on.”

With all his “it’s only right”’ and “it’s only right,” the council member swiftly exited the room and closed the door, leaving the embarrassment and trouble for others.

The room instantly fell quiet. Xiao Zhenyun removed the face mask and noticed the large water stains on Si Di’s jacket shoulders and pant legs, his shoes soaked through.

“How did you get here?”

“I took a flight to the provincial capital, and then drove for two hours in the rain.” The room’s heating was on full blast, and Si Di handed over his coat to the robotic arm, then put on the hotel’s slippers with its help. Afterward, he sat on the sofa with a straightforward, back-to-the-cushion posture, closing his eyes wearily.

Xiao Zhenyun noticed the glowing red collar around Si Di’s neck and released a bit of guiding elements. “Did you come alone?”

“I brought a sentinel colleague who is a dolphin spirit.”

Under the soothing influence of the guiding elements, Si Di’s complexion improved slightly, but only slightly. He still hadn’t opened his eyes, resembling a beast that had traveled a long distance through wind and snow, taken in by a kind person, curling up by the warm fireplace. His heavy breathing gradually lightened, and he asked in a low voice, “Any news about Xiao Chu and Xiao Fei?”

… How was Xiao Zhenyun supposed to answer that?

Yes. 

Where did that news come from? He couldn’t just say Xiao Nian had told him, could he?

No. My nephew is missing, life or death unknown, and I, his uncle, am here getting an extravagant massage?

Xiao Zhenyun couldn’t come up with an answer. Fortunately, the technicians had just finished their work, he waved his hand, and the others understood immediately, ending the service, wiping his back, helping him sit up, and draping a blanket over his shoulders. Then, they left in an orderly manner, considerately locking the door behind them.

Before these people had even finished packing up, Si Di had already heard the commotion. He slightly opened one eye, lazily observing their every move, and in his wandering gaze, he discovered Xiao Zhenyun, who was watching him intently without blinking.

“… “

“Don’t worry.” Xiao Zhenyun put on his shirt, wrapped in the blanket, and sat on the massage bed. “Xiao Chu and Xiao Fei are both excellent swimmers, and Xiao Chu is a sentinel. Plus, they have a dog with them. They’ll be fine; I’m sure they’ll turn any bad luck into good.”

“…Never thought you had such a big heart,” Si Di chuckled lightly. “On my way here, I was worried about them and worried about you. I had all these comforting words ready, but now, you’re the one comforting me.”

“Blame it on your condition being worse than a weak and sick person like me,” Xiao Zhenyun refused to admit his age, “Besides, you’re closer to him than I am, and I’m your elder. It’s not right for a brother to run a thousand miles just to console his uncle.” 

Si Di gave him a meaningful glance, “Do you remember, two years ago, when Si Chu got injured in a mid-term exam? Three broken ribs, along with some damage to his organs, he fell into a coma. It wasn’t a severe injury for a sentinel, and neither of his parents came, but you stayed up all night at the hospital.”

Xiao Zhenyun “…” 

When did that happen? It wasn’t in the novel.

— If it’s not written, it didn’t happen.

“I don’t remember too well,” Xiao Zhenyun stayed calm. He shifted his gaze to the wheelchair by the bed, thinking how the attendants had failed to get him back to it before rushing off to leave.

“Si Di, help me…” Xiao Zhenyun looked up, but his words faltered as he was captivated by Si Di’s intense, pine-green eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he momentarily forgot what he wanted to say next.

In the brief moment they were alone in the room, Si Di seemed unable to contain himself any longer. His eyes glared at Xiao Zhenyun like a wolf eyeing its prey, and he slowly got up from the couch with one hand, his emotions explosively restrained, a lustful gaze almost devouring Xiao Zhenyun alive. The red light of the shock collar blinked rapidly, sounding an alarm, until Si Di reached into his coat pocket, grabbed the remote, and tossed it into Xiao Zhenyun’s lap. Then, he moved closer, lifting Xiao Zhenyun’s slender, raven-black hair as if guiding him, and impatiently pressed his lips against Xiao Zhenyun’s without waiting for a response.

The kiss was fierce, almost as if they were brawling rather than seeking each other’s lips.

Xiao Zhenyun surrendered to the fervor, allowing Si Di to kiss him with a mixture of urgency and aggression. It was not a gentle request for a kiss but more like a brawl between passionate lovers.

Xiao Zhenyun caressed Si Di’s temple with his fingers, gently trailing them to the back of Si Di’s head, feeling the cool, short hair sliding through his palm. Finally, his fingers rested just above the collar. When Si Di’s emotions settled slightly, Xiao Zhenyun turned his face, creating a little distance between them. He raised his eyelashes, and his eyes, misty and blue like smoke, met Si Di’s intense gaze, which had settled under the light.

“I want to enter your spiritual domain,” he whispered softly.

The spiritual domain was a place four meters inside a special individual, and during life-or-death moments, doctors came and went without hesitation. But to say you wanted to enter someone’s spiritual domain in the privacy of a bedroom, like Xiao Zhenyun did, had an inexplicable and urgent undertone.

Si Di’s breath quickened, his eyes locked onto those lips that kept parting and closing. His lips, previously pale, had now turned flushed and glistening under the light.

“Let me in,” Xiao Zhenyun repeated.

“Okay,” Si Di agreed without hesitation. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the pillow beside Xiao Zhenyun’s ear. A slight tilt of his head, and their lips met. But Si Di wasn’t satisfied, as if he felt it wasn’t intense enough. He grabbed Xiao Zhenyun’s other hand and placed it on his collarbone. “You can come in.”

Xiao Zhenyun tightened his grip on his arm and closed his eyes, his consciousness merging with the spiritual domain of Si Di.

Over the past few months, through the relentless efforts of several authoritative doctors, high-level guides, new types of spiritual domain drugs, and Xiao Zhenyun’s rather clumsy but remarkably effective mental grooming, the scattered fragments of the chaotic world within the sentry’s spiritual domain had started to combine. Light and color were returning.

Tai Ji rested on the largest of these fragments. Unlike the vast meadow in Xiao Zhenyun’s spiritual domain that Tian Lu cherished, lush and abundant with water and emerald grass, Si Di’s spiritual domain lay somewhere between a temperate grassland and a desert. It was covered in withered yellow hay and dry earth, a typical habitat for a wolf pack.

The keen nose of the wolf twitched as Tai Ji sensed his master’s scent and the comforting aura he radiated. Tai Ji’s eyes opened in joy, and he saw Xiao Zhenyun land right in front of him. With a thought, Tai Ji obediently sat down, and Xiao Zhenyun gave him a slight smile. “Long time no see, Tai Ji.”

“Stop wagging your tail,” Si Di appeared behind Tai Ji, and his request made it tough for the wolf. “You’re a wolf, not a puppy. Why wag your tail?”

Why couldn’t a wolf wag its tail?

Tai Ji was rebellious, unhesitatingly ignoring his master’s command, and acted as he pleased. He circled around Xiao Zhenyun, then rested his head on his thigh, and wagged his tail.

Tian Lu also made an appearance, licking Tai Ji, biting Si Di, and nibbling on Xiao Zhenyun, doing all kinds of evil. In the end, under Si Di’s coercion, he reluctantly became his meat-pillow. During Xiao Zhenyun’s mental grooming, he allowed Si Di to rest on his chest, covered in soft white fur.

An hour later, the spirited long-haired guide lay exhausted on the bed, completely drained. He had no energy left, not even the strength to move a finger. Even if six technicians massaged him simultaneously, he wouldn’t be able to regain his energy anytime soon.

“Are you here to… drain me?” Xiao Zhenyun panted.

On the other hand, Si Di looked refreshed, his gaze determined. He swept away the accumulated headaches and irritability. A smile played at his lips, and he briskly handed Xiao Zhenyun a glass of warm water. “You’ve worked hard.”

“I want Xiao Nian… to shark you.”

“Don’t burden Xiao Nian with so much responsibility at such a young age.”

“…” No, this is his long-cherished wish.

“You don’t need to worry about him being alone at home. Xiao Jiali will stay at your place in the evenings, taking care of Xiao Nian.”

“…” It’s unclear who is taking care of whom.

“Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

Xiao Zhenyun had no strength left; his eyelids were heavy. He forced himself to shake his head. “There’s food in the thermos. I initially planned to save it for a late-night snack, but I’ve lost my appetite. You’re in for a treat.”

Si Di had traveled quite a distance and hadn’t eaten anything, so he had a wide smile on his face as he tucked Xiao Zhenyun in under the covers. “Then rest easy. When you wake up, I’ll be back with Si Chu and Feiran.”

“…” Indeed, this was what Xiao Zhenyun wanted to do most right now. However, the original text had made it clear that ‘because Si Chu was missing, he had been up all night.’ Xiao Zhenyun had planned to enjoy a massage, lie on the bed watching movies, and play some games, occasionally bothering the emergency rescue team, to express his ‘anxiety.’

But then this three-meter-high sentinel just emptied him out.

“I won’t sleep,” Xiao Zhenyun said with difficulty. “Make me some coffee… Without Si Chu, I don’t think I can sleep…” He let out a yawning sigh.

Si Di: “…”

Perhaps you should listen to what you’re saying.

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