Chapter 15: Speculation; A Dazzling Head of Red Hair Made Zhuang He’s Heart Itch
Lu Yin looked at Zhuang He with curiosity, not quite understanding why Zhuang He’s words carried a hint of mockery and indifference.
His intuition told him that the other likely didn’t know about the time his parents were taken away.
“Teacher, is there more training today?”
“No. Go eat.”
After putting away his own water cup, Zhuang He handed Lu Yin’s to him.
“Are you going to the third floor with me, Teacher?”
Lu Yin reached out to take the cup, drained the remaining water, and wiped a droplet that had slid down to his chin from drinking too fast.
Zhuang He looked at him a few more times, wondering if this was what his biological father meant by “masculine.”
Robust and developed muscles, a tall and sturdy build, aggressively striking features, vibrant and youthful. The pheromones that were nearly overflowing made Zhuang He feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Although Guides currently held a relatively dominant position over Sentinels, when a Guide was slightly weaker, a Sentinel could take full control over them.
And the so-called compatibility was the most crucial factor in that.
If two people had high compatibility, they could live a very happy and fulfilling life together even if they didn’t like each other. Conversely, if compatibility was too low, even if they were in love, they would eventually part ways due to the Guide’s inability to soothe the Sentinel’s mental power.
Although Zhuang He didn’t quite agree with this view, it was indeed a set fact.
And he happened to dislike that feeling of being controlled the most. Toward Lu Yin, with whom he likely had high compatibility, he developed a physiological repulsion.
But he also clearly knew that this wasn’t Lu Yin’s fault.
After finishing his water, Lu Yin keenly sensed that Zhuang He’s attitude toward him had undergone a subtle change—as if he didn’t want to be near him.
Why? Did I do something wrong just now?
But Zhuang He said nothing more, simply turning to walk out, and Lu Yin hurried to follow.
Because of the training, Lu Yin’s entire body ached miserably, but he was proud. Even though Zhuang He knew his situation, he still put on an air of nonchalance in front of the other students they passed.
When they reached the canteen, Lu Yin saw two uninvited guests and immediately felt regret.
Zhang Tanxing was pulling Shi Yan’s hand as he greeted Zhuang He, while Shi Yan tried several times to break free without success.
However, Lu Yin’s regret soon turned into a bit of relief.
It was a good thing he had come along. Otherwise, if Zhuang He were to eat alone with these two Sentinels, even if they were only friends, it would make Lu Yin’s heart feel sour and uncomfortable. He didn’t care whether it was due to compatibility or something else; he simply wanted to stand by Zhuang He’s side.
Zhuang He looked up and gave the two uninvited Sentinels a cold glance. He tapped his light-brain to book a private room for their meal, rather than crowding with the other teachers.
“Lu Yin, come here.”
Hearing Zhuang He’s call, Lu Yin scrambled over to stand by his side. Only then did he realize that he was not only taller than Shi Yan, but also taller than this stranger Sentinel.
For a moment, his thoughts drifted. He wondered if Teacher liked tall Sentinels, or if he preferred those who were his equal.
“This is Zhang Tanxing, a double-S grade Sentinel and also a teacher at the Academy.”
Lu Yin stood by Zhuang He’s side and greeted the two of them obediently, appearing like a well-behaved young tiger. And the owner of the collar around the young tiger’s neck was Zhuang He.
“Hello there~ I’ve heard about you before. As expected of a 3S-grade; you’ll definitely become even more powerful in the future.”
Lu Yin smiled and thanked him. He felt Zhang Tanxing was better than Shi Yan; he didn’t seem to have any strong hostility toward him, and instead carried a hint of goodwill.
Zhuang He was tapping on his light-brain, looking at something. Zhang Tanxing leaned forward and placed his soft arm over Zhuang He’s shoulder. “What are you looking at?”
But before Zhang Tanxing’s hand could stay for long, it was jolted back by a wave of spiritual power.
“Behave yourself.”
Shi Yan sat down and pulled Zhang Tanxing away, keeping him at a distance from Zhuang He. Throughout it all, Zhuang He didn’t even lift an eyelid.
Lu Yin, watching from the side, felt a bit envious. These two had such a good relationship with Zhuang He; they must be very close friends.
If only I could be this close to Zhuang He…
His gaze then fell on the bickering Shi Yan and Zhang Tanxing. His curious look caught Zhang Tanxing’s attention.
“What is little Lu Yin looking at?”
Zhang Tanxing always had a smiling expression, and with that beautiful face, it was easy to develop a good impression of him.
“Are Teacher Zhang and Teacher Shi partners?”
“Eh? No~ there’s no designated partnership in the military~ As long as you get along well, anyone is fine.”
Zhang Tanxing propped up his chin as he looked at Lu Yin, appearing very satisfied with this 3S-grade Sentinel.
Lu Yin nodded thoughtfully. “Then are you lovers?”
“Yes~”
“No!”
Two voices rang out simultaneously. Even Zhuang He couldn’t help but look up at Lu Yin, and then at the clinging Zhang Tanxing and Shi Yan.
“What nonsense are you talking about, kid?”
Shi Yan helplessly pulled away Zhang Tanxing’s hand that was draped over him, explaining earnestly, “We’re not lovers. We just have a good relationship. How could two Sentinels be together?”
Lu Yin didn’t respond, but looked at Zhang Tanxing, catching the flash of loneliness in his eyes.
It seemed he had discovered a big secret.
“Shi Yan~ how can Brother Shi Yan be so cruel~ You’ve already eaten me up, yet now you refuse to admit it~”
Zhang Tanxing feigned a heartbroken look, gazing at Shi Yan as if he were a heartbreaker.
Shi Yan’s brow furrowed, and he turned to Zhuang He for help. However, in the face of his pleading gaze, Zhuang He simply closed his light-brain in silence and then quietly shifted his position closer to Lu Yin.
A clack sounded from the door as the canteen’s mechanical butler served their dishes, bringing an end to this absurd “farce.”
After eating, Shi Yan bid farewell to Zhuang He and bolted out the door, while Zhang Tanxing followed unhurriedly, still wearing his smiling expression.
Only Zhuang He and Lu Yin remained in the room. Lu Yin was a bit worried about what had just happened. “Teacher, did I say something wrong?”
Zhuang He took a sip of water and said in a faint tone, “No. They’ve always been like this.”
“Teacher, those two… really?”
Zhuang He looked up at him, feeling somewhat surprised. This kid didn’t look like the type to gossip.
“What are you referring to?”
Lu Yin leaned closer to Zhuang He. A fragrance from somewhere reached his nose, and for a moment, he almost forgot what he was going to say.
“Just those two… Teacher, do you usually use perfume?”
Zhuang He: ?
He gave Lu Yin a strange look. “No. Why do you always ask that?”
Lu Yin realized belatedly that he had asked the same thing last time.
He scratched his head, and his dazzling red hair made Zhuang He’s heart itch. Unlike the smooth fur of the butler-cat at home, Lu Yin’s hair was a mess of unruly tufts. It looked a bit coarse, and if it weren’t so short, he might have been criticized for his appearance.
As Lu Yin scratched his head, his short red hair swayed. Zhuang He really wanted to know how it felt compared to the butler-cat’s fur. By the time he snapped back to his senses, his hand was already resting on Lu Yin’s head.
Seeing the massive question marks in Lu Yin’s eyes, Zhuang He gave a light cough and said, “Something was stuck in your hair.”
“Oh, oh. Thank you, Teacher.”
Lu Yin stroked his hair a few more times, mixing the yellow tuft with the surrounding red hair before saying, “I can always smell a fragrance on Teacher.”
Zhuang He took another sip of water, his brow not even twitching, as if the hand that had just touched Lu Yin’s head wasn’t his.
“It might be because our compatibility is relatively high.”
Zhuang He glanced at Lu Yin and swallowed the words that followed.
It wasn’t just high compatibility; one party also had to have special feelings for the other to have a chance of smelling their unique scent. For instance, Zhuang He had never smelled any scent on Lu Yin.
But he shouldn’t say that now. The assessment was about to begin, and he couldn’t distract Lu Yin’s mind at this time.
This kid practically wears his heart on his sleeve. A smile Zhuang He hadn’t even noticed himself hung on the corners of his mouth.
＊
On the holiday, Du Yu, Shi Yan, and Zhang Tanxing arrived as agreed.
After Zhuang He opened the door for them, the butler-cat jumped to the doorway and activated the house-wide simulation overlay. The three people who entered also saw the kitten’s actions.
Du Yu asked with a frown, “Is such caution necessary?”
“Walls have ears.”
Zhuang He sat on the sofa. After the mechanical arm poured tea for the other three, it retracted.
“Do you have some suspicions?”
Du Yu was the first to ask. She knew about the incident during the mission and guessed that Zhuang He wanted to talk about it.
“Did you tell Zhang Tanxing?”
Zhuang He looked at Shi Yan, who nodded. Zhang Tanxing also knew there were important matters to discuss today and didn’t cling to Shi Yan as usual.
“Was Lu Yin’s assessment decided by you or by the Empire’s high command?”
“The high command.”
As expected. Zhuang He pondered for a moment and then said, “I suspect the reason the high command assigned Lu Yin’s assessment to Shi Yan is related to his state at that time.”
“Although it’s unclear what exactly happened to Shi Yan back then, the goal was to lure me to the Zerg nest. Although no Zerg traces were found later, it’s possible they fled in a hurry after learning Shi Yan had been exposed.”
Zhuang He rubbed his brow and took a pair of glasses from the table to put them on.
He rarely wore glasses, only doing so occasionally to relieve eye fatigue.
Du Yu asked with concern, “Didn’t you rest well last night?”
“I was thinking about this matter, so I didn’t sleep soundly.”
It wasn’t just not sleeping soundly; with this matter on his mind, even the effects of the Soothing Agent were greatly diminished. He had woken up in the early hours and hadn’t been able to fall back asleep.
“Go on.”
“Think of it from another perspective. If Shi Yan was being controlled by the Zerg for some reason at that time, then all those actions become very logical.”
“Me? Controlled by the Zerg? That’s impossible. As far as we know, the Zerg don’t have such means, do they?”
Shi Yan’s face was filled with disbelief. He was, after all, a mid-level official of the Empire and a high-ranking officer in the military. How could he be so easily controlled by the Zerg?
Zhuang He took a sip of tea, his tone showing no impatience at being questioned, but rather continuing his analysis with a gentle calm: “It’s only a possibility. Initially, it was just my speculation, but once the high command decided to give Lu Yin to you for assessment, my speculation was mostly confirmed.”
His meaning was clear to everyone present. If Shi Yan really were being controlled by the Zerg, then handing Lu Yin over to him at this time—whether for good or bad—would give the Zerg a chance to control this 3S-grade Sentinel.
And this 3S-grade Sentinel had the great potential to surpass his 3S-grade Guide teacher in the future.
For a moment, the room was silent. Zhuang He leaned back on the sofa in deep thought, while the other three were also contemplating.
“Could it be that something has happened to the Empire’s high command?”
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