Chapter 14: Her Highness is So Bad
Seeing Hong Que’s face flushed red and his whole body trembling, Xie Qiang rubbed the tip of her nose.
I just called him ‘Da Hong,’ did he have to get that angry?
He wouldn’t punch me in a fit of rage, would he?
Stealing a glance at Hong Que’s fist, which was the size of a sandbag, Xie Qiang quickly changed the subject. “By the way, what exactly brought you here to find me today?”
“I… I just wanted to ask you why you suddenly let Mo Yin out.”
On his way here, Hong Que had planned to aggressively interrogate her about her motives and warn her not to take the bullying too far.
But looking at Xie Qiang’s shimmering, cute eyes blinking at him, his voice uncontrollably softened. “Are you planning some new trick? Mo Yin is an honest man; don’t bully him. If you have a problem, just come at me.”
“I won’t bully him anymore.”
Xie Qiang shook her head. “You share synesthesia; it must be hard for you when he’s punished. I saw yesterday how sick you were, you were even delirious.”
In Hong Que’s ears, her words took on a completely different meaning.
I saw you yesterday, so I released Mo Yin.
You were so sick, and I was so worried, so I won’t bully Mo Yin anymore.
Hong Que looked at her in total shock.
He knew that ever since Xie Qiang arrived at the war zone, she had been trying to see him. She had deliberately tortured Mo Yin just to force him to appear.
So, was it because she finally saw him last night and felt satisfied that she let Mo Yin go?
What did she mean by this?
The more Hong Que thought, the more things felt off. Yesterday he had kicked her into the water prison, yet not only did she not get angry or scold him, she was even worried about his illness.
Furthermore, she had actually applied precious healing ointment to Mo Yin!
One had to know that the Empire had a vast number of Sentinels with powerful self-healing abilities. Even without medicine, they would be healed after enduring a few days of pain.
Only Guides used this kind of healing ointment that could numb the pain of a wound. This led to a low production volume, so even Guides had to use it sparingly.
Yet Xie Qiang, someone who looked down on Sentinels, would give such precious ointment to the injured Mo Yin…
It was already established that she couldn’t possibly like Mo Yin.
Then, could it be that she—liked him!
Hong Que was terrified by this realization. He asked tremulously, “Sentinels have strong self-healing; we don’t need treatment. Why did you give Mo Yin the healing ointment?”
Xie Qiang tilted her head. “Because it hurts.”
Because I don’t want you to be in pain.
Receiving this answer, Hong Que was completely stunned into silence.
It’s over. Xie Qiang really likes him!
She wants to marry him!!!
Hong Que looked at Xie Qiang with a face full of horror. To him, she now looked like a wild cat with a sly smirk, her sharp claws hooked onto his clothes, hopping up bit by bit until she stepped on his head.
Then, she would triumphantly tell him: Man, you are my slave from now on.
No! He didn’t want to be entangled with this pervert!
Hong Que stumbled backward, roaring frantically, “Xie Qiang! Don’t think that just because we are gene-compatible partners, you can have me! I will never like a woman with such perverted tastes!”
Gene-compatibility meant their matching rate exceeded 92%. A Sentinel only had to touch a Guide’s skin to feel their whole body go weak and tingly, with their mania levels dropping significantly.
If they stayed in contact a bit longer, it could trigger “bonding heat” even without mental purification, causing him to lose all strength.
Who knew if this crazy woman would use force on him just to have him!
He would absolutely, definitely never appear before her again!
The door slammed shut with a bang. In the office, only a question mark slowly formed in Xie Qiang’s mind.
What was he babbling about? I recognize every word, but I don’t understand them when they’re put together.
Shaking her head, Xie Qiang began to seriously consider Hong Que’s earlier suggestion.
She could start by purifying B-class Sentinels. Once everyone slowly realized she was willing to accept Sentinels, the A-class ones would naturally come to her tentatively, right?
“Great! Then, let’s get to work!”
Xie Qiang opened her work computer with high morale and turned on the long-dormant appointment channel.
Doctor Xie was officially open for business!
…
6:00 PM.
Xie Qiang rested her chin on her folded hands, her small face solemn.
Today’s work progress: 0.
Was the system broken? Or was no Sentinel brave enough to accept her purification?
She had limited the appointment rank to B-class. She hadn’t even bullied B-class Sentinels before, so it shouldn’t be that not a single one dared to come.
Just as she was feeling disappointed, a knock came at the door. Xie Qiang’s eyes lit up. “Come in!”
The door opened to reveal Cang Jiu’s exquisite and glamorous teenage face. He waved at her with a smile. “Your Highness, haven’t you finished work yet?”
Seeing it was Cang Jiu, Xie Qiang’s expression turned to disappointment. “Oh, it’s you. Is something wrong?”
“I came to take Your Highness to dinner.”
The silver-haired youth wore a troubled expression. “For some reason, it seems nobody likes me. No one is willing to eat with me.”
“Only Your Highness is willing to keep me company.” His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he looked at her pitifully. “Can I come and ask Your Highness out for meals often from now on?”
Xie Qiang: “…”
Are you sure nobody is ‘willing’ to eat with you, or is it that nobody ‘dares’ to eat with you?
It seemed these S-class Sentinels didn’t have many friends. Perhaps it was because of the strict hierarchy; A-class Sentinels didn’t dare strike up conversations with S-class ones, and S-class ones didn’t care to make friends with A-class ones.
“Your Highness?” Cang Jiu urged. “Let’s go eat. Aren’t you hungry?”
Her stomach gave an ill-timed growl. Xie Qiang rubbed her belly and gave the computer an unwilling glance.
Forget it. You can’t rush these things. She’d continue tomorrow.
She stood up and walked toward Cang Jiu. “Then let’s go.”
…
At the restaurant, Xie Qiang predictably received another round of disgusted looks from the Sentinels.
She kept her head down, minimizing her presence as she began to pick out her food.
Cang Jiu swept a cold gaze across the room. The Sentinels who met his eyes instantly felt a chill and hurriedly lowered their heads.
What’s going on? Why is the Tactical Officer protecting that Princess?
Cang Jiu retracted his gaze, his hands clasped lazily behind his head as he followed Xie Qiang with a leisurely stride.
After they sat down, seeing that Xie Qiang still looked gloomy, he leaned in and whispered, “If Your Highness doesn’t like their stares, I can have them all kicked out.”
“Hmm?” Xie Qiang looked up, then shook her head. “No need. It’s normal for them to hate me. I don’t really mind.”
Cang Jiu propped up his cheek, looking at her with a smile. “Then what is Your Highness troubled about?”
A subtle amusement flickered in his heart. What could a vulgar, brainless Princess be troubled about? Nothing more than how to torture more Sentinels, surely.
Xie Qiang thought for a moment and told him about her plan to purify B-class Sentinels. “Anyway, I sat there all afternoon, and no one came.”
After listening, Cang Jiu’s brow twitched. “Your Highness is truly… dedicated.”
No, she’s truly an idiot, Cang Jiu evaluated contemptuously in his heart.
This Princess truly had zero grasp of the art of power. She either mistreated the A-class Sentinels who were the pillars of the Empire, or she suddenly lowered her status to purify ordinary B-class Sentinels. She was likely trying to copy Jiang Qingwan’s path but couldn’t bring herself to purify the lowest-ranked ones, resulting in a botched imitation.
He was almost laughing at her stupidity. With a successor like this, the Empire was surely doomed.
Cang Jiu sneered internally while maintaining a beaming smile. “It’s fine, Your Highness. Today was only the first day.”
This is so boring. I really want to leave right now; I feel like her stupidity is contagious.
Cang Jiu toyed with his food, feeling bored to death. He was already beginning to regret asking Xie Qiang to dinner.
Xie Qiang nodded. Although Cang Jiu hadn’t given any effective advice and his comfort was a bit perfunctory, she was grateful that he was willing to listen to her troubles.
“However, relying on oneself to purify low-level Sentinels is ultimately just drinking poison to quench thirst. To comprehensively improve the treatment of Sentinels, we still need to reform the way Guides work,” Xie Qiang analyzed seriously.
Cang Jiu looked up abruptly, a flash of surprise in his eyes. “Oh?”
Interesting. This pig-brained Princess is actually thinking?
He just wondered if her “reform” would be another idea so stupid it would make him laugh.
“Could Your Highness elaborate?” Although he held no expectations, Cang Jiu played along with a look of worshipful curiosity.
To his surprise, Xie Qiang didn’t wish to say more. She picked up her chopsticks, ready to dig in. “Eat. I’m hungry.”
The smile on Cang Jiu’s face froze.
How can this person just stop a conversation right in the middle?!
This is too much.
“Your Highness~” Cang Jiu persisted, leaning his beautiful face in. His clear and seductive teenage voice pleaded, “Tell me before you eat!”
“Do not speak while eating, do not speak while sleeping,” Xie Qiang said with a solemn face. Then she stuffed a fried fish pancake into her mouth, completely cutting off Cang Jiu’s attempt to ask further.
Cang Jiu stared at her with a resentful gaze, biting his chopsticks in protest. “Your Highness is so bad.”
But he had to admit, his interest had been piqued once again.
Reforming the work of Guides?
My beautiful, brainless Princess, you must come up with a good plan. Don’t disappoint me.
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