The Strongest Sentinel Wants to Be His Hard-Luck Guide's Dog - Chapter 3

Everything in the lobby had returned to normal.

People came and went, each back at their post.

With my head lowered, I let Qiao Gui support me as we walked. We brushed past a very tall man.

The pressure rolling off him—that unmistakable sentinel presence—was almost solid.

I shivered and instinctively jerked away. Forgetting my injured foot, I twisted my ankle and fell.

The tall man stopped and turned around.

I threw my arms over my head without thinking.

“I’m sorry!” I blurted.

“Sorry. Did I bump into you?”

He was apologizing too.

I stared up blankly.

You Ran’s medium-length hair had been tied back carelessly, exposing sharp features that still held a hint of boyishness.

The restraint straps had been released, though several remained as accessories—trailing from his lower back, circling both wrists, and fluttering a few inches above his knees.

It was a precaution against a sudden berserk episode. At the first sign of trouble, they could bind him again.

His combat uniform was already striking. The straps added an inexplicably forbidden edge.

I had actually slept with someone like this…

I deserved to die.

You Ran lowered his eyes and looked at me in confusion. He probably couldn’t understand why I had fallen when he clearly hadn’t touched me.

I looked like a scammer faking an accident.

I shook my head quickly. “No, you didn’t bump into me.”

“I twisted my ankle on my own.”

You Ran paused, then crouched and stared fixedly at me. His nostrils twitched. His expression softened noticeably.

“What did you say? Your voice is so quiet.”

He was too close.

I was scared.

I scooted backward, squeezed my eyes shut, and shouted, “I said you didn’t bump into me! I fell by myself!”

Qiao Gui couldn’t watch any longer. He stepped between You Ran and me.

“Noble Sentinel, I have no idea what’s gotten into you, but you’re keeping us from dinner. Could you spare this poor guide and let us go?”

You Ran gave Qiao Gui a cool glance.

Then he stood, stepped around him, and reached toward me.

I thought he was going to hit me.

My body launched into a seamless little defensive combo: arms over my head, knees to my chest, curled into a protective ball on the floor.

Silence.

It was as though someone had pressed pause on the entire Central Tower.

Belatedly, I realized everyone was watching us.

You Ran laughed in sheer exasperation. He crouched and took my hand.

“I was only trying to help you up. Am I really that frightening?”

I had overreacted again.

It was terribly rude of me.

My palms turned slick with sweat. I had no idea what to do.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

You Ran yanked me upright. Caught off guard, I tumbled straight into his arms.

A fluffy head burrowed into the crook of my neck. You Ran seemed to take a deep breath there.

“You don’t need to apologize,” he said, his voice muffled.

“My sentinel pheromones are too strong.”

He lifted his head and studied my face.

“What’s your name? Your voice is beautiful.”

“Will you be my exclusive guide?”

His lips curved. His whole face was unfairly beautiful.

“I’m an SSS-rank sentinel, currently the strongest sentinel on the Blue Planet. Nineteen years old. One hundred ninety centimeters, seventy-eight kilograms. I’ve never dated anyone, never had an exclusive guide, and have only received skin-contact guidance.”

I stared at him. “What???”

Didn’t everyone know a guide had forced himself on You Ran?

Or was that still only speculation, never confirmed?

The entire lobby exploded.

Qiao Gui was ecstatic. “Holy shit, Ying Yuan! The powerful backer we wanted just delivered himself to your door! Can I reserve one of your thighs to cling to?”

Apart from Qiao Gui, almost every sentinel and guide frowned at me.

Their eyes all said the same thing: I was trash. I wasn’t worthy.

“Has You Ran lost his mind? What use is an F-rank guide?”

“Talk about desperate. Did he choose him for that face? Sure, he’s pretty, but he’s still a man…”

Qiao Gui flew into a rage. Hands on his hips, he glared at the guide who had spoken first.

“That’s hilarious. I seem to recall some A-rank guide once tried to crawl into You Ran’s bed and seduce him with mucosal guidance. You Ran threw him out, then warned the Central Tower never to match them again.”

“What is this now? Is a certain guide feeling jealous?”

Then he turned toward the sentinel who had made the second remark.

Before Qiao Gui could even open his mouth, the sentinel’s knees slammed into the floor. He pitched forward until he lay prostrate, unable to rise.

Qiao Gui applauded. “Oh my, this animal actually knows to kneel and apologize on his own. Guess I’ll save my breath and skip the scolding.”

You Ran never even looked in that direction. He pressed my head against his chest and said coldly, “Ugly people always make the most trouble.”

Was he talking about me?

My face was covered in bruises. I had to look awful.

I tried to push him away. “I’m sorry. I’m an eyesore. I’ll leave right now.”

He wouldn’t budge.

I was so frantic that I started crying.

I truly was terrified of attracting attention. Attention only ever brought me more misery.

Summoning my courage, I looked up at You Ran.

“C-could you let me go?” I begged, trembling, my voice thick with tears.

You Ran stared down into my eyes. He pressed his lips together and turned his face away.

I must have been so ungrateful that I had made his ears burn red with anger.

His voice came low but absolute.

“No.”

My world collapsed.

Like a puppet, I let You Ran lead me away.