Chapter 209: Quite Resourceful, Mr. Jealous

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Quite Resourceful, Mr. Jealous

"The S-Class guide coming for support is actually Lin Yueyao?"

Yun Sheng murmured softly, then suddenly squeezed Si Jin’s fingertips.

"How do you know that in such detail?"

Si Jin gave a low cough, avoiding Yun Sheng’s curious and probing gaze.

’He couldn’t very well admit it. After Bai Ye left, he’d had a feeling the guy wouldn’t give up so easily, so he’d found a way to contact people on Capital Star and have them secretly monitor his every move.’

Admitting that would make him seem far too petty.

Seeing him look so guilty yet trying to act nonchalant, Yun Sheng suddenly understood.

She let out a soft laugh and squeezed his long fingers again, gently rubbing the pad of her thumb over his knuckles. Her voice held a hint of teasing.

"You’re quite resourceful, aren’t you, my little sourpuss?"

"I have to be sour," Si Jin’s voice was muffled and a little awkward. "A man like him was willing to change his identity and deliberately get close to you. I have to be on my guard!"

That guy, Bai Ye, always had such a business-like attitude. For him to go to such lengths for Yun Sheng was proof enough of how much he liked her.

The very thought of it made Si Jin’s heart ache with jealousy, as if someone had poured an entire bottle of vinegar over it. Even his breath felt sour.

Hearing his words, Yun Sheng felt a mix of amusement and tenderness.

She reached out and gently pinched his slightly reddened earlobe.

It was warm to the touch. She slowly traced her fingertip along the shell of his ear, a gesture that was part soothing, part teasing.

Si Jin caught her mischievous hand and held it in his palm. His grip wasn’t too hard or too soft, but it carried a possessiveness that brooked no refusal.

"Yun Sheng, you don’t have to feel conflicted." His voice was low, his blue eyes fixed on her with a serious air. "I get jealous, that’s just how I am. But I won’t interfere with your choices."

A prickle of emotion suddenly stung Yun Sheng’s nose.

She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled his head down to press a soft kiss on the corner of his lips.

"Si Jin, you’re so good to me."

Her voice was very soft, tinged with a smile and an indescribable ache of affection.

Si Jin’s eyes darkened. He cupped her waist with his hand, pulled her into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her.

The night wind was growing cooler. Si Jin released her, his thumb gently caressing her cheek.

"Go back. It’s getting late."

Yun Sheng nodded, then stood on her tiptoes again to peck him on the corner of his lips before turning to walk toward the tent.

After a few steps, she glanced back at him.

Si Jin was still standing there. His blue eyes were startlingly bright in the darkness, and the corners of his lips were turned up in a faint smile that filled her heart with an incredible warmth.

...

Yun Sheng lifted the flap and entered the tent.

Li Wen and Cheng Nian immediately crowded around her, their eyes sparkling as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Cheng Nian blinked, unable to suppress her curiosity, and asked in a low voice, "Yun Sheng, why did Xing Che call you over?"

Yun Sheng froze for a second. Before she could speak, Cheng Nian pressed on, "What’s the deal between you two? When you were unconscious, the look on his face was terrifying. And then he carried you all the way back to camp... you have no idea how tense he was..."

Li Wen didn’t say anything, but she also stared at Yun Sheng, the flames of gossip practically burning in her eyes.

Yun Sheng opened her mouth, but for a moment, she didn’t know how to answer.

’My relationship with Xing Che?’

’Even I couldn’t explain it clearly.’

’Is he my Sentinel? We just met. But... I already said yes to him...’

She lowered her gaze, avoiding their intense stares, and said vaguely, "He didn’t say much. He just asked how I was doing."

Cheng Nian looked completely unconvinced. She took Yun Sheng’s arm and shook it. "Yun Sheng, you’re deliberately avoiding the question. Something fishy is going on!"

Even Li Wen decided to add fuel to the fire, her voice laced with teasing.

"Yun Sheng, just tell us. We’re not outsiders."

Just as Yun Sheng was about to say something, a chilly voice cut in from the side.

"Hah, you guys sure have wild imaginations. Every time a high-Level one shows up, she tries to latch onto them. Last time it was White Tiger, this time it’s this Xing Che... Tsk, tsk..."

It was Zhao Qian.

She was lying on her side on her cot, her back to them. Her voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear.

The air in the tent suddenly turned cold.

Cheng Nian’s face fell. She turned and glared at Zhao Qian’s back. "Zhao Qian, what did you just say?"

Zhao Qian rolled over and sat up slowly, her gaze sweeping over Yun Sheng with a sneer on her lips.

"What, you didn’t understand me? Some people, if you ask me, should stop being so presumptuous."

Yun Sheng looked at her, her expression placid. She wasn’t angry, nor did she try to defend herself.

’I haven’t even settled the score with Zhao Qian for putting the Beast-attracting Incense in my shoes, and here she is, stirring up trouble again.’

’There’s no way I’m letting this go!’

Cheng Nian’s face flushed with anger. She took a step forward, ready to argue, but Li Wen held her back.

Li Wen shot Yun Sheng a look, signaling for her to ignore it.

Yun Sheng withdrew her gaze. Her tone was light, but her words were crystal clear. "Zhao Qian, instead of wasting your energy worrying about other people’s business, you should spend more time improving your own abilities. Then maybe you wouldn’t be dragging the whole team down every time."

Zhao Qian’s face instantly turned crimson.

She shot upright, her voice rising. "I’m dragging the team down? Yun Sheng, stop with the backhanded comments!"

Yun Sheng watched her unhurriedly. "Am I not speaking the truth? I’m just an F-level, but haven’t I performed better than you in the last few fights against the contaminants?"

"You..."

Zhao Qian was so furious she couldn’t think of a comeback. The blush on her face spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.

She threw off her blanket, got out of bed, and stomped toward Yun Sheng, her steps heavy and hurried as if she were trying to vent all the frustration she’d bottled up over the past few days.

"Yun Sheng, you only act so tough because you have people protecting you! Without them, what are you?!" Her voice was sharp and frantic, her eyes red. "If you’ve got the guts, let’s have a one-on-one match!"

’Ever since she ended up on the same team as Yun Sheng, she’d been holding this in for too long.’

’Why did an F-level like Yun Sheng, who was worse than her in every way, get so many High-level Sentinels fawning over her?’

’Why was she always so well-protected, with High-level Sentinels showing up to save her whenever there was danger?’

’Why was everyone on her side?’

Yun Sheng gave her a dismissive glance and was about to speak.

Suddenly, a gentle voice, tinged with concern, softly interjected from the tent’s entrance.

"What’s going on here?"

Everyone froze and looked toward the entrance in unison.

A slender figure lifted the flap and walked in, a warm smile on her face.

"Zhao Qian, did my sister do something to upset you?" Her voice was as soft as a spring breeze in March, full of apology. "This is her first time at a field training. If she did anything wrong, I’ll apologize to you on her behalf. You’re teammates, so please don’t fight."

Yun Sheng looked at the newcomer, her eyes narrowing slightly.

’Lin Yueyao...’

’She certainly got here fast!’

’But instead of going to guide Qi Yao first, she comes here to put on this sweet and innocent act. How interesting!’