Bab 25: Bodyguard?
Editor: AtlasStudios
It was as if time had stopped; white skirt, black hair, slender fingers, plum blossom teapot, the faint scent of tea. If you were to just see the contours, it was as perfect as a painting.
The tea was poured into two matching cups, red as the teapot. Just enough tea for one mouthful.
“Are you just going to stand there?” Zhou Qianlin lifted her head, looking at the frozen man before her.
White trousers, pale green shirt, short black hair, sender build. But his most arresting feature were those eyes, full of reminiscence.
“Oh.” Lan Jue was shaken from his haze and approached, sitting in the rattan chair set before her.
Zhou Qianlin motioned towards his drink, lifting her own cup. As the scent wafted towards her, she lifted it to her mouth and took a sip.
Lan Jue lifted the cup to his nose, then took a sip. “Jin jun mei, Lapsang Souchong black tea.” He’d always liked the nice things of this world, the ceremonial tea traditions from Former Era China with centuries-old history and culture. It was full of countless principles and traditions, so naturally he’d enjoy it. Contrary to most tea lovers who preferred green tea, he always enjoyed the black.
Green tea was for the scent, black was for warmth.
A small sip, and the aroma washed over him, like his body was transparent. For a moment his worries melted away.
“Good tea,” Lan Jue said praisingly.
Zhou Qianlin poured them both another cup. The small containers could only hold a very small amount. One sip, and more must be poured.
He took another drink, and placing the cup on the able before him, looked at the person adjacent.
Bright azure eyes, calm and impassive, quivering eyelashes.
“Let’s try this again. I am Lan Jue, proprietor of Zeus’ Jewelry Store on Skyfire Avenue.” He reached a hand towards Zhou Qianlin to shake.
Zhou Qianlin regarded him coolly, her eyes serene but distant.
Lan Jue awkwardly retracted his hand. In fact he’d barely managed to keep himself from asking how she was. Clearly that wouldn’t have been appropriate.
“I didn’t ask you here for a fresh start. We should talk about our situation.” Her voice was as pleasant as ever, but there was a distinct chill to it. Perhaps her cold nature was the reason she had chosen black tea, he thought to himself.
“Fine.” Lan Jue nodded.
Zhou Qianlin fumed. He acted like nothing had happened! Honestly…
“Unless I’m remembering incorrectly, you promised me a favor,” she said.
“Indeed. And you’ve thought of one?” Lan Jue stared at her. Zeus had made that promise, surely her request wouldn’t be an ordinary one.
Zhou Qianlin nodded. “I have.”
Lan Jue was anxious to resolve this. His face was calm, but it didn’t mean he’d forgotten. In fact he had never known this level of guilt.
“I’m a student,” Zhou Qianlin began, opening the lid of the teapot. She poured in more hot water and continued. “National Eastern University, National Scholar, Junior.”
National Scholar? Amid the beating of his heart he remembered the video they had sent, the first time he’d seen her. She had been moving between classes.
He’d heard of the National Eastern University, a top school in the nation. It was a mecha-piloting university. Everything they taught was related to mecha. However only the mecha branch was famous for combat, so the whole school wasn’t named a military university.
Considering the background of the Eastern Alliance, the NEU was the single best institution of higher learning. A four year bachelor’s degree and you could find any related job immediately after graduation. With this sort of education background you were guaranteed social progress, and a stepping stone to success in the military. Of the bachelors, the particularly talented were selected to continue their studies. They were the National Scholars.
National scholars, too, studied in a four year program, but they were the elite of the four alliances. They were assured an important position in their field, moreover it was very possible they would see further advancement in a very short time.
In the Eastern Alliance there were only a handful of institutions who trained National Scholars, thus every year less than a thousand such graduates were produced. As a result, National Scholars were highly prized. It was the same in the other two alliances as well.
“I didn’t know you were a National Scholar.” Lan Jue smiled.
“I haven’t graduated yet,” Zhou Qianlin replied, “You can’t call me that.”
Lan Jue said, “If I’m not mistaken, the NEU is a mecha-piloting university. As you’re a graduate student, did you want me to train you in regards to mechs? This I can do, though it wont be easy.”
It was the first thought that crossed his mind, though she may not know of his identity. However she had seen his capabilities the day he’d captured her, she looked like a smart girl.
But what she said next left him stunned.
“I don’t need a mecha teacher,” Zhou Qianlin replied dismissively. “You think I’d want a teacher who was rude and boorish to me?”
“Rude.. boorish?” Lan Jue felt the hair on the back of his neck rankle. No one had ever called him that before.
“We’re nobility, how could I possibly be boorish?” Lan Jue’s breath came uneven.
“Aren’t you,” Zhou Qianlin snapped back. “You don’t even know what a hospital is, and you aren’t boorish? If you aren’t, what else could I call you…?”
Lan Jue looked like he’d been slapped, his agitation beaten out of him. He frowned and leaned against the back of his chair. He said nothing else – there was never else for him to say – there was nothing he could do to erase his sin.
“What do you want,” he asked. He just wanted to leave, quickly. The woman across from him made him feel impotent. He didn’t feel like Zeus – he felt like minced meat on a cutting board.
“It’ll be some time until I graduate. Two years. Because of what happened a week ago, the Western Alliance is likely to seek reprisal against the Eastern Alliance. Especially my family. I’m worried about my safety. You’re rash and infuriating, but you’d do well as a bodyguard. Until I graduate, I’ll need you to protect me at school.”
“Bodyguard?” His voice raised an octave. He’d absolutely never expected her to ask for something like this. He’d thought Zhou Qianlin would disregard his offer, but now he felt like there were ten thousand alpacas stampeding through his head.
Bab 26: Sat on by a Pig
Editor: AtlasStudios
“Nope.” Lan Jue refused without hesitation.
What is guarding? Day in and day out with the client, always by their side, constantly on your toes. The key factor was time, because poor timing could mean someone’s life.
Zeus, the untouchable master of the mercenary world, had served before as a body guard for two years. It was intolerable.
Why did he become a mercenary in the first place?
A Ninth Level Talent, God-Ranked Mecha-Pilot, infinite possibilities… why choose the life of a mercenary? It was simple, really – freedom.
Thus Lan Jue rarely returned home, he couldn’t stand the constraints.
Simply said this condition set by Zhou Qianlin went against his very nature, indeed he couldn’t comply.
He took up the enameled pot, pouring himself another small cup of tea. He replaced it and took another sip.
“Something else,” Lan Jue said in ill temper. When in her presence, even if he didn’t realize it, he hardly seemed like a noble.
“No need.” Zhou Qianlin stood. “A man who fails to keep his promise, what use could I have for him?”
As she spoke, she moved towards the door to leave.
“You!” Lan Jue jumped to his feet, grabbing her wrist. “What on earth do you want?!”
She glared cruelly at him. “What do I want? I told you what I want, but since you can’t agree then forget it.”
“Then what happened between us…” he began in hesitation.
Zhou Qianlin yanked her hand away and stood toe to toe with him, staring fiercely in to his eyes. Lan Jue unconsciously took a step back.
“It was like being sat on by a pig.” She spat the sentence at him, turned on her heel and left.
Lan Jue felt like a victim of his own Lightning Discipline, standing there frozen for a long while.
“Stop!” After a few moments he finally reacted, running outside. He ran nearly headlong in to the waitress.
“Sir, you haven’t settled the bill.”
He paid hurriedly and hastened outside. He finally caught up with Zhou Qianlin at the door to the Luo Yun teahouse.
“Stop right there!” Lan Jue shouted at her.
Zhou Qianlin lin spun around, regarding him calmly. “You have something to say?”
“Y-you…!” lightning rippled in Lan Jue’s eyes, clearly on the verge of erupting.
She lifted her head, scorn evident in her beautiful sky-blue eyes. “What’s the matter? Ashamed?”
Lan Jue loosened his tightened fists, stepping back. “Ask for something else!”
Zhou Qianlin turned once again and began to walk off.
This time Lan Jue did not pursue, watching her slender form vanish around a nearby corner. He couldn’t stop his fists from clenching once more. He was finding it difficult to contain his emotions.
Around the corner Zhou Qianlin had stopped when out of sight, leaning against the wall. She covered her red face with her hands, gasping headily through her open mouth.
The pressure was immense, and she felt as though in that moment there still burned the heat of those two large hands pressing down on her shoulders.
And then a laugh burst unbidden from her lips. The whole scene was too much! Sat on by a pig!
Hah! He’s got to be so pissed! What choice does the honorable and respected Zeus have?
ζ
In the same instant Lan Jue was returning to Zeus’ Jewelry Store.
Seeing his infuriated face, Xiuxiu and Ke’er gulped. The expression in his eyes was stranger still.
Lan Jue said not a word, going directly to his room. He needed to think.
“Who’s he so upset with? He looks so… ugly,” Ke’er said, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Xiuxiu shook her head. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him this angry.”
As he entered the room Lan Jue flopped down atop his bed, his head resounding with Zhou Qianlin’s pleasant voice.
“Bodyguard!”
“Sat on by a pig!”
The two phrases echoed over and over in his mind. He knew that had someone else spoke to him like that he’d have incinerated them. But not Zhou Qianlin, she was his Jinyu’s sister, and he still…
Only, this request was nearly impossible to accept. To be beside her every day as a bodyguard. How could anyone who values freedom live like that? And it was more than two years – the length of her schooling, at least two years and three months.
No, impossible! Regardless of the circumstances, impossible!
Yet to refuse was to go against his own moral code. In the heat of the moment they never discussed terms. Moreover he was the one that had taken her innocence. If he didn’t make recompense it would be like a thorn in his heart forever, like a fish bone caught in the throat.
At the same time Zou Qianlin was also lying in her bed, covered by a light pink gauze curtain. Her room was constructed like an ocean of flowers. Lying atop the soft bed, her eyes were hazy, filled with several emotions, her mind in a constant state of flux.
Will he accept? If he doesn’t, what then?
Beep, beep, beep!
Zhou Qianlin nearly leapt from the bed, but sputtered when she saw he number on her communicator.
“Little Mi, what is it?”
“Tang Mi!” came the agitated shout from the communicator.
“Fine, fine. Tang Mi,” Zhou Qianlin responded helplessly.
“I heard you’ll be returning to classes next week. Are you sure everything’s alright?”
Zhou Qianlin responded, “What do you mean alright?”
“Your mood,” Tang Mi said. “After something like this you certainly can’t forget it right away.”
Zhou Qianlin snorted. “I forget about it ages ago. I’ll return to class next week. Let me copy your notes.”
Tang Mi chuckled. “You really want to forget then that’s fine. I’m telling you though, you aren’t allowed to have any sort of relationship with my idol. I’ll be a mercenary myself, the beautiful woman chasing the every step of the Mercenary King, you wont be able to compete with me.”
“Go then, meet a man and lose all your friends.” She unceremoniously hung up the communicator.
Beep, beep, beep the communicator rang anew.
Zhou Qianlin impatiently answered. “I won’t compete with you, alright? He’s all yours!”
“Compete with what,” a surprised voice answered from the communicator.
Zhou Qianlin sat up. “Is it you?”
The response was low, simple, like it required a great deal of courage to utter.
“You’re request… I accept.”
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