SS-Class Guide - Chapter 10

Sentinel Jing Lan was appointed as the commander-in-chief for the mission in the Fifth District.

Due to An Yuan’s involvement, which added another double-S-rank capacity to the team, the two Masters of the Hall of Divine Martial Arts planned to consult the other two double-S-rank Sentinels for their opinions.

One Master looked at An Yuan and asked, “Lord An Yuan, I know there may be some friction between you and Sentinel Gu Hanqing. However, missions are unpredictable, and many things are beyond our control. If we select Sentinel Gu Hanqing, would you be comfortable with that?”

An Yuan thought to himself, “It would be best if you did not.”

However, he believed Gu Hanqing would not participate anyway. After all, he had been very busy lately: busy taking care of Ning Yuanqiao.

An Yuan’s lips curved into a flawless, professional smile. “I am Lord Gu Hanqing’s exclusive Guide. No matter what happens, that fact remains unchanged.”

This had nothing to do with personal feelings. Just as An Yuan was a vital asset to the Thean Temple, Gu Hanqing was equally indispensable as the first double-S-rank Sentinel in the Five Districts. Regardless of how intense their personal conflicts were, it was undeniable that Gu Hanqing had successfully completed every mission assigned to him. When the Zerg legions invaded, the super warrior who could stand alone against an entire army was always the one at the front.

An Yuan possessed high professional standards; his job was to follow orders. With that, the conversation concluded. An Yuan went downstairs to continue working overtime.

Before he knew it, it was seven o’clock, and Wen Xiuyan arrived to pick him up. Wen Xiuyan said, “Let us go out for dinner tonight.”

An Yuan felt it was becoming inappropriate to follow Wen Xiuyan around so much lately. He began to decline, “No, I,”

“Xiuyu is here,” Wen Xiuyan added.

An Yuan paused. “Oh? I thought Xiuyu would be busy.”

After the summer break, Wen Xiuyu would be entering his senior year of high school. As a child of the Wen family, he should have been busier during the break than during the school term, with an endless schedule of private tutors and Madam Wen’s constant supervision.

Wen Xiuyan’s expression remained calm. “Yes. I believe Xiuyu missed you.”

An Yuan smiled. “I have not seen him in a while. It is a good time to provide him with some mental guidance.”

An Yuan suddenly recalled the Qixi Festival, when the little fellow should have been studying but instead asked Wen Xiuyan to buy roses. He thought, “This is just the youth of children.”

On the way back, An Yuan asked Wen Xiuyan to stop at a gift shop. He intended to buy a present to comfort the young boy. After all, why was he worrying about romance at such a young age?

Wen Xiuyan asked, “What are you buying?”

“Since Xiuyu’s heart was broken, I want to buy him a gift. Perhaps it will cheer him up. Do you have any recommendations?” An Yuan asked.

Wen Xiuyan glanced around the store. “Perhaps some study materials would be best?” he suggested tentatively. “Maybe some mock exam papers?”

An Yuan’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “You really are his biological brother.”

Wen Xiuyan looked serious. “I care for Xiuyu very much.”

Ultimately, An Yuan chose a fountain pen, hoping the boy would focus more on his studies and less on romance. He wanted him to do well on his college entrance exams and get into one of the top ten Sentinel and Guide academies. Before leaving, he also purchased a high-quality pair of Bluetooth headphones and stopped by the convenience store next door for a pack of glucose candies; these were sour and sweet treats that Wen Xiuyu had always loved.

He had originally thought about getting a game console, but he feared the boy would lose himself in play. After much thought, the headphones seemed appropriate; he could listen to white noise to relax when he was tired.

The two returned home. As soon as the door opened, they saw Wen Xiuyu waiting in the foyer. Little Wen Xiuyu was seventeen years old, seven years younger than An Yuan and Wen Xiuyan, and was already an S-rank Sentinel. Although not yet an adult, he stood over 180 centimeters tall, making him slightly taller than An Yuan. Likely due to being a Sentinel, his physique was solid and strong. Like Wen Xiuyan, he had inherited Madam Wen’s sun-golden hair and bright blue eyes.

When Wen Xiuyu saw the two of them, he first gave Wen Xiuyan a cold look. The next second, his expression shifted instantly, blooming into a sun-like smile. Like an affectionate large dog, he threw himself into An Yuan’s arms, looking quite clingy despite his size.

An Yuan smiled, unwrapped a candy, and popped a glucose drop into Wen Xiuyu’s mouth.

Wen Xiuyu said in a wheedling tone, “Brother An Yuan is still the best.” He then glanced at Wen Xiuyan with a hint of pride.

Wen Xiuyan’s smile remained unchanged, as gentle as ever. “Xiuyu, you are no longer a child. Do not pressure An Yuan.”

An Yuan patted Wen Xiuyu’s head and looked at Wen Xiuyan with smiling eyes. “It is fine.”

Wen Xiuyu shot another glance at Wen Xiuyan and provocatively grabbed An Yuan’s arm with both hands. They looked incredibly close.

“Brother An Yuan, I missed you so much,” Wen Xiuyu said.

In the past, after An Yuan had guided him through his first berserk state caused by an unstable mental landscape, the boy had stuck to An Yuan like glue; he was even more attached than to his own brother. Since An Yuan began dating Gu Hanqing, he had tried to avoid overly intimate physical contact with others out of consideration for Gu Hanqing’s feelings, but Wen Xiuyu was the sole exception. Gu Hanqing had been jealous before, but An Yuan’s answer was always the same: “He is just a child.”

Even now, An Yuan still treated Wen Xiuyu like a little boy. When mentioning him to others, he often referred to him as “the little one at home” or “the kid.”

An Yuan gave the gifts to Wen Xiuyu. The boy took them with a look of pleasant surprise. “Thank you, Brother An Yuan! This brand of fountain pen is very good, and these headphones are exactly what I wanted. The sound quality is supposed to be amazing.”

Wen Xiuyan’s expression did not flicker. “Xiuyu, I recall giving you the same model of Bluetooth headphones before. You turned around and gave them to someone else.”

An Yuan looked at Wen Xiuyu.

Wen Xiuyu shook An Yuan’s arm playfully. “Brother must have remembered incorrectly. I did not give them away; I just accidentally lost one of the earbuds. I actually like them very much. Brother An Yuan, I really love these. I will cherish them and use them for the rest of my life!”

An Yuan poked Wen Xiuyu’s cheek. “You are just acting spoiled,” he said. “There is no need to cherish them that much. I will buy you new ones every year from now on.”

Wen Xiuyu exclaimed, “Brother An Yuan really is the best!”

An Yuan led Wen Xiuyu into the white noise room. After providing guidance, they went out to eat, choosing dishes that Wen Xiuyu liked. An Yuan sat on the inner side of the booth. Wen Xiuyu originally wanted to sit next to An Yuan, but Wen Xiuyan smilingly steered the boy to sit next to him instead.

Halfway through the meal, Wen Xiuyan stepped out of the private room to take a phone call. An Yuan, like any elder, tried to educate the disobedient teenager. In fact, Wen Xiuyu was the only junior in his life. “Xiuyu, you cannot keep upsetting Xiuyan every day.”

In An Yuan’s eyes, Wen Xiuyan was an excellent brother, while Wen Xiuyu was something of a brat.

Wen Xiuyu glanced at the door, stood up, and sneakily moved to sit next to An Yuan. Seeing Wen Xiuyu, who looked fifty percent like the gentle and upright Wen Xiuyan, making such a face made An Yuan laugh. He could not help but pat the boy’s hair again.

Wen Xiuyu leaned against An Yuan and whispered, “Brother An Yuan, do not be fooled. My brother is really not a good person!”

An Yuan sighed. “Little one, you are being naughty again.”

Wen Xiuyu looked anxious. He took out his phone and showed An Yuan the chat history between himself and Wen Xiuyan. “Brother An Yuan, look! Look at how my brother usually treats me!”

An Yuan blinked and glanced at it, but feeling it was a breach of privacy, he silently looked away. However, in those two glances, he noticed something.

Wen Xiuyu would send messages, and Wen Xiuyan would either not reply or wait a very long time to do so. As for the content:

Xiuyu: “Brother, I am going over to your place.” Hours later, Wen Xiuyan: “No.”

Xiuyu: “I am already in the car.” Wen Xiuyan: “Go back.”

Xiuyu: “Then I will go find Brother An Yuan.” This time, the reply was faster, Wen Xiuyan: “Wait at home first.”

Xiuyu: “I want to stay at Brother’s house tonight.” Wen Xiuyan: “I will have someone send you back tonight.”

An Yuan was somewhat surprised. Generally, when he messaged Wen Xiuyan, he received a reply almost immediately. He had not expected him to be like this with Wen Xiuyu. It was unexpected, but he would never tell Wen Xiuyu how much his brother used double standards.

Wen Xiuyu shook An Yuan’s arm. “Brother An Yuan, you are my brother’s friend, and he replies to you instantly. I am his brother, yet he ignores me. He is really not good to me. Only Brother An Yuan is kind!”

An Yuan was silent. Why did Wen Xiuyu know about the instant replies? He tried to salvage Wen Xiuyan’s image. “It is not like that. It is because you are family. Do not overthink it; Xiuyan loves you very much.”

As they spoke, Wen Xiuyan finally returned. He looked at Wen Xiuyu with a smile. Under Wen Xiuyan’s gentle gaze, Wen Xiuyu’s face stiffened. He stood up and went back to his own seat, sitting obediently.

After dinner, Wen Xiuyan drove An Yuan back to the Jingye District first, then prepared to take Wen Xiuyu home. Wen Xiuyu did not want to leave. “If Brother will not take me in, I will go to Brother An Yuan’s house.”

An Yuan did not mind, but Wen Xiuyan did not give him the chance. “No, Xiuyu. You are about to start your senior year. Go back and study hard.”

Wen Xiuyu was dissatisfied but had no choice against Wen Xiuyan’s firmness. Before they left, An Yuan pressed some candies into Wen Xiuyu’s hand. He started with one, thought for a moment, and then added a few more. It was not out of stinginess; he just did not want the boy to get cavities.

Wen Xiuyu’s arrival had helped An Yuan’s heavy heart relax slightly.

The next day, work proceeded as usual. Xing Lulu entered the office and told An Yuan that because he was participating in the Fifth District mission, a crowd of S and A-rank Sentinels had eagerly signed up. According to everyone, since this was An Yuan’s first mission, they would be spending a lot of time together, and everyone was looking forward to it.

Xing Lulu remarked, “It is like a crematorium of suitors centered around Lord An Yuan!”

An Yuan was speechless.

Xing Lulu then told him that two double-S-rank Sentinels would be on the mission. Jing Lan was a fixed participant, and the remaining slot would go to either Gu Hanqing or Wen Xiuyan.

An Yuan assumed Gu Hanqing would not join. However, the next moment, he heard Xing Lulu say, “Lord An Yuan, Lord Gu Hanqing has been trying to see you these past few days. He can see you, but he has had absolutely no opportunity to be alone with you.”

This was true. Currently, Gu Hanqing’s status was stable and he did not require guidance. In such circumstances, their encounters were limited to elevators, meeting rooms, the staff cafeteria, and other public areas within the Thean Temple. Whenever Gu Hanqing tried to approach An Yuan, a wall of Sentinels and Guides would suddenly emerge from all directions, as if terrified that the two might reconcile.

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