The Beloved Guide Was Forced in a Love-Rival Shura Field - Chapter 2

In the midst of the air that had almost frozen solid, a gentle electronic voice sounded in Ning Ning’s mind.

【Ding! Main quest released.】

System 89’s voice was as pleasant as ever.

【Quest content: Host, please reject the Ning family’s marriage proposal and verbally humiliate the target, Xiao Lin, thereby ruining your first meeting.】

Ning Ning’s heart abruptly contracted.

Humiliate him?

His gaze, against his will, drifted toward that man. The other’s eyes were still terrifyingly focused, as if the entire world had melted away, leaving only Ning Ning—and he was the center of that world.

【Quest hint: Have your spirit beast display extreme fear and rejection toward the dark-gold giant wolf, to prove your “incompatibility.”】

Ning Ning’s fingertips went icy cold. He forced himself to stay calm and sent a cold command to his spirit beast in his mind—fear it, then reject it.

The little moon rabbit, who had been curled up at his side, curiously watching the big creature, suddenly went stiff. The next second, all its snowy-white fur exploded in a puff, like a ball of fluff zapped by lightning.

A sharp, silent cry pierced the spiritual plane. The little moon rabbit leapt violently away from the protective circle the giant wolf had carefully constructed. In its panic, it tumbled clumsily across the velvet sofa. Without a thought, it scrambled back into Ning Ning’s arms, long ears plastered flat against its head, body curled into the smallest ball possible, trembling uncontrollably.

The reaction was too extreme. The dark-gold giant wolf, sprawled on the floor, froze completely.

In its emerald eyes, that blazing devotion evaporated instantly, replaced with pure bewilderment and hurt. Its massive body shifted uneasily, great head lifting slightly as if it wanted to approach and soothe, yet afraid its presence would terrify the little thing further. Trapped between advance and retreat, a low growl rumbled from its throat—confused, aggrieved, sounding heartbreakingly pitiful.

The burning heat in Xiao Lin’s gaze was doused by this sudden turn.

He clearly felt his spirit beast’s helplessness and pain. That sharp stab pierced through the spiritual link, lodging precisely in his heart. His breath hitched, and his fist clenched tight at his side, knuckles paling with force.

How could this be?

Why?

Ning Zhenhai’s smile froze stiff on his face. He looked at the trembling rabbit in his son’s arms, then at the drooping giant wolf opposite. At a loss, he stammered, “Ning Ning, w-what’s going on?”

Ning Ning didn’t dare look at his father. Gritting his teeth, he forced his pale fingers tighter, then lifted his chin, meeting Xiao Lin’s fathomless gaze. The fiery intensity there had faded, replaced with an icy scrutiny, pressing down on him like a mountain, suffocating.

He raised his jaw slightly, trying to put on the air of a spoiled, arrogant child, but the flushed corners of his eyes and trembling lips betrayed his panic. That already overly delicate face, now tinged red from tension, looked even more like he was pouting.

“I don’t want him.”

His voice was soft and light, carrying an unconscious sob, like a small creature cornered into showing off its harmless claws.

“He smells of rust and blood. I hate it. And his spirit beast… it’s too fierce, not cute at all.”

The moment his words fell, the air in the reception hall seemed to freeze.

In a flash, all color drained from Ning Zhenhai’s face. His lips trembled; he couldn’t form a single word. Secretary Lin was so frightened his soul nearly fled, back snapping straight, brain filled with one thought: It’s over. This little ancestor really dared to say it!

The smell of rust and blood—that was the medal of a Marshal of the Empire, a top-level sentinel who had fought countless battles to protect the Empire.

Now, it had become the reason his fated guide openly despised him.

The dark-gold giant wolf quivered violently. In those beautiful green eyes, the once-overflowing, near-devout love and protectiveness shattered, vanishing completely. Blinking in bewilderment, it lowered its great head, sniffing at its sleek golden fur.

Was there? That was its natural scent, proof of its strength.

But now—it was hated.

That sharp, gutting rejection pierced Xiao Lin’s chest through the link like an icy needle. His tall body went rigid, that suffocating aura of burning heat vanishing in an instant, replaced by frozen silence.

He looked into the boy’s watery eyes full of resistance. His throat bobbed, but no words came. In his chest, the beast that had just moments ago beat madly for the boy now lay still, as if dead, leaving only a suffocating ache like a fall into the abyss.

Ning Ning regretted it the moment the words left his mouth. The wolf looked like a big dog with its ears drooping, even its glorious fur seeming dull, pitiful as if abandoned by the whole world. His own heart twisted with guilt.

Had he gone too far?

Xiao Lin remained silent. His sharp-boned face revealed nothing, only the taut line of his jaw betraying a ripple beneath. He did not retract his spirit beast, letting it remain exposed, watching Ning Ning with deep eyes as if trying to peel him apart and see every fragment of truth or lie inside.

The silence was more frightening than any reprimand. Ning Ning could hear the blood roaring in his ears. Xiao Lin’s gaze pressed so heavily it was hard to breathe.

A sharp pang struck his heart.

He clenched his clothes tighter, forcing himself to carry out the quest. The giant wolf had buried its head lower, ears drooping weakly, curling in as if it wanted to disappear from the world that had hurt it.

He forced himself to look away, turning to Ning Zhenhai, his voice laced with practiced petulance, though the trembling tail notes betrayed him.

“Daddy, look at him, he’s scary. I said I don’t like him, but he keeps staring at me.”

He paused, inhaled deeply, and with all his strength threw out the ultimate killing move he had rehearsed hundreds of times, every word burning his throat:

“And… he’s so boring. He doesn’t even talk. If we’re together, it’ll be dull. I don’t want him—get me another one.”

“Get another one.”

The three light words fell like three blades, icy sharp, striking Xiao Lin’s heart with merciless precision.

The last wisp of movement in the reception hall stilled.

Ning Zhenhai’s facial muscles twitched violently. His lips worked, almost ready to kneel on the spot. “M-Marshal… my son, he… he’s talking nonsense!”

Secretary Lin was even more terrified, gripping his tablet until his knuckles turned white. In his head, he could hear his career shattering. Another one? Did this little ancestor think the Empire’s only S-rank Marshal was a bargain-bin item from the StarNet Mall that could be casually exchanged?

【……】 Even System 89 fell into rare silence, as if the development exceeded its calculations. At last, it reported mechanically: 【Warning: Target Xiao Lin’s mental stability value showing extreme fluctuations. Emotional index: heartbreak -99%, obsessive possessiveness +100%.】

Ning Ning screamed inwardly: Shut up! I can see that myself!

He didn’t dare meet Xiao Lin’s eyes, yet the weight of that gaze pressed like a physical force on his skin, making him tremble.

Just then, the giant wolf—seemingly lifeless—moved.

It rose silently, massive frame like a moving mountain. Each step was so heavy it seemed it could crush a heart, yet made no sound. As Ning Zhenhai and Secretary Lin tensed like drawn bows, it reached the sofa.

It did not approach Ning Ning, not even daring to look at him. Instead, it bowed its great head low.

Then, under everyone’s stunned gaze, its proud ears slowly flattened back against its skull, turning into the most submissive, humblest “airplane ears.”

It made no sound, only nudged softly with its nose at the sofa cushion near Ning Ning’s feet. Once. Then again.

So gentle, like feathers brushing past, brimming with supplication.

Once. Then again.

A broken, pitiful rumble gurgled from its throat—the sound of a beast offering up its most treasured thing, stripped of all aggression, pure submission.

It dared not touch him. It only dared touch the place he had sat.

Those emerald eyes flicked quickly, timidly, toward the white rabbit nestled in Ning Ning’s arms. They brimmed with pleading, supplication, and a sorrow so deep it overflowed.

It was saying: Don’t abandon me. Please.

Ning Ning’s heart clenched, both aching and soft, as though a giant hand squeezed it tight.

He looked at the massive wolf’s head nudging the sofa, ears drooped, once-proud golden fur dulled, like it might burst into tears at one more harsh word.

His clenched fist loosened, lips parting slightly. The cruel line he had prepared—Stay away from me—lodged in his throat like burning cotton, impossible to force out.

“89…” he pleaded desperately in his mind. “It… it looks so pitiful. Isn’t this mission too much? I feel like the worst scumbag alive, bullying some poor innocent.”

【Quest still in progress. Host, please continue.】 System 89’s voice remained warm, yet brooked no argument.

“I…” Ning Ning’s gaze lingered on the giant wolf still nudging the sofa, his defenses crumbling piece by piece.

Finally, Xiao Lin moved.

He silently watched his spirit beast—watched it humiliate itself, begging for the boy’s mercy. The raw, exposed desperation of his soul could no longer be hidden. That was him—his truest, most fragile self beneath the armor.

His throat worked, as if swallowing shards of glass, before forcing out a single broken word between clenched teeth.

“…Fine.”

One word, yet it seemed to drain every ounce of his strength.

Ning Ning’s head jerked up, meeting those abyss-deep eyes. Within them swirled dark, unreadable currents—hurt, confusion, and deep down, a burning, unmistakable obstinacy.

As if saying: You can reject me, but you can only be mine.

He turned to the ashen-faced Ning Zhenhai, voice steady, calm, unreadable—yet colder than any fury.

“Mr. Ning, I’ve imposed enough for today.”

A simple farewell, but heavy as iron.

At his words, the begging giant wolf froze. Its ears snapped upright. It cast one last, lingering glance at the white rabbit, eyes filled with endless longing and grief. Then its colossal form dissolved into golden motes, fading into nothing.

Xiao Lin inclined his head slightly, without sparing Ning Ning another look. His decisive posture was like slicing away his own flesh and blood. Turning, he strode toward the door.

His back remained tall and straight, like an unsheathed blade—but to Ning Ning, it radiated indescribable desolation and loneliness.

The heavy wooden door closed behind him with a dull thud, severing their worlds apart.

The reception room fell into dead silence.

The moon rabbit in Ning Ning’s arms seemed to sense the sorrow. It shifted uneasily, nudging its head against his chin.

Ning Ning stared blankly at the closed door, a strange pang in his chest. A flood of guilt drowned him whole.

He lowered his head, staring at his empty hands. Just now, he had almost reached out—just to stroke those pitiful, drooped airplane ears.

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