Gu Nanfeng doesn’t have the same romantic thoughts as Si Yu, but no sentinel would knowingly push away their fated partner.

Especially when the other person is trying so hard to get closer.

Just thinking about it makes them anxious, unsure of what to do—worried about making a mistake that might upset the other person, and equally afraid that doing nothing will make them seem indifferent.

Actually, liking someone is a pretty vague concept.

It could be because they’re really good-looking, or their smile is especially heartwarming, or maybe their gentle personality, outstanding achievements, or just a small touching moment during daily interactions. People approach emotions emotionally, and there’s always a moment that makes you decide to give them a special place in your heart.

At that moment, just thinking about them makes your heart feel both soft and full, your throat tightens a bit, and you’re left unsure of what to do, wishing you could see them every day.

It’s like flowers blooming in the world, like a fish leaping in a lake, more like the morning light spreading across the world at sunrise, waking up every cell in your body, a desire surging up. Then, under their gentle gaze, all that turns into a warm breeze, soft rain, and in the end, you’re left with a feeling like fluffy, sweet clouds of love.

This is exactly how Qiao Si Yu felt at this moment.

His eyes sparkled: “Lower your head a little.”

The other person complied.

Qiao Si Yu wrapped his arms around the other’s shoulders and kissed him.

He was trembling a bit from excitement, but soon the other person held him by the waist, fixing him in their arms. His offered lips and tongue were swiftly and forcefully taken, the tip of his tounge was sucked until it went numb. He could barely breathe, his breaths came in short gasps, and his hands slid from the other’s shoulders to their chest.

In his mind, his consciousness cloud rang with a sound like wind chimes.

After the mental bond was formed, the cloud of consciousness became somewhat overexcited. Gu Nanfeng held him close, his body heating up, trying hard not to dwell on the feeling of the other’s lips and tongue.

Qiao Si Yu gently held him in return.

“Last night… I should’ve kissed you,” Gu Nanfeng suddenly remembered the cougar bumping into him.

Qiao Si Yu nodded.

Gu Nanfeng’s voice was a little muffled: “I was so dumb.”

Qiao Si Yu thought to himself, “Yes, yes, you were a little dumb.”

---

The next day, the “silly” Gu Nanfeng was chased around by a bat fluttering at his head.

It was his fault—he’d forgotten the promised strawberry. In the end, with the combined efforts of the cougar and an angry bat, Gu Nanfeng had to offer up a melon to make amends.

After eating the melon, the bat’s belly was so swollen it was a bit alarming, and it lay on the table, unmoving.

Gu Nanfeng panicked.

At first, he thought about giving it some digestive pills, but he was afraid that bats shouldn’t take medicine. Then, he thought about massaging its belly, but the bat whimpered uncomfortably.

Gu Nanfeng and his cougar stood helplessly by, watching the bloated bat lying on the table. In the end, they took the bat to find the guide.

It was after dinner, during their break, and under the watchful eyes of the surrounding guides, Gu Nanfeng nervously held the large bat.

When Si Yu came down and saw the scene, he was a little speechless.

Gu Nanfeng: “What should I do? It looks really uncomfortable. Should I take it to a vet?”

Si Yu: “It’s fine, it just ate too much. It’ll feel better after a nap.”

The bat was reabsorbed into the Si Yu’s cloud of consciousness, and after Si Yu recieved the bat’s memories, he sighed: “You can’t eat that much.”

Gu Nanfeng cleared his throat: “I’ll be more careful next time, I promise.”

Si Yu: “You don’t have to be so serious.”

Gu Nanfeng laughed: “Alright, alright, I’m just saying. You’re my leader, after all.”

Everyone around was watching the two of them, and their looks all seemed to say: “Eww, they’re flirting.”

Guides might not have the keen senses of sentinels, but both of them were high-level sentinels, and their spiritual bond was strong. The spiritual power fluctuations they emitted when together were noticeable to everyone in the room.

Both of them were a little embarrassed under the attention. After exchanging a glance through their mental connection, they quietly slipped off to the training room.

Once inside, Gu Nanfeng set the mode to weapons combat, and Si Yu worked with him to select the weapons. Nearby, the cougar, who had been let out, excitedly circled Si Yu, rubbing up against him, then began licking him.

Gu Nanfeng quickly pulled it away, mentally cursing at the cheeky cougar—I haven’t even had my turn yet, and you’re already cutting in. Don’t you want any meat later?

Si Yu: I can hear you.

GU Nanfeng: ” …”

Si Yu: The last time we bonded spiritually, I couldn’t hear your thoughts because I cut off the empathy link.

Remembering his past behavior, Gu Nanfeng felt utterly awkward: Ahem.

Si Yu, eyeing the large cat at his feet: Do my eyes really look small?

Gu Nanfeng felt like he’d shot himself in the foot and quickly said: No, not at all.

Si Yu: You’re feeling guilty.

Gu Nanfeng panicked: Don’t read my emotions! I’m only feeling guilty because I think I was such a jerk before. Don’t overthink it.

Si Yu: Oh.

Gu Nanfeng: Hey, really, don’t overthink it. You know how clueless I used to be—I didn’t think that much about what I said. I just had a reckless mouth.

Si Yu, sighing softly: You even called me mute.

Gu Nanfeng wished he could go back in time and punch himself, blurting out: Why don’t you just hit me?

Si Yu reached out.

And then lightly tapped him on the head.

Gu Nanfeng: …

Si Yu: There, I hit you. Now don’t say that again.

This wasn’t a hit—it was clearly a flirtation.

Even the clueless Gu Nanfeng couldn’t miss the hint this time.

He grabbed Si Yu’s hand, turning his head to kiss it. Si Yu’s compliant, sweet demeanor, offering himself up so easily, was so cute that he couldn’t resist deepening the kiss. When he caught the scent of the Si Yu’s pheromones, he finally stopped.

After bonding spiritually, their spiritual energies fused more deeply, so each contact was a reinforcement of the bond, making it easier to sense each other’s pheromones.

Gu Nanfeng’s mind screamed that he should stop, that he couldn’t continue, but his hands wouldn’t obey, and he held Si Yu tightly, unable to let go.

Si Yu, blushing and his heart racing, whispered: You…

Gu Nanfeng, burying his face in Si Yu’s neck: Give me a moment.

The timing wasn’t right, and the place wasn’t right either. This time, he wanted to cherish and respect Si Yu completely.

Si Yu: Mhm… Actually, when You said I have small dick…

Gu Nanfeng, feeling like he was about to explode: Okay, okay, you win! Please, have mercy, I was wrong!