Ch 7: How To Be A Good Lackey (QT)

Shao Ye clearly felt that after he spoke, the leather shoe pressing on his chest seemed to push down harder. But before he could figure out what Xi Guanming intended, the pressure suddenly lifted, and the shoe moved away.

Xi Guanming lowered his head and looked at Shao Ye’s slightly dazed eyes, full of apology. “Sorry. I was thinking just now and didn’t watch where I was going. I stepped on you by accident. Does it hurt? Are you alright?”

Shao Ye let out an “oh,” not doubting him in the slightest. He shook his head. “It’s fine. Doesn’t hurt. Even if you stepped harder, it’d be okay.”

“Why would I step harder?” Xi Guanming let out a soft laugh. He bent slightly, his gaze moving down from Shao Ye’s face, taking him in from head to toe. Shao Ye was wearing nothing but a pair of dark blue patterned swim trunks, lying there completely defenseless, unafraid of what others might do to him.

But given how well he fought, with more than a dozen people unable to do anything to him and instead ending up beaten into a mess themselves, he really didn’t need to be afraid.

Xi Guanming’s gaze returned to Shao Ye’s face. Smiling lightly, he asked, “But Shao Ye, why are you lying here? If you want to sleep, you should go back to the dorm. And your mouth… why is it bruised?”

Shao Ye puffed his cheeks. “Just fought a bunch of idiots.”

He’d gone too easy on them earlier. Translated on Hololo novels. If this weren’t school, if his boss hadn’t yet acknowledged him, he would’ve beaten them so badly even their parents wouldn’t recognize them.

Xi Guanming seemed completely unaware of what had just happened. He frowned slightly in disapproval. “Shao Ye, the student council’s lectures haven’t ended yet, have they? Why aren’t you being obedient?”

Shao Ye felt wronged and immediately defended himself. “They attacked first! President, this was self-defense. I can’t just lie there and let them beat me!”

“Oh? That’s true,” Xi Guanming said, his brows relaxing. “Who was bold enough to cause trouble at a time like this?”

“I don’t know them,” Shao Ye said, sounding a little aggrieved.

The smile at Xi Guanming’s lips deepened. “It’s alright. I’ll check the surveillance later and find out who they are.”

“President, once we catch them, how will they be dealt with?”

“According to school regulations.”

According to regulations, it would probably just be a disciplinary record. Shao Ye pouted in disappointment.

“What’s wrong? Do you have other ideas?” Xi Guanming asked.

Shao Ye nodded eagerly. “Can it be worse for them?”

“I’m afraid not. The student council has to follow the rules.”

Just as he thought.

His president was simply too principled, too impartial. Or maybe Shao Ye just wasn’t important enough to him yet. He would have to keep working harder.

He believed in himself. He could do it.

Xi Guanming had no idea what was going through Shao Ye’s mind. The slightly downcast, puppy-like eyes suddenly lit up again, filled with hope for the future.

Straightening, Xi Guanming looked down at Shao Ye, still on the ground. “Can you get up? Do you need me to have someone take you to the infirmary?”

“No, no, I’m fine. Just a bit tired. Wanted to rest for a while.”

Besides, the infirmary was probably busy. The dozen people who had run out earlier were in worse shape than him.

As he spoke, Shao Ye sat up. With the motion, beads of water slid down his honey-colored chest, over his firm abdomen, then disappeared into the waistband of his swim trunks.

Xi Guanming’s gaze was drawn to that drop of water almost against his will. It vanished from sight too soon.

Why did that feel… unfortunate?

Shao Ye noticed his expression shift and followed his gaze downward. Nothing was wrong. He had briefly thought his swim trunks had faded in the water, which would have been embarrassing.

“President?” he called.

Xi Guanming came back to himself. “It’s nothing. But even if you’re tired, you shouldn’t lie here. Go back to your dorm and get some proper rest.”

Shao Ye nodded and stood up, wiping the water from his face. “President, did you come here to swim?”

“No,” Xi Guanming replied. “A student reported that someone had blocked the pool entrance. I happened to be free, so I came to take a look.”

Who was it that beat him to reporting it?!

Shao Ye let out an “oh,” a hint of frustration appearing on his face.

He never hid his emotions well. Happiness or displeasure was always written clearly on his face. But sometimes, even someone as perceptive as Xi Guanming couldn’t quite tell what he was thinking.

“I still have things to take care of,” Xi Guanming said with a smile. “Shao Ye, head back on your own and be careful.”

Shao Ye was about to nod when Xi Guanming suddenly changed his mind. “Actually… it won’t take long. I’ll walk you back.”

Shao Ye didn’t really understand. Translated on Hololo novels. It was broad daylight. What danger could there be? But since the president was offering, there was no way he would refuse.

After quickly changing, Shao Ye left the gym with Xi Guanming. On the way back to the dorm, Xi Guanming received a call. His usually gentle expression darkened for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, he returned to normal.

Shao Ye felt secretly pleased that he had caught that fleeting change. Where else could you find a subordinate as attentive as him?

“What happened, President?” he asked.

Xi Guanming glanced at him and sighed softly. “Si Xu and Jiang Yan have gotten into another conflict. I’m worried.”

Worried? About what?

Si Xu and Jiang Yan both had terrible tempers. It was normal for them to clash. But why was the president so concerned about Jiang Yan? Didn’t he say before that he didn’t like her?

Wait… he never actually said that.

Shao Ye suddenly had a realization. His eyes lit up. “I understand!”

“What do you understand?”

Shao Ye patted his chest and assured him, “Leave it to me. I’ll protect Jiang Yan and make sure Si Xu doesn’t get near her. President, you can rest easy.”

Rest easy?

Hearing this, Xi Guanming almost wanted to laugh. Looking at Shao Ye’s utterly confident expression, he gave a soft “mm” and said with a hint of gratitude, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Shao Ye.”

Shao Ye didn’t find it troublesome at all. The president was willing to entrust him with something so important, which clearly showed an extraordinary level of trust. He would definitely carry out the task well and not disappoint him.

From now on, Si Xu wouldn’t get anywhere near Jiang Yan.

Shao Ye’s execution was astonishing. He didn’t even bother sleeping and immediately went to chase away the annoying “flies” around Jiang Yan.

As a result, the suffering shifted to Si Xu.

He seriously suspected that he had offended fate this year. One Jiang Yan wasn’t enough, and now this Shao Ye had appeared out of nowhere just to oppose him.

Jiang Yan was one thing, she was a girl, and he had some interest in her, so he was willing to tolerate her again and again. But what was Shao Ye supposed to be? Just because he hadn’t made a move lately, did this guy really think he was someone easy to bully?

Jiang Yan herself didn’t understand why Shao Ye had suddenly started caring about her so much. She had always assumed Shao Ye was on Si Xu’s side. Only now, seeing him fighting Si Xu’s people, did she realize she had misunderstood. Splashing Si Xu with water at Lostin that day had been wrong, but she didn’t regret it at all.

After Si Xu’s people were driven off, Jiang Yan walked up to Shao Ye and asked, “Why are you helping me?”

Shao Ye had already decided that Xi Guanming liked Jiang Yan, so he worked hard to boost his boss’s favorability in front of her. Hearing her question, he immediately replied, “The president told me to.”

Jiang Yan was even more confused. “Xi Guanming? Why?”

Did the student council really have nothing better to do?

“Of course it’s because our president likes you!” Shao Ye declared righteously.

Jiang Yan: “Huh?”

And just like that, rumors that Xi Guanming liked Jiang Yan spread throughout Golden Laburnum. However, since the two barely interacted, most people treated it as a joke and didn’t really believe it.

Still, some people were anxious enough to lose sleep over it.

Early the next morning, Zong Xingze, the most mysterious “little prince” of Golden Laburnum, showed up at Xi Guanming’s office with dark circles under his eyes. He was about to jump onto the desk when he remembered Xi Guanming’s cleanliness habits and awkwardly stepped back instead.

Seeing Xi Guanming ignore him, Zong Xingze pinched his voice and called, “President~”

Xi Guanming lifted his eyelids and gave him a cool, indifferent glance.

“Why are you treating me like this, President? It breaks my heart,” Zong Xingze said, clutching his chest dramatically.

“What do you want?” Xi Guanming asked, his tone cold, nothing like the gentle demeanor he showed in public.

“I heard you like Jiang Yan. That’s not true, right?” Zong Xingze asked cautiously.

Xi Guanming countered, “Why? If I do like her, will you stop liking her?”

“Well… no. If you like her too, then I’ll just have to get rid of you.” Zong Xingze drew a finger across his throat.

Xi Guanming ignored him and opened his laptop.

“Come on, tell me the truth. Do you like Jiang Yan or not?”

Without looking up, Xi Guanming tossed the question back. “What do you think?”

Zong Xingze groaned. “You’re no fun.”

Xi Guanming clicked the mouse twice. The screen displayed surveillance footage from the oak grove north of the artificial lake. Si Xu had brought people to block Shao Ye’s path.

Xi Guanming narrowed his eyes. A smile appeared on his face that made Zong Xingze’s skin crawl.

“I think… it’s quite interesting,” he said.

“What’s interesting about that?” Zong Xingze asked, baffled.

Xi Guanming didn’t answer. In the footage, Si Xu’s voice could be heard as he approached Shao Ye step by step.

“Do you know what mistake you’ve made?”

Shao Ye clearly hadn’t grasped the seriousness of the situation. Rolling his wrists, he said, “What mistake? Beating you until you didn’t know what to do?”

Si Xu’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Through clenched teeth, he said, “You’re really a loyal dog to Xi Guanming. Too bad he doesn’t even want you.”

Shao Ye bared a row of white teeth, completely unconcerned. “Trying to drive a wedge between me and my boss? Save it. The bond between me and my boss is something you could never understand. I’m telling you, even if the sky collapses and the seas dry up, my boss would never not want me. He’s super satisfied with me, okay? He’ll never find a better underling than me!”

Inside the surveillance: Si Xu: “…”

Outside the surveillance: Xi Guanming: “…”

…

Author’s note:

[No. 6 is really in danger this time. Let’s wish him a safe journey]

: How is he in danger? Doesn’t he have the president protecting him?

: Wait, you actually believe that? Did you and No. 6 buy your brains together on discount?

: Even the president is stunned. Where does No. 6 get this confidence?

: Is there some hidden plot the show didn’t reveal?

: If there is, it’s so hidden that even the president himself doesn’t know

: The president set up a perfect “kill with a borrowed knife,” and No. 6 not only didn’t notice, he’s charging straight into it

: Si Xu: Help! This guy is a rabid dog! Do I need a vaccine after getting bitten?

: Even the president is speechless

: Si Xu brought some strong people this time. No. 6 probably can’t hold out

: Even if he does, Si Xu will pressure the school to expel him. With No. 6 around, he can’t get close to Jiang Yan at all

: RIP

: I wonder if No. 6 will realize the president’s true nature before the end

: When he finds out the president actually finds him annoying, he’s going to cry little pearls

: I want to see the little pearls! Can we get that livestreamed too?

: Why is the shipping thread screaming again

: They re-edited No. 6’s last line

: What?

: “My boss is super satisfied with me”

: “He’ll never find anyone better than me”

: …

: …

: …

: My silence is deafening

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