Quick Transmigration: God of Slaughter? But He Calls Me Baby! - Chapter 9

Gu Sheng’s fingers slowly traced from Qian Zhou’s waist up toward his back, stopping at a distance of about two fingers.

He lowered his gaze, staring intently at Qian Zhou’s lower back.

After a long moment, he reached out and smoothed out the wrinkles on the boy’s shirt.

Still staring at that glaring gap, he said:

“You’re a little too thin, aren’t you?”

Qian Zhou didn’t understand what he meant. He rose slightly on tiptoe, and muttered in a muffled voice:

“No, it’s just that you’re too tall.”

Gu Sheng’s shoulders were broad, and years of training had made the muscles in his arms stand out clearly.

Qian Zhou had no idea what exactly he was dissatisfied with.

Taking a step back, he lifted his head slightly and stared seriously into Gu Sheng’s eyes, warning:

“You’re not allowed to do anything too much to me.”

“If you do that again, I’ll cause you trouble.”

Gu Sheng studied him for a moment, then shifted his gaze away, saying: “Is that so.”

Outside, the sunlight carried scorching heat into the room.

Standing in the shade, Qian Zhou heard Gu Sheng say:

“That shouldn’t be too troublesome.”

The office, usually quiet and austere, was filled with silence.

Qian Zhou tugged at his shirt hem and muttered under his breath:

“How could Jiang En possibly like someone like you…”

Gu Sheng didn’t let him leave.

So Qian Zhou could only lie on the small sofa.

【Qian Zhou: As expected, Gu Sheng won’t tell me anything】

【System 052: Then you’ll have to approach it from other angles. You can’t just sit idle until next Thursday】

Qian Zhou picked up the phone on the desk and opened the chat window.

It was still on Jiang En’s last message.

He had forgotten to reply earlier—Jiang En was probably upset.

Qian Zhou placed a voice call.

Jiang En’s ringtone was still that ridiculous oiiai… loop.

It rang twice before being abruptly hung up.

“Hm?” Qian Zhou dialed again.

After being hung up three times in a row, Jiang En’s voice finally came through:

“Qian Zhou, you’re so annoying!”

“But I need to talk to you,” Qian Zhou said.

“Hmph, what does your business have to do with me? I don’t want to deal with it. And don’t you dare call me again,” Jiang En snapped.

Qian Zhou paused, then softened his tone:

“Jiang En, I’m sorry.”

The other end went silent.

After a while, Jiang En mumbled:

“W-Well, fine then… I won’t hold it against you. I wasn’t really that angry anyway.”

The faint hum of the outdoor air conditioner filled the pause.

Qian Zhou replied gently.

It was the hottest time of the year, and over the phone came the sound of Jiang En clinking ice cubes.

With the phone probably set aside somewhere, his voice sounded a bit faint.

“What did you need me for?” Jiang En asked.

Qian Zhou stole a glance at Gu Sheng—he couldn’t very well say I want to ask about your Uncle Gu right in front of him.

“Will you come to the company to keep me company?”

Then he added, word by word:

“Un-cle Gu is here too.”

It was the first time Gu Sheng had ever heard Qian Zhou call him that.

The title carried with it a hint of dependence, strangely pleasing to the ear.

Qian Zhou turned his head, meeting Gu Sheng’s gaze.

“Can I go out for a bit?” he asked.

Gu Sheng pulled a box from his drawer. “You can, if you wear this.”

He opened the box to reveal a silver bracelet inlaid with tiny diamonds, wrapped in satin.

Qian Zhou knew this was the price.

Even though all he wanted was to step out for a moment.

The bracelet sparkled under the light. Qian Zhou obediently held out his wrist so Gu Sheng could clasp it on.

The silver chain coiled delicately around the boy’s slender wrist.

【Qian Zhou: The bracelet actually looks pretty nice】

【System: The largest purple gem has a micro-tracker inside】

【Qian Zhou: Not nice anymore】

He tilted his head back, watching the elevator floor numbers rise, and touched the cool bracelet around his wrist.

It reminded him, uncomfortably, of silver handcuffs.

Another way Gu Sheng bound him to his side.

As the elevator rose, System 052 kept chattering in his mind.

【System 052: Host, have you considered actually following the capture route?】

【Qian Zhou: No. You’re not the one being messed with】

【System 052: But you’ve already accumulated a fair amount of capture points】

【Qian Zhou: And what good does that do…】

He lowered his head, staring at the tips of his shoes, tapping the elevator floor one step at a time.

【Qian Zhou: He treats me like a puppy…】

Not allowed to go out.

Always had to remain within his line of sight.

Had to greet him first whenever they met.

If he was pleased, he would reward him with snacks.

Wasn’t this just like raising a pet?

The elevator chimed, reaching the lobby.

Qian Zhou sat in the lounge area waiting for Jiang En.

Unlike Gu Sheng’s office, it felt hot here after a while.

He shifted closer to the air conditioner and waited another ten minutes or so.

Then Jiang En slipped inside, furtive and sneaky.

“Over here,” Qian Zhou waved him over.

Jiang En was covered head-to-toe in sun-protection gear—sunglasses, mask, hat, the works.

If not for the little curls of chestnut hair poking out, Qian Zhou might not have recognized him.

“So hot, so hot…” Jiang En pulled everything off in front of the air vent, finally sighing in relief.

“What happened to your face?” Qian Zhou pointed to his cheek.

A patch near Jiang En’s jaw was red and slightly swollen.

He immediately touched his face. “Ah! Is it swollen again?”

“The sun was brutal today. I didn’t even want to come out…”

He quickly put his mask back on, hiding the redness.

Guilt pricked at Qian Zhou.

He dragged Jiang En upstairs to the staff cafeteria, heading straight for the kitchen fridge.

While Qian Zhou prepared a bag of ice, Jiang En looked around curiously.

“When are you taking me to Uncle Gu’s office?” he asked.

Qian Zhou pressed the ice pack to his cheek. “In a little while.”

Jiang En held the ice to his face. “Don’t lie to me. If you do, I’ll get someone to beat you up.”

“…I promise I won’t.”

Glancing around, Qian Zhou noticed the only place without cameras was the walk-in freezer.

He tugged Jiang En inside.

“What do you really want from me?” Jiang En asked as Qian Zhou pulled the door halfway shut, blocking the view of the cameras.

Only then did Qian Zhou lower his voice and ask:

“Have you ever seen Gu Sheng on a Thursday?”

Jiang En frowned. “Why are you asking me that? Don’t you live with Uncle Gu?”

“He goes out sometimes. I’m not always with him.”

Qian Zhou gave a casual excuse.

Jiang En didn’t press further but started thinking carefully.

His eyes drifted down to the frost seeping from the freezer seams, and for some reason, his face grew warm.

With two fingers hooked together, he murmured: “Uncle Gu…”

Seeing his lovestruck look, Qian Zhou sighed helplessly.

After hesitating, Jiang En blushed and admitted:

“I did visit him once when he was on break…”

Then his expression hardened. “But you can’t tell my brother!”

Qian Zhou replied, “I’m not even close with your brother.”

At the mention of his brother, Jiang En’s interest flatlined.

But when it came to Gu Sheng, he ducked his head shyly again.

“Uncle Gu is so gentle. He even invited me in for juice.”

“Oh? Then when exactly was this break you’re talking about?” Qian Zhou asked.

Jiang En looked up, puzzled. “Doesn’t Uncle Gu take every Thursday off?”

Qian Zhou nodded.

So Gu Sheng didn’t fall ill every Thursday after all.

“Go on,” he urged.

Inside, the freezer was far colder than outside, a thin layer of frost covering the walls.

Jiang En pulled his clothes tighter, edging closer to Qian Zhou.

“…But Uncle Gu doesn’t seem to like being disturbed on his days off. The next time I went to see him…”

“He was really fierce.”