Sweetheart, My Shadow Guard - Chapter 3

Hidden Four stood to the side, looking utterly stunned.

Hidden One pondered for a moment before speaking in a serious tone, “Since you originally booked the room under Ning Yao’s identity, just report her name.”

“Big Brother?! You—”

“Little Jiu, I’ve practically watched you grow up. If we can hide this, we will. Besides, the woman who booked that room really was Ning Yao.”

Those who could join the Xuanming Camp were mostly orphans with nowhere to go. After so many years together, bonds had naturally formed. Moreover, Qing Jiu reminded him so much of his younger brother, who had died in his youth. Back then, he hadn’t been able to protect his brother—this time, he wanted to protect Qing Jiu.

A warm feeling surged in Qing Jiu’s chest as he whispered, “Thank you.”

“If you call me Big Brother, then it’s my duty to protect my younger brother. Little Four, today, you never came looking for Little Jiu, and you know nothing about any Ning Yao. Understood? As for Chen Wei’s mission, Little Jiu, you’re stepping back. I’ll take over.”

Hidden Four replied quietly, “Understood.”

“Big Brother, forget it. If the master finds out, you’re dead. This is my responsibility—I can’t drag you into it.”

“No! This matter is settled. Nothing will go wrong. But if you go to the master privately to confess, I’ll also admit that I knew and didn’t report it—and beg the master to execute me.”

“Big Brother…”

Qing Jiu wanted to say more, but Hidden One cut him off. “Rest well. Leave the rest to me.”

With that, Hidden One pulled Hidden Four out of Qing Jiu’s room.

–

Study of the Cold Prince’s Manor.

Shangguan Yunhan held a brush, carefully and meticulously sketching Qing Jiu’s appearance based on fragmented memories from the previous night.

“Little Hanhan…”

“Thud—”

“Ah—”

Ouch. Just the sound alone was painful.

Luo Yixuan clutched his forehead, which had just been struck by a teacup, and stood at the study door, shooting a resentful glare at Shangguan Yunhan.

The moment he had pushed open the door, a jade-green teacup had come flying at him—impossible to dodge—landing squarely on his forehead.

“Luo Yixuan, have I not warned you against calling me that?”

Ever since Luo Yixuan heard the Empress Dowager use that nickname during the palace banquet, he had taken to teasing Shangguan Yunhan with it, each time sounding more and more punchable.

Luo Yixuan retracted his aggrieved look, lowered his hand from his forehead, closed the study door behind him, and then sauntered inside with a grin. Shangguan Yunhan hadn’t actually thrown the cup that hard—at most, it left a faint red mark.

“Ahem, don’t be mad. So, I heard you were drugged last night and then slept with a woman?”

“…”

Do you even hear yourself?

“Come on, it’s not every day the iron tree blooms. Don’t be stingy—share the details with your old friend.”

“Get lost. Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Wow~ Where did this fair-skinned, beautiful, slim-waisted, long-legged beauty come from?”

Shangguan Yunhan’s gaze turned icy. “Do you no longer want your eyes?”

Sensing danger, Luo Yixuan quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look at the painting for another second.

But if he wasn’t mistaken… that was a man, wasn’t it?

Though the figure in the painting appeared to be a stunning Western Region dancer, he had spotted an Adam’s apple.

“Last night, you didn’t possibly…”

Just then, Xuan Yi’s voice sounded from outside the study. “Master.”

“…”

Would it kill you to let me finish? Why does everyone keep interrupting me?

“Enter.”

Hearing Shangguan Yunhan’s voice, Xuan Yi raised his hand to push open the door and entered. He then knelt on one knee about a meter away from the desk.

“Reporting to my lord, the person has been found!”