The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 59

While Yan Ningjin went to the darkroom to freshen up, Bai Xuan quietly leaned toward Qin Xiao and whispered, “Madam, all the suppressants used by the military are purchased from the Qin family, including this latest batch. Normally, the Qin family takes advantage of their monopoly over this industry and acts high-handedly. Anyone we send to negotiate always ends up hitting a wall.”

Qin Xiao rubbed her fingers together thoughtfully after hearing this.

After delivering her reminder, Bai Xuan stood tall behind Qin Xiao with her hands clasped behind her back and her gaze fixed straight ahead.

When Yan Ningjin came out, she naturally sat beside Qin Xiao and considerately offered her arm as a human pillow. “If you are tired, just lean on me and rest for a while.”

Qin Xiao’s eyes sparkled, but she did not reject Yan Ningjin’s closeness. “I am not tired for now. Let the representative from the Qin family come in. I want to hear what exactly they want to negotiate.”

What could they possibly want to discuss?

Most likely, they had heard news from the outside that several berserk Sentinels in the Xiao Corps had received timely treatment… and now, as the Qin family stood at the center of controversy, they had probably come seeking this very cure.

Yan Ningjin signaled Bai Xuan, who personally went to receive the guests.

A man and a woman entered.

Qin Xiao’s almond-shaped eyes widened. When enemies met, emotions ran high. She was all too familiar with one of them. The woman was Madam Qin, Lu Ke, the former head of the Guide Academy who had once tried to coerce her into joining. As for the man beside her, he was her husband, the Qin family’s eldest son, Qin Yu.

When Qin Yu and Lu Ke saw Qin Xiao half-leaning lazily against Yan Ningjin, both were stunned. Qin Yu quickly regained his composure, but Lu Ke’s face visibly twisted when Qin Xiao winked playfully at her.

“I heard the General has been matched with a one-hundred-percent compatible Guide. That must be Madam. Congratulations.”

“We owe it all to the former headmistress showing mercy. Otherwise, Xiao Xiao and I would not have successfully completed our trial marriage.”

This was the first time Qin Xiao had seen Yan Ningjin use such sharp sarcasm. The former headmistress’s face darkened further at the words. Qin Xiao smiled brightly, showing eight perfect teeth. “Hello, Madam Qin.”

Lu Ke’s eye twitched. Only after repeated signals from Qin Yu did she reluctantly respond, her smile strained.

Qin Xiao had no intention of letting Madam Qin off easily. After all, that woman cared greatly about appearances. “Madam, you don’t look well. You seem even more haggard than when I saw you the other day. Are you perhaps burdened with too many worries, leaving your heart uneasy?”

Qin Yu looked surprised. “You met her a few days ago? What a coincidence.”

Madam Qin interrupted him nervously. “Ah Yu, let us get to the point. We can catch up later, after the main discussion.”

Her words made Qin Yu’s smile freeze. He looked faintly displeased.

Qin Xiao, however, maintained her half-smile and continued from where Qin Yu had left off. “Yes, such a coincidence. A few days ago, I wanted to chat with Madam Qin, since she is the only one I know in the Qin family, but their doors are high and mighty. A wild girl like me, who came out of nowhere, likely isn’t qualified to step into their household.”

Bai Xuan gasped. “Madam, who would be so bold?”

The room fell silent.

After a long moment, Yan Ningjin spoke with a dark expression. “Xiao Xiao, what happened?”

Qin Xiao leaned against her and gently stroked her shoulder like smoothing fur. “Yan Yan, it wasn’t such a big deal. Some overly meticulous housekeeper in the Qin family saw that I was dressed too casually and looked too ordinary, so they threw me out like some debt collector.”

Yan Ningjin had truly not known about this. Hearing the Guide’s aggrieved tone, a sharp pang shot through her heart. She pulled Qin Xiao close and held her tightly. “You should have told me.”

Qin Xiao murmured in her embrace. Even if the Qin family arrived with a grand procession, she would never set foot in that house again, not after being thrown out so disgracefully.

Still, being called the General’s wife had its perks.

Qin Yu felt his heart tremble at those words. His smile nearly collapsed. “General, Madam, could there be some kind of misunderstanding?”

Qin Xiao peeked out from Yan Ningjin’s arms and nodded like a pecking chick. “Young Master Qin, you are right. I think there must have been a huge misunderstanding. Otherwise, why would Madam Qin see me and have me thrown out? Could she still be holding a grudge over what I said in the royal palace? Had I known things would escalate that badly, I would have turned a blind eye instead of exposing those truths.”

Qin Yu: …

Qin Xiao spoke with such sincerity, but Madam Qin looked ready to cough up bl00d. Her wide eyes stared at Qin Xiao, unable to form a response.

Bai Xuan stood properly, yet her shoulders trembled. She had finally understood what kind of person the General had married. This Guide could twist black into white and vice versa.

“Smack!”

Qin Yu suddenly turned and slapped Lu Ke across the face. Her head snapped sideways.

“You foolish woman! Apologize to Madam right now.”

The slap was so hard her lip bled. Lu Ke glared at Qin Xiao with deep hatred, as if her eyes alone could pierce her full of holes.

Qin Xiao took the chance while Qin Yu wasn’t looking to stick out her tongue at Lu Ke. Then she buried herself back into Yan Ningjin’s arms, pretending to be frail.

Yan Ningjin gently rubbed Qin Xiao’s back, soothing her. However, her expression was grim. “Young Master, is it appropriate to strike your wife in front of everyone? If you need to teach your spouse a lesson, please do so behind closed doors.”

Qin Xiao silently agreed. Men who hit women often lacked real ability and only postured in front of others. Marrying such a man was a lifetime of misfortune.

Qin Yu looked pale and then flushed under Yan Ningjin’s rebuke. “The General is right. It’s just that I lost control, seeing how rude she was to Madam. I apologize for the disturbance. Please forgive us.”

Yan Ningjin replied, “See them out.”

Bai Xuan personally escorted the defeated pair out. Then she turned back, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Qin Xiao. “Madam, your skill is truly remarkable.”

Qin Xiao smacked her lips, looking utterly unexcited. “Yan Yan and I are going to rest now. You may leave.”

Blinded by their unprompted affection, Bai Xuan stood speechless.

The two lay together in bed, and Qin Xiao muttered, “The Lu family must hate me to death.”

First, it was Lu Wen who came to stir up trouble. Now, Lu Ke had been slapped by her own husband, and Lu Ming… rumor had it she was quite the character, too. Qin Xiao had crossed paths with every person in that generation of the Lu family.

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt.

Seeing her pout, Yan Ningjin commented, “The Lu family and the Xiao Corps have never gotten along. Even without you, they would have come after me. So Xiao Xiao, why did you go to the Qin house to find Lu Ke in the first place?”

Qin Xiao’s almond eyes darted about. Could she admit she went to borrow a person for research? Of course not. “I was bored that day. I saw a crowd outside the Qin estate, and happened to notice Madam Qin going out. I just wanted to say hello. Then—”

Then Madam Qin looked at her like she was some disgusting insect and instantly ordered people to throw both her and Yu Jing out. It was the ultimate humiliation.

Qin Xiao pouted. “At the time, I thought if they ever crossed me again, I’d make them roll two laps around Aige Street.”

Yan Ningjin chuckled. “You are so kind, Xiao Xiao. Just two laps?”

Qin Xiao thought, The more noble the family, the more prideful they are. Especially a domineering clan like the Qin family. Making them roll around such a busy street would probably be worse than death for them.

“They will come back.”

“They will.”

“Next time, Yan Yan, ask them for something useful, like suppressants. Make them provide enough to supply the Xiao Corps for a year or two.”

She had considered demanding a shipment of energy crystals, but those had tricky uses and she already owed Yan Ningjin too much. A gift like this would be easier.

“Better yet, get them to sign a contract. If something like this happens again, they should pay compensation. That way cooperation can continue smoothly.”

Yan Ningjin could not help but laugh. “Xiao Xiao, aren’t you going to extort some energy crystals?”

Qin Xiao smacked her lips. “Forget it. Bai Xuan said the military buys a massive amount of suppressants from the Qin family every phase. If I press them now, it might save you a good deal of military expenses.”

Yan Ningjin loved seeing her little Guide scheming like this. That sly look was just too adorable.

“Xiao Xiao, what am I going to do with you?”

Qin Xiao was busy plotting how to wring benefits from the Qin family, from the noble families, and even the royal family. Hunqiu’s newly developed skill had one clear advantage. No one could replicate it. However, it came at a cost. The work was backbreaking.

Still, with risk came rewards.

Endless wealth… no, energy crystals.

Qin Xiao looked up suspiciously. “…Hmm?”

Yan Ningjin’s eyes overflowed with emotion as she smiled softly. “What am I going to do? I find myself falling for you more every day.”