Fragrant and Soft, Chapter 21

"Guide Xin Lan, they came as representatives of the Federation Government. When they heard you were about to return, they came out specially to welcome you. They wanted to discuss your future development and work."

The curve of Mo Xiao's lips widened at her merciless criticism, and his deep blue eyes filled with amusement.

But Xin Lan couldn't be bothered to give them another look.

"No. Who talks about work in the middle of the night? I'm going to sleep. Tell them to go back. I'm not planning to go anywhere else for now. It's nice right here."

She spared no one's feelings, stepping around them and walking straight into the Sanctuary.

"Guide Xin Lan..."

Xuan Jia had just started to follow when Yun Jin raised his chin and stepped in front of him first.

"Administrator, our Miss Guide told you to go back."

Wu Xi hurriedly chimed in. "That's right, Miss Guide just wants to stay here in K9 District. If she doesn't want to leave, you can't force her to come with you, can you? We sentinels can't do anything against a guide's will."

Chi Ming and Cang Leng silently came over to block their way, leaving Xuan Jia to watch helplessly as Xin Lan disappeared into the elevator.

"What did you do to Guide Xin Lan? There's no way an S-class guide would willingly stay in a place like this! It's far too dangerous for her here! You can't put her in such a dangerous situation for your own selfish desires. She should go to District K1, where she'll be better protected!"

"Protected?"

As if the word had reminded him of something funny, Yun Jin's light brown eyes filled with hostility and mockery.

"Is being used as a bargaining chip by the people in power in those great families what you call protection? Or is it keeping her trapped in the District K1 Sanctuary, never able to leave the Federation Government's control? Heh, Miss Guide won't need protection like that, and she wouldn't deign to accept it. We can keep her safe, so there's no need for you to worry!"

Xuan Jia's face turned pale and flushed by turns at the blunt mockery, but he couldn't argue.

That was because it was the fate of practically every guide without a background who had gone to District K1 before. Until he took actual steps to protect her, any assurances he gave would be futile.

But he had to make his position clear.

"I know you have irreconcilable conflicts with certain people in power in the Federation, but I've been working very hard to make changes, and I've done my best to protect the guides who have suffered unfair treatment in the past. I don't care whether you believe me or not. If Guide Xin Lan is willing to come with me, I can guarantee her autonomy and safety absolutely."

"Right now, the entire Yota Galaxy is preparing to fight for the barren planets occupied by pollutants. It's not just our Planet M19 that needs high-level guides. The other planets need them too. So my reason for not wanting to leave her in K9 District isn't just that I'm worried you can't protect her, but..."

He was eager to explain the internal and external troubles the Federation Government currently faced, but looking at the faces before him, all filled with hatred for the Federation, he couldn't go on.

"Sigh, forget it. There's no point telling you all this. Tomorrow I'll have another clear discussion with Guide Xin Lan. I hope you won't interfere. Please at least leave the choice in her hands."

With that, Xuan Jia left, rather than staying at the Sanctuary and making himself a nuisance.

Mo Xiao didn't ask them to stay either.

He glanced at his wristband, a perfectly measured smile still on his lips.

"Go back. All the answers will be revealed tomorrow."

He was the first to leave.

Yun Jin and the other three didn't insist on staying either. Though they were reluctant to leave and wanted to find out exactly what Xin Lan had been doing for the past few hours, they knew full well she'd ditched them so they wouldn't find out. Why make things awkward for themselves?

Besides, after hearing Xuan Jia out, it was uncertain whether she would even be willing to stay tomorrow...

"Esteemed Guide Xin Lan, welcome home. Your bath has been drawn. I recommend soaking for fifteen minutes to ease your physical and mental fatigue. This will help you fall asleep more quickly."

Fuxi's voice rang out as soon as she got home.

Xin Lan stripped as she walked, then lay down in the bathtub as soon as she reached the bathroom.

The water was just the right temperature, and she couldn't help letting out a comfortable sigh.

"Mm... nicely done."

She hadn't realized it until she got in the bath, but wandering around outside for a few hours really had left her a little tired.

Even though she hadn't done much.

"Esteemed Guide Xin Lan, fifteen minutes have passed."

Just as she was about to fall asleep in the bathtub, Fuxi's voice suddenly sounded as if it were right beside her ear.

In her daze, Xin Lan thought Mo Xiao had come in.

She looked around in confusion before realizing her mind had wandered. She hurriedly put on a bathrobe and returned to her room to sleep, afraid the drowsiness that had just come over her would disappear.

The night passed without incident.

Xin Lan slept until nearly noon before slowly waking up.

She told Fuxi to summon Wu Xi to make lunch, only to learn that the people from yesterday hadn't left. They had even been waiting for her in the central council chamber downstairs all morning.

Clearly, they wouldn't give up until they had spoken to her face-to-face.

Xin Lan guessed they had to do this to answer to their superiors, so she went with Wu Xi to meet them.

Only when she got there did she discover that these sentinels from District K1 were so handsome.

Especially the handsome man at the very front in the middle, with his half-long, light golden hair, naturally alluring eyes, and equally light golden irises.

His fair skin was rosy and glowing, and his lips were a faint pink. He looked fragrant and soft, and his alluring eyes were so deep and tender that one couldn't help taking a liking to him at first sight.

What was even more distinctive was the lustrous white pearl earring on his earlobe. A long gold chain hung from the pearl, dotted at intervals with several tiny white pearls and reaching all the way to his chest.

The pearl earring elevated his entire presence, surrounding him with a soft, holy glow. At first glance, it was easy to think of Cupid and the like from European mythology.

Xin Lan blinked at him and, for once, took the initiative to hold out her hand in greeting. "Hello, what's your name? How old are you? What do you do in District K1?"

Yun Jin and the others, who had also been waiting in the central council chamber but were completely ignored: ????

Wait!

Hadn't she hated Xuan Jia and told him to get lost just yesterday? Why was she suddenly so enthusiastic today?

The group exchanged glances, their hearts sinking.

Oh no. She couldn't have taken a fancy to Xuan Jia and wanted to make him her exclusive sentinel, could she?

Unlike the others, who were full of anxiety and agitation, Xuan Jia looked flattered for a moment. Then he immediately knelt on one knee like a gentleman, took Xin Lan's hand, and kissed the back of it.

"Hello, Guide Xin Lan. My name is Xuan Jia. I'm twenty-three, and I currently serve as an administrator at the District K1 Sanctuary. It's an honor to meet you today."

He made a gentlemanly gesture of invitation.

Xin Lan sat down in the chair he had pulled out for her, but her tone was no longer as warm as before.

"All right, I see. What did you come to talk to me about? I already told you clearly last night that I'm not planning to leave here for now."

Xuan Jia looked taken aback, seemingly not expecting her to reject him so directly again.

"Guide Xin Lan, I don't know why you're so determined to stay here, but I need to explain the crises and opportunities currently facing the Federation Government..."

He told her again what he had said to Mo Xiao and the others the previous night, explaining it in greater detail this time. He even listed the various benefits she would receive for going to District K1 and taking part in the interstellar war.

But Xin Lan felt nothing as she listened. She even felt a little like laughing.

They're fucking talking about an interstellar war and still claiming they can absolutely keep me safe. Isn't that pure bullshit? How could any place or person be absolutely safe in a war? If I trusted people that easily, I'd have died eight hundred times and gone through reincarnation before I even transmigrated.

"There's no need to say any more. I understand what you mean, but my decision won't change. Go back. Whenever the fighting really starts, let me know. I'll definitely take part."

She would certainly participate in the interstellar war, but definitely not to fight for territory for the Federation.

She would fight for herself.

Being the Federation's chief administrator was impressive, but being the supreme ruler of an entire galaxy would be truly badass.

That settled it. She would set herself a new little goal, starting with conquering the Yota Galaxy.