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An esper's enhanced senses, he believes, includes nosiness. Every sense except for shame must be heightened. Nothing else explains why else must he endure the indignity of two espers gossiping about a torrid love affair outside the very toilet stall he occupies?
Nowhere can he escape the topic: their guild's golden prince has finally met his match, so certainly that He fellow will don a green hat. Only his luck would keep him in the harem. Most likely he'll be cast from the imperial palace.
He Fanqi hardly exaggerates. If anything, he passes and every other esper, guide, and even the weekly delivery people shovel melon seed. He cannot even relieve himself without coming across this hot topic.
Chanting sutras in his mind to quell his temper, he reminds himself that nothing good will come from making a fuss. He still has another month before his probation ends. Lifting his chin too high will harm his pockets. The effort of defending his own character, he has better things to do.
All that self-rationalization screeches to silence when the vulgar words from outside reach him. The excessive details of how their mocking jabs about how their guild's prince draining that that little guide to dry. Or, laughter, is it that other way.?
An unfamiliar voice cuts in, defending Shen Yulin's and his own reputation.
"Don't kid yourself. Everyone knows what you're aiming for."
Oh, is he going to need to rescue his benefactor? Kicking open the stall seems like a worthy entrance, except he knows for the fact this swings inward. Sadly, he makes his presence known by flushing . The loud whoosh interrupts the discussion.
He thanks whoever decided that all espers, guides, and other personnel must wear distinct uniforms. It means he knows in no uncertain terms he's just stepped in front of guide who has two esper jeering at him. Trying to salvage his entrance, he glances pointedly at the esper's nametags.
"Is something going on?"
The larger of the two espers sizes up (or perhaps the looking down would be more accurate how little he regards He Fanqi). Without any thought, he says, "Nothing at all, isn't it right Guide Xiao Shu?"
The guide, who He Fanqi now realizes may be his future love rival, puffs up and demands an apology. His naturally soft voice undercuts the hard crack of his determination.
Half of He Fanqi wants to chew on melon seeds, and the other half doesn't to be beat up by espers. Naturally, he wants the ground to open up and deposit these idiots in a dungeon. Short of that, he recites the guild handbook, specifically, the second that disallows harassment of guides. It's only one of two sections he knows off the back of hand. For a rising star guild like theirs, some fat that still needs to be cut even if all of the upper levels were decent. Regardless, everyone who upper management will favor between a high-ranked guide and mid-ranked espers.
Their expressions shift. Smiling with too many teeth, they claim that they were just joking and head out.
Walking over to the sink, he says, "Don't mind them. They're just eating vinegar. They wish they could be worthy of getting an exclusive guide."
"Thank you, but..."
Xiao Shu tilts his head in confusion and replies that he's only on probation.
He Fanqi uses all of his strength to keep his jaw from dropping. Why would someone reject an exclusive guiding contract with his Shen Yulin? Was their guild so poor that they couldn't entice someone? They should offer the sun, the moon, and the stars.
Everyone knows that the prodigal son of this guild is an S-ranked esper that this company only barely managed to hold onto because he has one flaw. Shen Yulin, despite all of his S-potential, cannot live recklessly. Not once until a week ago did he manage to have a match rate above 25% percent.
This circumstance is so bleak that 70% would have been enough for their guild to roll out the red carpet. Even bridled S-ranked esper was priceless, the possibility of unlocking his full potential would be worth bankrupting the guild. To become the personal battery of a powerful or renown esper had mountain of benefits - enough to ignore the most common hardship. Most high ranking espers had eccentricities or what people could only charitably call strong personalities.
Meanwhile Shen Yulin is gallant, handsome, and considerate, that could not be the reason that Xiao Shu is reluctant.
Oh, He Fanqi realizes and thinks about how much leverage that gives Xiao Shu. Was he pushing for better conditions? He couldn't fault that.
That last bit he accidentally says aloud.
"No, no!" he replies, waving his hands.
Cute.
Xiao Shu is inarguably cute green-sprout as he insists that it wasn't anything like that. He's just new and wants things handle things in their proper order. As a new graduate, he wants to experience everything. There were two possibilities for this reply. Either Xiao Shu truly has a gentle and proper disposition or he's a sly fox in disguise.
Shen Yulin deserves someone who is sweet to their bones. His golden halo draws good people - Like attracts like.
Two thoughtful gentlefolk, in this circumstance, spells a headache. After all, if Xiao Shu lacks greed, he won't seek out an power and the rich benefits of an exclusive contract. Similarly, as Shen Yulin is polite, he would never push anyone deals they don't wish for. Harmoniously they orbit each other without an ounce of greed.
Both of them need a live more selfishly!
While other espers use their powers without fear or shame or worry, Shen Yulin carefully manages his energy levels like a diabetic monitoring their insulin levels. There was a perfectly good insult pump in front of him, he should be sweeping this little guide off his feet. If anyone deserves to live more comfortably, it's Shen Yulin. All the extra hours he spends receiving subpar guiding can be used elsewhere (like by spending him with He Fanqi).
And this little guide, why must you wish to do things arduously through proper channels? Be more ambitious or a little lazier. Reap the benefits of your good fortune! Working life is harsh, so grab any opportunity you can. You cannot go wrong becoming a good person like Shen Yulin's person.
Does he really have to ask a guide to be more greedy with his own esper boyfriend or vice versa? How is he going convince them this is a win-win situation? Didn't both of them want to live comfortably?