Chapter 277: Heartbeat: Is She Being a Bit Too Harsh on the Man in Front of Her?
Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Heartbeat: Is She Being a Bit Too Harsh on the Man in Front of Her?
Bai Ye’s gaze suddenly darkened. His deep black eyes surged with heartache and a trace of imperceptible helplessness.
He stared fixedly at the panic in Yun Sheng’s eyes and her pale, slightly blue lips. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally couldn’t hold back anymore. He slowly reached out and carefully covered her hand with his.
His palm was broad and burning hot. The moment he touched Yun Sheng’s slightly cool fingertips, the back of his hand tensed completely, veins faintly bulging. He restrained himself, not daring to exert force, afraid she would pull her hand back without hesitation like she had just done.
"Don’t panic. I’ve had Luo Cheng handle everything. The traces of the equipment malfunction have been wiped completely clean. There won’t be any problems for now. In addition, I’ve already arranged your retest. When the time comes, it will show a B-level result—just enough for you to become an official Tower guide."
Bai Ye knew that Yun Sheng was participating in the Preparatory Guide program strictly to become an official Tower guide, so he had taken care of all the necessary arrangements.
Yun Sheng’s gaze fell on their clasped hands, and then on the bulging veins on the back of his hand. Her heart suddenly softened, her panicked emotions quietly settling down a bit, as if they had been soaked in warm water.
After a moment of silence, she looked up at him, her gaze carrying a sharper, probing look. "Besides the issue with my spiritual power, is there something else?"
That feeling of being watched was too real; it definitely wasn’t an illusion. There had to be some hidden truth behind it that she didn’t know about.
Bai Ye’s brow slightly lowered. His fingertips subconsciously tightened a bit, grasping her hand more firmly, though he still didn’t dare to squeeze too hard.
"The last time I returned to the Capital Star from Zone 10, my spiritual power rioted, and the cracks in my spiritual landscape continued to expand, causing me to fall into a deep coma. My family and the Tower tried everything, but they couldn’t wake me up."
He paused. Remembering those secret and scorching scenes from his dream back then, an indescribable heat flashed in his deep black eyes. But he quickly restrained it. The emotion in his eyes settled once more, leaving only overflowing gentleness.
"Later, in the dream, you helped guide me, which was how I managed to wake up. After waking up, my spiritual power hadn’t dropped, and my spiritual landscape hadn’t collapsed. Ever since then, someone has had their eyes on me.
"This time, when we came back together from Zone 10 and went to the First Research Institute for a checkup, I discovered someone secretly trying to access your medical report. But don’t worry, I immediately had Luo Cheng classify the report as top secret and transfer it out. They won’t be able to find anything.
"But that person didn’t give up. He sent people to secretly watch you. Today, he was monitoring your every move in the spiritual power testing area!"
Sure enough, that feeling of being watched wasn’t an illusion!
Yun Sheng’s heart suddenly sank. She pursed her lips, her expression instantly turning solemn.
"Who is it?"
"Xu Chengyuan."
Bai Ye’s voice grew a bit colder, a chilly glint flashing through his eyes. Even the temperature of his palm seemed to drop slightly.
Yun Sheng had heard this name before.
He was one of the Star Alliance’s ten great Admirals, roughly the same age as Lin Zhenye. Before Si Jin became the Star Alliance War God, Xu Chengyuan had been the strongest Sentinel with the highest hopes of breaking through to the SSS-level and claiming the title. However, his breakthrough ultimately failed, and Si Jin became the War God instead.
Later, when Si Jin degenerated into a Dark Sentinel, Xu Chengyuan had the highest popularity on the Star Network to become the next War God. But right at that moment, Bai Ye appeared out of nowhere, breaking through to become an SSS-level Sentinel and firmly seizing the title.
Xu Chengyuan remained stuck at the SS-Level, unable to advance any further. Coupled with the fact that the easily attainable title of War God was snatched away by Bai Ye, his inner unwillingness and jealousy were easy to imagine.
It seemed only natural that he would keep an eye on Bai Ye, but in this way, she, who was also being watched, faced an even greater danger of being exposed!
"Then will he believe that what just happened was an equipment malfunction?" Yun Sheng’s tone grew increasingly worried. "During the retest, won’t he watch even more closely?"
Xu Chengyuan’s influence in the Star Alliance and the Tower was not weaker than Bai Ye’s. Once a person in such a high position with so much power set his sights on her, even the slightest flaw would attract huge trouble that couldn’t be shaken off.
When that time came, would Bai Ye really go against the Star Alliance and the Tower for her?
Yun Sheng didn’t dare to think about it, nor did she dare to gamble on it!
Bai Ye was the heavily burdened Star Alliance War God and a man with an extremely strong sense of responsibility. It was never possible for her to be the only person in his world. Furthermore, she didn’t want him to do things he didn’t want to do just for her sake.
Perhaps she should just elope with Si Jin instead?
Countless thoughts churned in her heart. Yun Sheng’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter. The confusion and worry in her eyes were almost overflowing, and even the hand holding Bai Ye’s trembled slightly.
Bai Ye saw all her panic and doubts, and his heart ached. Unable to suppress his heartache any longer, he leaned forward. Without waiting for Yun Sheng to react, he reached out and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
His movements carried a bit of urgency and a bit of restraint. The arms wrapped around her waist didn’t use much force, but they carried a firmness that allowed no escape, as if he wanted to weave her into his very bones and blood to keep her safe.
"Don’t be afraid." His chin rested on the top of Yun Sheng’s head, his warm breath enveloping her. "No matter what happens, I will protect you. Even if one day your secrets are completely exposed, even if I have to make an enemy of the entire Star Alliance... Yun Sheng, I will absolutely not let anyone hurt you in the slightest."
The words falling by her ear were burning hot and resolute, bit by bit dispelling the unease in Yun Sheng’s heart.
She believed Bai Ye. She believed every word he said at this moment. Regardless of whether he could actually achieve it in the future, at least in this moment, his sincerity could not be faked.
Yun Sheng suddenly lost the resolve to push him away. Her body stiffened, maintaining the posture of being held by him. The defenses in her heart crumbled bit by bit in his scorching embrace.
A few seconds later, she slowly raised her hands. After a moment of hesitation, she finally wrapped her arms gently around Bai Ye’s waist, her fingertips resting on his back.
The moment her arms wrapped around his back, Bai Ye froze completely.
The arms around her waist suddenly tightened for a fraction of a second before immediately relaxing. As if he couldn’t believe it, all the muscles in his body tensed tightly, and even his breathing stopped for half a second.
He lowered his eyes to look at the top of the head of the person in his arms. His deep black eyes were initially filled with astonishment, his pupils constricting slightly, as if he had been stunned by the sudden, unexpected joy. Even the chilly glint in his eyes completely faded away.
The next second, immense joy instantly spread through him.
The gentleness and heat in Bai Ye’s eyes could no longer be hidden, but he only slightly tightened his arms around her waist, holding her a little closer.
Encircled in his embrace, Yun Sheng heard the steady yet rapid heartbeat in his chest and felt his almost reverent gentleness hidden beneath his restraint.
She sighed softly. Was she being a little too harsh on the man in front of her?