Huo Dangkou followed behind Qin Siyang and Chu Baxing, constantly sizing up the unfamiliar South Glory University campus.
Qin Siyang led the two of them onto a secluded forest path.
This path also led to the guesthouse, but since the paving stones had not yet been laid, people usually did not pass through here.
Chu Baxing watched Qin Siyang's small movements, not knowing what he was up to.
Once he saw that there was no one around, Qin Siyang let out a sigh, "Chu Baxing, you really disappoint me. To be honest, I regret renting the room to you."
Chu Baxing had already felt irritated the moment rent was mentioned. After Qin Siyang mocked him like this, his gaze immediately turned hostile, "What do you mean? You charged me double the rent, and now you're still finding fault with me?"
Qin Siyang's eyes swept lightly over Chu Baxing, as if glancing at dust by the roadside, carrying a hint of disdain and weariness.
"You're too stupid."
Qin Siyang's heartfelt contempt, along with that condescending tone, only made Chu Baxing angrier.
"Qin Siyang, are you trying to pick a fight, provoke me, and then drag me onto the combat arena with you?"
Qin Siyang did not take up Chu Baxing's words, instead continuing unhurriedly, "If Commander Chu had been by your side just now, I wonder how angry and heartbroken he would have been."
Chu Baxing had not expected Qin Siyang to bring up his father.
But then he understood.
Qin Siyang did not dare do anything to him directly. Every time he tried to get a grip on him, he could only do it through his father, Chu Xiao'ang.
"Qin Siyang, what is it this time? Are you going to complain to my father again? You're a person with some reputation. Can you stop doing these childish, playing-in-the-mud tricks?"
"Complain?", Qin Siyang just shook his head and chuckled lightly, "I was willing to complain before because you had value to be used. Now your stupidity makes me feel that dealing with you and making use of you might very well end up being a way to get myself burned."
"So you admit you were using me?"
"I never denied it. Using someone is a neutral term. It depends on the context."
"That's just sophistry."
"If you had no value to use, I wouldn't even bother arranging for you to stay on my floor of the guesthouse. Likewise, if I had no value to use, why would you be willing to pay double the rent just to get close to me?"
Qin Siyang's tone grew even colder, "The safe zones of the apocalypse are not some ideal utopia. Here, the prerequisite for building relationships is mutual use. Do I really need to explain even that to you?"
"Of course I understand that simple truth. What I don't understand is why you suddenly started talking to me in such a high-and-mighty tone. You suddenly provoke me and still expect me to communicate with you calmly?"
"Since you don't know where you're stupid, I'll point it out for you once. I'm not someone who likes to be a teacher. The only reason I'm willing to give you pointers is for your father's sake."
"Then get to the point. My patience is limited."
Qin Siyang glanced at Chu Baxing again, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, "Your patience is limited? Fine, then I'll keep it short."
"Your attitude toward Fu Zhaoyue was too stupid."
"Fu Zhaoyue is a Tiger Badge expert, the head of the guard regiment your father promoted after the military upheaval, a solid line of defense to whom he has entrusted his life and fortune."
"And yet you scolded him like a dog, right at the gate of South Glory University, in front of everyone."
"I really don't know if you have a brain at all."
After hearing this, Chu Baxing's gaze wavered slightly, though he still forced his tone to stay firm, "This is a matter of the Chu Legion. What does it have to do with you?"
Qin Siyang ignored Chu Baxing and continued, "You are Commander Chu's only son. In the eyes of others, everything you say and do represents Commander Chu's attitude."
"When you reprimand Fu Zhaoyue like that, others will think Commander Chu harbors resentment toward Fu Zhaoyue in private, and Fu Zhaoyue himself will think he may be losing the commander's trust."
"The head of the guard regiment, a trusted aide entrusted with the most important missions, once he believes he is no longer trusted, what do you think he might do? Have you thought about it?"
"Even if you haven't, you've at least heard the story of Yang Zhen being ashamed over soup, haven't you?"
Chu Baxing's eyes dodged, and even his usually stern face no longer looked the same.
Qin Siyang continued, "When you were lecturing Fu Zhaoyue, you kept saying it was to keep Commander Chu out of danger. If you ask me, your father's greatest danger is having a stupid son like you." [T/N: Dayuum!]
After saying this, Qin Siyang shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression unchanged, casually surveying this undeveloped forest thick with miscellaneous trees.
Chu Baxing, on the other hand, stood there blankly, not knowing what he was thinking.
Two minutes later, Qin Siyang spoke again, "That's all I have to say. If you think what I said makes sense, and you're still willing to keep mutually using each other with me, then use your brain a bit more in the future. If you think it's all bullshit, then pack your bedding and get the hell out of my place. I'll make other arrangements for Huo Dangkou."
After that, Qin Siyang turned and walked toward the guesthouse without looking back.
A moment later, Chu Baxing grabbed Huo Dangkou and silently followed behind Qin Siyang.
Qin Siyang glanced back at Chu Baxing and saw that his head was lowered, his former arrogance gone.
Although this Chu crown prince did not say a word, he had already shown his decision through his actions.
.
.
.
After returning to the guesthouse, Chu Baxing and Huo Dangkou entered room 1006 together.
Qin Siyang also let out a breath of relief, returned to his own room, and exchanged midday messages with Wen Shu.
.
.
.
[Principal's Office]
Zhao Longfei was on the phone.
"Commander Chu, as you requested, I've sent you all the surveillance footage of Chu Baxing and Qin Siyang, from picking up Huo Dangkou to returning to the guesthouse."
"Mhm, I've received it. The ten tons of gray-badge materials we agreed on as payment will be delivered to your Zhao family."
"Then thank you in advance, Commander Chu."
"Goodbye."
Chu Xiao'ang hung up the phone and repeatedly replayed the footage on the screen.
Sitting in his chair, cigarette after cigarette, without stopping.
Only when Zheng Mubian beside him reminded him did he speak up, "Commander, stop smoking. Even a sequence ability user's body needs some care."
Chu Xiao'ang held his forehead with one hand, "Old Zheng, tell me, they're both eighteen. How can the gap be this big?"
Zheng Mubian comforted him, "Baxing has just experienced less. In the future, his prospects are boundless."
"Boundless prospects? If one day I lose my life, I'll thank heaven and earth if he can even keep himself alive."
"It won't come to that."
"Sigh! I'm really at a loss for words. Qin Siyang and I tell Baxing the same things, yet when it comes from Qin Siyang, an outsider, he listens more. I really don't know what's going on in that kid's head."
Zheng Mubian sighed, "Commander, Qin Siyang's words might also have been a performance for us. Maybe Zhao Longfei already told him in advance about the surveillance footage deal."
"That kid was definitely acting," Chu Xiao'ang rubbed his tired eyes, "He had tools to block conversations but didn't use them, and instead deliberately chose a narrow back path to say all that. He must have known Zhao Longfei was monitoring."
"What he said was teaching Baxing how to be a person, laying things bare with Zhao Longfei, and more importantly, stating his position to me."
"What position?"
"Whether Baxing can be propped up or not, it doesn't affect our mutual use of each other."
Zheng Mubian frowned, "Can he really think that far ahead? That's a bit unbelievable."
"That's nothing. There's an even more unbelievable possibility."
"What is it?"
Chu Xiao'ang's gaze darkened, "What if Zhao Longfei didn't want to stir up trouble at all, and never told Qin Siyang about this surveillance footage deal in the first place?"
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