First Interstellar Guide Chapter 117: Extra 18: Parallel World; Two-Way Secret Crush

Chapter 117: Extra 18: Parallel World; Two-Way Secret Crush

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

The examiners patrolling in the air noticed that Lu Zexuan and Xie Ran had reached the endpoint and immediately flew over.

The supervising teacher asked with concern, “How is Lu Zexuan’s injury?”

Xie Ran, pale-faced, reported softly, “The wound is 15 centimeters long, deep enough to see the bone. A piece of flesh was bitten off from his calf… I’ve briefly disinfected and bandaged it. Let’s get him to the medical department as soon as possible.”

The teacher glanced at each other and immediately supported Lu Zexuan to the medical department.

During the challenge, an accident occurred. An emergency treatment chamber was carried on the starship. Lu Zexuan was sent into the treatment chamber for repair. The bleeding in his calf was soon stopped, and new flesh began to grow.

Xie Ran looked at Lu Zexuan lying in the treatment chamber, feeling a pang in his heart. He stayed by Lu Zexuan’s side, completing the treatment process until the medical staff rebandaged Lu Zexuan’s leg.

At eight o’clock in the evening, the challenge officially ended, and the rankings of all participants were announced. Lu Zexuan and Xie Ran ranked first with their scores over the two days, winning the first prize.

The award ceremony was held on-site. Lu Zexuan’s leg injury had not healed yet, and he limped as he walked. Xie Ran supported him as they went on stage to receive the award. They received the championship trophy, 10,000 star coins, and a unique training warship activation ring.

Lu Zexuan fondly touched the ring, looking in high spirits. “This warship is ours now, we can train with it anytime.”

Xie Ran said, “First, let your injury heal. We can talk about training later.”

Lu Zexuan nodded, “Okay, got it.”

Although Lu Zexuan was injured during the challenge, he gained a lot. Not only did they win first place and receive the desired rewards, but Lu Zexuan also awakened his flying ability as a blessing in disguise. Overall, it wasn’t a loss.

After returning to school, news of Lu Zexuan and Xie Ran winning the first place in the challenge spread quickly. Their classmates admired them greatly. It was only natural for a combination of S-class sentinel and S-class guide to win first place.

Lu Zexuan’s leg was wrapped in thick bandages. He went to class dragging his injured leg, only to be sent back by the teacher. “Your leg hasn’t healed yet, why attend class? Go back and rest. Starting from today, Lu Zexuan, you will be on leave for a week.”

Lu Zexuan had no choice but to return to the dormitory to rest. Regenerating limbs required months of rehabilitation, but fortunately, his leg bone wasn’t broken this time, just muscle damage. A week of rest would be enough. He stayed in the dormitory bored, watching warship training videos until noon when he decided to go downstairs for lunch.

Just as Lu Zexuan was about to change his clothes, he suddenly heard a knock on the door. Opening it, he saw Xie Ran holding a packed lunch from the cafeteria, smiling broadly. “Hungry? I’m here to bring you food.”

Lu Zexuan looked surprised. “How did you know I was in the dorm?”

Xie Ran replied, “I asked around. Heard you went to class with your injury and got sent back by the teacher. You… why insist on going to class with an unhealed leg? Just lie down in the dormitory. I’ll bring you lunch and dinner from now on.”

Lu Zexuan, “…” Although Lu Zexuan was lectured by Xie Ran, he felt happy inside. He sniffed and asked, “Did you buy steamed fish? And braised meatballs and chicken wings?”

“Are all sentinels so keen-nosed?” Xie Ran glanced at him. “You can tell from the smell?”

Lu Zexuan smirked, “Thanks, these are my favorite.”

Xie Ran cleared his throat. “You got injured because of me, so it’s only right to treat you to some good food. Tell me what you want to eat in the future, and I’ll buy it for you. I’ve already registered with the dormitory manager. I’ll bring you meals every day for the next week. Just don’t find me annoying.”

Lu Zexuan felt warmth in his heart. “How could I find you annoying? I’m really happy when you come to see me.”

The two looked at each other, then awkwardly looked away.

Xie Ran arranged the packed lunch on the table, took out chopsticks, and ate with Lu Zexuan, even offering him some vegetables. Lu Zexuan enjoyed Xie Ran’s “care” and felt that this meal was especially delicious.

From that day on, Xie Ran would come to Lu Zexuan’s dormitory with a packed lunch every lunch and dinner time, punctually. Lu Zexuan’s roommates got to know Xie Ran, and even the students in the sentinel command department knew about it.

Gradually, rumors began circulating in the school, and many students speculated about the relationship between the two.

A week later, Lu Zexuan’s leg had almost healed. He had been bored staying in the dormitory for a week, so after dinner, he requested to go out for a walk. Seeing him moving comfortably, Xie Ran agreed.

The two went for a walk on the school’s tree-lined path. By now, the capital star had entered autumn, and the evening breeze felt refreshing. The trees along the road had turned yellow, and fallen leaves covered the ground like a thick golden carpet.

Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan walked side by side on this road, neither of them speaking, but both feeling their hearts beating a bit faster.

Suddenly, from a distance, came the voices of a few students discussing.

“Are Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan dating? I see Xie Ran bringing food to Lu Zexuan every day.”

“They’re both S-class, and their looks match well.”

“Don’t joke around. An Eagle Legion heir and the son of a Starlight Corps commander can’t be together.”

“Yeah, heirs of the Corps can’t marry. This rule has been upheld for over two hundred years. They wouldn’t dare.”

“They’ve been childhood friends, they’re probably just really close. When Xie Ran gets married, he might even ask Lu Zexuan to be his best man.”

Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan, “…”

Listening to these discussions, both of them felt uncomfortable. Xie Ran discreetly changed the route, avoiding those gossiping classmates. They walked into a grove of trees, and Xie Ran, concerned about Lu Zexuan’s leg, stopped and found a stone bench to sit on.

Xie Ran casually asked, “Did you hear those people talking just now?”

Lu Zexuan, head down, muttered, “I heard.”

Xie Ran joked, “They said we’re good buddies, and when I get married, I’ll ask you to be my best man.”

Lu Zexuan, “…” Hearing the term “best man,” a hint of bitterness welled up in his heart. The thought of another sentinel holding Xie Ran’s hand, walking into a wedding hall, swearing and kissing in front of their families, while he could only stand by as the best man, offering his blessings… Lu Zexuan felt restless, almost wishing he could shatter that imagined sentinel into pieces.

He couldn’t bear to see RanRan being intimate with someone else. But logically, he also knew that Corps heirs couldn’t marry.

At 16, Lu Zexuan was contemplating their future for the first time, his conflicting emotions almost written on his face.

Xie Ran carefully observed his expression. Guides had excellent emotional perception skills, and Xie Ran clearly sensed that Lu Zexuan was angry when he said those words. If they were just good friends, he shouldn’t be angry.

It was normal for good friends to attend each other’s weddings and offer blessings. Unless he also had different feelings for me… Realizing this, Xie Ran couldn’t help but smile softly and said, “Don’t pay attention to the gossip of those classmates.”

Lu Zexuan said solemnly, “Let’s not talk about this. I want to go back to the dorm, and you should rest early too.”

Watching his slightly stiff figure as he left, Xie Ran sighed softly. He could tell that Lu Zexuan had feelings for him, too. However, the rule that Corps heirs couldn’t marry was temporarily insurmountable. It’s okay, as long as they were committed to each other, they would find a way in the future.

Back in the dorm, Lu Zexuan took a shower and lay on the bed. Since he heard those classmates gossiping, his mood had been low, tossing and turning in bed. It wasn’t until late at night that he fell into a fitful sleep.

Lu Zexuan dreamed that, as those classmates said, he appeared at Xie Ran’s wedding. He couldn’t clearly see the sentinel walking beside Xie Ran, but the scene of Xie Ran holding hands with someone else, kissing, made him feel bitter and angry, as if he had been betrayed.

Xie Ran and that figure entered the hall. Warm light shone on Xie Ran’s face through the windows of the hall. Dressed in a suit, Xie Ran smiled, looking extremely handsome. The sentinel lowered his head to kiss Xie Ran, and Lu Zexuan hurried forward to stop them… But just as he stepped forward, he finally saw the face of that sentinel.

A face exactly like his own.

Lu Zexuan woke up from this dream, his rapid heartbeat making his brow furrow. He realized he might be falling for Ranran. The crazy idea of Ranran being only with him emerged vividly in his dream, not just a regular friendship, but a sentinel’s possessiveness toward the guide he liked. Thinking of the scene where he kissed Xie Ran in the dream, Lu Zexuan’s ears turned red, his mind in turmoil.

What he didn’t know was that night, Xie Ran had a similar dream.

Moreover, Xie Ran was more daring, and the dream’s content was more exaggerated. He dreamed that the two of them were on a deserted planet, kissing under the tree where they had celebrated birthdays together, even doing more intimate things. The two boys tasted the forbidden fruit in the dream, and when he woke up in the morning, the sheets were wet.

Xie Ran blushed, then went to take a cold shower. At 16, it was the age when puberty began, and many sentinels and guides would have such dreams during their development.

After blushing for a while, Xie Ran soon calmed down. Remembering the scenes from the dream, he felt a mixture of sourness and sweetness in his heart. He really wanted to turn the dream into reality, but he was afraid of scaring Lu Zexuan with his boldness, unsure if Lu Zexuan had realized his feelings.

The two grew up together, childhood friends. Xie Ran had always enjoyed playing with Lu Zexuan. Only Lu Zexuan would indulge him in all his crazy antics. Even when he caught him digging a hole in the sanctuary, Lu Zexuan helped him hide it from the teachers and acted as his practice model for so long.

Who wouldn’t like someone who unconditionally accepts and supports them? As they grew older, he developed a strong possessiveness toward this sentinel, wanting to be with him all the time, which was quite normal.

At noon, Xie Ran once again carried a lunchbox to give to Lu Zexuan. There was no one in the dorm room. The two glanced at each other, their faces reddening at the memory of last night’s dreams.

Lu Zexuan lowered his head and said, “My leg is healed. Starting tomorrow, I’ll go to the cafeteria for meals, so you don’t need to bring me food anymore.”

Xie Ran joked, “Am I bothering you? Or are you concerned about those people gossiping behind our backs?”

Lu Zexuan hesitated for a moment and hurriedly said, “Of course not. I don’t care about what others say… I’m just afraid you’d get angry.”

“I don’t care either,” Xie Ran said seriously, looking at Lu Zexuan. “Zexuan, I don’t want anyone to influence our relationship.”

“Okay.” Lu Zexuan’s mood gradually improved. It turned out that Ranran was just like him, not caring about what others said and not deliberately keeping his distance because of those rumors. The profound bond they had since childhood couldn’t be shaken by a few words.

Xie Ran said, “They love gossip, don’t they? Let them talk. Starting tomorrow night, I’ll wait for you at the training ground at 8 o’clock. You come to teach me the control techniques of the battleship.”

Lu Zexuan looked at him unexpectedly, “Are you saying you want to train with me?”

“Of course, we won the first prize in this competition together. That exclusive training battleship is a prize for both of us. Do you want to hog it all to yourself?” Xie Ran looked into his clear eyes and smiled slightly. “Alright, I’ll teach you, and we’ll practice together.”

The students of the Federal First Military Academy soon discovered that after Lu Zexuan recovered from his injury, the two of them not only did not avoid each other because of the rumors but became even closer – they went to the training ground every night to practice controlling the battleship together. Lu Zexuan even taught Xie Ran hand in hand.

“Rumors are spreading everywhere. Aren’t they afraid of being suspected?”

“This is what they call having a clear conscience. No matter what you guys say, their relationship remains unaffected.”

“It shows that their relationship is honest and upright. You guys can stop gossiping now!”

Because Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan were too “open and aboveboard,” their classmates began to think that they were just pure friends. The rumors in the school gradually subsided, and everyone began to envy the “pure and firm friendship” of the two S-class geniuses.

Even their parents believed that since the two of them were so open in front of the entire school, training together every day, it meant that they were just friends, and they were not afraid of the rumors. Otherwise, as heirs of two Corps, who would dare to be so open about their relationship if they were truly in love?

Xie Ran’s move of “going against the grain” fooled everyone.

During their years in college, they were inseparable. Their way of getting along was very open, and everyone thought they were just friends. No one knew that countless nights, Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan appeared in each other’s dreams, doing all kinds of ambiguous and intimate things, madly possessing each other. But when they saw each other during the day, they pretended to be just good friends, not daring to even touch hands.

Their years in military school passed quickly. They tacitly kept this secret love, carefully hidden in their hearts. Because they both knew it wasn’t time to come clean yet. Corps heirs couldn’t marry, and this rule had to be broken somehow. They both cherished each other and didn’t want this budding feeling to be crushed by their elders.

They were still too weak now, unable to contend with all the forces at play. But in the future, when they had enough power to protect each other… by then, they wouldn’t let go.