Chapter 30: Exposed
“I saw it,” Yu Lanfeng said.
Nan Yu still stubbornly refused to admit anything.
“It's nothing. Anyway, it's not anything harmful.”
Was the Nianshen Grass really about to be exposed?
It wasn't that he didn't trust the Empire's strongest Marshal, but he had never possessed much sense of security. If Yu Lanfeng really learned about it...
Even Nan Yu himself didn't know what would happen afterward.
Once a secret was known by a second person, it was no longer a secret.
Right now, Nan Yu's mind was full of thoughts about how to fool Yu Lanfeng.
Besides, if he had really seen it clearly, would Nan Yu still be standing here talking?
“It's not something harmful.”
Yu Lanfeng said, “Hand it over to me temporarily for safekeeping. I'll return it to you when you go back. After what happened before, even if it really isn't dangerous, I can't leave it in your possession.”
The corner of Nan Yu's mouth twitched.
Hand the Nianshen Grass over to him for safekeeping?
By then, forget the whole plant—he probably wouldn't even see a single leaf again.
Anyone knew how precious this thing was.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Yu Lanfeng.
The problem was that the Nianshen Grass was far too important.
There was no way he would hand it over.
But judging by the current situation, if he didn't tell the truth, Yu Lanfeng wasn't going to let the matter go easily.
Or rather...
He absolutely wouldn't let it go.
Nan Yu was tangled with anxiety.
The Nianshen Grass was his greatest secret and trump card.
If it was exposed...
He had no idea whether Yu Lanfeng was worthy of trust.
Although Yu Lanfeng was indeed a righteous hero of the Empire, everyone had selfish interests to some degree.
Not to mention that Yu Lanfeng possessed a royal background.
Seeing Nan Yu lower his head and remain silent, the atmosphere in the room became increasingly awkward.
Even Yu Lanfeng himself felt surprised.
Wait!
He wasn't an idiot who knew nothing.
Earlier, all his attention had been occupied by surprise over why Nan Yu had brought along a little potted plant and had even taken it out despite knowing the special circumstances of the military base.
But for a Mental Power User, what kind of thing could be so important?
It seemed...
Apart from that thing, there wasn't anything else.
After realizing this, Yu Lanfeng finally understood why Nan Yu refused to speak and wouldn't take it out.
If it really was that thing, then Nan Yu's lack of trust toward him was perfectly understandable.
But regardless, he had to confirm whether it truly was that item.
As the Marshal, he had to ensure the safety of the military base.
So no matter what, he would have to wrong Nan Yu this time.
“Nan Yu, I'm not joking with you. If you don't take it out...”
Nan Yu had thought he could hide it until this mission ended.
Hearing Yu Lanfeng say this, he sighed.
Looks like he had to give up.
Yu Lanfeng thought he had decided to take it out.
But unexpectedly—
“Sorry, Marshal. Then send me back.”
Yu Lanfeng paused.
Only after freezing briefly did he realize that he had underestimated how important that thing was to a Mental Power User.
Nan Yu actually intended to leave directly.
Could he let him go at this time?
Impossible!
Nan Yu was simply too special.
Because of his arrival, the pressure on the Mental Power User team had been greatly reduced.
The most serious Grade A Mental Contamination cases were all sent to him, allowing the other Mental Power Users to devote enough time to caring for the remaining soldiers.
The pressure on the base had eased tremendously.
In any case, Yu Lanfeng absolutely couldn't let him leave.
But that thing...
“You can't leave right now.”
“I think you should already know how important you are to this small military base. We're in a period when manpower is most lacking, and people can't simply be transferred over from elsewhere.”
Nan Yu looked up at him.
Not letting him leave meant he wanted him to stay.
And if he stayed, did that mean he still had to hand over the Nianshen Grass?
Wait.
Why had Yu Lanfeng compromised?
Had he guessed something?
That was true.
For something to be this important to a Mental Power User, wasn't it easy to guess?
Embarrassment appeared on Nan Yu's face.
“I... Then, Marshal, what do you propose?”
Yu Lanfeng frowned slightly before finally saying, “In that case, sign an agreement with me. It will only remain valid until your mission ends and you return.”
“The contents of the agreement are that during your stay at this military base, the item you brought must absolutely not cause any disturbances or anything detrimental to the military base.”
Nan Yu relaxed.
“That works.”
Yu Lanfeng added another clause.
“You are absolutely forbidden from taking that thing out normally. Whenever you need to use it, I must be nearby.”
Nan Yu's mouth twitched.
“This... I only use it when I'm resting or sleeping. Are you really going to stay beside me?”
“Won't you sleep at night?”
Wait, wait.
Was that really the important point?
Yu Lanfeng clearly hadn't expected him to say that.
But after thinking about it, Nan Yu spent the entire day in the ward. He had neither the time nor the opportunity to take that thing out.
That meant he really only had time to use it at night after returning to rest.
So was he supposed to come over too?
No matter how dull he was, even he realized that this absolutely wouldn't do.
Although they were both men, Nan Yu was a Mental Power User, and an exceptionally talented one at that.
Meanwhile, he himself had always been single.
If no one saw them, that was one thing, but...
Nan Yu simply looked at him, waiting to see what solution he would come up with.
In the end, Yu Lanfeng only had him sign an agreement and repeatedly warned him never to expose it.
Nan Yu muttered under his breath, “I always lock the door. I don't think there's anyone besides you who would enter directly without knocking.”
At those words, Yu Lanfeng knew he was in the wrong.
It had become a habit over the years.
His subconscious had simply acted that way.
He only remembered after opening the door that the person inside was Nan Yu, not someone else.
“This matter is my fault...”
Nan Yu's eyes widened slightly.
He hadn't expected to hear this Marshal apologize to him.
“Uh...”
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
“I... Well, let's just leave it at that. It's already late, Marshal. Go back and get some rest. You'll only get busier later...”
Yu Lanfeng also felt rather awkward staying there any longer, so he turned to leave.
“Very well. If anything comes up in the future, contact me directly. Right, add my communication number. You can contact me anytime.”
Nan Yu nodded.
“Okay, no problem.”
Excellent.
They had exchanged communication numbers!
After leaving, for some reason, Yu Lanfeng looked almost as though he had fled in defeat.
But Nan Yu's emotions were in such turmoil that he failed to notice.
Only then did he realize what he had just done.
He had actually confronted Yu Lanfeng head-on.
And won.
If it had been anyone else, they probably would have been thrown out long ago.
Yet not only had he not been chased away, he had remained here, and their relationship hadn't worsened because of the incident.
Instead, they had exchanged communication numbers.
Their relationship had become even better?
Realizing this belatedly, Nan Yu's entire face turned red.
He buried himself beneath the blanket and refused to come out, deceiving himself...