Chapter 118 – Sentinel & Guide: Becoming Your Exclusive Guide – Tang Tang’s Dessert Shop Is Gone (08)
“Please have a seat, Madam Bai.” Herslet turned around and nodded at Madam Bai, then immediately returned his focus to feeding Bai Tang.
“Ah He, you eat too. I don’t want any more cream~” The boy’s sweet and soft voice reached everyone’s ears, full of childlike petulance.
Madam Bai had originally thought that Herslet wouldn’t indulge Tang Tang, but to her surprise, he gently wiped Tang Tang’s mouth and even apologized in a low voice, promising to use less cream next time.
What was going on? Madam Bai was utterly confused. But after a moment’s thought, she realized it was a good thing. The two children were already engaged—if they didn’t like each other, forcing a marriage would only lead to unhappiness.
“Tang Tang.” It had been a long time since Madam Bai had seen her son, and she missed him dearly. At a glance, Bai Tang looked a little plumper than before he left home, which meant he hadn’t been suffering out there.
“Mother.” Bai Tang called out based on the original host’s memory, then nestled back into Herslet’s arms.
“Thank you for taking care of him during this time, Herslet,” Madam Bai said politely to the male lead, upholding her good manners.
Herslet cleaned up the food scraps on the table. “It’s my duty. I’ve already discussed it with Tang Tang—we’ll go register our marriage next week.”
Simona stood up in shock. So soon?
Madam Bai was also quite surprised. She asked, “Are you sure?”
Though the question was directed at Herslet, her gaze turned to Bai Tang.
After all, she was the mother of this body. Bai Tang still gave a small nod. “Yes. I want to marry Ah He.”
Madam Bai nodded, then asked, “What about the rumors going around? Simona is a good child—was there some kind of misunderstanding between you? She’ll be your older sister in the future. There’s no reason for a younger brother and sister to be at odds.”
No one knew how Simona had brainwashed Madam Bai, but she was clearly taking Simona’s side.
Simona, eyes filled with tears, stepped out from behind Madam Bai and gave Bai Tang a deep bow. “It’s my fault… It’s because of me that you and Shelley had a misunderstanding. It was all my mistake…”
Herslet frowned. Vague words could easily cause misunderstandings. He glanced at Madam Bai, whose fingers were rhythmically tapping the back of her chair. In that instant, he seemed to guess what she was trying to do.
“I’ve said it before—my wife will be taken care of by me.” The unspoken meaning was clear: regardless of whether the rumors were true or not, if the Bai family’s assets were going to be taken, let them try—if they had the ability.
Simona lowered her head, her eyes flashing with malice. Thinking of the things inside the Bai household, she gave a sinister smile. Let’s see how long you two can stay smug.
When she looked up again, she was once more the pitiful, innocent girl.
“I don’t have a sister. I just hate her,” Bai Tang said, curled up in Herslet’s arms.
Qiu’er had once told him that throwing tantrums had to be done with moderation. He didn’t really understand what “moderation” meant, but as long as Simona was in the Bai household, there was no way he would go back.
“I’m not going back. If she’s there, I won’t be. If I’m there, she won’t be.” Bai Tang pointed at Simona as he spoke.
Simona’s face turned deathly pale. She took a few steps back in disbelief. “Do you really hate me that much?”
Simona was still deep in her act—the queen of dramatics. If she’d been smart, she would have pulled Madam Bai out earlier.
Unfortunately, she was too greedy. She wanted to see a complete falling-out between Madam Bai and Bai Tang. But the next moment, the boy asked quietly:
“That breakup letter you gave me… was it really written by Ah He?”
“What? You forged the breakup letter?” Madam Bai asked in shock.
“No, I didn’t… I didn’t…” Simona stumbled backward until she hit the door.
A second later, a swarm of paparazzi reporters burst in from outside like a tidal wave.
Faced with such a juicy drama, of course they wouldn’t miss it. The flashlights and microphones were already in place.
“What did I ever do to deserve this from you? Why would you go so far to frame me?” The girl’s voice was hoarse and trembling, as if she had poured out every last bit of her strength.
This was big news. Everyone thought so, raising their cameras and lights high.
“Tang Tang, I’m ready,” the system said to Bai Tang.
Among the reporters who had rushed in, some were called by Simona, some by the system, and others—even by Herslet himself.
Bai Tang played a video clip—the scene from when he had just arrived and been beaten.
“Stop pestering Herslet. He’s already broken off the engagement with you.”
“Aren’t you just pathetic? Herslet doesn’t even like you, yet you keep throwing yourself at him.”
Could these venomous words really have come from this pitiful-looking girl standing before them?
The crowd couldn’t believe it—but the evidence was irrefutable. Then, on the screen, Simona was shown slapping Bai Tang across the face.
No wonder Tang Tang hated her so much and didn’t want to come home. So this was the truth.
Herslet stared at the footage, his fists clenching so tightly they creaked. The look he gave Simona was filled with murderous intent.
Although Sentinels and Guides were both special beings, Sentinels—as living weapons tasked with defending the Alliance—were far beyond what a Guide could match.
At that moment, Herslet fully unleashed his presence. His first move was aimed straight at Simona’s vital points.
To onlookers, once a Sentinel made a move, even an A-rank Guide wouldn’t be able to withstand it—death was all but certain.
And yet… she dodged it.
Very few people had ever escaped Herslet’s attacks—especially not a Guide.
Simona bent backward like a limp worm, slid along the ground, and sprang back to her feet.
Her voice had lost all its sweetness. Now it was laced with barbs, enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
“Oh~ so what if it was me?”
She let out a cold giggle.
“You’re all going to die anyway—why not be useful to me before that?”
As soon as she finished speaking, a massive black shadow rose behind Simona—it was a giant serpent-like creature.
The crowd screamed and fled in terror. Simona let out a cold laugh and commanded the creature to chase after them.
The serpent was enormous. With a single sweep of its tail, it knocked over several people at once. The barbed spikes on its body pierced into them, and in no time, their bodies were drained dry. Strangely, the more it fed, the shinier and more vibrant the creature seemed to become.
“This is bad—the female lead has been taken over by the insect race!”
The system was full of regret. If only we had detected it earlier… we wouldn’t have provoked her. Are Tang Tang and I both going to die here today?
Simona’s true target was actually Bai Tang. She had always hated that boy—irrationally so. Especially his smile—it was simply unbearable, too dazzling.
The serpent swung its tail in Bai Tang’s direction, but Herslet would never allow anyone to lay a hand on him. Veins bulged on his arms as he grabbed the serpent’s tail barehanded and flung it aside. The beast howled in pain, crashing through a wall and leaving a massive crater in the ground.
The reason the insect race had never successfully invaded the Alliance was because they were bulky and lacked intelligence.
At this moment, Herslet easily took down the giant serpent.
Realizing the tide had turned against her, Simona tried to flee. She called the serpent to retreat, but Herslet gave her no chance. With overwhelming force, he tore the spikes from the creature’s body one by one. As the serpent writhed in pain, Simona let out a horrifying scream.
In the distance, the sky darkened as a massive black cloud swept in. Only when it got closer did the crowd realize what it was—a swarm of insectoids, specifically hard-shelled Octabugs.
The Octabugs moved with terrifying speed and quickly surrounded the sky, blocking out the light.
Faced with the dense swarm, the paparazzi fell into despair. Some collapsed to the ground in surrender, no longer even trying to run. No matter how powerful Herslet is, there’s no way he can fight off thousands of those things…
They were terrified. But Tang Tang wasn’t. Although the insects looked disgusting, he didn’t feel afraid.
Bai Tang pressed his hands together, and a vibrant green light glowed in his palms. From the cracked, crumbling earth, countless vines burst forth.
The vines grew rapidly, forming a protective barrier around the crowd. A transparent dome sealed off the exposed sky, blocking the bugs’ attacks.
And all of this—this shield that protected everyone—was created by the very Bai family young master they had always looked down on.
He was the one who saved them all.
Bai Tang stood with his eyes closed, a faint white glow radiating from his body. He looked like a holy angel descending to earth—pure and radiant, as if all evil in the world had nowhere to hide before him.
Herslet kept pummeling the giant serpent with his fists. Simona screamed in agony. She lifted her head, her blood-red eyes looking even more terrifying against the dark green fluid that covered her.
She let out a long, piercing cry toward the Octabugs above. In response, the creatures began ramming the protective shield with their hard shells. The loud, relentless bang, bang, bang was deeply unsettling.
While everyone worried about when the shield might break, Bai Tang suddenly opened his eyes and said to Herslet, “Ah He, the fourth leg—the bug’s fourth leg…”
Herslet picked up a kitchen knife that had been flung aside during the chaos and slashed at the creature’s rear right leg.
Something strange happened—bug blood was supposed to be green, but what gushed from that leg was bright red. On closer inspection, there was a swollen lump beneath the skin.
Simona made a feint and took the opportunity to escape—riding away on an Octabug.
As the swarm of centipede-like insects scattered, the sky slowly returned to its original color.
The ground was in ruins. Tang Tang’s dessert shop had partially collapsed in the fight. Everything inside had been Bai Tang’s hard work—the sweet memories he shared with Herslet in this world. Now, it was all gone.
Tears fell silently, darkening the dust-covered earth.
Herslet didn’t care about the bug’s severed leg still in his hand. He tossed it aside and rushed to Bai Tang. “Are you hurt? I’ll take you to the hospital…”
Bai Tang shook his head and wiped away his tears. “My dessert shop is gone…”
Seeing Bai Tang cry nearly gave Herslet a heart attack. His heart ached as he pulled the boy into his arms. “We’ll build a new one. A bigger, better dessert shop. As long as you’re okay. That’s all that matters.”
“Mhm~” the boy nodded obediently. “I don’t want to be the chef anymore. I want you to do it.”
“Alright.” Herslet kissed the messy strands of hair on the boy’s forehead.
“I also want five pinecones. They need to be roasted—really fragrant…”
“Okay, as many as you want…”
Now that the danger had passed, the stunned paparazzi exchanged looks with one another.
So this is what Herslet Shelley’s private life with Bai Tang is really like…
No wonder—If they had a powerful Guide like Bai Tang—one who was also cute and clingy—who the hell would want anyone else?
Compared to that, the human traitor Simona didn’t even come close.
For some reason, watching the two of them sticking together, casually discussing how many nuts to eat, everyone felt more than just the joy of surviving a disaster… there was also a faint, inexplicable sadness.
They had just barely escaped with their lives, only to be force-fed a mouthful of dog food right after. It stung a little.