[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-help-i-do-not-want-to-guide-a-disaster":3,"chapter-help-i-do-not-want-to-guide-a-disaster-help-i-do-not-want-to-guide-a-disaster-chapter-17":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Help! I Do Not Want to Guide a Disaster",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1709085,2183,"Chapter 17: I Have Demands","help-i-do-not-want-to-guide-a-disaster-chapter-17",17,"\u003Cp>The medication dragged Wenzhi under before he could think further and when he woke again, the exhaustion that had been gnawing at him earlier had completely faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Mei was the first to notice. \"Your energy has fully recovered, Mr Lin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Yiran stepped closer, already holding small vials between his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are Wavelength Stabilizers,\" he explained, his voice calm as he gestured. \"You’ll need to inject them before any guiding session. They help prevent another guiding collapse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another container was placed into Wenzhi’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not forget the Pills,\" Song Mei added. \"You should take it after guiding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi glanced down at them briefly before tossing one into his mouth without much thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Mei smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi didn’t comment. He slipped the rest into his pocket, committing the routine to memory without effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened without warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armed personnel stepped in, their presence immediately shifting the air in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are here to escort the guide to Director Shen Jue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi exhaled quietly through his nose as he pushed himself to his feet, his movements steady, unhurried, like he had already expected this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll come back for the stabilizers,\" he said, glancing briefly over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Yiran nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey upward was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time they reached the top floor, far above the research levels, the cold air and the smell of antiseptic had disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doors to the director’s office opened and Wenzhi stepped in, only to pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Xinyuan was already there, sitting and waiting for him. He was dressed in a fitted black shirt and combat pants with his boots planted firmly against the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His long hair was pulled back in a loose tie, though a few strands fell across his face. A pair of glasses rested neatly on his nose, softening the sharpness of his features just enough to make him look almost normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. Controlled was the word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was visibly controlled, nothing like the storm Wenzhi had seen before. But the moment Xinyuan’s eyes landed on him, they lit up instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body reacted before his mind seemed to catch up, shoulders shifting like he was about to rise, to close the distance without thinking but a hand came down on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doctor Bai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Xinyuan froze immediately under her touch, appearing obedient on the surface, but his gaze never left Wenzhi for even a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi was the first to look away, as if none of it mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His attention shifted to Shen Jue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was already watching him with that same polished smile. He clapped and said, \"You are exceptional, Mr. Lin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand extended, gesturing toward the seat across from him. \"Please, sit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief pause followed, just long enough to let the weight of the room settle. Then, his smile deepened just a bit as he said, \"Let’s talk about how we can make this beneficial for everyone involved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You could start by removing this restraint from my ankle.\" Wenzhi leaned back into the chair as he spoke, his posture loose and lazy like this wasn’t a negotiation that determined whether he lived freely or remained a controlled asset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jue chuckled softly, amused. \"You know I can’t do that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi nodded. \"I figured. But I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re here to discuss your position as Shao Xinyuan’s official guide.\" Doctor Bai cut in cleanly, her tone sharp enough to slice through whatever Wenzhi had been about to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi turned his head toward her, and their eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" he said calmly. \"I’m aware.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence stretched for half a second too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jue clasped his hands together. \"So we won’t be having any... resistance moving forward?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No resistance,\" Wenzhi exhaled through his nose. \"But I have demands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head an inch, his eyes sliding to Shao Xinyuan, who was watching him with a curiosity that hinted he wanted to figure him out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Demands,\" Wenzhi repeated, \"that benefit me...and Xinyuan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Xinyuan’s eyes rounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jue smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright,\" he said. \"Let’s hear them. Just remember, there are limits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t stay in the research facility,\" Wenzhi said without hesitation. \"I want a private residence, a space outside this place where we can live. Somewhere he can return to after missions. Somewhere that isn’t a monitored cage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" Doctor Bai reacted immediately. \"That is not possible. Shao Xinyuan is a classified subject. He cannot be removed from the research environment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word subject hung heavy in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xinyuan’s reaction was subtle, but not invisible; his leg began a restless bounce, and his gaze dropped for a fleeting second before snapping back to Wenzhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi didn’t look at him. His attention stayed on Bai Qinian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can call him back whenever you want for checkups, evaluations, or whatever else makes you feel in control.\" Wenzhi’s freckled face creased into a deep frown. \"But you don’t get to lock him in a box and expect stability, and I certainly won’t function in a place like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doctor Bai’s eyes narrowed. \"You are in no position to make demands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi smiled, just enough to show teeth. \"Then let me die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Shen Jue stopped smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You said it yourself, I’m valuable.\" Wenzhi lifted his restrained ankle, letting the faint hum of the device fill the silence. \"So decide. Do you want a stable disaster-class Esper or the controlled corpse of a Guide?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\" Shao Xinyuan spoke up suddenly, his voice thick with a startled rasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unexpected sound made Wenzhi shoot him a sharp, warning look, a silent command not to interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Xinyuan fell silent, and strangely, that reaction seemed to satisfy Wenzhi. A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jue chuckled softly, like he had just witnessed something mildly amusing rather than disruptive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" he said smoothly, \"your wishes will be granted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi didn’t move. He hadn’t expected Shen Jue to fold so quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" Doctor Bai shot to her feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was sharp, disbelief written plainly across her face. \"Director, you can’t simply agree to this. Shao Xinyuan is a critical research subject. He needs to remain within the facility to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shao Xinyuan has been under our supervision for nine years, Doctor.\" Shen Jue didn’t raise his voice; he didn’t need to. \"I believe you have gathered more than enough data to continue your work without keeping him confined. As Mr. Lin suggested, he can return for evaluations when necessary.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced briefly at Wenzhi. \"Let him function like any other Esper. Now that he has a compatible Guide, the need for sedation and intervention has passed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doctor Bai let out a sharp, disbelieving scoff, her eyes cutting toward Wenzhi with undisguised hostility before she turned and stormed out of the room without another word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door slammed shut behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi leaned back in his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jue’s attention returned to him almost immediately. \"Do you have anything more to add, Mr Lin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wenzhi didn’t hesitate to speak his mind. \"I don’t want this to be long-term,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That broke Shao Xinyuan’s composure. His eyes locked onto Wenzhi’s, intense and focused, housing a sudden hardness that hadn’t been there a moment before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\" Shen Jue blinked. \"And how long were you....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jue studied Wenzhi for a long moment before a smile finally touched his lips. It wasn’t warm or kind, but purely satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deal, Mr. Lin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too smooth, the finality of it leaving a bitter aftertaste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenzhi glanced at Shao Xinyuan. He was leaning back now, a forced relaxation that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He looked away, distant and avoiding, but a certain tightness around his mouth spoke of a disappointment he couldn’t entirely hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint crease formed between Wenzhi’s brows as his eyes stayed on Xinyuan. He wasn’t under any illusions that this was an arrangement. It was containment, nothing more than a leash disguised as a deal. Yet, it was a step forward, and in this world, steps mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>",1341,"2026-06-06T14:53:12.378Z",1,"novelbin.me","b237cb83b80c73054cce30e9fd7b3a0cb3d7edc54c6511250ecd0bd438b4418f","help-i-do-not-want-to-guide-a-disaster-chapter-18","help-i-do-not-want-to-guide-a-disaster-chapter-16",73,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhelp-i-do-not-want-to-guide-a-disaster-cover.jpg"]