The More Underlings, the More Impressive

I'm really sorry, but I can't come up with the original idea anymore. To the readers who were looking forward to it, feel free to unfollow or collect the story as you like. I'm truly sorry ૮₍ɵ̷﹏ɵ̷̥̥᷅₎ა

Emotionally stable, naturally deadpan, antisocial top x peacock bottom who overthinks himself into romance

[The world is crumbling, brave young man, ]

Li Zhijian: "Save the world?"

[Not exactly.]

The System replied coldly.

[Your mission is to observe and record the stories unfolding around key characters.]

Li Zhijian sounded a little disappointed. "...So I'm a human security camera."

The System's mission was hard to carry out. With no particular skills and crippling social anxiety, Li Zhijian tried observing people as a passerby, a classmate, and so on. Every attempt ended in failure.

On his third run, Li Zhijian decided to change his approach.

After casually dealing with the pollution creatures closing in, he announced, "I'm going to find a boss and become his underling."

The System: "...Here's a guide to being a lackey."

1. When the boss says east, don't go west

Boss A: "He keeps provoking me. I ought to teach him a lesson."

Li Zhijian: "Who should I kill? Just say the word."

2. The boss's life is sacred

Boss B: "You don't need to save me. I can handle this!"

Li Zhijian drew his blade. "You're not strong enough. Don't overestimate yourself."

3. Help the boss win his love

Boss C: "I don't know if he likes me..."

Li Zhijian silently pulled out a gun. "He'll like you."

And there's more: keep the boss's secrets, ease the boss's worries, applaud the boss's brilliance...

Li Zhijian followed every rule.

He worked his way up to becoming underling to Boss E, and his career flourished. His assets and mission results exceeded all expectations.

Li Zhijian was happy, but he didn't say so.

He would keep protecting his bosses.

Including the biggest backer of them all, Xie Zhuoqing, the Federation's only super-S-rank Awakened.

Xie Zhuoqing, twenty-eight years old, humanity's guardian and the most powerful hero, admired by all, was lately being enthusiastically protected by an eighteen-year-old military academy student.

He watched Li Zhijian call himself an underling, while becoming someone the heaven-blessed geniuses looked up to. With great interest, he asked, "You said you'd protect me. How are you going to do that?"

Li Zhijian replied evenly, "I'll just draw my blade."

Xie Zhuoqing smiled brightly. "Then I'll be counting on you from now on."

Li Zhijian nodded solemnly.

Reading notes:

1. Li Zhijian is the top and Xie Zhuoqing the bottom. They have a ten-year age gap. This couple is mutually devoted, with no switching or breaking up. Their romantic arrows are locked firmly on each other and incredibly thick.

2. [A futuristic alternate-universe story.] The plot runs wild, so all I can promise is that the couple is very much in love. It's probably still an [unconventional everyone-loves-the-protagonist story].

3. Happy ending. The author has no personal triggers. If you're unhappy while reading, please stop in time. Being happy is what matters most, so don't force yourself.

Theme: The simple, ordinary life is what matters most.