ABFMV Chapter 37

Someone decided to stir things up and openly started a poll thread:

[Who do you think Xu Linlang is more compatible with?]

1. Qi Ye
   B. Lu Xiao
   C. Gu Yinghe
   D. Chu Luochi
   E. None of the above — nominate someone in the thread

The post shot to the top in popularity, eventually turning into a general discussion thread where different “factions” argued back and forth nonstop.

Some even wrote long, well-reasoned essays: “In my opinion, Qi Ye currently has the best chance. After all, they’re always together. As for Lu Xiao, that’s a dead end—he rejected Xu Linlang so thoroughly, and she doesn’t strike me as the type who goes back for leftovers. Gu Yinghe blew it by confessing the moment they met—that was just stupid. Unless Xu Linlang completely loses her mind, she won’t choose her. Chu Luochi, on the other hand, is the dark horse I really like. Childhood friends, practically inseparable—he’s got potential for a comeback. From the bigger picture…”

Qi Ye scrolled through the comments, the corners of his lips unconsciously lifting—until he reached the part about Chu Luochi.

Childhood friends? Inseparable?

Qi Ye’s face went cold. Just thinking about Chu Luochi acting all chummy with Xu Linlang made him irritated.

Chu Luochi even knew about Xu Linlang’s gene deterioration from the poison she’d taken. He had been part of her past and was still actively present in her life.

Qi Ye had a strong feeling Chu Luochi wasn’t going to disappear from her world anytime soon. Even if he was currently tied up with military duties, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t suddenly show up again later.

Qi Ye quickly unliked that comment and, with a swipe, hit “dislike” instead.

As for whatever the teacher was lecturing about up front, he didn’t care. He’d already mastered all of it anyway.

Equally distracted was Yao Mo, slumped over her desk. Xu Linlang’s recent rise to fame and Lu Xiao’s change in attitude toward her had left Yao Mo miserable.

She had been the one who deserved all the praise, yet now Xu Linlang was the center of attention. Next to her, Yao Mo felt like nothing more than a shabby little sparrow.

Xu Linlang was the real phoenix.

The humiliation was so sharp that Yao Mo hadn’t dared meet her classmates’ eyes these past few days, afraid she’d catch disdain and contempt in their gazes.

In this state, she couldn’t take in a single word the teacher said.

But in truth, very few people actively criticized her. Her name only popped up as a side note in Xu Linlang’s rumors. Sure, there were fewer compliments than before, but that was it.

Still, Yao Mo was hypersensitive. Whenever a few students laughed together, she immediately assumed they were mocking her.

After class, her friends Su Yilu and Hao Xinyi came over to comfort her.

“You need to pull yourself together. If you let this get to you, it’s exactly what Xu Linlang wants.”

“Yeah, we worked too hard to get into Lilan Military Academy to waste this opportunity. So what if Elder Jiang took her on as a disciple? It’s not like Xu Linlang can actually design some groundbreaking new mecha. She’s just there to fetch and carry for him. You, on the other hand, are headed for the battlefield and real military merit. How could she compare to you, a frontliner?”

Hearing their words, Yao Mo’s face crumpled with grief. “I don’t know why she keeps targeting me. I’ve already bent over backwards around her, but she still refuses to accept me.”

The girl sitting in front of them rolled her eyes in secret.

What a shameless white lotus act.

Everyone knew it was Yao Mo who always picked at Xu Linlang first, yet she twisted it around to make it sound like Xu Linlang was the aggressor. Classic blame-shifting.

That girl had once considered befriending Yao Mo—after all, Yao Mo had entered the mecha academy as the top scorer, which sounded impressive.

But meeting her in person? Total walking white lotus. Better steer clear.

Even so, the girl didn’t plan on calling Yao Mo out. There was no point in making an enemy. She simply slipped on her headphones and tuned out the whining.

“But…” Hao Xinyi bit her lip. “I think you and Su Yilu should apologize to Xu Linlang. At least on the surface, it’ll look like you’ve reconciled. Otherwise, if people think you’re at odds with her, it could hurt your reputation. Don’t forget, her father is a Marshal and she’s part of the royal family. Nobody wants to get on her bad side.”

Yao Mo frowned, about to scoff, then her expression shifted as a thought struck her. She softened her tone: “I think you’re right.”

Su Yilu stared at both of them in disbelief. “Are you two crazy? Apologize to Xu Linlang? For what? Did you forget how she humiliated me in front of everyone?”

Hao Xinyi gently patted her back, trying to calm her. “Of course not. Yao Mo’s suffered plenty too. But we came to the academy to build our future, not to make enemies.”

Su Yilu’s chest heaved with anger.

She turned away. “Well, I’m not apologizing.”

Yao Mo gave her a disappointed look, as if to say I expected better of you.

With slender fingers massaging her brow, she sighed. “If you won’t, then forget it. I’ll handle the rest myself.”

———

On her way from the dorms to the research institute, Xu Linlang was stopped by Yao Mo.

Yao Mo held a small carrier, her eyes slightly red as she walked toward her.

Xu Linlang turned, saw her fragile little act, and had no patience for it. “If you have something to say, say it quickly. I don’t have time to waste.”

Yao Mo hurried a few steps to block her path, then raised the carrier slightly, signaling Xu Linlang to look. “I came today to apologize. This is my peace offering.”

Xu Linlang eyed the box suspiciously, trying to see what trick lay inside. “A peace offering?”

Yao Mo nodded, then pressed a button. The opaque outer shell turned transparent, revealing a fluffy, wide-eyed kitten staring out in fright.

A purebred ragdoll cat.

Seeing Xu Linlang’s gaze fix on the kitten, Yao Mo smiled softly. “I heard you really like cats. But the one you have now technically belongs to Qi Ye—he has to take it back during the day. So I went off-campus and bought this one especially for you. I hope it can stay with you always.”

 

This novel will continue on 9 Oct 2025