TL: Hua

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Chapter 21

(Includes Forum Thread)

Inside the cafeteria.

Ji Xuan took the milk tea handed over by the robot and took small sips, biting the straw. The sunlight from the window spilled in, casting golden reflections on his glistening lips; he looked like a completely different person from the calm and decisive pilot in the mecha assessment just moments ago.

Pei Yingye’s gaze lingered on that glistening sheen for a moment. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he instinctively licked the corner of his own mouth.

“So,” he began, his voice carrying a trace of lazy pride, “you’ve spent quite a bit of time staring at videos of me and Shaikh over the last two days, haven’t you?”

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to blend both of their styles into a single battle and execute it so beautifully.

“I used them as a reference, yes,” Ji Xuan admitted candidly, his tongue lightly licking away a bit of milk foam from his lip.

Time was tight; borrowing established tactics was the optimal solution.

Pei Yingye leaned forward, his arms resting casually on the table. Beneath the table, his long legs shifted forward naturally, the toe of his shoe pressing against Ji Xuan’s. “Then, by that logic, I deserve the most credit. Don’t you have anything to show for it?”

Ji Xuan lifted his eyelids, his gaze slowly drifting to the cup of milk tea he had ordered for the Alpha. He gave a soft laugh. “Haven’t I already given it?”

“Just this?” Pei Yingye squeezed the side of the cup. The icy sensation couldn’t suppress the flicker of restlessness rising in his heart. He stared at Ji Xuan with burning eyes, complaining with half-serious frustration, “I don’t like drinking sweet water.”

“Then there’s nothing else.” Ji Xuan set down the cup, making a move to stand up.

Choked by these words, a flash of irritation hit Pei Yingye. Almost without thinking, his foot beneath the table reached out further. His sturdy calf pressed directly against Ji Xuan’s, forming a posture that was slightly restrictive, preventing him from leaving.

“Wait.”

Ji Xuan’s movements paused. He lowered his eyes to look at their pressed legs, and when he looked back up at him, the upward curve at the corners of his eyes became more pronounced.

Pei Yingye felt the tips of his ears heat up from the look. Forcing himself to stay composed, he changed the subject to cover his impulsive instinct: “…The mecha assessment is over. Have you decided who you’re looking for to fill the remaining two spots for the Full-domain Simulation?”

Ji Xuan leaned back into his chair again, thinking for a moment with an air of indifference. “The Medical Department can be a random match. For the Mecha Department. Lai Zhou will do.”

“Not looking for that fiancé of yours?”

His tone was incredibly cynical. Ji Xuan arched an eyebrow, scrutinizing his face for several seconds, his naked gaze seemingly trying to capture every emotional reaction.

Pei Yingye’s heart hammered against his ribs like a drum. Just as he was about to speak, Ji Xuan suddenly reached his hand over, tapping the terminal several times with moderate pressure.

His fingers were well-defined, his nails trimmed round. When they tapped against the terminal, they made a series of crisp click-clack sounds.

“Didn’t you see it for yourself?” Ji Xuan said with a half-smile, his voice pressed very low, like a lover’s whisper. “My fiancé is busy accompanying another Omega. How could I have the heart to disturb him?”

Pei Yingye fell silent for a few seconds.

“…You don’t care?”

“Why should I care?” Ji Xuan withdrew his hand and picked up his milk tea, biting the straw between his teeth. “Am I not also accompanying another Alpha?”

A momentary blankness flashed across Pei Yingye’s face, as if he hadn’t expected to hear such an answer from Ji Xuan’s mouth. A surge of wild joy, like magma rushing underground, desperately sought a vent to erupt from. However, his reason suppressed the impulse with a death grip, allowing the emotion to only manifest as a surging dark tide in his eyes.

The sweet water in front of him suddenly became alluring. He crudely stabbed the straw in and took a heavy gulp while holding the cup with one hand. He deliberately looked away from Ji Xuan, but the lips biting the straw were clearly upturned.

He couldn’t hide his emotions even if he tried.

“Since you don’t like it, why not break off the engagement?” Pei Yingye said, appearing casual.

“I suppose I just haven’t taken it seriously,” Ji Xuan said. “I have other things to handle. It’s not like I’m getting married tomorrow.”

Ji Xuan’s tone was too nonchalant, as if this engagement were merely a trivial matter, one that could be put off indefinitely.

From the start, it turned out that the obstacle standing before him called a “fiancé” had never been an iron wall.

“What could be more important than that?”

“Many things,” Ji Xuan said slowly. His gaze swept over Pei Yingye’s tensed jawline before finally landing in his burning eyes. “For example… becoming strong enough.”

“Strong enough to do as I please, without any restraints.” He paused, his gaze lingering on Pei Yingye’s eyes as if admiring a possession of his own. “And for another thing…”

His lips moved slightly, producing a few breathy sounds, but Pei Yingye clearly saw what he said:

I have something I really want.

After finishing that sentence, he stood up leisurely.

This time, Pei Yingye didn’t stop him.

Ji Xuan walked forward a few steps to his side and suddenly leaned down close.

His wrist rested loosely on the Alpha’s shoulder, his hanging scorpion braid brushing across his arm and chest. Ji Xuan spoke, his warm breath fanning against the base of the ear: “Pei Yingye, has anyone ever told you that your eyes are very beautiful? Like delphiniums.”

“Many have.” Pei Yingye’s Adam’s apple rolled, a small bead of sweat running over the mole on his throat. “But you’re the first to say they look like grass[1].”

“Is that so?” Ji Xuan murmured, his fingers tapping lightly on his shoulder.

“The milk tea—remember to finish it.” He straightened up. “I’m heading back first. Good luck this afternoon.”

Then, without looking back at Pei Yingye’s reaction, he turned and left.

Pei Yingye sat frozen in place. After several seconds, he abruptly grabbed his terminal and searched: What is a Delphinium?

—A plant from Ancient Earth, currently only growing in the Third Galaxy.

The flower shape of the delphinium was very unique; it bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to the tattoo on Ji Xuan’s wrist.

What does he want?

What did he mean by specifically mentioning my eyes?

Pei Yingye put down the terminal and slowly tightened his grip around the cold cup of milk tea. The condensation on the cup wet his palm, but it couldn’t cool the wildfire burning brighter and brighter in his heart.

He did it on purpose.

Ji Xuan did it on purpose.

Every look, every movement, and every vague yet suggestive sentence was a carefully cast lure. And even though he could clearly see the light reflecting off the hook, he still couldn’t help but bite.

As if to vent his frustration, Pei Yingye bit the straw and drank the sweet water, gulp after gulp, until it was bone dry.

—

[3444L: Mecha assessment is over. As expected, PYY is 1st and S.R is 2nd. Truly boring.]

[3445L: Is JX getting 5th place not unexpected? The first god-tier pilot in the history of Mars Military Academy to bring only a twin cannon and a light-sword. That manipulation, that awareness, that mental power… it was insanely satisfying to watch.]

[3346L: The opponent was gone before they could even react… first time seeing someone use a light-sword that brilliantly.]

[3347L: It’s not just ‘couldn’t react,’ they were probably scared senseless. That final mental power suppression—don’t they say they’re both S-grade? How can there be such a big difference?]

…

[3361L: Am I the only one who thinks the way he got out of the mecha… tsk, so aloof and cool. Those legs are so good looking.]

[3362L: You’re not alone! That swing of the scorpion braid, the thin waist and long legs, the expressionless face but that sweep of the eyes… My honest reaction: Hi, wife!]

[3363L: How come I never noticed he was this attractive before? That kind of indifferent yet seductive vibe… hehe, hehe.]

[3364L: Can you Alphas have a bit of dignity… though it’s the first time I’ve realized how deadly an Omega can be when they’re strong. I want to see him hold that light-sword to my neck and call me trash (shut up, you).]

[3365L: If those legs could just step on me once…]

…

[3410L: Is there an analysis of his move set yet? Especially that close-quarters hit, how did he do it? Feels like a fusion of PYY and S.R’s styles?]

[3411L: It combined both their playstyles, but more delicate than P and more ferocious than S. Also, this person’s swordsmanship is incredible. In a pure 1v1 melee, both P and S might lose.]

[3412L: Are you sure it’s just ‘might’? The first time P lost in a combat field was to this person.]

[3413L: JX assessment video + slow-motion breakdown. DM me if you want it.]

…

In a single dormitory in the Alpha residential area.

Shaikh sat in a relaxed posture against his chair, a giant light screen in front of him replaying Ji Xuan’s mecha assessment at an extremely slow speed.

On the screen, the agile fuselage performed a Z-shaped leap, and the brilliant silver light-sword sliced through the air—

His gaze greedily traced Ji Xuan’s indifferent features on the screen. Excited praise rolled over the tip of his tongue again and again: “Brother, so impressive.”

“To use my clumsy little tricks so beautifully… truly a surprise.”

“What a pity there was no chance for a direct confrontation this time. Otherwise, I could have seen from up close exactly what expression you would make…”

“Ji Xuan, Ji Xuan… will you accept my invitation for the Full-domain Simulation?”

Shaikh leaned his head back, letting out a sigh.

The recording finished playing once more.

Shaikh didn’t move immediately. He sat quietly in his chair, still looking gentle and harmless, as if completely intoxicated by the brilliant battle he had just witnessed.

But only he knew how the twisted mixture of jealousy, curiosity, and intense attraction was churning in his chest.

After an unknown amount of time, he reached out and opened the communication interface on his terminal.

In the Full-domain Simulation Assessment group, Ji Yan shared the latest grouping list.

Their group had decided on its members long ago, so there was really no need to look. Shaikh scrolled through listlessly, but when he saw Ji Xuan’s name, he suddenly paused—

[Full-domain Simulation Combat Group 8]

Combat Dept: Ji Xuan, Pei Yingye

Mecha Dept: Lai Zhou

Medical Dept: Lance Vaughn

[It’s Xiao Yan Ya[2]: Oh no, why was Second Brother grouped with Lance? If I’d known, I should have been more firm about making him join us qwq]

Shaikh, however, let out an excited laugh and slowly typed into the chat box: [But I’m really looking forward to our meeting.]

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[1] Delphinium (飞燕草) in Chinese contains the character for grass.

[2] “呀” (ya) is a modal particle in Chinese, often used at the end of a sentence to express mood or a playful childlike tone.

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