Chapter 20

By the time they entered the parade ground, Tong Xiao and the others finally realized—each college’s formations and positions had been assigned in advance.

So they just needed to find the Medical College’s section.

Tong Xiao and his two companions followed the signs all the way to the Medical College area. Before they even got close, they spotted a crowd gathered from afar.

The three exchanged glances and bolted over.

The Medical College had students who were Alphas, Betas, and Omegas, but this bunch was mostly Alphas, packed so tightly not even water could leak through.

Out of roommate loyalty, the three steeled themselves and shoved their way in—

“…Made your choice yet?” Mu Chenxing grinned in the midst of the crowd, rolling up his sleeves. “If not, I can pick for you?”

Facing him were several Alphas, with four or five Omegas from the association behind him, heads hanging lower than one another, shy and mortified.

The moment Tong Xiao and the others broke through, Mu Chenxing spotted them and waved. “You made it. I thought you’d gotten lost.”

Tong Xiao and his companions endured the stares from the crowd and shuffled awkwardly over to the Omegas’ side.

Mu Chenxing’s gaze shifted back to the Alphas opposite. “Big bro, it’s just an apology. You wouldn’t even have the basic Alpha responsibility for that, would you?”

One of the Alphas across from him bellowed angrily, “You little Omega—”

An Alpha next to him jabbed him. “Idiot! Apologize quick! The teachers are coming soon!”

The others urged him too. “Endure for the moment—”

“It’s not about enduring for the moment.” Mu Chenxing wagged a finger. “I’ll be watching you until you graduate~~”

The crowd of Alphas: “…”

Pokes to the waist, elbow nudges, meaningful glances—every urging tactic came out.

The targeted Alpha’s face stiffened for a long moment before he finally barked, “Su Xin, sorry. From now on, I won’t mock you as—”

“Su Xin.” Mu Chenxing cut him off, turning to greet one of the Omegas behind. “I heard he’s mocked you plenty of times. Do you accept his apology?”

The Alpha: “I already apologized—”

“Shut it, bro.” The Alpha beside him. “Wrap this up quick and we can bail.”

The Omega named Su Xin cautiously lifted his head.

Mu Chenxing watched him encouragingly.

The Omega bit his lip. “He—he insulted me seven times, ruined four of my notebooks—”

“Hey! That’s enough—”

A high-top hiking boot halted right at the dark-faced Alpha’s chest. He broke out in a cold sweat, stumbling back two big steps.

Mu Chenxing held his kicking pose steady, smiling. “This isn’t your time to talk.”

The crowd gasped.

“Damn, his stance is rock-solid!”

“This Omega’s got some real foundation.”

“Isn’t he the one who beat that first-year Alpha?”

The Alpha’s face darkened further, fists clenching.

Someone nearby whispered, “Don’t be rash. So many people around—one punch and you’re docked at least three points.”

Mu Chenxing retracted his leg and looked back at Su Xin.

The Omega gritted his teeth, face flushing red. “I—I want him to apologize eleven times!! And donate to the association—at least 400 bucks!”

The other Omegas chimed in softly: “Apologize! Pay up!”

Mu Chenxing raised a brow.

These Omegas were the ones who’d sought justice a couple days ago. So, they’d finally stood up?

Grinning, he turned to the Alpha. “Hear that? Ten more times, plus the donation!”

The Alpha clenched his fists but was held back by the guy next to him again.

Mu Chenxing suggested with a smile, “Or you could fight me first, cough up some class credits, then apologize and pay.”

The Alpha: “…”

More people gathered, the parade ground buzzing with noise, but this little corner stayed somewhat quiet.

Even so, the onlookers started whispering, eyes darting between the parties.

The Alpha’s classmates muttered and prodded him too.

It felt like forever before the Alpha finally took a deep breath and opened his mouth. “Su Xin, sorry. Su Xin, sorry. Su Xin, sorry…”

He rattled them off fast—ten times in the blink of an eye.

But his voice boomed loud enough to do a Military Academy student proud.

Mu Chenxing nodded in satisfaction and flashed his payment code. “Alright, thanks for supporting the Omega Upgrade Association~”

The Alpha’s face was pitch black—

“I’ll do it! I’ll do it!” The Alpha to his left jumped in. “I’ll support him!”

The one on the right: “Me too!”

The two scanned in quick succession—800 bucks in the account.

Mu Chenxing raised a brow.

“That square it?” The helpful Alpha asked politely.

Mu Chenxing feigned hesitation. “We mainly wanted him to make amends—”

“Amends! Amends!” That Alpha pinned the culprit down, hissing low. “Hurry up!”

The culprit: “…”

Another 400 hit the account.

Mu Chenxing laughed. “Perfect. All past grudges wiped clean. We’re all good classmates from now on~”

The two Alphas agreed loudly, then dragged the black-faced culprit away, burrowing swiftly out of the crowd.

Mu Chenxing pocketed his payment code and looked up to find the crowd hadn’t dispersed. He raised a brow. “What, does anyone else want to sponsor the Omega Upgrade Association?”

The crowd: “!”

They scattered like startled birds and beasts.

Mu Chenxing was speechless. He turned to the Omegas and patted Su Xin’s head. “You did great!”

The little Omega glanced at the dispersing crowd and whispered nervously, “I—I made him apologize eleven times. Wasn’t that kinda lame?”

“How could it be?! That’s exactly how it should be. If Alphas think we’re petty Omegas, then we’ll be thoroughly petty, nitpick every single time, no letting anything slide! If he weren’t just a broke student, we’d have made him scan 400 bucks eleven times.”

The little Omega relaxed and cracked a shy smile.

“And you others.” Mu Chenxing eyed the rest of the Omegas. “You were awesome today too—starting to cheer and hype each other up. Two more rounds, and you’ll be helping others seek justice.”

He’d figured it out: these Omegas just needed encouragement. Praise them for everything, big or small.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished, the Omegas couldn’t help but grin.

“Two rounds? No way.”

“I wouldn’t dare. I can’t fight.”

“I only dare talk smack.”

Mu Chenxing: “What’s to fear? Did you see me fight? I just flapped my gums. When we pick fights, it’s all about thick skin. From now on, you guys target crowded spots with cameras—they won’t dare lay a hand.”

The Omegas thought back and chuckled.

Tong Xiao clapped to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, teachers are starting to enter. Hurry and find your class spots.”

The parade ground was packed to the brim. They were too short to see outside, but the stands were filling with teachers.

Mu Chenxing frowned. “Should I grab one more? The group chat’s got coordinates posted.”

Tong Xiao yanked him back. “They ain’t going anywhere. We can skip a day or half.”

Fair enough.

The Omegas left in high spirits, buzzing with excitement. Tong Xiao and the others dragged Mu Chenxing off to find their class.

It was a massive crowd in a huge space—getting to the Nursing Major section under Medical College took real effort.

Mu Chenxing wasn’t close with his classmates, so once there, he just stood brushing up on his coursework.

Not two minutes after pulling up his Holo-Screen, someone called, “Hey, Mu Chenxing.”

He looked up.

A vaguely familiar Omega eyed him cautiously. “Does your association…still recruiting?”

Mu Chenxing: “?” He closed his Holo-Screen. “Yeah. Wanna join?”

The Omega mumbled, “Can I? I’ve never been bullied.”

Mu Chenxing: “…We don’t have that requirement. Any Omega’s welcome.”

The equally antisocial Tao Xirui whispered a reminder. “But joining means mandatory quotas.”

Like running drills.

The Omega nodded. “Got it. If I can’t get an Alpha to donate, can I just donate myself? Five hundred enough?”

Mu Chenxing and Tao Xirui: “…”

Mu Chenxing rubbed his temple. “Is that the rep our association has now?”

Tao Xirui: “…Entirely possible.”

Three days in, and they’d “fundraised” from over a dozen Alphas. Yeah, it looked exactly like that.

Mu Chenxing started to explain with a wry laugh—

Tao Xirui stopped him. “No donation requirements. Our association just has daily group activities everyone must attend. It’s to build that collective vibe, make friends with like-minded folks!”

Mu Chenxing: “…”

Tao Xirui was picking up bad habits too.

The guy didn’t question it, enlightened. “Just group activities? No problem then… How do I join?”

Tao Xirui friended him on the spot, sending the membership form and agreement.

Nearby classmates overheard and crowded in with questions.

Before long, a big group surrounded them, drawing in Tong Xiao and Xia Weizhen too. The line turned into a full recruitment fair until the counselor came to shut it down.

The celebration kicked off.

School anniversary events ran all day. Morning was the standard leadership speeches—from school brass to Alliance bigwigs and notable alumni.

Once the leaders wrapped up, each college’s student reps did the procession—a showcase of branches to the leaders and Alliance, like a mini military parade.

Mu Chenxing, Nursing Major Omega? Pure spectator.

Only Medical College had Omegas school-wide. All around were towering Alphas in neat rows. He couldn’t even spot who was on the stands, and the edge screens didn’t show everything.

He gave up eventually, letting the speeches fade to background noise as he studied on the spot.

Luckily, their school’s leaders and the Alliance guests weren’t long-winded—a few minutes each, done in under an hour. Then the procession started.

Mu Chenxing stood on tiptoe for the big screens when a teacher’s voice carried from afar: “Omegas, you can sit.”

Mu Chenxing: “?”

Cheers erupted nearby. Tong Xiao yanked him. “Sit, sit! Exhausting.”

Mu Chenxing got pulled down to the ground. The Alphas stood ramrod straight around them like a wall, enclosing their swath of Omegas.

Good thing it was just over twenty degrees and breezy on the grounds—otherwise, packed in like that, they’d overheat.

Tong Xiao and the others chattered away. Mu Chenxing sat dazed for a bit before tugging Xia Weizhen. “Why’d they let us sit? Some special arrangement?”

Xia Weizhen blinked blankly. “Huh? Any arrangements wouldn’t include us Omegas anyway.”

Mu Chenxing pointed at the envious Alphas around them, then at the seated, chatting Omegas. Baffled. “Then why are we sitting?”

Xia Weizhen, matter-of-fact: “Cause we’re Omegas.”

The next instant, a patrolling teacher’s voice rang out: “If anyone’s feeling off, report it—don’t push yourselves. Classmates, keep an eye on each other.”

Xia Weizhen: “See? Worried we’ll faint.”

Mu Chenxing fell silent.

He had zero interest in the branch processions. He quietly opened his Holo-Screen for coursework.

The procession dragged over two hours, interspersed with performances and competitions. By the end, it was already one-thirty.

Mu Chenxing was starving, baffled why it couldn’t start earlier than ten.

Tong Xiao whispered, “Heard the Admiral’s rushing from L City. That’s why they delayed to ten for him.”

The crowd filed out orderly. Medical College was first batch. Mu Chenxing drifted with the flow, frowning at that. “What kinda leader is this? Can’t make it, then don’t come.”

Tong Xiao: “He doesn’t wanna, but school leaders beg him anyway. Otherwise, no delaying the whole event for him. Means something different. Didn’t you see how hyped the Alphas got during his speech?”

Mu Chenxing: “…Wasn’t paying attention. Studying.”

Tong Xiao: “…You gunning for scholarship or what? Hitting the books this hard.”

Mu Chenxing sighed. “Scared of flunking out.”

Tong Xiao rolled his eyes.

Sardine-packed exit from the grounds, sardine-packed shuttle back to Medical College, sardine-packed hike to the Cafeteria for chow… By the time they ate, it was nearly three.

Mu Chenxing, who’d stuck to workouts for over a month, was fine. The other three were wiped, heading back to dorm for rest.

Professor Zhang from the Medical Building suddenly contacted them—he had to go out that evening for something and asked Mu Chenxing to drop by in the afternoon.

Mu Chenxing glanced at his listless roommates and told them to head back and rest. He’d go alone.

With the school celebration underway, the students were either in the Cafeteria or their dorms, leaving the Medical Building quiet.

Mu Chenxing scanned his code to enter and habitually swept his gaze around.

Sure enough, no one was there.

But the air carried a faint, prickly scent—like stepping out of a heated cabin in deep winter and plunging straight into a snowy wasteland.

Mu Chenxing figured it was some drug smell drifting from a lab or Medical Office and didn’t think much of it. Instead, he started reminiscing about his mission days in the snowfields.

He strolled leisurely all the way to Professor Zhang’s office door without running into a soul.

He knocked. “Old Zhang~~”

Something crashed to the floor inside, followed by frantic footsteps.

He frowned instantly.

The next moment, Professor Zhang yanked the door open. “Why are you here?!”

Mu Chenxing narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t you call me over?”

Professor Zhang shoved him. “Hurry back— no checkup today—”

“What’s going on? Is someone inside?”

“No—”

Mu Chenxing grabbed his arm, pulled him behind, and cautiously pushed the door open—

“Hey~” A young man in military uniform lounging on the sofa raised a hand toward him. “No need to tense up. It’s me.”

Mu Chenxing: “…”

It was Pei Yao.

There were others in the room too—three tall Alphas: two in military uniforms, one in formal attire.

At Pei Yao’s signal, the two in uniforms retreated further inside.

The one in formal wear approached with a cold face, gesturing for Mu Chenxing to let go before pulling Professor Zhang back in.

Mu Chenxing: “…”

Just a misunderstanding. Why glare at him?

“You alright?” the formal-wear youth asked.

“What would be wrong with me?” Professor Zhang pushed him away and turned to Mu Chenxing. “You need to leave—you’re already—”

“No, his timing is perfect.” Pei Yao gave a helpless laugh. “Can you do me a favor, Little Star?”

Mu Chenxing: “……Don’t call me that. What is it?”

Pei Yao leaned back on the sofa, gazing at him lazily. He said—

“Bite me once.”

Mu Chenxing: “?”

From the corner of his eye, he saw the two uniformed youths’ eyes widen too.

Professor Zhang frowned. “Don’t mess around. With your pheromone intensity, how could he suppress it? Especially when his own pheromones are still unstable—”

“He can.” Pei Yao said calmly.

Professor Zhang: “???”

He got it in an instant. “You were the one who bit him last time? My god…” He sized up Mu Chenxing. “No wonder he’s fine.”

Mu Chenxing caught on too. “You mean bite your gland?”

“Mm.” Pei Yao looked at him. “Can you?”

Mu Chenxing rejected him flat-out. “No. You’ve got suppressants and Professor Zhang. No need for me to sacrifice.”

He was an Omega who’d taken elementary sex ed, after all. Biting a gland was basically foreplay to mating. No way was he falling for that.

He shot back instead, “You don’t even look like you’re in trouble. Have the nerve to ask that?”

Professor Zhang smacked his head. “Watch your mouth.”

But Pei Yao didn’t get mad. He brushed back his bangs and smiled mildly. “Fine.”

He turned to Professor Zhang. “Looks like I’ll have to trouble you after all.”

Professor Zhang: “……”

He sighed. “Give me a minute.”

He headed into the side prep room to mix meds.

Once he was out of sight, Mu Chenxing leaned in to inspect Pei Yao. “Are you really in trouble? You don’t look it.”

Pei Yao, reclined against the sofa back, shifted slightly and smiled. “I’m managing. Hanging in there.”

He exhaled, glanced at him, and his eyes darkened—

Mu Chenxing was still staring. “Why do you look kinda different from before—”

“Boss!”

Bang!

Pei Yao’s head snapped to the side.

The two uniformed youths pinned him down from both sides, glaring at Mu Chenxing, who had thrown the punch.

Mu Chenxing guiltily withdrew his fist with a dry laugh. “Sorry, conditioned reflex. I didn’t expect him to lunge like that!”

He hadn’t expected to actually land the hit on Pei Yao either.

“Stay back from— Boss!”

“Boss!”

Pei Yao fainted.

Mu Chenxing threw up his hands in a panic. “Not my fault! I’m weak! I’m just a frail Omega!!”

The two youths: “……”

Which frail Omega throws a straight punch like that?