Mu Chenxing stood there stunned for a moment before heading off to brush his teeth and wash his face.
The principal and Teacher Zhang had both gone to the school, leaving the entire building quiet.
Zhang Yunli had stuck a big note on the fridge, saying he’d left breakfast for him and to remember to eat it.
Mu Chenxing followed the instructions to find what looked like an oven, pulling out the insulated snacks and porridge. He dug in heartily.
Not bad—Professor Zhang’s cooking was genuinely good. Staying here for a few days had paid off.
Full and satisfied, he tossed the bowls and chopsticks into the dishwasher, cleared the table, and returned to the living room to study.
He’d just sat down when Pei Yao messaged him.
A picture.
Mu Chenxing tapped to enlarge it—
What the hell was this?
A drawing?
He stared at the abstract scribbles for a long time.
He even ran upstairs to the guest room, comparing it to the garden view outside the window. Only then did he vaguely, fuzzily, intuitively recognize it: these were supposed to be the scenery from his window.
So, those two Y-shaped lines were the roads.
Those tangled messes were the flowerbeds.
Those blobs were the trees.
The scribbly lines in the center… the lawn?
…Speechless.
Who composed like this? Who drew plants and trees this way?
He replied: So you’re not a naturalist master, but an abstract art master. My apologies.
Pei Yao: .
Pei Yao: Did my best.
Mu Chenxing teased: Didn’t you learn drawing in elementary school?
Pei Yao: Elementary school…
Pei Yao: Always fighting. Art classes got turned into running laps or scoldings.
Mu Chenxing: .
He didn’t reply, and neither did the other side.
Mu Chenxing closed the window and started memorizing.
—Who the hell is studying nursing? So much crap to memorize!!
He hunkered down on the sofa for a bit, but sitting got tiring. He switched to running up and down the stairs and around the garden, jogging slowly while reciting.
After forty minutes, his roommates sent their class notes. He took a break, sat down, and reviewed them, marking key points.
Copy a bit, memorize a bit, run a bit—the day slipped away.
Lunch was reheated leftovers from last night.
But dinner…
Mu Chenxing pondered. As the junior and a guest staying over, should he wait for the principal and teacher to come back and cook for him?
If he were a kid, fine—but he was a college freshman. Having meals served on a platter felt off.
He poked around the kitchen. Aside from the breakfast warmer and heater, he had no clue what the other gadgets did.
Might as well prep the ingredients?
Having cooked before, Mu Chenxing felt confident. He messaged Zhang Yunli.
Zhang Yunli was surprised but didn’t overthink it, naming some dishes and telling him to handle the meat and veggies in the fridge.
He added: Heard Admiral Pei won’t be at dinners or socializing these days. He should come over to eat together—prep extra.
Mu Chenxing wasn’t surprised anymore. He acknowledged and got to prepping.
Gyrfalcon Beast, Frost Alfalfa Bird, Frost Forest Leaf…
Mu Chenxing selected ingredients by their labels, closed the fridge, then opened the holo-screen. Following search results, he processed them one by one.
“…edible starch, stir thoroughly— “
A biting chill swept in like sharpened blades, instantly overwhelming Mu Chenxing and freezing him in place.
Mu Chenxing frowned.
“What’s with the kitchen?”
Pei Yao’s voice approached from afar.
The icy aura around Mu Chenxing began to soften.
By the time footsteps stopped behind him, the biting chill had turned into last night’s cool refreshment.
Still weird, but at least comfortable now.
Mu Chenxing relaxed his furrowed brow, not turning around: “What are you doing here? No work?”
He realized right after. Pei Yao had been off these past days—no socializing, no banquets. Off work, he’d come back, obviously.
Sure enough, Pei Yao chuckled: “Nothing to do, snuck out.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Oh.”
Dead pretending!
Didn’t know how long he lurked under that streetlamp last night. Probably toughed it out during the day too—that pheromone just now was razor-sharp.
Hah, Alpha!
He said nothing more, continuing to rinse the blood from the meat chunks.
His wrist was grabbed.
“Let me.”
Mu Chenxing tried to shake him off: “No need, I’m almost done. Teacher Zhang will handle it when he gets back.”
Pei Yao didn’t let go: “I’ll do it.”
Mu Chenxing blinked: “You can cook?”
Pei Yao: “A little.”
Mu Chenxing: “Fine, wait till I finish this pile.”
Pei Yao followed his gaze, smirked faintly, released him, and rolled up his sleeves: “I’ll take the rest.”
“…Fine.” Mu Chenxing eyed him twice, didn’t fight for it, finished the meat quickly, and set it aside.
Looking up, Pei Yao was already handling other ingredients. Mu Chenxing calmly washed his hands and walked out.
The cool aura trailed him like a shadow.
He got curious how far these pheromones could follow.
So he veered toward the front door. Just as he reached it, he spotted the streetlamps flanking the entrance—same model as the one Pei Yao had lurked under half the night.
…Whatever. Joking about someone else’s discomfort was low-class.
Mu Chenxing turned back to the dining room, sat at the table, and resumed memorizing.
The table was right by the kitchen; from here, he could hear the washing sounds.
Mu Chenxing focused intently, oblivious to the cooling aura around him growing gentler.
Not long after, Zhang Yunli returned.
No celebration today—he wore casual clothes. Entering, he spotted Mu Chenxing, shrugged off his jacket while asking: “Hungry? I’ll cook now.”
Mu Chenxing stood to greet him, then pointed behind: “Admiral Pei is already handling it.”
Zhang Yunli jolted, flung his jacket, and rushed in: “Admiral, how can we let you—$E%^#%$Y&%&…”
Then Pei Yao emerged.
Mu Chenxing heard footsteps pause ahead and looked up.
Pei Yao stared fixedly at him. Meeting his gaze, he even looked puzzled, like What’s up?
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Ignoring him, he kept memorizing.
Pei Yao pulled out the chair opposite and sat.
That stare…
Mu Chenxing didn’t look up: “Admiral Pei so idle—don’t you feel guilty taking your salary?”
Pei Yao: “If I work too hard, won’t my subordinates have nothing to do? Gotta leave room for the young ones to shine.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Then go to your room and shine, young man.”
He pretended to stand.
“I’ll work!” Pei Yao yielded. “I do have a pile of files to approve. Doing them now!”
He activated the holo-screen on his wristband.
Mu Chenxing huffed lightly, sat back down, and continued studying.
Fu Mingyuan returned to see the two of them busy at opposite ends of the table. He paused before greeting.
Mu Chenxing stood: “Principal.”
Pei Yao didn’t look up, just waved lazily: “Your Dr. Zhang’s in the kitchen. Go help.”
Fu Mingyuan: “…”
He nodded, shed his jacket, and headed to the kitchen.
Mu Chenxing mused inwardly: One admiral, one general—neither minds kitchen duty.
This world’s Alphas might be macho, but they treat Omegas and Betas right.
Back to studying.
With Pei Yao prepping ahead, dinner was ready soon.
The four gathered around the table.
Fu Mingyuan chatted idly with Pei Yao; Zhang Yunli quizzed Mu Chenxing on his studies.
“Saw you memorizing earlier. Anything you don’t get?”
Mu Chenxing shook his head: “Xiaoxiao and them sent notes.”
Zhang Yunli: “Oh, right—they brought your daily stuff too. It’s in the living room; grab it later.”
“Got it, thanks, Teacher.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Quiz time. Features of the Omega gland…”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Here it comes—the downside of living with a teacher!!!
He racked his brain, stumbling through answers with a pained face.
Zhang Yunli quizzed while eating; Mu Chenxing nearly got indigestion.
Finally, Zhang Yunli scowled: “Your basic knowledge is this bad—how’d you get into nursing? I’ll tutor you tonight, save you from butchering border warriors later.”
Mu Chenxing pitifully: “…Okay.”
Across the table, Pei Yao—who’d been listening to Fu Mingyuan—chuckled lowly.
Fu Mingyuan: “…You listening?”
Pei Yao drawled lazily: “What’s it matter? Toss the disobedient ones to the border for a spin—they’ll behave.”
Fu Mingyuan: “Easy for you to say. Why haven’t you grabbed anyone?”
Pei Yao raised a brow: “Who do you want grabbed?”
“Don’t dodge. Just pay attention.”
Pei Yao: “Tch, such a hassle—Who invented rotations anyway?”
Fu Mingyuan: “Li Shanke, 127th Falcon Squadron Admiral.”
Pei Yao: “…”
Finally spared by Zhang Yunli, Mu Chenxing overheard, ducked his head to shovel rice lest he laugh.
Pei Yao’s gaze landed on his head; his tone eased: “Fine, got it.”
Fu Mingyuan glanced at Mu Chenxing too, then shut up.
After dinner, Mu Chenxing tried clearing the table, but the two Alphas snatched it. Zhang Yunli pulled him to the living room: “That’s Alpha work. Don’t fight ’em.”
Mu Chenxing: .
Then he got pinned for over an hour of human anatomy and physiology tutoring.
Pain.
He knew it!
Living and eating with a teacher never ends well!! Even if not his prof!!
It dragged on till Tong Xiao and the others called for their run. Zhang Yunli finally released him.
Video with Tong Xiao, greeted the little Omegas in the Association one by one. Confirming everyone was there, he hung on the call, virtually pacing with them.
He didn’t slack either—did simple exercises in his room.
Push-ups, jumping jacks, stretches…
They went from giggles to panting; he worked out while cheering them on.
Unfamiliar with other routes, they followed his usual path. Normally a forty-minute round trip at his pace—but they took over an hour.
Mindful of his own pheromone issue, Mu Chenxing stopped after an hour, just cheering till the end. He showered them with praise and encouragement, puffing up the Omegas till they beamed, then ended the call and showered.
In the bathroom stripping, long tee off—he sensed something wrong.
Window shut, yet cool aura swirled around him, especially his torso, thickening almost solid, binding him immobile.
He: “…”
wristband out: Out.
Reply: What’s up? [kiss.jpg]
Mu Chenxing: …Counting to three.
Text: Three
Then: Two
Finally: One
Whoosh—the cool aura slid off, vanishing.
Pei Yao messaged: Tch, so stingy.
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Old rogue.
Hold it in till you burst, serves you right.
Post-shower, he took dirty clothes to the washer outside. Just stepping out, cool aura enveloped him again.
Mu Chenxing paused, loaded the clothes, returned to his room. At the window, ignoring the guy lurking under the streetlamp again, he drew the curtains and hit the sack.
But the lurker wasn’t done: Little Star, sleeping so early?
Mu Chenxing checked the time.
11 PM—what “early”?!
He’d been up since 8—exhausted!
Stone-faced typing: Yes. ‘Cause I’m still young—early to bed, early to rise for growth.
Pei Yao: …
Mu Chenxing: Did Uncle Pei forget puberty ’cause he’s been grown too long? [cute.jpg]
Pei Yao: …
Mu Chenxing: Looks like Uncle Pei remembers.
Continued: Then this young one will sleep first.
Finally: Goodnight, Uncle Pei.
The barrage of “Uncle Pei” probably struck hard. The old rogue finally quit.
Mu Chenxing smirked.
You little punk—what flirty lines hasn’t he seen? Thinks he can make me blush?
