The Cool Silk Thread wrapped around his ankle went still.
Mu Chenxing was very curious about what expression Pei Yao wore right now.
Unfortunately, his roommates didn’t give him a chance. They pretended to choke him and shook him around.
“Confess and we’ll go easy!”
“How did you hook up with that Pei guy?”
Mu Chenxing rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue.
Xia Weizhen, however, pulled up the holo-screen and dug out the group photo from the Association, zooming in.
“Hmm, he looks pretty decent.”
Tong Xiao and the others crowded over.
“Yeah, pretty handsome.”
“No impression of him. Definitely not a teacher from our college.”
Tong Xiao narrowed his eyes. “Flowrock Fruit isn’t some common street item. Could an ordinary teacher get his hands on it? What kind of teacher is this Pei anyway?”
Xia Weizhen and the other two also stopped and stared at him.
Mu Chenxing thought for a moment, then sighed. “To be honest, he’s actually a lecherous big shot from some Military District. He disguised himself as a school teacher to sneak in and deceive innocent young Omegas.”
Tong Xiao and the other two: “……”
The Cool Silk Thread trembled too.
Mu Chenxing couldn’t help but laugh.
He got choked again—
“You’re fooling us? Which Military District big shot has that much free time?”
“Which big shot comes to school to find a partner!”
“Exactly! There are tons of Omegas outside!”
Mu Chenxing was shaken left and right as he cried injustice. “I’m telling the truth! You guys don’t believe me?!!”
Unfortunately, his roommates didn’t buy it at all.
After some commotion, the group prepared to eat the Flowrock Fruit.
Mu Chenxing tossed them into his mouth one by one and saw how they hesitated to take a bite. He said casually, “This stuff has no special effects. It’s just rare and expensive. Anyway, it didn’t cost us any money—eat up!”
Tong Xiao frowned. “This was traded for a roommate’s body. Save some; one less sold is one less.”
Tao Xirui hesitated too. “Maybe we shouldn’t eat it and give it back? This thing’s way too precious. Are we really making Xingxing date some old man?”
Xia Weizhen: “Can we really freeload on this?”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
One shoved into each of their mouths. “Eat up. Right now, I’m the one freeloading off him. He doesn’t have the guts—”
Hiss!
This guy’s Pheromones could even control temperature? So cold!
The three: “……”
Mu Chenxing: “Plus, did you forget I can fight? Anyone who wants to mess with me has to think twice.”
Though he had zero chance against Pei Yao… but his roommates didn’t know that.
Sure enough, the three finally relaxed and started eating the fruit.
Tong Xiao eyed him while munching. “What’s the deal with that Pei teacher? Which college?”
Tao Xirui: “How old is he?”
Xia Weizhen: “Yeah, yeah, that’s important.”
Mu Chenxing: “……Prying into my background? I’m still a student.”
Tong Xiao: “Then why’d you take such expensive fruit from him?”
Mu Chenxing quibbled, “Do you have to think that way? Can’t it be teacher-student friendship or bro-mance?”
Tong Xiao: “Alphas and Omegas have no pure friendship.”
Xia Weizhen and the other two nodded vigorously.
Mu Chenxing kept a straight face. “Then I’ll pioneer it.”
The three: “……”
Tong Xiao: “Let’s just eat the fruit. It was traded for a roommate.”
Xia Weizhen muttered, “Feels kinda guilty eating this… Am I gonna be a sugar daddy before graduation?”
Tao Xirui nodded. “I heard the more stubborn the mouth, the faster they get married and pop out kids.”
Mu Chenxing: “……” He yanked the box back, speechless. “Don’t eat any more!”
The three clamored and reached to grab it.
Mu Chenxing saw them only tugging at his arm after half a day of grabbing. He knew exactly what these three were thinking—helpless yet amused, he handed each one another fruit.
“I’ve eaten four already!!”
“Enough, enough! Can’t eat more!”
“So scary—this is Sell-Body Fruit!”
The three clutched their mouths and bolted.
Mu Chenxing: “……”
Annoyed, he dumped the remaining few into his mouth at once.
After downing the medicine, the discomfort was gone. He drank some porridge, and Mu Chenxing recovered his energy. His roommates wanted to nap, so he sat quietly reading… while messaging at the same time.
Mu Chenxing: Still lying in the air displacement layer? Planning to send me wind-dried cured meat?
Air displacement layer—sounded super dry. Perfect for hanging cured meat, probably.
Pei Yao: You know cured meat?
Mu Chenxing: ……
Mu Chenxing: Aren’t you supposed to go to Teacher Zhang for blood draw and tests? Hurry up; don’t keep my teacher waiting.
Pei Yao: My Pheromones are fine.
Mu Chenxing: How do you know without testing?
Pei Yao: Didn’t Old Fu and them suspect your changes were influenced by my Pheromones?
Mu Chenxing: Yeah.
Pei Yao: You showed your talent before my Temporary Mark.
Pei Yao: No training, yet explosive power and precision down to the ligaments. If training time wasn’t so short, your scores would’ve been even better.
Mu Chenxing: .
Pei Yao: What does a punctuation mean? Happy or shy?
Mu Chenxing: Read receipt.
Pei Yao: .
Mu Chenxing snorted with laughter. Really knows how to adapt on the fly.
He kept messaging: Then why rush back for blood draw?
Pei Yao: Who said I rushed back for the blood draw?
Mu Chenxing: Principal Fu.
Pei Yao: Fine, I’ll cooperate if needed.
Pei Yao: I rushed back so hard, gotta bleed, gave fruit and still called stingy and greasy… I’m so pitiful.
Mu Chenxing: ……
Mu Chenxing: Sorry.
Pei Yao: Sorry doesn’t cut it.
Pei Yao: Muah [pouty sausage lips kiss.jpg]
Mu Chenxing: .
He shouldn’t have given this flirt any attention.
He stopped replying, but Pei Yao kept sending.
Pei Yao: Your roommates are right. You should listen to them.
Pei Yao: Ate my Sell-Body Fruit—should throw yourself into my arms ASAP.
Pei Yao: Marry early, kids early. Aim for two in three years, three in five.
Mu Chenxing: ……Looking for a baby-making Omega or a partner?
Pei Yao: [shocked mushroom jumps up.gif]
Pei Yao: You’re right. Can’t have kids too soon.
Pei Yao: Kids would get in the way of our intimate time [shy snake-hips twist.jpg]
Mu Chenxing: ……Why does a dignified Admiral have so many sleazy emojis?
Pei Yao: Blame my bunch of crude comrades.
Mu Chenxing: ……The higher-ups set a bad example?
Pei Yao: Rising pure from the mud [buff manly shy.jpg]
Mu Chenxing: ……
Mu Chenxing: You sure you’re not leaving? I have class soon.
Pei Yao: So heartless.
Pei Yao: Gone. See you later.
The Cool Silk Thread around Mu Chenxing’s ankle slid away.
Mu Chenxing: ?
Mu Chenxing: Yuan teacher?
No reply from Pei Yao.
Probably left.
Mu Chenxing glanced at the half-drawn curtains, deeply curious how Pei Yao vanished in broad daylight under all the students’ noses. He got up, slipped behind the curtains, and peered out the window.
People bustled below, cameras on the paths. No sign of Pei Yao anywhere.
Mu Chenxing gave up and went back to reading.
……
After afternoon classes, Mu Chenxing parted from his roommates and swiftly transferred to a shuttle, arriving at Near-Earth Combat Academy—Yuan Hong was waiting here.
The new campus district was full of Alphas over 1.9 meters tall. No Betas, let alone Omegas.
Mu Chenxing, who felt tall enough at Medical College, shrank like an elementary kid lost in middle school—not just height, but the whole vibe.
He scanned around, drawing curious stares, but stayed calm. He opened the holo-screen, pulled up Combat College’s layout from the Campus Network, and followed the route to the Training Hall.
A few steps in, a guy in a cap, hands in pockets, head down, shuffled straight toward him.
Slow steps, but definitely aimed at him.
Mu Chenxing subtly sized him up, rolled his eyes, and went to meet him.
“Why are you in a school uniform now? Not pretending to be a teacher anymore?” He blocked the guy.
The other paused, looked up slightly, revealing smiling eyes under the brim.
“Little Xingxing has sharp eyes. You spotted me—proves you’re observant, love me deeply.”
Mu Chenxing paused. “Your face…”
The face under the cap was a whole circle rounder than he remembered. The sharp nose was flattened, eyebrows thicker, eyes… single-lidded?
Even some acne spots.
But he was sure: Pei Yao.
Cap Guy shrugged. “No choice. Riskier getting recognized here than at Medical College.”
Definitely Pei Yao.
Mu Chenxing leaned in for a closer look, amazed. “Not makeup—how’d you do it?”
Pei Yao shushed him with a grin, whispering, “Stuck on some hyper-realistic gel. Recon specialty trick. Teach you later.”
Mu Chenxing’s mind raced, eyes narrowing. “Was the face you showed me before fake too?”
Pei Yao looked innocent. “How’s it fake? Just minor tweaks.”
Mu Chenxing: “……”
No wonder he boldly joined their Association dinner and posed for photos.
…A fake face.
Irritation bubbled up inexplicably.
He sneered. “How dare I trouble an Admiral to teach me? An Omega learning recon?”
He sidestepped and walked on.
Pei Yao, puzzled, circled in front. “What’s up with Little Xingxing? Suddenly so mad?”
Mu Chenxing stopped, instantly cooling down.
One more look at that pudgy face—it held traces of the original.
He said calmly, “Nothing—gotta find Yuan teacher. Go do your thing if you’re busy.”
Pei Yao’s smile faded a bit as he studied him. “I’m here to pick you up. Wanted to tease you, but you spotted me first.”
Mu Chenxing pocketed the holo-screen and extended a hand. “Fine, lead the way.”
Pei Yao narrowed his eyes. “You’re mad?”
Mu Chenxing said flatly, “Kinda. Hands itchy to punch you.”
Pei Yao wasn’t dumb. Connecting the dots, he got it. “Because of the face alteration?”
Even more baffled, he lowered his voice. “Can’t go without it at Military Academy. Too much trouble.”
Mu Chenxing: “Yeah, I get it.”
Pei Yao: “Then why mad?”
Mu Chenxing: “Not mad.”
He glanced at distant buildings and probing stares, opened his wristband again. “Forget it, I’ll find my own way—”
His wrist was grabbed.
“Why are you mad?” Pei Yao stared straight, unsmiling pudginess sharpening into something fierce. “I need to know why.”
Mu Chenxing eyed the big hand on his wrist, frowning. “I’m not your soldier. Don’t order me.”
“I—”
“I thought we were friends.” Mu Chenxing’s tone cooled. “Didn’t expect not even to see a friend’s real face.”
Like their first meeting—dinner out, him eating alone amid the dishes.
Pei Yao blinked blankly. “You know who I am, right?”
Mu Chenxing fake-smiled. “Of course, the great Admiral—”
He cut off.
Pei Yao: “Net’s full of my photos and vids—” Realization dawned. “Little Xingxing wants the real me. Wants to date the handsome, dashing, ultra-cool me.”
Mu Chenxing: “……”
The irritation vanished instantly.
Pei Yao suddenly frowned, glaring. “You’re wrong.”
Mu Chenxing: ?
“How could we be friends?” Pei Yao leaned in close, half-smiling. “Aren’t you my little boyfriend? We’ve got that Temporary Mark intimate bond~~”
Mu Chenxing: “……”
Still wanna punch him.
Definitely that pancake face begging for it.
