Mu Chenxing hadn’t even spoken yet when Shen Mingtao unleashed the speed befitting an elite Alpha trainee. He darted off the Dance Machine in an instant and dragged Shen Mingshu toward the door.
“Don’t talk nonsense. We were just training—come out, and I’ll explain.” With that, he yanked Shen Mingshu out and didn’t forget to usher the two Omegas nearby along with him.
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He glanced at Wei Xufeng.
Wei Xufeng cleared his throat lightly. “I’ll keep going.”
He quickly selected the next round and started practicing.
Mu Chenxing watched for two beats, frowning, then asked the three spectators who were enjoying the show: “Which of you is going to correct his moves? He’s practically doing the robot now.”
Tong Xiao and the others exchanged looks.
Mu Chenxing was baffled. He whispered angrily, “Didn’t you all like him? Why isn’t anyone going over?”
Tao Xirui murmured softly, “He doesn’t seem that great. Not as good as you, even.”
Xia Weizhen whispered in agreement, “Liking his face doesn’t mean we have to throw ourselves at him.”
Tong Xiao grumbled, “He hasn’t even asked for help. Why should we rush over to teach him?”
Mu Chenxing: “Because of Shen Mingtao? Shen Mingtao is Shen Mingtao—he was pretty decent just now.”
The three didn’t argue.
Tong Xiao still muttered, “If we teach him, he’ll definitely go teach Shen Mingtao.”
…Talk about hating him by association.
“He probably wouldn’t,” Mu Chenxing said dubiously. “They shouldn’t spend much time together, right? They’re not even in the same grade—how did they end up hanging out?”
Tong Xiao: “Medical College homework is exhausting. The third- and fourth-year seniors are all swamped. No one else from those years is competing in the games, so it’s just these two second-year guys in the finals. Of course they ended up together.”
Xia Weizhen: “They used to play ball together all the time before.”
Mu Chenxing: “…No wonder.”
He looked back at Wei Xufeng’s stiff posture and said, “Then forget them. They came asking for help without any sincerity—”
Just then, Wei Xufeng paused, shut off the music, and turned to walk toward them.
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Tong Xiao pinched him and hissed, “Crap, he probably overheard.”
Wei Xufeng cleared his throat and said, “I’m having trouble getting this down. Could one of you act as my temporary coach and help me smooth out this song?”
Xia Weizhen and Tao Xirui immediately shrank back.
Tong Xiao hugged Mu Chenxing’s arm to hide his face, but when he tried to retreat, Mu Chenxing grabbed his arm. “Then we’ll trouble our Teacher Tong Xiao.”
Tong Xiao was stunned. “Why me?!”
Mu Chenxing sighed. “Because you’re the only one who’s finished your homework.”
Xia Weizhen and the other nodded vigorously.
Tong Xiao: “…”
Wei Xufeng said mildly and politely, “Sorry to bother you. We won’t make it tonight, but tomorrow I’ll treat you all to dinner and milk tea—delivered right to you.”
Tong Xiao’s expression improved. “We want to order ourselves!”
“Sure.” Wei Xufeng pulled up his Holo-Screen. “Let’s add contacts first. Tomorrow you can send me what you want, and I’ll pay.”
Tong Xiao: “…You already added Xingxing earlier. Just send it to him.”
Wei Xufeng paused, then closed his Holo-Screen. “That works too.”
He turned to Tong Xiao. “Then, sorry to trouble you.”
Tong Xiao shot a glance at his unscrupulous dormmate, pursed his lips, and went over.
Once they were out of earshot, Mu Chenxing and the other two pulled up their Holo-Screens and started a group chat.
Mu Chenxing: This guy’s got his eye on Xiao Xiao?
Xia Weizhen: Wrapped up tight. Why else ask for contacts?
Tao Xirui: Charm broken. What kind of campus heartthrob is this? So frivolous!
Mu Chenxing: No worries. Our Xiao Xiao’s the smartest. He won’t fall for it that easily.
The other two nodded emphatically.
Then the three put it aside and went back to their homework.
Not two minutes later, Shen Mingtao came back in. Seeing the scene, he hurried over and started listening in with Wei Xufeng.
But Shen Mingshu hadn’t left. Instead, he lurked outside with the two Omegas, craning their necks to peek.
Xia Weizhen noticed and nudged Mu Chenxing, muttering, “Should we do something?”
Mu Chenxing looked up, got it, and said, “Ignore them.”
But Shen Mingshu at the door caught the glance. He gripped the doorframe, stretched his neck, and whisper-shouted, “Hey!~ Mu Chenxing~”
Xia Weizhen grumbled, “Last time their brothers screwed you over, and now they’re both waltzing back like it’s nothing.”
Mu Chenxing paused, then said, “It probably wasn’t them who screwed me over. We misunderstood.”
Xia Weizhen and Tao Xirui: “Huh?”
Mu Chenxing closed his Holo-Screen. “I’ll go ask what’s up.”
Amid protests from Xia Weizhen and the other, he got up and walked to the door.
Seeing him come out, Shen Mingshu immediately let go of the doorframe and straightened up. He lifted his chin and demanded, “You saw me here—why are you hiding inside?”
He was a head shorter than Mu Chenxing, with fair skin and delicate features. Chin up, he radiated arrogance.
Mu Chenxing pressed his head down like a cap and asked, “Here for me? What’s up?”
Shen Mingshu: “!”
He struggled, smacked the hand away, and fumed, “Who came for you? Shameless! And don’t touch me!”
Mu Chenxing didn’t mind and withdrew his hand. “Then why say I’m hiding?”
Shen Mingshu: “…”
Mu Chenxing simply turned to the two Omegas beside him. “Something you need?”
The two Omegas shook their heads frantically.
Mu Chenxing nodded. “Since you’re good, I’ll talk to him for a bit. Why don’t you two head into the venue and wander around?”
The two exchanged glances, then looked at Shen Mingshu.
Shen Mingshu lifted his chin. “What do I have to say to you?”
Mu Chenxing ignored him, just watching the two Omegas.
“Ahem, Mingshu, I’m gonna hit the bathroom.”
“I’ll go with him!”
“You—”
“Quiet.” Mu Chenxing hooked an arm around Shen Mingshu’s neck and dragged him to the end of the hall. “I’ve got a few questions. Answer them, then you can go.”
Shen Mingshu: “Keep your filthy hands off me! Let me tell you—”
His mouth was covered.
Mu Chenxing kept one arm hooked around his neck, hand over his mouth, and balled his other fist with a grin. “Say one more thing that annoys me, and I’ll give you two punches right now. You’ll go crying back to your brother!”
Shen Mingshu finally quieted, glaring with those pretty eyes.
Seeing him settle, Mu Chenxing released him. “Last time I had that incident, the shock wiped some memories. Got a few questions for you.”
“As if! Wasn’t it your Pheromones going out of control? Now it’s memory loss? You watch too much TV—you’re acting again.” Shen Mingshu sneered. “That trick doesn’t work on me anymore.”
Mu Chenxing was curious. “What did I do to make you all hate me so much before?”
Shen Mingshu’s brows shot up. “You have the nerve to ask!? If not for my brother being sharp, he wouldn’t have even made it to university! We invited you out to dinner out of respect for your dad, took you out to clear your head, and you sicced the cops on us, saying we hurt you! Pfft! You’re beyond saving!”
Mu Chenxing: “…You know my dad?”
“Are you really dumb or faking it?!” Shen Mingshu jabbed his nose. “If not for your dad’s sake, who could put up with a shady, scheming creep like you?!”
Mu Chenxing was intrigued. “How scheming? I didn’t force your brother into bed, did I?”
Shen Mingshu exploded. “Still claiming amnesia when you remember that? If not for you, how would my brother nearly get beaten to death?!”
…Damn, he actually tried to drag someone to bed? The original body was that bold?
“Your brother’s a sturdy Alpha—how could that happen?” Mu Chenxing was still skeptical.
Shen Mingshu snapped, “When you stole your dad’s drugs, did you ask if it was possible? You, with you? Fit to be with my brother? Shameless!”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
No wonder the brothers despised him and talked so harshly.
He rubbed his chin, thinking, then recalled something. “Wait, no—if I liked your brother that much, why was I planning to stay on Galaxy Star at first?”
“…” Shen Mingshu frowned at him. “You fishing for info, or actually amnesiac?”
Mu Chenxing: “Real amnesia. Big bro, clear this up for me, please!”
Shen Mingshu: “Ask your dad. Why me?” He paused, then changed his mind. “Forget it—don’t go bothering Teacher Luo anymore. He’s got enough on his plate.”
Teacher. Mu Chenxing mused: Luo Chen was a teacher, the Shen brothers both knew him, and they seemed protective. Probably not just a schoolteacher.
Shen Mingshu jabbed his nose again. “I don’t know what game’s you’re playing lately, but don’t cause trouble for Teacher Luo anymore—and stay away from my brother.”
Mu Chenxing innocently: “But this time, your brother came to me begging for help.”
Shen Mingshu was stumped.
Footsteps and voices echoed from the other end of the hall.
Mu Chenxing checked the time. “We’re heading out to run. Stay here with your brother dancing, or come run with us?”
Shen Mingshu was shocked. “Why would I run with you? I’m here for my brother—to keep him from going astray!”
Mu Chenxing: “Oh, running it is—” He hooked an arm around him. “Let’s go.”
“When did I choose—let go—Mu Chenxing—mmph.”
Mu Chenxing approached the chattering group of Omegas. “Got a newbie. He was trying to slack off and run. He’s yours.”
The Omegas’ eyes lit up instantly.
“I—I didn’t say I wanted to join—”
The group pounced.
“No problem!”
“It’s been ages since we had a newbie!~”
“No one’s been wailing lately—it’s been so boring!”
“We suffered, so no way the newbie gets off easy!”
The Omegas hadn’t even entered the activity room before they dragged Shen Mingshu away.
Mu Chenxing clapped his hands, calmly pushed open the door to the activity room, and poked his head in. “Xia Xia, Xiao Xiao, Rui Rui—time to run.”
“Coming!”
“Got it.”
Tong Xiao by the Dance Machine responded too, then glanced at the two on it.
Wei Xufeng paused and nodded to him. “Thanks. Go ahead with your stuff—I’ll digest these moves first.”
Shen Mingtao thanked him too. “Thanks. We’ll practice here—don’t worry, we’ll watch the door. No one else comes in.”
Tong Xiao smiled at them and turned to join his dormmates.
Mu Chenxing waved at them and shut the door.
Once it closed, Xia Weizhen and Tao Xirui flanked Tong Xiao. “Why didn’t you give Wei Xufeng your contact? He seemed to ask on purpose.”
Tong Xiao: “Whatever. Fangirling a bit is fine; him trying to hook me? No way. I’m just a freshman. I haven’t gotten my scholarship, hit the games finals, or started making money yet… I’ve got too much going on. No one gets to hold me back!”
Mu Chenxing and the other two: “…”
They all gave him thumbs up.
Tong Xiao: “Hmph, I’m not like Xingxing. He’s the most love-brained in our dorm.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Talk normally—don’t body-shame!”
Tong Xiao ignored him and lectured Xia Weizhen and the other. “Take him as a cautionary tale. Don’t repeat it. We busted our asses to get into the Military Academy—we’re heading to the Border to serve someday. Why chase hotheads here? If we’re looking, it’s for those badass Alphas who’ve racked up military merits on the Border. School Alphas? They’re just eye candy to break up the grind, a little relaxation—not roadblocks on our path. Got it?”
Xia Weizhen and Tao Xirui cracked up, saying they got it.
Mu Chenxing smiled, then said loudly on purpose, “Fine, next time there’s Sell-Body Fruit, I won’t share!”
He got mobbed by his dormmates.
Leaving the activity venue, they didn’t run into anyone from their Association. Tong Xiao and the others looked lost.
Mu Chenxing casually explained and led them to pick up the pace. Sure enough, they caught the main group just ahead.
Tong Xiao and the others spotted Shen Mingshu, propped up in the crowd, and slowed to stick by Mu Chenxing.
“You’re recruiting him to the Association?”
Mu Chenxing: “Not yet. Make him run for two weeks, see how he does. If everyone hates him, kick him out. If a few like him, pull him in.”
Tong Xiao: “…He used to bully you!”
Mu Chenxing asked, “Heard of him bullying anyone else?”
Tong Xiao and the others exchanged glances.
Xia Weizhen: “He’s in Class A. How would we know?”
Mu Chenxing: “So, let’s observe first.”
“…Fine.”
…
Over the next few days, Wei Xufeng and Shen Mingtao kept practicing, while Shen Mingshu got schemed into it by his own brother and the Association Omegas. They pressed him into training daily.
Mu Chenxing passed the days steadily, right up until the weekend.
They met again at the Gymnasium in the Command College. Pei Yao had run ahead these past couple of days, so Mu Chenxing took his time jogging over at a leisurely pace.
Yuan Hong was waiting there as usual. When he saw Mu Chenxing arrive drenched in sweat and panting, he said nothing, just nodded to him and led the way inside.
Mu Chenxing took the opportunity to catch his breath, glancing around and wondering what they’d be testing today.
The Gymnasium was even more crowded on the weekend. The towering building was thick with the mingled scents of Alphas, making him feel slightly uncomfortable—purely psychological, the unease of knowing there were so many people here who could physically dominate him.
Yuan Hong said nothing, leading him this way and that.
Some Alphas along the way spotted them and casually fell in behind.
After passing through several venues, a large group of Alpha students had gathered at their backs.
Even though he knew the school environment was safe, Mu Chenxing couldn’t help but stay on guard, slowing his breathing.
When the corridor behind them was packed with Alphas, Yuan Hong finally stopped and rang the doorbell on the door ahead.
Mu Chenxing glanced at the “Battleship Simulation” sign on the door but didn’t dare relax.
The door swung open, and a group of people inside looked their way.
Mu Chenxing had just spotted a familiar face when a commotion erupted from behind:
“Holy shit, it’s the Principal!”
“Holy shit, it’s the Dean!”
“Holy shit, it’s Chief Qiu!”
“Holy shit, all Five Great Demon Kings are here!”
“Run!”
A flurry of hasty, panicked footsteps followed, and the wide corridor—three or four meters across—emptied in an instant.
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Peering past Yuan Hong at the stone-faced Fu Mingyuan in the crowd, and the dozen or so tall, stern Alpha instructors beside him, he couldn’t help but think, Did I somehow walk the overpowered protagonist path, and these teachers are all here fighting to take me as their student?
