Li Xiao ate the candy he had just snatched from the lion’s mouth, frowning slightly. “Too sweet.”

Fearing that Song Jin’s condition might worsen the next day, Li Xiao turned around to go to the kitchen to grab a large pitcher filled with herbal cooling tea so Song Jin could hold it and drink.

Coming back to his senses, Song Jin took a few steps to follow him, pinning Li Xiao against the door. “Do what you just did again.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Xiao: “The candy has already been snatched. How can we do it again?”

Song Jin: “Then give me another piece.”

Li Xiao patted his head. “Your voice is raspier than before. Hurry up and drink the cooling tea.”

Seeing that Li Xiao was about to leave, Song Jin pinned him back down. “If you don’t behave and listen to me, I’ll die of thirst.”

Li Xiao: “…”

This had better be a threat.

Under the intense pressure of Song Jin’s gaze, Li Xiao kissed him once more. “Satisfied?”

Song Jin licked the sweetness clinging to his lips. “It’s not the same as before. You didn’t put your tongue in.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Xiao said solemnly, “The previous technique cannot be replicated.”

Song Jin: “…Do you take me for a fool?”

Li Xiao had 09 search for “failed French kiss compilations.” A large screen popped up in front of them, scrolling through various disastrous, cringeworthy scenes.

Song Jin couldn’t bear to look, glaring at Li Xiao to cleanse his eyes.

“Turn it off, quick.”

Li Xiao waved his hand to close the screen. “See? It requires the right time, the right place, and the right people. Not a single element can be missing.”

Song Jin looked sideways at him. “You’re just making excuses for your lack of skill, aren’t you? You can’t pull it off unless you catch me off guard?”

Li Xiao: “…”

Hard to argue with that.

Thinking about how Li Xiao had initiated the kiss, Song Jin was in an excellent mood. He didn’t bicker further and asked with a beaming smile, “Why did you kiss me?”

Li Xiao: “Didn’t you force me to?”

Song Jin: “…”

Li Xiao turned to go to the kitchen. After taking two steps, he couldn’t hold back a laugh, only to be choked the next instant by a piece of crushed candy slipping down his throat. “Cough, cough, cough…”

“Serves you right for showing off.”

Song Jin walked over and draped an arm over Li Xiao’s shoulder. “Don’t think I don’t know anything.”

“If you know so much, why did our teeth clash just from a simple kiss?” Li Xiao pulled the pitcher out of the refrigerator and handed it to him.

Song Jin took it. “Don’t you have zero experience points too?”

“But I—” Li Xiao paused, abruptly shifting his tone, “—am psychologically older than you.”

Song Jin chuckled. “No matter how old an old monk is, he’s still a monk.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Not long after returning to the bedroom, Li Xiao received a message from Wei Feng. The batch of blood from the N152 Cargo Center had already been loaded onto a vehicle and departed. It was expected to arrive at Tianjiang Constellation T999 in about two days.

Li Xiao replied:

【That box of blood wasn’t disposed of?】

Wei Feng: 【I haven’t received any news about that here.】

Li Xiao swiped open the map and outlined the delivery address range for that box of blood. It was located on Wanhua Road, about a fifteen-minute drive from the military academy.

This was a commercial street catering specifically to the teachers and students of nearby schools. There were many secondhand bookstores on the street that sold and rented out out-of-print professional reference books, as well as the notes and textbooks of past top-scoring students. It was revered as a sacred sanctuary by the faculty and students.

“So many teachers and students pass through this place every day.” Song Jin took a few sips from the pitcher and placed it on the table.

Li Xiao zoomed in on the map and noted down the five shops within the area.

“Yeah. The more crowded a place like this is, the less likely it is to be discovered.”

Song Jin: “I’ll have 07 scan it first.”

“No,” Li Xiao refused. “07 cannot leave your side for a single step.”

The military academy was a den of modified humans. If Song Jin didn’t have 07, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Knowing that Li Xiao was concerned about him, Song Jin felt quite pleased. He smoothly asked, “Then what should we do? I don’t have anyone I can use here.”

Li Xiao thought for a moment and summoned 09.

“Help me monitor all surveillance cameras within this area.”

The silver ring transformed into threads, converging in midair into a small ball, emitting a cute, babyish boy’s voice: “I can monitor it, but it uses up a lot of energy, you know.”

Remembering the energy stones he had previously promised 09, Li Xiao stood up, casually grabbed a jacket, tossed it to Song Jin, and pulled him out the door.

“Where are we going?” Song Jin was puzzled.

Li Xiao: “To pick up some rocks.”

Leaving the dormitory building, the two bypassed into the small garden behind it. At this hour, the students who had been taking walks or on dates had mostly dispersed.

In the corner, there was a pond only thirty to forty centimeters deep, housing some small fish and turtles. The bottom of the water was paved with many colorful stones.

09 poked out from his collar and asked gloomily, “Are you going to pick up trash for me to eat?”

Li Xiao walked halfway around the pond, rolled up his sleeves, reached into the water, and grabbed a fist-sized blue stone.

09: “!!!”

09: “Energy stone detected! I want this one!”

Song Jin: “…”

He actually fished an energy stone right out of a pond.

In Shengya, Type 384 energy stones were scarce; a piece the size of a pinky finger cost ten thousand Star Coins, and one had to use it sparingly. Yet Danse actually used them as landscaping rocks.

No wonder Brother Yang always talked about leading his legion to plunder Danse.

07 flew out from Song Jin’s wristband to nuzzle up against 09. “Little brother~”

09 extended a matchstick-sized mechanical arm and pushed it away. “Don’t touch me.”

07: “Can you share a little bit of energy with me?”

09: “Call me ‘Big Brother,’ and I’ll consider giving you 1%.”

07: “Grandpa 9!”

Listening to the two mechs bargaining, Li Xiao handed the rock to Song Jin and pulled out another one of similar size. “There are plenty. No need to fight over it.”

07: “!!!”

07 flew over, hugged the energy stone, and nuzzled it. “Thank you, Madam!”

Li Xiao: “…”

When they returned to the pedestrian path, 07 and 09, who were hiding in their pockets licking the energy stones, suddenly issued a warning.

【Lin Zhou detected!】

Li Xiao and Song Jin exchanged a glance and continued walking forward as if nothing was wrong.

In a nearby corner, Lin Zhou hid behind a tree trunk, clutching a fruit knife in his right hand. He stared fixedly at Li Xiao as he approached from a distance, his eyes filled with obsession.

Without pulling off a sneak attack, he couldn’t beat Li Xiao at all, and his time was running out.

If he failed again, he might be confined to the hospital and miss the deadline to complete his mission.

Tonight might be his last chance.

But Song Jin was no pushover either. Two against one, he had almost zero chance of winning.

Over there, Li Xiao and Song Jin suddenly stopped, causing Lin Zhou’s hand resting on the tree trunk to tighten fiercely.

“Qin Le is looking for me, I’ll head out first,” Song Jin said to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao nodded. “I’ll head back after I find a leaf specimen.”

With that, Song Jin left down a fork in the path.

Li Xiao watched him walk away before continuing forward.

Lin Zhou felt like he was riding a roller coaster. Just when he thought all hope was lost, heavens themselves were creating an opportunity for him!

Li Xiao looked around, pretending to search for leaves. As he passed the tree trunk where Lin Zhou was hiding, he heard a rustle, spun around instantly, and grabbed Lin Zhou’s wrist.

“Lin Zhou? What are you doing?!”

Lin Zhou gripped the knife handle with both hands, desperately pressing the blade downward, striving to kill Li Xiao in one blow.

“Don’t blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for offending someone you shouldn’t have.”

Li Xiao stepped aside, releasing his resistant force. “Whom did I offend?”

Lin Zhou used too much force and lurched forward. Stumbling a couple of steps, he turned around again to attack Li Xiao.

“Why do you have so many questions?! Can’t you just die quietly?!”

Li Xiao dodged while retreating toward a small thicket. When the timing was right, he kicked upward against Lin Zhou’s knife handle.

The fruit knife flew out of his hand high into the air.

Lin Zhou’s wrist went numb from the force. He took half a step back and swung a fist.

Li Xiao tilted his head slightly to evade it, grabbed Lin Zhou’s collar, pinned him against the tree trunk, and raised his hand to catch the falling fruit knife perfectly, pressing it against his neck.

“You can’t beat me. Haven’t you already tried before? Why do you keep coming back to throw your life away?”

Lin Zhou’s eyes turned vicious. Ignoring the knife at his neck, he reached up to claw at Li Xiao’s throat, but midway through, the back of the blade slammed into the bone of his wrist, making him break out in a cold sweat from the sudden pain.

“Ugh!”

“Think about it carefully. There’s no major grievance between us.”

Li Xiao looked at him, subtly hinting, “What conflict can’t be resolved? If you have some difficulty, perhaps I can help you.”

“Heh,” Lin Zhou let out a miserable, disdainful laugh. “If you really want to help me, let me kill you! Only by killing you can I live!”

Li Xiao countered, “Then do you think you can live once the assassination of a prince is exposed?”

The smile faded from Lin Zhou’s lips. His breathing grew rapid, and cold sweat slid from the corner of his eye to his chin. “As long as I still have value, someone will naturally protect me. But if I can’t kill you, I’m dead meat.”

Li Xiao reached into his chest. In an instant, 09 slid into his palm and transformed into a miniature camera.

“Everything you did to me has been recorded. Even if I kill you right now, it would be considered self-defense. I wonder if the person you spoke of can bring the dead back to life?”

Lin Zhou’s face paled, and he glared at Li Xiao without speaking.

Li Xiao: “I don’t like being repeatedly provoked. If I weren’t sincerely trying to resolve this conflict with you, you would already be cold by now.”

“Resolve the conflict? Heh…” Backed against the tree trunk, Lin Zhou collapsed into tears upon realizing success was impossible. “It’s not a matter of a conflict at all… They lied to me. They never said I would die. Everyone lied to me!”

Li Xiao asked in a low voice, “Who lied to you, and about what?”

Lin Zhou choked out, “Even if you know, what difference does it make? You can’t change anything.”

“How do you know I can’t change it if you don’t tell me?” Li Xiao countered.

Lin Zhou took two deep breaths. “Fine, I’ll tell you. Put the knife down first.”

Li Xiao narrowed his eyes, studying him for a moment before slowly pulling the knife away.

In the dark, cold thicket, a sharp gleam flashed in Lin Zhou’s eyes. He rapidly released his pheromones while simultaneously snatching the knife back.

Seizing Li Xiao’s collar, Lin Zhou raised the hand holding the knife and sneered, “As long as you die, everything will be solved!”

The negotiation failed. Just as Li Xiao was preparing to send him back to the psychiatric department to lock him up for a few more days, a piercing scream suddenly rang out in his ears.

Lin Zhou snapped his head toward that direction.

Two Alpha students stood not far away, their flashlight beams shining directly over, illuminating the exact scene of Lin Zhou committing an assault with a knife.

“Classmate, calm down! Put the knife down first!” one of the Alphas said frantically.

Interrupted, Lin Zhou wanted to finish Li Xiao off quickly, but he had already missed the best opportunity. His vision spun, and by the time he reacted, his arms had been twisted behind his back and pinned against the tree by Li Xiao.

“You aren’t affected by pheromones?!” Lin Zhou was incredulous.

Li Xiao: “Whether one is affected or not depends on luck. Clearly, your luck isn’t very good.”

The two students quickly called the security detail, who detained Lin Zhou.

“Let go of me! I want to kill Li Xiao! Let go!” Lin Zhou shouted and screamed all the way as he was dragged back to the psychiatric department.

Li Xiao went to give his statement, and by the time he returned to the dormitory, it was nearly 11 o’clock.

The lights weren’t turned on in the room. A large lump was huddled on the bed. A certain brat was pillowed on his pillow, covered with his blanket, sleeping soundly.

Li Xiao took off his jacket, sat on the edge of the bed looking at that well-behaved sleeping face, reached out to touch the earring hidden in his hair, and slowly slid his finger down along the contour of his ear, down the jawline to his Adam’s apple.

Song Jin pretended to be asleep, but his fingers curled under the blanket.

This closet romantic. He doesn’t touch me when I’m awake, but has to wait until I’m asleep.

Li Xiao’s fingertips brushed past his collarbone, slipped in through the back collar of his shirt, pressed his entire palm flat against his skin, and then quickly flipped his hand over like a pancake to continue warming it.

“So cold!” Unable to keep pretending to be asleep, Song Jin pulled his hand out. “Are you itching for a beating?”

And here he thought Li Xiao was up to some mischief, but it turned out he was just using him as a hand warmer!

Li Xiao chuckled softly. “Who told you to ditch me alone outside and come back to sleep by yourself?”

“Didn’t you tell me to come back first yourself?” Despite his words of disdain, Song Jin still reached out to cover Li Xiao’s freezing hands. “What did he say?”

Li Xiao repeated what Lin Zhou had said.

Song Jin fell into thought. “When he said ‘they never said I would die,’ could he be referring to the side effects of the modification?”

Li Xiao nodded. “He still harbors illusions about the Meng family. We still need to wait.”

Only when Lin Zhou fell into utter despair would they have the chance to extract more information.

“It should be soon.” Song Jin moved over, resting his head on Li Xiao’s lap. “The Meng family has so many pawns in their hands, they won’t miss one like him. They just want to squeeze out every last drop of his utility value.”

Li Xiao froze. “Go back to your pillow.”

Song Jin looked up at him with a grin. “Your lap is much more comfortable than a pillow.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Xiao raised his other hand to pat his head, and catching him off guard, slid it into his back collar again.

Song Jin scrambled away instantly, wrapping himself tightly in the blanket with only his head exposed. “Do you believe I’ll punch you?”

Li Xiao said expressionlessly, “I provide you with a lap pillow, and you provide me with a hand warmer. It’s mutual benefit.”

Song Jin: “…”

Having a bit more of a romantic bone in your body would probably kill you.

After washing up, Li Xiao slipped into the warm bed, experiencing the reality of “having a wife” for the first time.

As blissful as it was falling asleep, it was just as miserable being startled awake in the middle of the night after being kicked off the bed.

Li Xiao sat up, ruffled his hair, and looked at the culprit sleeping like a log on the bed. He bypassed the foot of the bed to the other side, embraced the kid from behind while steering clear of his highly aggressive legs, and finally managed to sleep until dawn.

The next day, the military academy’s Political Affairs and Education Office announced the accident at Mech Base No. 3, stating that an investigation was underway and that the indoor venue would be temporarily sealed off.

In the General Affairs Office, Yan Qing was called in for a lecture the moment he arrived at work.

The Head of General Affairs, Zhang Bin, took a sip of strong tea and looked displeasedly at Yan Qing. “I heard you penalized the young master of the Meng family with an eight-thousand-word self-reflection essay?”

Yan Qing stood in front of the desk, his features soft, dressed in a simple white shirt and military uniform trousers, blending gentleness and strictness perfectly.

“Regarding this matter, I have already submitted a written report.”

Zhang Bin slammed his teacup down heavily. “I am asking you right now. Why are you bringing up reports?!”

Yan Qing repeated the entire incident verbally and explained every single punishment.

“You’ve been at this military academy for over ten years anyway, how can you still be so muddled?!” Zhang Bin banged on the desk repeatedly. “How many times have I told you? Don’t be so rigid! Must you sabotage your own future?”

Yan Qing seemed to have long grown used to this; his expression remained perfectly tranquil. “I am merely doing what I ought to do.”

“Foolish!” Zhang Bin walked up to him with his hands behind his back. “Stop interfering with the Meng family’s matters in the future. Learn to turn a blind eye, understand?”

Yan Qing didn’t speak.

Scanning Yan Qing’s beautiful face, the anger between Zhang Bin’s brows receded. He patted Yan Qing’s shoulder, his tone turning somewhat ambiguous. “If it were anyone else, I would have kicked them out long ago. Don’t go doing whatever you please just because I like you.”

Yan Qing looked up at Zhang Bin. “Sir, if there’s nothing else, I will go back to work.”

“Wait.” Zhang Bin grabbed his arm. “How about going out for a drink with me tonight?”

Yan Qing broke free and walked straight out.

Having pursued him for years without success, Zhang Bin’s Alpha pride was severely damaged. He suddenly released his pheromones and said in a heavy voice, “Come back and sit down!”

Yan Qing’s steps paused. He slowly turned around to face Zhang Bin. “My apologies, but my glands suffered a severe injury in the past, so my perception of pheromones is extremely poor. You’d better not waste your thoughts on a broken person like me.”

With that, Yan Qing opened the door and left.

Zhang Bin stared, caught between shock and uncertainty.

A tactic that worked flawlessly on other Omegas had failed. He thought he would definitely capture Yan Qing this time, but the man actually had damaged glands!

Walking out of the office, Yan Qing expressionlessly brushed off the spot where Zhang Bin had touched him. As soon as he turned the corner, he ran into the second-year Dean of Students, Xiang Hong.

The Alpha was tall, thin, and refined, around the same age as Yan Qing and holding an equivalent rank. The two usually had a good relationship.

“What, called in by the boss for a scolding again?” Xiang Hong glanced toward the General Affairs Office and lowered his voice. “You really shouldn’t cross the leadership.”

“So annoying,” Yan Qing couldn’t help complaining in front of his close friend. “If only someone could teach that perverted old man a lesson.”

Xiang Hong frowned. “Did he lay his hands on you again?”

Yan Qing’s face darkened. “If I were an Alpha, I wouldn’t have to endure such frustration.”

Xiang Hong sighed softly. “Forget it, don’t think about such unhappy things. A drink at our usual spot tonight?”

“Yeah.” Yan Qing checked the time. “I should head to class. Talk to you later.”

Li Xiao and Song Jin arrived in the classroom right on time. This session was a history class personally taught by the Dean, Yan Qing. The large auditorium holding several hundred people was packed to the brim.

Throughout the lecture, Yan Qing never flipped through his book or lesson plans. He could cite classics and historical anecdotes for every knowledge point, handling both official history and wild folklore with ease. Even if one just listened to it as a story, it was highly engaging.

“In the history of Danse, there are many ancient clans that revered birds as deities, many of which survive to this day. Does anyone know which ones they are?” Yan Qing asked.

The Q&A segment exploded instantly. Too many people raised their hands, making it almost impossible to grab an opportunity to answer.

Li Xiao listened for a long while before suddenly raising his hand.

Yan Qing’s gaze swept over and signaled Li Xiao to answer. “You cannot repeat what previous classmates have said.”

Li Xiao: “The Bique Clan.”

After speaking, Li Xiao didn’t see any change in Yan Qing’s expression, but the students began discussing it one after another.

“What clan is the Bique Clan? Never heard of it.”

“Does such a clan exist?”

“It’s probably quite niche, I’ve never heard of it anyway.”

Li Xiao looked at Yan Qing. “Have you heard of it, Professor?”

Yan Qing signaled Li Xiao to sit down. “Such a clan does indeed exist.”

He dismissed it with just that single sentence.

Song Jin and Li Xiao exchanged a look.

Given Yan Qing’s teaching style, shouldn’t he have shared a little story to expand on it?

There was something fishy.

After class, all the students left the room in an orderly fashion.

Li Xiao and Song Jin waited until the students asking questions had left before walking up to Yan Qing.

Song Jin asked curiously, “Why is that Bique Clan, which nobody knows about, so mysterious?”

Li Xiao had 09 turn into an invisible small ball to hover in front of Yan Qing for a couple of rounds.

Having just received the energy stone, 09 spun around Yan Qing frantically to show off its performance.

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Xiao felt dizzy watching it and subtly averted his gaze.

Yan Qing, however, acted as if nothing was amiss, replying to Song Jin with a smile, “Because that clan is extremely xenophobic, which is tied to their culture. They are completely cut off from the outside world, as if forgotten by the entire world.”

Although Yan Qing’s expression didn’t change, Song Jin could sense a subtle difference in tone during the last few words compared to before.

Reaching the entrance of the teaching building, Li Xiao, Song Jin, and the others waved goodbye to Yan Qing.

09 flew right in front of Yan Qing’s eyes to study him closely. After confirming that the man wasn’t looking at it, it chased after Li Xiao.

Yan Qing turned around to head back to the office building. Just as he turned the corner, his left foot almost tripped over his right foot, and he only stabilized himself by leaning against the wall.

His head felt so dizzy.

What on earth did those brats use to play a trick on him?