“Why?” Rong Shi asked deliberately.

The little cat replied, “The dog at home is biting people, so I have to go back.”

Rong Shi: “…” Dog?

Rong Shi: “Who raised it?”

“A stray dog my father brought back from somewhere,” the kitten said casually, sitting on the edge of the ring, his expression impatient. “Ever since he got this dog, he doesn’t even care about his son anymore.”

Rong Shi: “…”

He didn’t know if the king had a dog, but the tone didn’t sound like he was actually talking about a dog. Could this “stray dog” refer to the First Prince, Song Ke? Rong Shi didn’t know much about the royal family, only that the king’s original consort passed away from illness eight years ago, and the current queen was the second wife. By calculation, Song Ke and Song Yu should both have been born to the original consort, but what he said didn’t sound like that was the case. Just recently, the kitten had spoken of his father; could he actually be the son of the second wife? Rong Shi vaguely felt that something was still amiss.

The kitten saw that he hadn’t spoken for a while and looked up: “Are you angry?”

Rong Shi walked over and sat down beside him: “No, actually, I also have something to do and was just about to tell you.”

The kitten: “Is your academic workload heavy recently?”

Rong Shi: “Not bad. I’m going to help a friend beat a dog.”

The kitten frowned, tilting his head to stare at Rong Shi: “…Beat a dog?”

Rong Shi averted his gaze: “Mhm.” He was ready to be hit at any moment, but no punch came for a long time. Rong Shi secretly glanced over and saw the kitten nodding thoughtfully: “Then be careful. You’re so small; don’t rush to the front.”

Rong Shi: “?” So small?

The kitten’s expression was impatient: “Which friend is so unreliable that they need your help to beat a dog? Do you need my help? Or maybe don’t go; it’s too dangerous.”

Rong Shi: “…”

Rong Shi watched him giving earnest instructions, then reached out to pat his head, not expecting his disguise to be so sturdy.

“No choice. It’s a very important friend; I have to help.”

The kitten’s tone was sour: “Then how do I compare to him?”

Seeing him unhappy, Rong Shi felt inexplicably pleased.

“How do you two compare?” They were the same person, after all.

The kitten inferred the answer he wanted from this, and became happy. Seeing his cheerful smile, Rong Shi felt like laughing. Why hadn’t he seemed so easily satisfied usually?

---

The next day, all participants gathered and boarded the military academy’s spacecraft bound for Capital Star. Only five new students were going: Rong Shi, Song Yu, Qin Luo, Lu Ming, and Zhao Wan.

In the cabin, Rong Shi ended his communication with Mianmian and turned to look at Song Yu, who was sitting at the other end. His gaze fell on Song Yu’s fair hand, which had medical tape on it.

“Your hand—is it better?”

Song Yu was resting his chin in his hand, thinking about that “very important friend” of Bunny’s. “Minor injury, it’ll be fine in a couple of days.” He looked at Rong Shi, asking casually, “Does he have a friend who keeps dogs?”

Rong Shi: “…” Where’s your intelligence?

Song Yu: “Is that person an Omega or a Beta? Why would they keep a dog properly?”

Rong Shi: “…” Are you even going to meddle in whether people keep dogs or not?

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Song Yu pressed: “You don’t know either?”

Rong Shi: “Want to know?”

Song Yu: “…We’re already so familiar.”

Rong Shi: “Even brothers settle accounts clearly.”

Song Yu: “…” Why are all the people around him like this?

---

The cabin door suddenly opened, and Liu Hong and others walked in. Besides the new students, there were a few second-year students Rong Shi knew, like Chen Chen, Liu Hong, Hu Feng, and Old Bai. While others participated in activities for honor, these few participated to take advantage of the opportunity to go home and slack off.

Chen Chen walked in with a grin: “Maybe we can be on the same team this time. Came over to visit and build some camaraderie.”

Liu Hong and Chen Chen weren’t familiar. They only met at the door. Seeing how familiar Chen Chen’s tone was with Rong Shi, Liu Hong couldn’t help but ask, “You’re that guy who writes all that nonsense on the forum, aren’t you?”

Chen Chen tilted his head to examine him: “Oh, and aren’t you that guy who’s always hitting people everywhere?”

Liu Hong: “Real men talk with their fists, unlike some people who only have a mouth.”

Chen Chen retorted: “Why use your hands when you can use your mouth?”

Qin Luo, who had been holding a comic book on the sofa since earlier: “…” What are these people here for?

At dinner time, a noisy group went to the dining hall. As they reached the entrance, they coincidentally ran into Jiang Xingze and his group, who were coming from the opposite corridor. Jiang Xingze was with a group of second-year students, with Lu Ming and Zhao Wan following behind them.

Originally, Jiang Xingze still had over two months remaining on his ban, but the military directly contacted the principal, who used his authority to approve Jiang Xingze’s temporary leave request.

“Well, well, isn’t it the chairman?” Jiang Xingze looked at Rong Shi, a hint of disdain on his face. “This kind of grand occasion isn’t suitable for bringing a little lover to mingle.”

As soon as he spoke, the few people beside him laughed, their gazes at Rong Shi filled with mockery. Ever since Rong Shi enrolled, his name had spread throughout the military academy. For every person who admired him, there were just as many who looked down on him. The military academy was a mixed bag, full of people with prominent backgrounds and strong abilities. Most of them disliked commoners who didn’t play by the rules or take conventional paths. Recently, Jiang Xingze had had a major conflict with Rong Shi, and those who were still mingling with him were 100% people who disliked Rong Shi.

“This kind of situation is even less suitable for trash like you to appear,” Liu Hong said, looking down his nose at Jiang Xingze. “An embarrassment!”

Jiang Xingze’s face changed: “What the hell are you?”

“I don’t know what he is,” Chen Chen interjected, “but you definitely aren’t a human being.”

The two who had been arguing in the cabin just moments ago, facing outsiders, were in perfect, unspoken agreement. Both sides stood at the restaurant entrance, just short of pointing fingers at each other’s foreheads.

Rong Shi had no interest in such verbal sparring. His gaze swept over Lu Ming, and he turned and walked into the restaurant. Jiang Xingze saw him leave and immediately followed. Having been publicly humiliated by Rong Shi several times, his chest was filled with suppressed anger. Jiang Xingze wished he could beat Rong Shi black and blue in the street.

Just as he entered the restaurant, taking advantage of Rong Shi’s inattention, he subtly stuck out his foot towards Rong Shi. At this hour, most of the participating students and leading instructors were eating in the restaurant. If the freshman chairman tripped and fell flat on his face at the entrance of the hall, he would surely become a laughingstock. Jiang Xingze’s lips curled as he watched Rong Shi’s foot gradually approach. But that foot suddenly curved and stepped over his. He frowned, just about to retract his foot, when his body suddenly lost balance, and he fell heavily to his knees.

Excruciating pain shot through his knees. Jiang Xingze didn’t even react to what had happened when he heard Rong Shi’s cool voice from above: “No need to bow so deeply to me, former chairman?”

Jiang Xingze gritted his teeth, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the gazes from others in the restaurant. His ears burned uncontrollably. Everything happened in just one second. Those who entered after them didn’t know what had happened; they only saw Jiang Xingze kneeling on both knees to Rong Shi, his face flushed.

Chen Chen scoffed: “Even if what you say isn’t human, there’s no need to kneel and apologize. What era is this? That kind of thing isn’t popular anymore.”

Liu Hong chimed in: “You’re too malicious. Do you think by pretending to kneel to the chairman in public, you can make others suspect the chairman is tricking you? If you want to kneel, please kneel far away.”

Of Jiang Xingze’s group, only one rushed over to help him up. The others exchanged glances, all wearing expressions like they had just eaten something foul.

Song Yu had his hands in his pockets. Just as Jiang Xingze was about to get up, he happened to pass by and kicked him in the back. The force was so great that the person helping Jiang Xingze lost their grip. After kneeling on both knees, Jiang Xingze now prostrated himself, face down on the ground.

“Damn it—!” Jiang Xingze cursed furiously. Before he could push himself up, another kick landed on his back, followed by his head being heavily stomped on the ground.

“A dog can’t change its habit of eating shit,” Song Yu’s foot ground on his head. “Rong Shi is my wife, not a little lover. If you say it wrong again next time, I’ll sew your mouth shut.” His tone was gentle, his voice melodious, but it sent chills down people’s spines. Few in the military academy were unaware of Song Yu’s deeds. When he said such words, no one would question their veracity. After all, he was capable of anything.

“You goddamn—” Jiang Xingze forcefully twisted his body, trying to break free from Song Yu’s foot and give the other party a lesson. A “crack” of bone dislocation made everyone nearby’s scalps tingle. Song Yu suddenly exerted force. Not only did Jiang Xingze not break free, but he also almost twisted his own neck due to the excessive force.

“Ah—!” Jiang Xingze’s vision swam with black spots.

“Do you want to kill him?!”

“Quick, call the school doctor! Someone’s going to die!”

“In broad daylight, this is truly arrogant!”

“Let go quickly!”

Those with Jiang Xingze rushed over, sternly admonishing Song Yu. But Song Yu acted as if he hadn’t heard, looking at Jiang Xingze as if he were an ant he had just stepped on. Whether or not to crush him depended entirely on his mood.

“Alright,” Rong Shi walked to Song Yu’s side, patted his shoulder, and gestured for him to let go.

Song Yu looked at him with a cold face: “You want to persuade me too?”

Rong Shi saw that Jiang Xingze was already starting to roll his eyes. He pulled Song Yu’s hand towards himself: “His hair is too greasy; don’t dirty your shoes.”

Song Yu looked down at Jiang Xingze’s hair, then decisively moved his foot: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Everyone: “…” One physical attack, one mental attack? You two really know how to play.

Jiang Xingze’s people immediately helped him up. A few of them dragged him towards the infirmary, not forgetting to leave a harsh warning. “If he has even the slightest mishap, I’ll make your whole family suffer!”

“Dare to treat him like this, you wait for the Lin family’s retaliation!”

“I wonder if you’ll still be so arrogant when you get to Capital Star!”

This incident attracted the attention of most people in the restaurant. Upon hearing that things had escalated, some people came over and said—

“I just saw it. Jiang Xingze tried to trip the chairman first, and then the chairman retaliated.”

“I saw it too. The chairman’s reaction should have been a stress response, self-defense.”

“Jiang Xingze made the first dirty move himself, so you can’t blame Song Yu for getting angry on the chairman’s behalf.”

Although Liu Hong and Chen Chen also felt Song Yu went a bit too far, it didn’t stop them from being protective. Upon hearing these words, they immediately confronted Jiang Xingze’s people.

Liu Hong: “A mere Lin family, I truly don’t take them seriously!”

Chen Chen: “Don’t you dare cry thief when you’re the thief! With so many eyes in the restaurant plus eighteen surveillance cameras, Jiang Xingze’s good deeds are sure to be fully recorded.”

Both sides were cursing spiritedly when they suddenly realized that the two involved parties had gone to the counter to get food, holding hands.

Everyone: “…” Is that appropriate for you two?

“How long are you going to hold my hand?” Song Yu tried to pull away from Rong Shi’s hand, his eyes chilly. “Don’t think just because you’re my ‘wife’ that I won’t hit you.”

Rong Shi held his hand tightly, his voice normal: “Act out the whole play. It’s just holding hands; you won’t lose a piece of flesh.”

Song Yu: “…”

“For the greater good, occasional sacrifices are very necessary,” Rong Shi said earnestly. “And since we both like the same person, don’t you feel a sense of kinship?”

Song Yu: “…” Kinship my foot.

---

Author’s Note:

Rong Bunny: It’s just for show, I really didn’t want to hold your hand!

Song Cat: Do you think I believe you?

Rong Bunny: For the greater good, sacrifice is necessary. I’ll reluctantly let you be my wife. [Serious face]

Song Cat: Want a punch?