“It’s not about being skilled; it’s about using the right method to be powerful”—all lies!

Qin Luo and the others looked around at the neatly severed fungal bodies, roaring internally.

If they had Rong Shi’s technique, who cared about the environment? Just go in and get it done.

Qin Luo watched the two instigators calmly walk back, sharp-eyed enough to notice Rong Shi’s hand wrapped in Song Yu’s handkerchief.

“Brother, are you hurt?”

The others looked over at the sound.

Chen Chen immediately pulled out a small medical kit from his backpack. “Quick, use the antidote! The mycelia’s poison is even stronger than termites.”

“Already used it,” Rong Shi gestured for him not to open it. “Check yourselves for any wounds.”

The mycelia were so fine, and in their state of extreme excitement, small wounds were easily overlooked.

The five of them checked each other according to Rong Shi’s instructions.

The members of the other team had been secretly watching them. As soon as they heard Rong Shi, they immediately started checking each other as well.

Zhao Wan also wanted to pull someone to check, but seeing Lu Ming’s expression, he swallowed the words he was about to say.

If there were tiny wounds that weren’t discovered, that would be no laughing matter.

Thinking this, he moved next to Lu Ming, hesitatingly saying, “Bro, let me check you?”

Lu Ming’s face was grim, but he didn’t say anything, nor did he refuse.

“Hand,” Rong Shi extended his hand to Song Yu.

Song Yu glanced at the large, open palm offered to him. “Are you playing with a cat?”

He scoffed as he placed his hand on it.

Rong Shi helped him check his cuffs, wrists, and other areas.

“Yes, playing with a cat.”

Song Yu: “…”

Rong Shi then pulled up his other hand to check. After examining it, he reached to unbutton Song Little Cat’s shirt, but his paw immediately pressed Rong Shi’s hand down.

Song Yu’s warning gaze met his directly.

Rong Shi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, just one button. No need to strip.”

The others who were checking each other: “…”

Are you checking or flirting? Can you be serious?

Qin Luo: “…”

Don’t always drive on broken mountain roads.

After a thorough check, everyone had some scrapes or abrasions, except for Song Yu, who was completely unscathed.

It was then that they realized Mortis hadn’t made a sound for quite some time.

Liu Hong yelled: “Hey, are we passed or not? Give us an answer! We’re waiting to go home for dinner.”

Old Bai chimed in: “Is the system malfunctioning due to old age?”

Chen Chen laughed: “With such heavy damage, it seems it doesn’t want to deal with us anymore.”

[…]

[Rong Shi’s team, proceed. Lu Ming’s team, continue answering.]

Rong Shi’s team: “?”

Lu Ming’s team: “?”

Zhao Wan protested: “We answered the question, and we’ve been punished. Why do they get to pass when they didn’t do anything?”

[This time, their test was about crisis management. Their comprehensive score met the standard, fulfilling the passing criteria.]

Everyone: “…”

Listen to you spouting nonsense, you wicked old man.

Qin Luo, on behalf of his team, said: “No need for special treatment. We want to pass by answering questions with our own strength—”

[Are you going or not?]

Qin Luo and the others: “…”

We’re going, we’re going. Why rush us?

A path forward appeared on one side. Rong Shi and the others swaggered past Lu Ming’s team.

Before leaving, Qin Luo specifically waved at Lu Ming: “Keep working on those questions, brother. There are still many teammates you can slowly trick.”

Lu Ming intentionally avoided Rong Shi but met He Nian’s scrutinizing gaze.

---

After walking a hundred meters, they reached a similar quiz environment.

Just as Qin Luo was about to call Mortis, the mycelia on one side opened up.

[Meets passing criteria.]

Everyone: “…”

What did they do to meet the passing criteria?

Upon reaching the next stage, as soon as Rong Shi stepped into the area, Mortis’s voice immediately sounded.

[Meets passing criteria.]

Chen Chen and the others’ gazes towards Rong Shi became increasingly subtle.

Chen Chen: “Chairman, with you here, we don’t even need to answer questions anymore.”

Liu Hong chuckled slyly: “The walking quiz terminator.”

Old Bai said with an upright face: “Isn’t this forcing us to take first place? How embarrassing.”

Rong Shi: “…”

On the live stream’s bullet comments, Rong Shi’s team was a constant topic—

“Mortis is actually so scared it won’t even give questions? A once-in-a-century occurrence!”

“Putting aside the cowardly old man, Rong Shi and Song Yu’s results are there. Few questions can stump them, and even if they answer incorrectly, they’ll be even happier.”

“Mortis knows how to play it smart. If these ‘tyrants’ keep causing trouble, how much will the school have to spend to repair the battlefield? 23333”

“It’s a miracle that someone like Rong Shi hasn’t chosen a faction until now.”

“Before the league, I had no idea Song Yu was so strong. He hasn’t had professional training before, has he?”

“He’s… how could he receive professional training? He doesn’t even need it, does he?”

The last leg of the journey, originally the most dangerous area, felt like a leisurely stroll for Rong Shi’s team.

The day they had fallen behind was not only caught up but they had even surpassed it.

When they reached the destination, they couldn’t believe it.

It wasn’t until their terminals synchronized the race information, showing their team as the first to arrive, that it felt real.

Chen Chen teased: “The Chairman’s ‘first place’ might be late, but it’s never absent.”

Old Bai held an imaginary microphone to Liu Hong’s mouth: “As a slacker who got carried, what’s your acceptance speech?”

Liu Hong: “One word—it was absolutely f***ing awesome!”

Old Bai: “Hmm, indeed, very much in the style of a slacker.”

The live stream’s bullet comments were filled with dense rows of “hahahahas”—

“Can any military academy comrades explain what ‘first place might be late but never absent’ means?”

“Based on my years of experience as a gossip consumer, there must be a story.”

“Hahahaha, can’t explain it. Just go check the military academy forum yourselves.”

“I searched for the Chairman’s launcher before, and then—I’ve been living on the military academy forum.”

“True Love Building is the best! Those two anti-fans targeting the couple’s alternate identities are so annoying!”

“Hahahaha, Daddy Rong accepts his nth first-place medal with a helpless look.”

---

Inside the arena, the group, bored stiff, started having fun at the finish line.

He Nian had been secretly observing Song Yu’s movements. Seeing him find a shady spot to sit and rest, he turned his steps to follow, but was stopped midway.

Rong Shi: “The competition’s over. Aren’t you going to find somewhere to rest?”

He Nian looked up, directly meeting his gaze.

For some reason, every time he saw Rong Shi, it made his heart pound with unease.

He Nian: “I was just planning to rest over there.”

Rong Shi didn’t lower his head, but merely looked down coldly at him: “Was I not clear enough? I meant for you to stay away from him.”

In the close-up, He Nian’s pupils sharply constricted, his aura completely crushed.

The others noticed what was happening but didn’t dare to approach.

The moment the competition ended, the “shura field” opened. Daddy Rong’s settling of accounts came a bit quickly.

He Nian regained his composure, finding it amusing: “Even if you’re his partner, you have no right to control who he befriends, do you?”

Rong Shi’s voice was faint: “Of course, but side-pieces are an exception.”

He Nian: “…” Damn it! Would anyone speak so directly?!

The others: “…”

As expected of you, Chairman.

Song Yu, sitting idly nearby, watching Rong Shi cause trouble, a smirk played on his lips.

You’ve got some nerve calling others a side-piece.

He Nian had grown up in a prominent aristocratic environment, always conducting himself with decorum in his interactions. He had never encountered someone so utterly disregardful of appearances.

His cool face flushed to the tips of his ears, and he laughed out of extreme anger: “I’m just his friend. Don’t speak carelessly without evidence; I can sue you for defamation!”

Rong Shi: “My wife is too beautiful; I have to be vigilant.”

Song Yu on the other side: “…”

You’re just going to attack him? Why are you launching a group attack?

Soon, a small spacecraft descended to provide them with temporary rest.

The spacecraft was equipped with a resting area, a dining area, and a medical area.

The medical area, usually the most popular, was deserted. Everyone flocked into the dining area.

After several days of dry rations, their mouths tasted bland.

“Brother, what do you want to eat? I’ll order for you first—” Qin Luo ran halfway, then turned back to see his Highness following his wife to the resting area. “Brother! Aren’t you eating?”

Song Yu waved him off: “I can’t eat with your sweat stench.”

The five who heard this: “…”

During the break to put things away in the resting cabin, Song Yu casually tossed his backpack onto the floor and single-handedly pulled open his shirt collar.

“That was a good act earlier.”

Aside from the public areas, other parts of the spacecraft were not monitored by Mortis.

Rong Shi took out useless items from his backpack.

“The loving couple persona can’t break.”

Song Yu: “…” Stubborn.

Hearing the sound of clothes hitting the floor, Rong Shi looked up and saw that a certain little cat had nearly stripped himself bare.

The removed leg bag, still attached to the military knife, was tossed onto the jacket on the floor, landing with a dull thud.

Song Yu unbuttoned his cuffs. Feeling Rong Shi’s gaze, he intentionally said, “Does it look good?”

Rong Shi: “It’s alright.”

Just “alright”? Song Yu scoffed: “Then what kind is considered good?”

Rong Shi placed the organized backpack aside, his voice cool: “Soft, round, fair, fragrant. You only fit one of those.”

Song Yu: “…”

As an Imperial Prince, Song Yu felt he should be magnanimous and not bother with such trivial matters.

Rong Shi watched him walk towards the bathroom with a beautiful cold face. As he brushed past, he impatiently said, “You’ll smell good after you wash.”

He even let out a displeased snort.

Rong Shi: “…”

When he reached the bathroom door, Song Yu suddenly thought of something. He put one hand on the doorframe and turned around.

“Want to shower together?”

When he said it, his thought was simple: they both stank terribly after coming from the arena.

They were both alphas; they had showered together in the barracks during new recruit training to save time. Showering together now was nothing.

But after asking, he felt something was off.

Just as he was about to remedy the situation, he heard Rong Shi indifferently say, “Too crowded.”

Song Yu: “…”

You’re complaining after I invited you?

He intentionally raised his hand and fanned his collar, lowering his voice by three degrees: “Are you sure you’re not coming?”

Rong Shi’s gaze swept over his faintly visible collarbone, and he suddenly felt a little tempted.

“Alright, then—”

Before he could finish, he saw Little Song Cat reveal a foxy grin.

“Never mind, then.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the bathroom door was violently shut.

Rong Shi: “…” Was he being played?

---

Since he had to wait anyway, Rong Shi took out the few papers he had brought from the ant nest.

The handwriting on the paper was blurry, but a pen scan could easily extract the original content.

“01, scan.”

[Scanned. Compared to the database, they are all contents related to pheromone engineering, quite ordinary.]

Rong Shi gestured for the virtual screen to come closer and meticulously read through all the content.

It was indeed quite common, only confirming that the laboratory research content within the ant nest was related to pheromones.

He asked: “What about the injectables?”

[After many years, some unstable components have undergone chemical changes. Attempting to repair them now.]

The words “Pheromone Equality” made Rong Shi instinctively uneasy, feeling as if he had vaguely grasped something.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden fragrance. A long, fair hand appeared before him, with beautifully shaped nails that looked gnawed at the edges, very unique.

Song Yu leaned his hand on the table, peering closer at the items on the virtual screen.

“Bioengineering? Are the drug components the same as SYT7737?”

“No results yet.”

A drop of water fell on Rong Shi’s clothes. He looked up. The other person’s hair was completely wet, a towel casually draped over his head, and water from the ends of his hair had already dampened his shoulders.

Perhaps it was because he had just showered, but his skin was very hydrated, and his slightly damp eyelashes made his peach blossom eyes look even more beautiful.

This kid was too pretty.

Rong Shi unconsciously said: “Do you want to see a stick figure of a rabbit representing me?”

A non-sequitur successfully shifted Song Yu’s gaze to him.

After staring for a full three seconds, Song Yu straightened up, sat in the seat opposite him while drying his hair.

“No.”

Rong Shi: “…”

Song Yu scoffed: “Why would I want to know so much about a love rival?”

Rong Shi: “…”

Rong Shi stood up: “I’m going to shower.”

After the person entered the bathroom, Song Yu’s hand, which was drying his hair, paused, and he suddenly burst out laughing.

---

When the two went to the dining area, the pack of hungry wolves had already cleared it out once.

Rong Shi ordered his meal and turned around, only to see a certain annoying omega walk over and sit opposite Song Yu.

Both belonged to the beautiful type, their dining etiquette elegant and proper. Regardless of anything else, sitting together indeed attracted a lot of attention.

He Nian must have said something, as a smile actually appeared on Song Yu’s face.

Rong Shi frowned: “…”

Smiling so happily at an omega whose crisis was not yet resolved.

Song Yu: “That Chaocheng Street, really does have a lot of good shops.”

Seeing his interest, He Nian pressed on: “Then—after the competition, do you want to go there and look around?”

Just as he was speaking, Rong Shi sat in the seat next to Song Yu.

“What’s Chaocheng Street?”

Song Yu explained: “An ancient street on Imperial Capital Star. In ancient times, it was a road specially built for common people to worship the emperor.”

Rarely did Song Yu show no aversion. He Nian didn’t want Rong Shi to ruin the atmosphere, so he spoke before Rong Shi: “I know a shop that sells mecha models there. They’re purely handmade, and the craftsmanship is no worse than Gu Corporation’s.”

Gu Corporation was not only the largest arms dealer within the Empire but also involved in many other fields, with models being a major business.

Song Yu was about to answer when a pair of chopsticks appeared before him, picking up the chives he had set aside.

Rong Shi: “You don’t eat chives?”

Song Yu: “No.”

Rong Shi: “Anything else you don’t eat, put it on my plate. Don’t waste food.”

Noticing He Nian looking at Rong Shi out of the corner of his eye, Song Yu smoothly slid his plate over: “I’ve used these chopsticks. Do you mind?”

Rong Shi casually replied: “We’ve been married for how long? What kind of silly talk is that?”

Song Yu: “…”

Rong Shi selected a few good pieces of sweet and sour pork ribs and placed them on his plate.

“You like sweet food.”

Song Yu casually returned a few large shrimp: “Husband spoils you.”

He Nian opened his mouth repeatedly, but was always interrupted.

He tightened his grip on his chopsticks, his face darkening.

As soon as Rong Shi arrived, the space around Song Yu would fill up, leaving no room for a third person.

Rong Shi ate a shrimp, his gaze coincidentally meeting He Nian’s looking over: “The shrimp is good.”

Song Yu: “The ribs are even better.”

He Nian: “…”

---

After the first group qualified, the difficulty of the arena would decrease by a percentage. After the second group appeared, the difficulty would decrease again, until all teams had cleared the stage.

Rong Shi and the others waited on the spacecraft until late that night before Lu Ming and his team, disheveled, finally boarded the spacecraft.

By dawn the next day, all teams had finished the competition.

Rong Shi had been waiting in the resting cabin early. When the last team reached the finish line, he ordered 01 to control all surveillance within the arena.

Rong Shi: “Retreat immediately if there’s any exposure.”

[Received! My great 01 is in its prime. Mortis has been retired and rehired several times. Do you think I can’t handle him?]

Rong Shi: “…Confidence is a good thing.”

As everyone gathered for the results and rewards announcement, 01 infiltrated the database and thoroughly searched all surveillance footage.

[No carvings similar to a rabbit’s form found.]

The return spacecraft arrived at Imperial Capital Star. The students followed their instructors off the ship and were met by a line of school teachers waiting there, along with several high-ranking military officials at the very front.

“Holy crap! Major General Zhao Ji, Major General Qin Zhao, and Major General Lin Yue—why are they all here?!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, the talent snatching war has begun.”

“If Rong Shi doesn’t pick a side now, it’ll probably be hard to wrap things up.”

The surrounding students’ discussions reached Song Yu’s ears. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the three individuals; none of them were on his side.

“What do you want to do? Who will you choose?”

Rong Shi disregarded them, his voice clear and cool: “Do you even need to ask?”

Those nearby immediately perked up their ears, even Qin Luo and the others were curious. Previously, Rong the Big Shot had repeatedly avoided picking a side. Was he still trying to muddle through now?

“Of course, I choose you.”

---

Author’s Note:

Song Cat: I asked you who you’d side with, not who you’d choose as a partner.

Rong Bunny: Same thing. My career path and my relationship path are both you.

Song Cat: …