Forcefully Doting On You

by Usui Takumii

not mine, wuxia world and JCG Translations. Beware Bl. The number of the chapters were wrongly numbered initially, after it is corrected according to the raws. Waiting for the translater to update.

8. 32 to 40

Chapter 32 (End of First Arc)

Gu Yunchen was nervously waiting for Mu Cai's response.

His heart was pounding powerfully. His eyes could see nothing but the person standing in front of him.

The young man stood on a hillside at dusk, his soft black hair blowing in the evening breeze. Upon hearing Gu Yunchen's words, his eyes widened slightly in surprise, his face a blank slate.

Then, the other party showed a look of apology. His long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and his eyelids drooped as if he dared not look at Gu Yunchen, "I'm sorry, Brother Gu. You're great, but..."

Before Mu Cai could finish his words, he was interrupted by a slender, powerful hand.

Gu Yunchen's hand gently rested on his own shoulder. He was looking at himself, his eyes revealed a tenderness that was almost irresistibly charming, "I understand, I get it all. But don't be so hasty to reject me, okay?"

His voice, low as if it would shatter and dissipate in the wind the next second, sounded like a whisper in the ear in the night breeze.

Mu Cai wanted to reject him.

He did like Gu Yunchen, but this affection had nothing to do with romantic love. Besides, he would have to leave this world someday. Accepting Gu Yunchen's feelings would be irresponsible.

But Gu Yunchen's expression was heartbreaking.

Without uttering a word, he just quietly stared at Mu Cai. The sunset was reflected in his eyes, casting two small silhouettes. His entire focus seemed to be on Mu Cai alone.

He was like a big dog waiting for his master to pass judgment. Despite feeling aggrieved, he couldn't help wagging his tail.

But not rejecting Gu Yunchen felt like stringing him along, giving him false hope. Mu Cai wanted to reject him, yet felt reluctant to do so. Eventually, he gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Gu, you deserve better. There's no need to waste your effort on me."

Yet Gu Yunchen replied firmly, "In my heart, you are the best."

It was the first time Mu Cai had heard such straightforward words from him. Feeling somewhat shy and pushed into a corner, Mu Cai could only reply harshly, "Brother Gu, I don't like you."

A thin layer of blush spread across the young man's pale face. His cheeks puffed up as he huffed out those words, utterly lacking in intimidation.

Gu Yunchen simply had the audacity to say, "It's enough that I like you."

Mu Cai was completely speechless.

Looking at the swollen, red ears of the young man, which looked like drops of bright red gemstones, Gu Yunchen couldn't stop a smile forming in his heart.

His dear Mu Cai was still so easily embarrassed, thinking about him even in this situation.

How could he bear to let him go?

Gu Yunchen took a flight home that night.

He had originally planned to stay with Mu Cai for one more night. Then he wanted to bring him to his own house. However, now that Gu Yunchen had clearly expressed his feelings, any rash actions would be inappropriate. Mu Cai needed time to adjust.

Even if Mu Cai hadn't agreed to him now, he still had opportunities to pursue him.

Every time Gu Yunchen thought about that spot on Mu Cai's ear, which turned as red as a blood droplet when he faced him, he couldn't help but feel joyful.

He had plenty of time to wait — to wait until Mu Cai came to his senses or for him to fall in love with him.

The next afternoon, when Mu Cai arrived for the reshoot of 'Memories of a Small Town,' Director Wu Feng noticed something was off with him.

Mu Cai was already slender, and putting on the broad costume made him look even more skeletal. His complexion at the moment was unusually pale, his spirit listless — he resembled Yao Xiubin just out of a serious illness.

This made him look even more pitiful.

This was before the shooting had started, and the frail appearance of the other party should represent his actual state. Director Wu Feng asked with some worry, "Mu Cai, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need to go to the hospital for a check-up?"

Next to them, Xiao Liu also looked worried.

Mu Cai's complexion has not been so good since the previous night, but he hadn't expected him to look this weak today!

Xiao Liu had sent a message to Brother Su in the morning. He replied that he had just boarded the flight and would probably be arriving in a couple of hours.

Hearing Director Wu's suggestion, Mu Cai shook his head.

He was indeed ill, but this sickness was a method deployed by the system to make him exit the energy field in a peaceful manner. A trip to the hospital wouldn't improve his condition. Plus, he didn't have many scenes left to reshoot. They could be done in an afternoon.

Renting a venue for a day wasn't inexpensive, and of course, Mu Cai didn't want to put Director Wu through unnecessary trouble.

The pale youth shook his head rejecting the offer. A trace of fatigue seeped through the pleasant resonance of his voice, "I'm fine, Director Wu. After we finish shooting, I'll get a check-up. It won't make much difference if it's delayed for an afternoon."

Seeing Mu Cai's insistence, Wu Feng didn't press further. After all, although Mu Cai looked weak, he didn't appear to be enduring any pain, nor did it seem like an emergency.

Wu Feng immediately signaled the cameraman into position.

Right now, Mu Cai wasn't feeling well, so they would finish shooting as quickly as possible and then rush him to the hospital. As for the quality of these reshoots, Wu Feng wasn't planning on pushing too hard.

The clapboard was struck, and shooting began.

Yao Xiubin opened the door and walked out.

He had just returned from Shungang a while ago and immediately fell ill due to the hardships and worries of the journey.

He had been ill intermittently for half a month, and it was only yesterday that Yao Xiubin felt a bit better. Last night, he was already able to stand on his own, even take a few steps and have some porridge. Thus, he sent his younger brother, who was taking care of him, out the first thing in the morning.

His brother had been an apprentice in the blacksmith's shop in town, and he'd taken leave specifically to look after him for the last ten days or so. Yao Xiubin didn't know how much this had disrupted his brother's work. Fearing the master blacksmith wouldn't be pleased, Yao Xiubin urged his brother to return quickly.

While Yao Xiubin knew the blacksmith to be a good person, he dared not gamble with his brother's livelihood.

Yao Xiubin opened the door, took a few steps, and although he felt weak, it was much better than just lying on the couch before.

At this point, everything was set in stone. Yao Xiubin hadn't seen Ji Zicheng in Shungang. Although he was heartbroken and wished he could have a good cry, he understood that life had to go on.

Apart from everything else, his brother hadn't yet mastered his craft and become independent; therefore, Yao Xiubin couldn't completely rest easy.

Thinking of this, Yao Xiubin added some rice to the pot to cook congee. He had just recovered from his illness, and it was better for him to eat lighter and more easily digestible foods.

After breakfast, Yao Xiubin picked up a basket, placed in it some clothes and shoes he had sewed in his free time, gathered a few chicken eggs, took some money, and prepared to go to the market to exchange these for some necessary items.

He had arranged with Brother Niu to ride the only ox cart in the village to the market.

The market was bustling, with people coming and going, and the hawking of wares was incessant.

Yao Xiubin and Brother Niu set up a stall together.

With his still ill and frail appearance, his shy smile was especially heartbreaking. The women and young ladies who bought things from him or sold things to him couldn't help but give him a bit extra.

After selling all his items and buying some daily necessities, Yao Xiubin's face froze in a smile. After packing up the stall, he sat on Brother Niu's ox cart, feeling the afternoon sun on the somewhat bumpy road.

Brother Niu laughed, saying, "The sun is really nice today!"

Yao Xiubin smiled, "Yes, it is."

Brother Niu continued, "It was gloomy just a few days ago, but today it's sunny again. I saw that there was fog this morning; after prolonged gloom and thick fog, it's bound to be sunny! People are like that too; when things haven't been going well for a while, they'll eventually get better!"

Something stirred in Yao Xiubin's heart, and his smile shone brightly under the sun, like a blooming flower: "Yes!"

Life will eventually get better, and the pain will pass.

He didn't know where Zicheng was now or when he would be back. He might never see him again.

But Yao Xiubin would still wait.

He would live well and manage his days well. So if one day they could meet again, Yao Xiubin could proudly say to Ji Zicheng:

See, I have been waiting for you well! Just like the ivy on the wall, which, with the arrival of spring, is full of life and covers a whole area!

After Mu Cai finished filming "Memories of a Small Town," he was sent to the hospital by Su Xingyun and Xiao Liu.

His situation was quite dire. According to the hospital's examination results, although the cause of the disease could not be found for the time being, Mu Cai's physical function was indeed showing signs of decline. Under the pressure of Su Xingyun and Xiao Liu, he could only obey the doctor's advice to stay in the hospital for observation.

Without the need to work, Mu Cai was quite relaxed. However, after seeing the doctor, he was so tired that he fell asleep directly without even eating dinner.

Mu Cai originally planned on just taking a nap, but to his surprise, he woke up to a bright day outside and Gu Yunchen sitting next to him.

Mu Cai was somewhat taken aback.

He knew that he couldn't hide his illness from Gu Yunchen, considering he was an artist under Kaicheng Entertainment, and the other party was a shareholder of Kaicheng Entertainment.

But Mu Cai didn't expect Gu Yunchen to find out so soon. He was admitted to the hospital last night, and Gu Yunchen was by his side by this morning.

However, when Gu Yunchen saw Mu Cai wake up, an indescribable mixture of joy and sorrow suddenly emerged on his originally tired face: "You finally woke up!"

Saying this, he quickly pressed the bedside bell, and immediately the doctors and nurses came hurrying over with a cart.

Only then did Mu Cai realise that he had not just slept for one night, but for an entire week.

The doctor's diagnosis was that Mu Cai had "Sleeping Beauty Syndrome."

The symptoms of this disease are that the patient has no apparent symptoms of any endocrine or autonomic dysfunction, yet they would sleep for several days, weeks, or even up to several months.

Mu Cai's condition was even more severe, as his physical functions were also declining.

Mu Cai didn't have many thoughts about his illness because after he finished eating, he began to feel sleepy again.

Gu Yunchen thoughtfully tucked him in and tried to talk to him to keep him awake: "How do you feel now?"

Mu Cai struggled to stay conscious: "It's okay, just a bit sleepy."

As he said this, his eyes looked at Gu Yunchen, and he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Gu, don't you have any work recently?"

With Gu Yunchen's current status, film contracts and endorsements should be pouring in like snowflakes.

Gu Yunchen smiled: "No, I'm here to accompany you."

Mu Cai could barely keep his eyes open: "But that's not good, I..."

Gu Yunchen grasped Mu Cai's shoulder, gently shaking him: "Cai Cai, don't fall asleep. Cai Cai!"

But it was to no avail, his drowsiness swept over him like a tidal wave.

Before Mu Cai closed his eyes, he saw Gu Yunchen looking at him gently and heard him say, "Cai Cai, I'll always wait for you."

Mu Cai's eyes slowly closed until he was completely asleep.

News of rising star Mu Cai's Sleeping Beauty Syndrome started to circulate. In a blink of an eye, countless people flocked to Mu Cai's Weibo profile to wish him a speedy recovery. Mo Hengqing, Father Mo, Lin Jiayi, Jing He, and Liang Yunxi took turns visiting him in hospital, but most of the time, Mu Cai was deep in sleep.

He looked like a peaceful little prince when sleeping, but only Gu Yunchen, who was always by his side, knew how thin his body had become.

Mu Cai's condition worsened, with his sleeping episodes lasting up to a month.

Gu Yunchen diligently kept watch over him, day and night. He even added an extra bed in the room to stay by his side, waiting for the moment when he would wake up so that he could talk to him.

A lot happened during Mu Cai's illness.

'Xiaoxue Jiangshan' broke box office records and Mu Cai, who played the role of Yi Sheng, soared in popularity. In the Nuo International Film Festival, Mu Cai was unanimously voted as the Best Actor for his role in 'Memories of a Small Town.'

Regrettably, at that time, Mu Cai was lying in bed, sleeping with shallow breaths.

As time went on, Mu Cai's sleeping periods grew longer, and his physical functions declined. Despite Gu Yunchen's attempts to exhaust all medical treatments available, nothing worked.

Finally, one day, the rising star and newly crowned Nuo Film Festival Best Actor fell like a meteor in his sleep.

At the moment when Mu Cai's life signs stopped completely, Gu Yunchen could no longer hold back and buried his face in the blanket covering Mu Cai.

Droplets of tears dampened the snow-white bedding, and only Gu Yunchen could feel the icy coldness.

The long wait had worn him down, and in the end, all he was left with was a devastating outcome.

Gu Yunchen couldn't accept such an outcome! He couldn't bear to see Mu Cai leave him!

At the moment when all his emotions burst forth, time around him suddenly froze.

Everyone's movement stopped.

The chirping cicadas outside the window ceased, the hurried footsteps in the corridor outside the door, the sound of the wheel cart rolling on the ground – all disappeared. Assistant Lin, who had been standing at one side, seemed like a mannequin, completely still.

The silence around him was somewhat terrifying.

Only Gu Yunchen raised his head, his gaze seeming to penetrate the hospital window and reach somewhere far away.

His eyes were sharp, his face still wet with tears, but his demeanor was as if he had completely changed.

A will that had been slumbering for tens of thousands of years was slightly awakening in this moment, within this body.

A cosmic gaze that had seen the eternal universe and stars flickered in the eyes of the planet's ruler. It ultimately pierced through time and space, landing on a young man lying in a nutrient chamber, sound asleep.

"I look forward to meeting you again."

Mu Cai opened his eyes as the door to the nutrient chamber opened.

Researchers beside him were busy detaching various tubes from his head and body.

The researcher leading him, Old Huang, excitedly said, "Cai Cai, I knew you were special the moment I saw you! The energy collection this time was perfect."

He then muttered quietly, "Except for the slight premature energy field explosion."

Initially, the energy field generated by Mu Cai's activation had been transformed and applied smoothly to various human production activities. Even if Mu Cai were to leave, the residual energy should have sustained it for at least ten more minutes.

Unexpectedly, the energy field erupted prematurely, consuming all its energy. As soon as Mu Cai woke up, the energy field was rendered useless.

Old Huang had never seen such a situation before. Although he couldn't figure it out, he couldn't investigate it any further for the time being.

Mu Cai sat up rather quietly.

Before he had completely fallen asleep, a low, languid voice had reached his ears, "Cai Cai, I will always wait for you."

Even though he knew that this whole world was merely an energy field, and that the various joys and sorrows within it were merely the result of colliding spiritual energies, Mu Cai couldn't help but feel sad for a moment.

For those who worked directly with the energy field, a stint in the nutrient chamber usually lasted four or five days. After each mission, the department would grant them two days off, allowing them to engage in physical activities to maintain good health, making them ready for the next round of energy stimulation work.

Since each person woke up at different times, their days off were also staggered. Over these two days, Mu Cai had meals and exchanges with colleagues who were also on their holidays. After running half an hour daily on the treadmill in the department's gym together, the faint distress in his heart finally dissipated.

The holiday period flashed by. Mu Cai adjusted his state, laid back into the nutrient chamber, and began entering the next world.

Author's Note:

An Alpha with straight A's, rubbing his hands together: "Cai Cai, my wife, hurry over!"

An Omega friend: "Hehe."

An Alpha prince: "Hehe."

A Beta brother: "Hehe."

Extra Story of the Imperial Tutor

In the majestic hall, Li Xuan sat at the edge of a table.

A folded paper was opened on the table, but he had no interest in it and was staring blankly at a landscape painting on the wall.

It was Yi Sheng's artwork. Although Yi Sheng had never spoken about his background, Li Xuan could infer from his everyday demeanor that he must be from an esteemed family. He was well-bred, had good manners, and was versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and even poetry and prose.

Li Xuan sighed again as his thoughts reached this point.

He had no idea when his partner would wake up.

His eyes were full of tired bloodshot lines — the result of reviewing documents during the day and staying up at night with Yi Sheng, leading to inadequate rest.

Inhaling deeply, Li Xuan detected a comforting, subtle fragrance wafting through the air.

It was the soothing scent Yi Sheng often carried— not at all strong, rather refreshingly delicate. Breathing in that scent brought a sense of calm to his restless heart.

Due to days of physical labor and mental exhaustion, Li Xuan felt very tired. The fragrance made him sleepy in no time.

However, the tranquility was shattered by a sharp voice shouting, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Imperial Tutor has awoken!"

Li Xuan, who had already stepped foot into the realm of slumber, was rudely awakened by this call.

Startled, Li Xuan quickly opened his eyes, ignoring the stinging sensation in his eyelids. He stood up immediately and excitedly questioned the little eunuch who had rushed in, "The teacher has awakened?"

The little eunuch, taken aback by the Emperor's sheer delight, hurriedly responded, "Yes, yes, but the Imperial Tutor, he..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the Emperor sprint past him and disappear out the door in the blink of an eye.

The little eunuch was left in distress, quickly chasing after. As he ran, he wondered if his own hurried pace was considered improper in the presence of the Emperor, who was running himself.

When Li Xuan reached Yi Sheng's room, he pushed the door open, only to find that just two palace maidens were inside, and the person he expected to see was gone. Anxiously, he grabbed one of the maidens and asked, "Where did the teacher go?"

The palace maiden, who had never seen the Emperor look so agitated, hurriedly replied, "The Imperial Tutor said he felt dirty after lying in bed for so many days and wanted to take a bath. He should be in the bathhouse now. Would you like to wait for him in the room, your Majesty?"

Without a second thought, Li Xuan lifted his bright yellow royal robe and stepped over the threshold. He waited impatiently on the teacher's bed, and finally, Yi Sheng came into view, his hair still slightly wet.

At the sight of him, Yi Sheng paused slightly and was just about to bow when he was stopped by a strong pair of arms.

Li Xuan held his teacher in his arms, scrutinizing every detail of the man with his gaze.

Freshly recovered from a severe illness, Yi Sheng's face was incredibly pale. With his cascading dark hair, the sight was touchingly delicate.

Without uttering a word, Li Xuan immediately scooped up Yi Sheng and laid him on the bed under his surprised gaze.

The maids and eunuchs originally present in the room tactfully exited, leaving them alone.

Yi Sheng's pale face turned a flushed red, his breathing a bit rapid. His eyes held a faint anger, "Your Majesty, you have overstepped."

Li Xuan held him close, looking down, "Are you still mad at me, Teacher?"

Yi Sheng averted his eyes, his hand pushing against Li Xuan's body lightly, "I dare not."

Yet Li Xuan held on, pleading pitifully, "Please don't be mad, Teacher. I was wrong. But you know that I'm not cunning or heartless by nature. I just feel that you're too detached, even from me. You warned me to be wary of meritorious officials just after the establishment of the dynasty. But I didn't want to act so ruthlessly. And you're one of those officials too, I didn't want to doubt you."

Yi Sheng sighed silently in his heart.

Compared with other candidates for the throne, Li Xuan indeed lacked the necessary cunning and ruthlessness. He knew all these. They were the reasons why he had initially chosen him.

But he didn't expect that these would become grounds for their disagreements and arguments.

Li Xuan continued, "But when you were angry, I, I still did as you advised. I appointed them dukes, gave them land, but only allowed them to consume their official salary and reclaimed the military power. I've tried hard to do what you suggested. Can you stop being angry with me now? I can't imagine if I had been a step late, just one step..."

His words broke off there, unable to continue.

Lightly patting Li Xuan's back, Yi Sheng sighed, "I'm sorry."

Li Xuan managed a tearful smile, "Can you stay by my side then, teacher?"

"What would I do by your side?"

"This throne is too lonely. I want you to accompany me."

"You are missing a queen."

"I don't want a queen."

"..."

"I don't want to get married, nor do I want to have children."

"...You are the emperor."

"That means I can do whatever I want, right?"

"..."

"I don't want anyone else. I just want you, my teacher, to accompany me. Will you stay with me forever? My parents have passed away early, and I have no siblings. In a while, I'll adopt a child from distant relatives, and raise him. When he grows up, I'll pass this burden onto him, and we, teacher, can go out to enjoy the mountains and rivers, okay?"

"... As you wish."

"I knew you are the best, teacher!"

Chapter 33: The Peach-Scented Omega

In the spacious and bright living room, Mu Cai, sitting on the sofa, felt that his face was going stiff from smiling.

He was currently on a blind date.

The alpha sitting opposite him had the proper posture – a straight and firm figure, and a calm and cold demeanor, naturally radiating an air of superiority.

This was the protagonist of this world, Claire.

Claire's mother, Evelyn, looked at him with undisguised admiration in her blue eyes. "Cai Cai, you're getting more and more beautiful. You really resemble your mother when she was young. Don't you think so, Xue Zhen?"

Upon hearing the compliment, Mu Cai's mother, Shi Xue Zhen, glanced at Mu Cai and then turned her head away shyly. "Don't be like that, Evelyn. You're really too good at giving compliments."

The praised omega sank into the soft sofa, appearing very behaved indeed. Upon hearing Evelyn's words, a blush spread across his fair face, his long eyelashes quivered, and he bashfully lowered his eyes.

Evelyn found herself liking Mu Cai more and more. After staring at him for a while, she suddenly remembered the purpose of her visit. Hurriedly pulling her son Claire closer, she said with a smile, "Cai Cai, this is your brother Claire. You met him when you were kids; I wonder if you still remember him?"

Claire might not remember the original body, but Mu Cai knew for sure that the original body remembered Claire.

According to the original story, even though the original body and Claire only met a few times when they were young, the original body had always liked this cold and handsome alpha brother.

Mu Cai quickly glanced at Claire, who was sitting silently like a wooden stake next to him, and then lowered his head pretending to be shy, saying, "I remember."

As long as Cai Cai liked her son, that would be more than half the battle won.

"If you remember, that's good, that's good." Evelyn looked at Mu Cai's appearance and felt that her matchmaking might work.

As for her son, who had been as unromantic as a block of wood for twenty-two years, once he spent some time with Cai Cai, he would surely come to like him!

Evelyn quickly asked again, "I heard from your mother that you'll be entering the Imperial Mecha Academy this summer? So Cai Cai and our Claire will be alumni. Claire is studying in the Mecha Combat Department, which department will you be studying in, Cai Cai?"

Mu Cai replied, "The Mecha Repair Department."

As the name implies, the Mecha Repair Department is a specialized field dedicated to the care and maintenance of mechas.

The original body was a delicate omega, unable to bear heavy burdens or exert much strength, and without the abundant physical power required to pilot a mech in high difficulty battles, or to work within the smoky and dusty mech manufacturing factory. Thus, he naturally chose the Mecha Repair Department.

Evelyn laughed and said, "That's great, that's wonderful. Maybe Cai Cai will be able to help when Claire's mecha has problems in the future."

Her words were merely meant as a joke, aimed at bridging the distance between the two children. After all, Claire's mech already had a designated mecha repairer, and Evelyn could hardly bear the thought of the fair-looking Mu Cai doing such strenuous work.

However, she did not anticipate the portly middle-aged man sitting on the other sofa to huff, "What's the use of studying this? If he was so insistent on attending the Imperial Mecha Academy in the first place, why didn't he go for the Mech Combat Department? Piloting a mecha is what gives you prestige!"

The speaker was none other than Mu Cai's father, Mu Hong'an.

The smile on Evelyn's face vanished instantly. She had already viewed Mu Hong'an with contempt. When his harsh words dismissed her well-intentioned suggestion, she coldly retorted, "If it's so glorious, why don't you pilot one yourself?"

Evelyn's words directly hit Mu Hong'an's sore spot.

He was a beta with low psychic power, rated only at C, and hence, absolutely incapable of operating high-level mechas. Even more unfortunate, Mu Hong'an disdained the outdated low-level mechas, which ultimately left him with no other choice but to settle as an ordinary mecha maker in the logistics department of the military.

His inability to operate high-level mechas had always been a thorn in his side. Now that Evelyn had given him a jab, his face was a picture of discomfort.

Indifferent to the distress noticeable on his face, Evelyn continued, "If you don't have the ability, don't force it on others. Besides, our Cai Cai is an omega; he's not designed for combat. The fact that he's willing to study in the Mecha Repair Department of the Imperial Mecha Academy and contribute on the battlefield in the future is already commendable."

Mu Hong'an's face was initially dark, but on hearing this, he instantly revived, "Who said omegas aren't suitable for combat? Mu Feng, who's also an omega, was accepted into the Mecha Combat Department with high scores!"

As soon as he finished speaking, almost subconsciously, everyone's gaze shifted to the man sitting in the corner of the sofa.

Mu Feng was also an omega. But compared to a typical omega, he seemed to be taller and sturdier, with darker skin, appearing more like a beta from an outward perspective. Sensing everyone's gaze, he seemed a bit flustered and couldn't help but lower his head.

Evelyn looked at Mu Hong'an's smug expression and sneered, "So what? Our Léon family doesn't lack people who can operate mechas, and neither does the entire federation lack alpha mecha operators."

In an instant, Mu Feng's gaze dimmed.

Mu Cai silently watched this scene unfold.

Mu Feng was the main male character in the original story and the half-brother of the original body. He was also the product of Mu Hong'an's infidelity. It wasn't until the other party's mother passed away and Mu Hong'an brought Mu Feng home that the original body and Shi Xue Zhen found out about his existence.

The original body really disliked this younger brother and always treated him like air. When Mu Feng later fell in love with Claire, the original body would often hurl malicious words at him.

Evelyn's feelings were even stronger on this matter.

She was Shi Xue Zhen's close friend, and even though she knew that the child was innocent, she didn't like this glaring proof of her best friend's husband's infidelity.

Evelyn wasn't one to hold a grudge against a child. Since she entered the house, she had simply chosen to ignore Mu Feng's presence.

However, Mu Hong'an was foolishly infatuated. He knew full well that Evelyn came to play matchmaker for Mu Cai and Claire, but he insisted on bringing Mu Feng out, which was very inappropriate.

Evelyn couldn't be more aware of the other party's intentions. Aren't they just trying to make Claire and Mu Feng hit it off, so that they can marry this illegitimate child off to the future heir of the Léon family?

Upon hearing this, Mu Hong'an's face turned so dark that it seemed as though water could drip from it.

Claire, who had been aloof throughout, finally broke the silence, "The Zerg seems rather restless and the alliance is becoming somewhat unruly. We are currently understaffed at the front, so it's worthwhile to encourage omegas interested in operating mechas. If they really excel at it, the military will definitely welcome them."

His voice was as cold as his demeanor. While it may not have been what Mu Hong'an wanted to hear, it was a relief nonetheless.

Mu Feng gratefully smiled at Claire, who simply nodded in return.

As Mu Cai sat there taking in everything, he couldn't help but feel excited.

In the original version, on this meeting that was supposed to be for him and Claire, the main male characters started to get along well. Being the astute villain that he was, he picked up on this and initiated his pursuit of Claire and his efforts to suppress Mu Feng.

He was thrilled by how well the scene has played out this time, it was spot-on and unbiased. More importantly, it was already clear to him that the main characters were hitting it off, which brought him great joy.

While the energy collected last time was deemed perfect by Old Huang after emerging from the energy field, the precocious end due to a sudden surge of energy left Mu Cai somewhat disgruntled.

An energy field that could have lasted steadily for another dozen minutes ceased suddenly, so much wasted potential energy that could have been converted into numerous sources of energy! Mu Cai was absolutely heartbroken!

He was convinced this was a result of the premature collapse of the last plot. Therefore, Mu Cai decided that he must strive to keep the plot intact this time, enabling the energy field to evolve more steadily.

Concealing his excitement with a pretended look of grievance, Mu Cai carried an air of disappointment.

His slender eyelashes drooped, his mouth pouted, and his cheeks puffed up a little, all adding up to a pitiful facade.

Looking at him, Evelyn couldn't help but feel deeply distressed.

The Omega Rights Movement has been vigorous in the last ten years, perhaps to the point of overcorrection. Presently, the narrative everywhere advocates that omegas should equal betas and alphas in capacity, ideally mastering mecha operation and managing households. The movement argues that omegas can also contribute significantly to society, and should not forget to work during pregnancy. Sweet and frail omegas are even mocked and disparaged, while strong, handsome omegas are highly sought after.

Evelyn found this prevailing trend rather disconcerting. She had no problem with omegas striving for strength and charisma, yet she couldn't understand why it was unacceptable for some to pursue beauty.

As a beta herself, she had always desired an adorable omega child to dress up and show off.

Unfortunately, she gave birth to an alpha. Her son, who usually behaved high-handedly without a hint of consideration, was now oblivious to the situation. He intruded right when she was in an argument, rendering her point ineffective.

Look at how wronged Cai Cai seemed!

Cai Cai was, in Evelyn's eyes, the most beautiful, well-behaved, and adorable omega she'd ever come across. He was everything she wanted in an omega.

Unable to bear Cai Cai's sorrow, she straightened up, her brows furrowing coldly as she said, "Enough, I came to see Cai Cai today. Once Cai Cai is finished, I will leave."

Saying this, Evelyn rose from her seat. With the hand clad in a lace-trimmed black glove, she adjusted her skirt and then announced haughtily, "Xue Zhen, Cai Cai, please see us out."

Upon hearing their intentions to leave, Mu Hong'an quickly glanced at Mu Feng, signaling him to rise and say goodbye to the guests, hoping this would grant Mu Feng and Claire more interaction opportunities.

However, the next moment, Evelyn bluntly said, "The rest of you need not come. Xue Zhen and I have some private matters to discuss, which we would prefer to keep confidential."

Mu Feng's eyelids twitched, and he promptly returned to his seat on the couch.

Anger appeared on Mu Hong'an's face.

Yet, he dared not express his resentment, considering the powerful Léon family stood behind Evelyn.

Mu Hong'an loathed prominent families like the Léon's, who held significant power throughout the empire and even made the royal family wary. However, he longed to see Mu Feng bring honor to their family and bring about a better life by marrying into a family like Léon's.

Evelyn had long seen through the likes of Mu Hong'an. Upon witnessing his reaction, she sneered internally, then supported Xue Zhen, took Mu Cai's arm, and signaled her son to follow them out.

Stepping outside, Evelyn gently patted Mu Cai and encouraged him to interact with Claire. She herself grasped Xue Zhen's hand and sternly admonished her, "You were born in the Shi family and married down to Mu Hong'an. Not only does he disrespect you, but he also cheated on you and relies on you. Can't you see what he's planning today?!"

"Back then, I advised you to divorce him, but you said it wasn't the right time for Cai Cai's sake and his studies. Now that he's been admitted into the Imperial Mecha Academy, what's stopping you? You should have realized this by now! Besides, your husband's a beta, and you're an omega; there's not even a bond between you two. What are you still worried about?!"

Xue Zhen fell silent.

In fact, she had considered this thought for a long time. Initially, Xue Zhen married Mu Hong'an out of love. However, since giving birth to their child, he had shown her less and less respect.

Xue Zhen had been understanding of him because she knew her own family. As one of the prominent families, they looked down on Mu Hong'an, who had no significant background or abilities. They didn't want to help, and it was normal for her husband to have some resentment. After all, a husband and wife should empathize with one another.

However, she didn't expect him to cheat on her. Their children were even born only a few months apart! When Xue Zhen found out, she felt her marriage was a joke. Yet, at that time, Mu Cai was in a critical period for exams, and she didn't want to affect him. Now, though, it was time for her to consider her own well-being for once.

Seeing Xue Zhen's determination in her eyes, Evelyn felt relieved and consoled, "Your uncle and aunt miss you very much. When you got married, they claimed to disown you. However, all these years, they've been asking me about you, and your room has always been kept for you."

Xue Zhen's heart instantly warmed.

She had known that her parents secretly helped them several times, but she never knew how to face them. Now, hearing Evelyn's words, her eyes became slightly moist and said, "Understood. I'll consult a lawyer later. I want a clean break during this divorce, and I need to ensure I receive what's rightfully mine."

Finally, a smile appeared on Evelyn's face. "That's my little Zhen," she proclaimed. "Stay at my place tonight, and I'll find you a lawyer!"

While the two mothers were whispering, Mu Cai and Claire were standing together.

Remembering his role, Mu Cai took the initiative to break the ice, "Brother Claire."

Claire's expression remained indifferent.

Undeterred, Mu Cai continued, "I'm about to enter the Mecha Repair Department at the Imperial Mecha Academy. I hope that I'll have the opportunity to maintain your mecha."

Claire turned his dark eyes towards him.

His features were sharp, with prominent eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and thin lips. He seemed a bit intimidating when not smiling. His voice was as cold as ice, "I have a dedicated mecha repairer. I don't need you."

Mu Cai was at a loss for words.

Even though he knew the protagonist didn't like him, being bluntly rejected made it hard for him to continue the conversation. Mu Cai couldn't help but admire the original owner of his role, who was always able to make conversation with the protagonist.

He, on the other hand, wasn't capable of that.

The young man in front of him lowered his eyelids, hiding his bright black eyes. He tightly pressed his lips together, and his hands clenched in front of him, seeming quite wronged.

Claire stared at him for a while before saying, "In another week, the Imperial Mecha Academy will start its new term. I will come to fetch you then."

The young man's face lit up immediately. His eyes curved, revealing two small canine teeth on his cherry red lips. "Thank you, Brother Claire!"

Claire's expression did not change. He watched the other party for a while before discreetly looking away.

His ears turned a little red.

Chapter 34

Upon the kind invitation of Evelyn, Shi Xue Zhen decided to bring Mu Cai to Evelyn's home for a day or two, consulting about the divorce matter at the same time.

The Galactic Empire governs over a dozen planets, with Mu Cai and others residing on the capital planet. Yet, ever since Shi Xue Zhen married Mu Hong'an, she relocated from the central Zone A to the more remote Zone D.

Evelyn and Claire arrived by their personal air vehicle, thus they left in the same way when returning.

After Shi Xue Zhen left a message for Mu Hong'an through the intelligent brain she wore on her wrist, she set his messages to do not disturb, then boarded the air vehicle with Mu Cai.

The interior of the air vehicle was spacious, accommodating six to seven individuals. Naturally, the two mothers gathered together to chat, and after Claire set the route on autopilot, he walked towards Mu Cai.

The moment he sat down next to him, a faint scent of peach wafted to his nose. Currently, in this technological society, unmarried omegas don't have to regularly inject potentially body-harming inhibitors like before. Instead, the government implemented a policy of distributing inhibiting rings.

The inhibiting ring is not only convenient and harmless, but it also lasts for an extended period. One ring can work for a year, and unmarried omegas simply need to replace it annually. Therefore, Claire could only smell a hint of Mu Cai's pheromones when close to him, as he is now.

Although the scent is very faint, it is still incredibly sweet, carrying the unique fragrance of a peach.

Smelling it too much could be addictive.

Despite Claire not being fond of sweets and hardly eating peaches, he couldn't help herself at this moment. He slightly leaned over and took a deep breath beside Mu Cai.

Mu Cai was video chatting with someone using his intelligent brain, and although he knew Claire was sitting next to him, he didn't pay much attention to him.

A figure appeared on the virtual screen of the intelligent brain, with a palm-sized face and a pair of eyes blinking at Mu Cai: "Cai Cai, you seem to have become even more attractive."

The person on the screen was Ruan Jia, Mu Cai's childhood playmate. According to the gender norms of this world, Ruan Jia could also be considered Mu Cai's confidante.

In the original plot, Ruan Jia had stood up for Mu Cai several times, supporting him. In the end, they both ended up as cannon fodders together.

Upon this thought, Mu Cai couldn't help but feel some affection for Ruan Jia, who was in the same camp as him. Instead of arguing, he took a good look at Ruan Jia and replied, "Really? But I think your skin seems to have become even fairer."

A delighted smile immediately appeared on Ruan Jia's face: "Cai Cai is as sweet-talking as ever! Sweet-mouthed kids should be rewarded with candy. When school starts, I'll bring you some treats!"

It was only after uttering those words that Ruan Jia noticed there was someone else beside Mu Cai. A swift glance in that direction and Ruan Jia's gaze was locked onto Claire. His face turned pale, seeming almost panicked: "Cai Cai, why is he here?!"

Mu Cai was bewildered by Ruan Jia's reaction.

Claire, the main protagonist's attacker in the original story, was blonde and blue-eyed with a handsome face. Although he was currently only a fifth-year student at the Imperial Mecha Academy with no significant power, his status as the heir to the Léon family had put him under the watchful eyes of the entire Empire. He was the man in the spring dreams of countless omegas.

Even if Ruan Jia didn't fancy Claire, his reaction shouldn't have been so extreme. It seemed as if Ruan Jia regarded Claire like a beast, wanting to drive him away at all costs.

Mu Cai was somewhat clueless, but he still earnestly explained to Ruan Jia, "My mother is taking me to stay at Aunt Evelyn's house for two days. I'm currently on Aunt Evelyn's private plane."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Jia's expression finally lightened a bit.

As Mu Cai's confidante, Ruan Jia was naturally aware of the rather touchy affairs at home. He wanted to ask about the recent happenings at Mu Cai's house, but the sight of the irksome person beside Mu Cai made him hold back. Instead, he abruptly proposed, "Cai Cai, let's go to school together when it starts. I'll come to pick you up in my aircraft."

Mu Cai nodded: "Okay."

He wasn't sure about the length of his stay at Aunt Evelyn's place. But one thing he was certain about was that he would not be attending school with Claire.

Apart from whether Claire would want to, the simple fact that higher-grade students of the Imperial Mecha Academy started school five days earlier than newcomers made it impossible to attend school together.

Furthermore, Ruan Jia was his close friend who treated him well and had continuously stood up for him in the original plot. How could he reject such a small request from him?

So he agreed without a second thought.

The frown on Claire's face tightened sharply. His sharp gaze, reminiscent of a hawk, was locked onto the figure beside him, comfortably sunk into the plush seat.

Unaware of Claire's intense stare, the young man's large black eyes remained focused on the screen. His long eyelashes fluttered gently like a butterfly's wings. Although Mu Cai was slim, rendering his clothes rather loose, a bit of soft flesh hung on his fair cheeks, adding to his appeal.

Looking at him, he appeared to be someone who couldn't bear burdens or lift weights.

He was like a delicate flower in a greenhouse; high maintenance and unfit for the battlefield compared to him.

Although Claire had never considered a partner so far, he admitted he had always admired those omega that strived to break physical boundaries, dared to step onto the battlefield and fought alongside him.

Claire was convinced that he could never be attracted to a soft and delicate omega.

Having all these thoughts in his mind, he found the person in front of him to contradict his own aesthetics, yet he couldn't tear his gaze away.

Not knowing what Mu Cai heard, he suddenly started laughing. A pair of small fangs peeked out from his rosy lips, and his sparkling eyes seemed particularly pleasing when they crinkled in amusement.

Claire recalled how this person had once called him "brother".

He started to reconsider his own aesthetics.

Perhaps, he truly likes this type after all?

With effort, Claire moved his gaze away from Mu Cai, trying to figure out what the defiant omega on the screen said to make Mu Cai so cheerful.

His eyes had just shifted when he heard Ruan Jia's sweet, coquettish voice commanding, "Cai Cai, I've already asked someone to reserve a perfectly located double dorm in the academy, you must live with me!"

Mu Cai nodded again, "Okay."

According to the original plot, he was already living with Ruan Jia. His request was not too much, and Mu Cai was willing to satisfy it.

Ruan Jia's eyes brightened, "Cai Cai is so obedient!"

As he spoke, his eyes, like those of a fox, casually glanced at Claire beside him. There was a sense of triumph and warning in his gaze.

Claire's face was very calm, but he felt a sudden irritability.

Tch, this Ruan Jia.

He was right all along; he didn't like these overly delicate omegas.

A week later, Ruan Jia drove his aircraft and picked up Mu Cai.

Originally, Shi Xue Zhen wanted to take Mu Cai to school herself. However, her divorce case was yet to be resolved, and the Imperial Mecha Academy was located in the capital star, but just in the remote Zone E, close to a large military base.

The entire journey was within the capital star's territory, without any risks. And with the academy located on the capital star, it was easy to travel back and forth. Shi Xue Zhen decided to deal with her divorce case first before visiting Cai Cai at the academy.

As a result, Shi Xue Zhen just hired two bodyguards to help Mu Cai with his luggage, then continued handling her divorce.

Ruan Jia piloted the aircraft from Zone A all the way to the Imperial Mecha Academy in Zone E.

Personal flying vehicles were expensive to build, and the maintenance costs were high, so they weren't something ordinary families could own. That's why when Ruan Jia landed his private aircraft on the outskirts of the academy, he attracted a lot of attention.

As the cabin door opened, Ruan Jia grabbed Mu Cai's arm and helped him out, followed by a housekeeper and several bodyguards wearing sunglasses.

Both Mu Cai and Ruan Jia were empty-handed, as all the luggage was carried by the housekeeper and bodyguards.

The people around them were struggling with their luggage and carrying bags of various sizes. Seeing the two looking so relaxed, they couldn't help but cast envious or resentful glances at them.

Ah, the evils of capitalism!

Mu Zai and Ruan Jia hadn't been walking long when they saw the registration point for new students ahead. Mu Feng, carrying a suitcase, was already there, surrounded by a group of older students asking him questions.

"You must be the only Omega who got into the Mecha Combat department this year, impressive."

Mu Feng was a bit embarrassed: "Thank you for the compliment, seniors."

One person hurriedly waved their hands: "Hey, I'm not complimenting, I'm telling the truth. You're not like those delicate Omegas at all! They're just like flowers in a greenhouse, clematis with no independence, they can't do anything without someone else. You must be able to do all the housework, right?"

Mu Feng was about to reply when a sneer sounded from the side.

The faces of the few people present changed slightly, all turning their heads to look. They saw two attractive Omegas looking in their direction.

One of them was raising an eyebrow at them with a mocking smile: "Isn't that right? Finally, an Omega who can both operate mecha to protect you and serve you arrives. Shouldn't you hurry up and brainwash him, in order to coax a nanny back to your place?"

Those people glared with eyes wide open: "You!"

Mu Cai quickly pulled Ruan Jia behind him, saying righteously: "I would kindly request you gentlemen to respect yourselves. I fail to see what being delicate has to do with a lack of independence. Liking dressing up is simply a hobby. Even if we are like flowers in a greenhouse, we are not your responsibility. There's no need for you to act so morally indignant here."

The other individuals fell silent, slightly embarrassed.

Mu Cai turned to look at Mu Feng at his side, feeling that the current situation presented a rare opportunity to deepen the main character's hatred.

While the original storyline merely skimmed over his constant attempts to suppress the main male lead, it didn't provide any specific language or behavioral examples for him to reference. And Mu Cai himself had little experience in this regard.

However, after careful consideration, he turned his head and glared at Mu Feng: "How can you prioritize outsiders over your own family? I am your brother, yet you stand by and watch us get bullied!"

After saying this, Mu Cai thought for a moment, and added: "You are truly awful!"

On hearing such accusations, the first emotion that rose in Mu Feng's heart was neither sadness nor anger.

The person in front of him was only a few months older, yet seemed much younger than him. He was currently looking at Mu Feng with bright, shining eyes. His red lips were pouting, and his cheeks were puffed up in annoyance.

Even though he was supposed to be angry at himself, Mu Feng couldn't find it in himself to feel mad for some reason.

He even thought that this version of his big brother was far more endearing than the aloof figure who used to ignore him in the past.

When Mu Cai finished speaking, he felt a bit uneasy. Although the seniors' remarks and behaviors were indeed annoying, they did not specifically target them, so it couldn't be considered direct bullying. And for him to forcefully pin the blame on Mu Feng to fulfill his task, it just didn't feel right.

However, twisting the truth was somewhat of a special capability of a malicious cannon fodder character, wasn't it?

Upon thinking about this, Mu Cai's uneasiness vanished into thin air. He then boldly said, "Look at how dark your face has become. Go home and take good care of it. Your family has given you money before, so if you look like this, people might think that my mother is mistreating you!"

His words sounded like a reprimand, but they were filled with concern. What's more, his voice was delightful and pleasant to the ear; just listening to this brother talk made Mu Feng's heart feel at ease.

So, Mu Feng held back a laugh and nodded seriously, "Alright, thank you, big brother."

Mu Cai: "…"

Mu Cai felt confused about life.

Chapter 35

Mu Cai, faced with Mu Feng's reaction, was at a loss for words momentarily.

He was staring at Mu Feng in shock when he heard footsteps approaching from a distance. The people around started to greet someone in unison, "Good day, President Claire!"

Mu Cai hastily turned around and saw Claire in a dark green military uniform stepping towards him in black boots. Behind him, several others, uniformly dressed Alphas, all wearing matching military uniforms, followed.

The Imperial Mecha Academy, at its core, is a place to cultivate talents for the military department. Claire, whether as a fifth-year student in the Mecha Combat Department or as the successor of the Léon family, naturally had early military exposure, spending normal holidays training with all the soldiers in the department.

Hence, the attire he was wearing at this moment was a military uniform, not the student uniform of the Mecha Combat Department.

Carrying an expression as cold as usual on his face, Claire just nodded in response to the greetings from those present. However, when his gaze fell onto Mu Cai's arm enwrapped by Ruan Jia, his pupils constricted sharply, "Mu Cai."

Mu Cai quickly called out, "Brother Claire!"

After shouting, Mu Cai felt a sudden pain in his arm, as if someone had grabbed him fiercely. Subconsciously turning his head, he saw Ruan Jia slowly releasing his grip, showing an apologetic smile on his palm-sized face, "I'm sorry, Cai Cai, I didn't mean to."

As Ruan Jia spoke, he somehow produced a candy from somewhere and coaxed, "Here, Cai Cai, have some candy. It won't hurt after you eat it."

Having said that, he quickly peeled off the wrapper and stuffed the candy into Mu Cai's mouth.

Caught off guard, Mu Cai's eyes lit up.

It's delicious!

This candy was Mu Cai's favorite toffee, with a bit of crushed peanuts inside. When chewed, it was crispy and sweet, with a rich milky flavor.

Mu Cai kept his mouth closed, only his cheeks puffing up as he chewed, looking like a little hamster eating.

Claire saw this scene, his eyebrows visibly furrowing.

The senior Mecha Combat Department Alphas who were previously trying to get close to Mu Feng at the registration point were delighted at the sight of Claire's expression. After all, they had dealt with Claire quite often and knew that, just like them, he disliked overly delicate Omegas.

There have been quite a few Omegas calling Klaire "big brother," and without exception, they all received either a cold face or were ignored, regardless of the Omega's identity.

Unexpectedly, however, Claire did not react as they had hoped. Instead, he looked at Mu Cai and said, "Mu Cai, I'm here to pick you up."

His voice was much gentler than his usual ice-cold tone, frightening the Alphas nearby.

Seeing their attention snatched away, the young people nearby turned their heads upon hearing these words.

As Mu Cai was once again drawn in, Ruan Jia's anger flared. He tightened his grip on Mu Cai's arm and coldly smirked, "There's no need to trouble Senior Claire; we have people to escort us, and our luggage is being taken care of."

After saying this, Ruan Jia patted Mu Cai's arm, intending to take him away.

Ruan Jia needed to quickly get Cai Cai out of Claire's sight, given Cai Cai's fondness for him.

Claire's eyes were fixed intently on Mu Cai's arm, which was being grabbed. He glanced at Ruan Jia with hawk-like eyes and then calmly said, "You can't go in; the academy isn't allowing outsiders to enter right now."

With so many pieces of luggage, Claire's gaze swept over the big and small bags behind them and finally landed on Mu Cai, revealing a polite smile, "I think you might not be able to carry them all."

Ruan Jia's face changed instantly.

However, Claire didn't pay him any mind. Instead, he focused intently on Mu Cai, waiting for his response.

It must be said, Claire was indeed worthy of his character setting in the original script: the protagonist who captivated countless Omegas and Betas. He had brilliant blond hair and his green eyes were like serene, deep pools. While he was being observed by Claire, Mu Cai couldn't help but admire him internally.

As the president of the Imperial Mecha Academy student council, Claire knew the academy's situation like the back of his hand. When he mentioned that outsiders were not allowed in the academy, Mu Cai was inclined to believe it was true. Moreover, Mu Cai felt there was no reason for Claire to deceive him.

Mu Cai was very self-aware. He and Ruan Jia, unlike those capable of being admitted into the Mecha Combat Department like Mu Feng, had the typical Omega physique—delicate and weak. He couldn't possibly carry so many suitcases. Even handling one case down to the dormitory building and transporting it to the dormitory would likely leave him gasping for breath.

Now, with help at hand, Mu Cai was more than grateful. Moreover, following the original character setting, he should be extremely pleased with Claire's proactive assistance.

Therefore, without any hesitation, Mu Cai said, "Thanks, Brother Claire!"

His voice was ethereal and pleasant, seemingly carrying a hint of the crisp sweetness of a juicy peach.

Just like the sweet scent of peaches he smelled that day when Claire sat next to him.

That word, "brother," got to Claire. It sent a wave of comfort through his body.

A hint of a smile spread across Claire's face. The sound of his military boots stepping on the ground relayed a series of brief "clinking" noises. Claire approached the individuals each holding a suitcase, and then turned towards Mu Cai to ask, "Which one is yours?"

After a moment of surprise, Mu Cai hurriedly pointed to a suitcase next to one of the bodyguards, saying, "That one is mine."

Claire, wearing a white glove, effortlessly took the suitcase from the bodyguard with one hand. The people who had come with him naturally relieved Ruan Jia's bodyguard of his suitcase.

Mu Cai felt his arm being clenched tight again.

He knew Ruan Jia didn't like Claire. In the original storyline, Ruan Jia consistently stayed in the same camp as the original character; they were good friends. So, naturally, Ruan Jia was perpetually unhappy with Claire's indifference towards the protagonist.

But now, as Claire was helping them, Ruan Jia shouldn't be this angry. Mu Cai was somewhat confused, but this was not the time for anger. He gently patted Ruan Jia's hand, comforting him by saying, "It's nice to have someone help us with the suitcases, don't be angry."

A soft palm covered his own, and a pair of shiny black eyes looked at him. Two mini versions of himself were reflected in those eyes.

Ruan Jia had been brooding. Seeing Mu Cai being so caring towards him, a lot of his anger dissipated.

Ruan Jia glanced at Claire ahead carrying the suitcase, then looked at his own hand entwined with Mu Cai's, unable to hide his satisfaction.

'So what if he's helping Cai carry the suitcase? He's nothing more than a manual laborer. While Claire is sweating up ahead, Mu Cai and I are comfortably lingering behind, hand in hand.'

From this perspective, Ruan Jia believed he had well and truly won. He puffed out his chest, grasped Mu Cai's hand, and together they entered the dormitory they had previously reserved.

With the help of Claire and his companions, Mu Cai easily moved into a two-person dorm room on the third floor of the dormitory building.

The dorms of the Empire Mecha Academy were beautiful in themselves. The one that Ruan Jia picked was a two-room suite, exceptionally luxurious and well-lit.

After helping to move the suitcases into the room, the few Alphas who had assisted left, taking with them a few pieces of small cake amidst Mu Cai's words of gratitude.

Claire also followed them downstairs to see them off.

Mu Cai stood in the room, watching them leave. After closing the door, he turned and laid the suitcases on the ground. He and Ruan Jia proceeded to unpack together.

Mu Cai was fine, he had only brought some essential clothing and planned to buy toiletries and the like at school. As such, his suitcase wasn't packed, and it was a quick task to put everything away.

However, Ruan Jia was different. He was a bit neat-freak and very particular, only liking the things he had selected himself. As a result, Ruan Jia had almost emptied his room to pack, from his bedding and sheets to something as small as a toothbrush and towel. He had stuffed them all into his suitcase.

Mu Cai quickly unpacked and arranged his belongings.

He walked over to Ruan Jia, crouched down, and reached out to help him. But he felt his hand being caught.

Mu Cai turned his head and saw Ruan Jia looking at him with wide eyes, his handsome face filled with seriousness. "Cai Cai, I have something to tell you."

Mu Cai also grew serious. "Go on."

Ruan Jia gently stroked the back of Mu Cai's hand under his palm. He found it delicate and smooth, the touch was inexplicably delightful, making him reluctant to stop.

While secretly stroking, he spoke earnestly, "Cai Cai, although Claire helped carry your suitcase this time, you can't just trust him. Don't think he likes you because he's kind. Alphas are unreliable!"

The way Ruan Jia spoke could be considered a model of sincere advice.

Mu Cai thought Ruan Jia's views were a tad extreme. Knowing the plot of the story, he was aware that Claire was only fulfilling his promise for the sake of Auntie Evelyn this time.

Mu Cai did not want to argue with Ruan Jia about what most alphas were like at this moment, so he simply nodded, "I got it."

Ruan Jia was quite satisfied. He reached out and touched Mu Cai's face again, soft and smooth. Ruan Jia simply couldn't get enough. "Cai Cai, how come your skin is getting better and better? It feels so comforting!"

As he spoke, he leaned in a bit closer and his nose twitched. His head was almost buried in Mu Cai's shoulder. "Cai Cai, you smell so sweet. I like it so much..."

Mu Cai and Ruan Jia grew up together. Back when they didn't wear suppression rings, Ruan Jia liked to grab him and smell him, saying he smelled really good.

Mu Cai didn't mind it. He was now busily categorizing his messy suitcase. Simultaneously, he said, "You also smell really good. It's the distinct aroma of coffee."

Ruan Jia's pheromone scent was coffee. Although the suppressant had greatly weakened it, they were so close to each other at this moment, Ruan Jia almost burying himself on him, Mu Cai could smell it.

Ruan Jia pouted, "Coffee is bitter. It's not as sweet as your scent, Cai Cai."

He had always disliked the coffee scent on himself, because it always reminded him of the times when he was deceived by the aroma of coffee, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Mu Cai's scent, on the other hand, was both fragrant and sweet, just like the peach juice Ruan Jia had once tried.

As Mu Cai was about to comfort the other person, they suddenly heard the squeaking sound of a door being gently pushed open.

The door had been closed by Claire when they left, perhaps not having closed it properly.

Mu Cai looked up and saw Claire walking in.

A pair of green eyes fixed on them, with a gaze as intense and unyielding as that of a hawk.

The youngest son of the Ruan family was practically pressing on top of Mu Cai. His hand stroked Mu Cai's while his head was buried against him, sniffing here and there.

Claire, the alpha, was struggling with a strong desire to claim possession. Having once experienced the sweet peach fragrance of Mu Cai, he could barely resist his urge to reach out.

His gaze was like a cold, sharp sword, ready to pierce through the person who was monopolizing Mu Cai.

Chapter 36

Claire's gaze was pretty frightening, causing Mu Cai to subconsciously shrink back.

He recalled the setting of the original world and considered the gap between alphas and omegas in terms of physical fitness and combat prowess.

Mu Cai thought to himself that even for Mu Feng, an omega who had passed the mecha combat test with a high score, his strength in the original story was still considerably weaker than Claire's. Whenever they fought in close quarters, he would be helplessly beaten.

For someone like him, wouldn't facing Claire be no different than dealing with a tiny chick?

Mu Cai didn't know why, but after Claire had gone out to see off some people, his expression upon returning had suddenly become terrifying.

Could it be that someone had told Claire about how he deliberately made things difficult for Mu Feng at the academy entrance, and now he was coming to settle the score?

Although this seemed to align with the original plot, Mu Cai still couldn't bear to face Claire's hawk-like gaze. He cautiously called out, "Brother Claire, you're back."

The young man crouched down in front of a suitcase, lifting his head to look up at him. His face was small, and his eyes were large. The contrast was even more pronounced while he was looking up at himself.

It seemed that the other party sensed his anger, and the fuzzy head shrank back a bit, his eyes wide open, looking pitifully at him.

Claire's rage was extinguished by this one call of "brother."

Although the youngest son of the Ruan family standing nearby was still annoying to look at, Claire had calmed down because of this.

After all, an omega like Mu Cai was just that. Even if he liked him, it was impossible for them to have a strong bond. Without deeper markings in their marriage, they could not provide each other with a profound sense of security, making it easier for their marriage to become problematic.

Aunt Shi Xue Zhen's marriage was a perfect example.

Although her husband, Mu Hong'an, was a contributing factor due to his lack of ability and arrogance, there was also the tragedy of their marriage. As a beta, he couldn't handle Aunt Shi Xue Zhen's heat cycle satisfactorily, causing his self-esteem to be hurt and making him seek comfort through infidelity.

Thus, a soft, dependent omega like Mu Cai would need a strong and powerful alpha to protect and care for him.

Claire's expression softened as he thought about this. Although Mu Cai hadn't said it explicitly, he had unconsciously shown fear just now. So, it would be better not to scare this timid, peach-like omega.

Ignoring the furious expression of Ruan Jia beside him, Claire looked at Mu Cai and said, "I live just below your apartment. If you encounter any problems in the academy, you can come to me anytime."

So close?

Mu Cai was a bit confused. He scoured his memory of the original story but couldn't find the location of Claire's previous dormitory, so he had to give up searching.

He wasn't sure whether the closeness was a coincidence or not.

As for his offer to assist, Mu Cai figured that Claire was likely doing this out of respect for Shi Xue Zhen. Regardless, since he had helped him, Mu Cai ought to thank him.

Having thought this through, Mu Cai smiled at Claire: "Thank you, brother Claire."

Inwardly, Claire was quite pleased.

Keeping his face expressionless, he casually extended an invitation: "It's almost mealtime now. Since today is your first day at the Academy, let me invite you to dinner at the restaurant."

Mu Cai didn't expect him to make such an offer.

However, in keeping with his character, he wouldn't refuse. Besides, after spending half the day tidying up, Mu Cai was starting to feel hungry too.

He was a directionally-challenged individual, and Ruan Jia's sense of direction was also pretty terrible. It was their first time at the Imperial Mecha Academy, and the campus covered a vast area. Even if they repeatedly asked for directions to find the restaurant, they could still miss mealtime.

However, things would be different with Claire leading the way.

Though he was lost, he knew how to follow people!

Just as Mu Cai was preparing to happily accept the offer, Ruan Jia spoke.

Suppressing his rage, Ruan Jia frowned and said, "We don't need the student council president's assistance. We have a kitchen in our dormitory, and I can cook for Cai."

Ruan Jia's words were impolite, and his tone was bad. He assumed that as a proud Alpha, Claire would walk away in anger and stop bothering them.

But he underestimated Claire's shamelessness.

Far from being deterred, the Alpha looked at Mu Cai and said, "It's good to cook for yourself as well. I'll show you the grocery store in the academy. I also know how to cook, and I can prepare something for Mu Cai."

Finishing his statement, Claire slightly bowed and gestured towards the door, inviting them to leave with him.

Claire conducted himself like a perfect gentleman; his manners impeccable, leaving no scope for criticism. His dark green military uniform highlighted his broad shoulders, slim waist, and straight long legs. Claire's pair of green eyes were like a deep, calm pond, silently staring at Mu Cai, as if waiting for his response.

Mu Cai was somewhat surprised, yet he could only say, "Alright".

It seems that Aunt Evelyn really cares about him. She must have warned Claire quite long ago, since he even wants to cook for him.

However, Mu Cai was rather curious about what Claire's cooking would be like. The main protagonist in the original text tended to move back and forth between the academy and the military department. His hands were usually used to operate a mecha, serving the glory of the empire.

Ruan Jia wanted to refuse Claire, to promptly ask him to leave and not disturb his cooking for Cai. But Mu Cai had already agreed, and seeing the look of curiosity and anticipation on Cai's face, Ruan Jia was speechless.

He irritably ran his fingers through his hair and was about to follow them out when he felt his arm being embraced by Mu Cai.

This was the first time Cai had actively embraced him in these few days.

Ruan Jia was overjoyed.

Of course, Mu Cai knew that Ruan Jia's irritation was because of him. Ruan Jia didn't like Claire and had always stood by him, supporting him, standing up for him.

Now that Ruan Jia was willing to compromise for his sake, Mu Cai naturally wanted to soothe his good friend, "The cupcakes Ruan Jia makes are the best! Can I have some later?"

Mu Cai knew that Ruan Jia was both skilled in cooking and enjoyed it. Every time Ruan Jia created a satisfactory dish, he would always call him over to taste it. Whenever Mu Cai praised him, Ruan Jia would be delighted.

He wanted to make Ruan Jia a little happier.

Naturally, Ruan Jia would not refuse Mu Cai, and he immediately agreed, "Sure!"

The three of them strolled around the grocery store and left carrying large and small bags. After returning to the dormitory, Claire and Ruan Jia quietly entered the kitchen.

Mu Cai initially wanted to help out since it would be impolite to just wait for the food. To his surprise, upon entering the kitchen, he was immediately chased out by the strangely coordinated duo. Their reasoning was that the kitchen was too small and cramped with him inside.

Mu Cai was upset.

As an Alpha, Claire was tall with long legs, taking up considerable space both on the ground and in the air. Add Ruan Jia to the mix, and despite the distance between them, they could barely fit all three of them in the kitchen.

They must be disliking him!

Mu Cai recalled that, in the original story, his character indeed had no talent in cooking. Many times, Ruan Jia complained that he was getting in the way, and his cooking was unpalatable.

As for Claire, there was no need to even mention it — he probably shared Ruan Jia's thoughts.

With these thoughts in mind, Mu Cai dejectedly watched the busy scene in the kitchen.

Claire had already taken off his uniform, wearing only his white shirt underneath while rolling up his sleeves to prepare the ingredients.

He looked at Mu Cai, sitting on the chair outside the kitchen with a slightly wrinkled face, recalling how he had wanted to rush into the kitchen earlier. Unable to resist a smile, Claire reassured in a gentle voice, "It will be ready soon, you won't have to wait too long."

An inner voice of Mu Cai, feeling slighted about being excluded from the kitchen, asked, "?"

Ruan Jia glanced at Mu Cai and, seeing his disappointed face, hastened to grab a handful of peanut milk candies and various types of small biscuits from his luggage. He placed them on the table in front of Mu Cai, and said, "If you're hungry, eat these first. I made all of them."

He was somewhat proud as he said this, knowing that Mu Cai really enjoyed the small desserts he made.

Claire would not be outdone either. He took out two bottles of sweet milk from a shopping bag nearby, popped off the caps single-handedly, inserted straws, and also placed them in front of Mu Cai.

Mu Cai: "?"

Did they assume his frown was due to hunger?

Looking at the small biscuits and peanut milk candies on the table in front of him, both radiating an enticing aroma, along with the two cans of sweet milk, Mu Cai suddenly realized — he might genuinely be hungry.

Mu Cai picked up a small biscuit and started eating quietly.

With his mouth tightly closed and his cheeks moving from side to side, he looked like a little hamster munching its food. He still held a biscuit with a few bites taken out of it, sipping sweet milk from time to time.

At this moment, both Claire and Ruan Jia experienced a significant sense of satisfaction. They went back into the kitchen and sped up their movements.

After setting the table with a meal of pan-fried steak, sweet corn soup, sautéed broccoli, and freshly baked bread, Claire and Ruan Jia leisurely cut their meal with forks and knives, watching Mu Cai eat.

Focused on cutting his steak, Mu Cai was completely unaware that what was supposed to be a heated mealtime passed peacefully.

In the following days, Mu Cai's life was incredibly calm and orderly. He attended his classes, ate his meals, and slept. Sometimes he would go shopping with Ruan Jia, seizing opportunities to criticize Mu Feng and gain favor with Claire.

At Ruan Jia's request, Mu Cai had chosen to take a cooking class. On his first lesson, he managed to bake what appeared to be a lump resembling a cake. Under Ruan Jia's insistence, he cut it in half to let Ruan Jia try it first.

After Ruan Jia approved, Mu Cai, for the sake of the story, braced himself and delivered the other half to Claire. Expecting a dismissal, to his surprise, not only was he not sent away, but he also received a doughnut in return from Claire.

Fortunately, both of them were fine the next day. Otherwise, Mu Cai suspected he might be accused of poisoning by the academy.

This routine continued until the end of the first semester when the Galactic Empire welcomed the triennial Inter-Collegiate Mecha Combat Competition.

All first-year mecha combat and mecha repair students from the Imperial Mecha Academy were assigned internships. They were about to compete alongside their fifth-year seniors in mecha battles to prepare for the competition.

And Mu Cai had already prepared himself to face the significant plot twist.

Chapter 37

The Inter-Collegiate Mecha Combat Competition is a joint event held by the Galactic Empire and the Kale Federation.

The participants in this competition include students from ten mecha academies on several planets under the Galactic Empire, plus students of mecha combat in eight mecha academies within the territories of the Kale Federation.

The number of participants in the competition will reach several thousand, even tens of thousands. Billions of spectators from both the Empire and the Federation will watch the live broadcast. For both parties, such a competition is a grand event. It also serves as an opportunity for the Empire and the Federation to covertly assess each other's military strength.

Because of this, the Imperial Mecha Academy takes this competition very seriously and encourages all students from the mecha combat department to actively enroll.

Paired with the mecha combat students are the students from the Mecha Repair Department. Before the competition, they need to inspect the mechas for their assigned mecha combatants. After the competition, they must check the degree of damage to the mechas and provide repair suggestions.

Typically, a mature mecha combatant will have a designated mecha repairer who is responsible for regular maintenance and repair of the mecha.

Therefore, after the final exams this semester, Mu Cai can't immediately go home to visit Shi Xue Zhen. He has to join the mecha combat students of the same grade for an internship.

While it's called an internship, it's really a direct confrontation between first- and fifth-year students from the Mecha Combat department, allowing the first-year students to identify their deficiencies. Meanwhile, students from the Mecha Repair Department can truly experience the maintenance process of a mecha.

The Imperial Mecha Academy focuses on practical teaching. Mu Cai and his classmates have examined mechas several times this term already. However, they only worked with stationary mechas, ones that were not operational, which didn't provide the opportunity to go through the entire process in full.

Now, during the internship, they're finally getting the chance.

On the first day of the internship, Mu Cai bid farewell to Ruan Jia and walked to the mecha combat venue alone.

Ruan Jia is studying in the Floral Arrangement Major at the Imperial Mecha Academy. This major has no connection to the Mecha Academy at all. It's a bit like having a humanities major in an engineering school: it's somewhat awkward.

Ruan Jia originally planned to attend a comprehensive university but changed his mind because of Mu Cai. At this point, his major has already been on break. But Ruan Jia didn't leave; he decided to wait for Mu Cai.

Mu Cai went to the venue directly in his Mecha Repair Department uniform. However, once he reached the first floor of the venue, he realized that his situation was a bit awkward.

Before the internship, the teacher had told them that if they know any students from the same year in the Mecha Combat department, they should find a partner in advance. When the internship starts, if there are any students without a partner, the teacher would assign one.

Mu Cai was not acquainted with anyone from his grade in the Mecha Combat department, and no one had approached him before. He had planned to see who was left without a partner once he got to the venue, and then try to find a pairing.

Now, Mu Cai found that everyone he knew or barely recognized had already formed two-person teams. He felt a bit uncomfortable.

Normally, students from two departments would often have lectures together, and many school activities would be accomplished by students from both departments. Mu Cai rarely took the initiative to make friends, but surely he wasn't the last one left without a partner, was he?

Apart from dealing with Mu Feng recently, he had been treating his classmates normally. When had his popularity declined to such a low point?

The young man stood in front of the crowd. He pursed his reddish lips, furrowed his brow, and his pair of large black eyes hurriedly swept over every person present. He looked rather upset.

Many greedy and fervent eyes gazed at him.

In fact, Mu Cai had already attracted attention among the first-year students in the Mecha Combat department. Most people who entered the Mecha Combat Department were alphas, with the others being strong betas. The majority of these students had omegas as their prospective partners, so they naturally paid more attention to them.

Although the omega rights movement was becoming more and more intense now, many people professed to appreciate omegas who could stand as equals with alphas. However, when an omega - who appeared obedient, emitted a soft aura all over, and interacted politely with others - appeared in their sights, of course, the alphas from the Mecha Combat Department were all attracted.

But this batch of first-year students hadn't gotten a chance to do anything when they heard that the person was already under the protection of Senior Claire.

What a shame!

Even though they had just entered the Imperial Mecha Academy, and hadn't seen Claire before, the vast majority had heard the name of the future head of the Léon family. They wouldn't dare cross him lightly.

Even those who hadn't heard of Claire and attempted to get close to Mu Cai were soon "cared for" by the senior students in their fifth year.

So this time, practically all of the first-year students in Mecha Combat found their partners early, fearing to be marked by Claire.

However, seeing the young man looking upset now made some people feel a spark of regret and indecision.

The number of students in the Mecha Combat and Mecha Repair departments is always the same for each grade at the Imperial Mecha Academy. This is a tradition of the academy, intended to foster a rapport between Mecha fighters and dedicated Mecha repairers from their student days, enabling better cooperation in the future.

Therefore, no matter how the pairs are formed during this internship period, someone will eventually have to team up with Mu Cai. Although Senior Claire is dominant, surely he wouldn't be so unreasonable? If they had waited a bit longer to find a partner before, they might have ended up being paired with Mu Cai now!

After feeling wronged for a while, Mu Cai heard the teacher call his name.

He walked over among numerous eager eyes and saw Mu Feng standing next to the teacher.

Had Mu Feng not found a partner? Mu Cai was a bit surprised.

He remembered in the original story how Mu Feng, as the only omega in the Mecha Combat department of the Imperial Academy, was highly sought after. The Mecha Care students were quite happy to partner with him, so he should have found a team from the start.

However, the host body did not end up alone in the original story. As Mu Cai recalled, he hadn't done anything, so the storyline must have veered off track due to some irresistible factors.

Surprisingly, it's Mu Feng!

The surrounding eager gazes instantly turned into envy and discontent.

Such a good thing as partnering with Mu Cai fell on him!

Although Mu Feng had passed the Mecha Combat test with high scores, the physical differences between omegas, alphas, and even betas became evident once they started long-term training at the academy.

While Mu Feng wasn't exactly the weakest, his performance wasn't particularly outstanding. His lack of favor with Mu Cai naturally meant he wasn't popular with most alphas either, making his situation in the department rather awkward.

But who would have thought that such a usually uncomfortable person in the department would have the lucky chance to partner with Mu Cai!

The moment Mu Feng saw Mu Cai, his eyes lit up.

He had initially prepared himself to be teamed with someone who was as unpopular as he was, but he was unexpectedly paired with Mu Cai!

This person frequently discussed within the Mecha Combat department was none other than his own brother!

Just as Mu Feng wanted to greet him excitedly, he remembered Mu Cai's warning against him calling him 'brother'. Moreover, Mrs. Shi and their father had recently successfully divorced. Mu Cai and Mrs. Shi had managed to break free from his father, and hence, had nothing to do with him anymore.

When Mu Feng thought about this, it made him feel upset.

As he was feeling down, an ethereal and pleasing voice rang out, "What's with that expression? You should feel honored to be partnering with me!"

The young man in front of him was glaring at him sharply. However, his soft black hair drooped over his ears, and a pair of round eyes were on his pale face. Mu Cai's pupils were deep black, seeming to hide a bundle of light, reflecting two tiny images of himself. Even in anger, he seemed to glow.

Mu Feng felt the surge of attention focusing on his brother intensify.

After barking out those words with an imposing demeanor, Mu Cai felt rather guilty in reality. His current situation was not much different from Mu Feng's—both of them were awkward characters no one wanted to pair with. However, being the malicious supporting male character, Mu Cai naturally had to raise himself and belittle the other to hit Mu Feng's morale.

Even though he himself didn't find it very convincing.

With just a little thought, Mu Feng could refute him.

Thinking about this made Mu Cai even more apprehensive, and he couldn't help but covertly observe the other person's expression.

The man in front of him blinked with his long eyelashes, his bright black eyes quietly watching him, seemingly waiting for his response.

Mu Feng felt like his heart was pierced with an arrow.

He was somewhat overwhelmed by the cuteness.

He hurriedly said, "I understand. For the upcoming battles, the inspection of 'Vermilion Bird'... will be up to you, Mu Cai."

'Vermilion Bird' is the name of Mu Feng's mecha.

Mu Cai sighed in relief internally—thankfully, the protagonist is a rather upright person and didn't expose him.

He nodded condescendingly, "That's more like it."

Seeing that the group assignments were completed, the teacher immediately signaled towards the fifth-year side.

With everyone prepared, the mecha combat between the two year levels could now begin.

Since this internship was designed to get first-year mecha combat students quickly acquainted with mecha warfare and gain experience in order to participate in the mecha combat league in the future, the matches were arranged following the roster in the teacher's virtual mentor, with the first-year students taking the stage and the fifth-year students following with challenges as they pleased.

Mu Cai stretched out his hand and stroked the icy, dark red exterior of Vermilion Bird, casually closing his eyes and guiding his spiritual power into it.

His spiritual power is exceptional, rated S-class. Although it doesn't match the terrifying 3S-class spiritual power of Claire, it's more than enough to deal with mechas of all league grades.

The 'Vermilion Bird' was a brand-new A-class mecha which, in theory, shouldn't have any problems. Nonetheless, Mu Cai took care to thoroughly explore the mecha's interior.

Everything was normal within the mecha, except that near the cockpit, a screw was slightly loose.

This was something Mu Cai could handle. He concentrated his spiritual power more intricately and welded it together, tightening the loose screw.

Claire was intently watching Mu Cai, who had his eyes closed while inspecting the mecha.

The hand tending to the mecha was fine and delicate, the wrist looking as if it would break at a bend. Against the backdrop of the dark-red mecha exterior, the hand looked as white as accumulated snow atop a mountain.

Such a pair of hands was caressing someone else's mecha.

Hanging in a downsized form as a necklace against his chest, Bai Ze, the mecha that had been with him for years, suddenly emitted a faint glow.

Mechas, being man-made, are devoid of feelings. However, due to their unique material composition, they can sense the spiritual energy radiated by humans. As Claire's emotions fluctuated, his usually stable spiritual energy began to ripple, duly affecting Bai Ze.

The previous mecha duel had just concluded, with the defeated first-year student leaving the arena disheveled.

The teacher announced the next participant's name:

"Mu Feng."

Finally, that snow-white hand moved away from the glaring red surface.

Bai Ze, on his chest, was starting to grow faintly warm.

Through his clothes, Claire could feel his own mecha.

He yearned for those hands to linger on his mecha, for the other's spiritual energy to probe in, and scan Bai Ze from head to toe.

That hand was so white, it would definitely look even better placed on Bai Ze.

At this thought, Claire's gaze deepened.

Mu Feng climbed into the cockpit of Vermilion Bird and maneuvered the red mecha into the arena.

Given his achievement of entering the mecha combat system with an omega constitution, his presence was widely recognized by everyone in the school.

Just as some people got excited and wanted to challenge this omega to test his skills, Claire, who had been silently standing by, suddenly spoke up:

"I'll go."

Chapter 38

To everyone's surprise, yet somewhat expected, Claire decided to step in.

Claire was the most outstanding mecha fighter in the Mecha Combat Department of the academy. As the future leader of the Léon family, he had been exposed to mechas since childhood, honing his skills beyond what even the Imperial Mecha Academy could teach.

During the holidays, Claire had even participated in an interstellar exploration mission with the military, personally fighting against rogue space pirates. His outstanding performance earned him military merits while still being a student.

This story made headlines in the empire's morning news. A photograph of Claire with golden hair and blue eyes, wearing a military uniform and coldly looking at the camera, spread along with the report, causing screams of excitement from omegas and betas alike.

At the moment, most of the first-year students in the academy had only been exposed to mechas for a few months, and were still at a stage where they could only control mechas for simple evasive actions and hand-to-hand combat.

Logically speaking, Claire should have had no interest in fighting against them.

Sadly, who could ignore that Mu Feng was the bonded mecha fighter of Mu Cai?

Claire had always presented himself as aloof in the past, emanating an aura of abstinence without being seen much in the company of omegas or even betas. It seemed that he didn't care about many things.

However, alphas have an inherent desire for dominance, even more so for powerful alphas. They absolutely can't tolerate the people they're pursuing forming bonds with others.

Donning his usual military uniform, Claire, with his white-gloved hand, touched Bai Ze on his snow-white shirt.

The next moment, a pure white mecha appeared before everyone's eyes. This mecha's design was pleasing, with fluid lines. Its casing glistened with a metallic sheen under the sunlight, indicating it was costly and well-maintained.

It was Bai Ze, the only 3S-rank mecha in the entire Galactic Empire.

Bai Ze was specially made for Claire when he turned fifteen by his father, the current leader of the Léon family, who enlisted the Empire's best mecha builder Master Baze.

The crowd's attention was entirely drawn towards this mecha.

Even Mu Cai couldn't help but admire it.

The silvery-white mecha stood silently by the field. Mu Cai wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that the pitch-black cockpit window, covered with a one-way film, appeared like a pair of deep eyes gazing at him.

Seeing the teenager staring intently at his mecha, Claire's previously agitated mood vanished quite a bit.

Bai Ze had accompanied him for many years and could be considered a part of him. If Mu Cai liked Bai Ze, it could mean that he liked Claire as well.

After this thought, Claire felt much better.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone walking towards him.

It was Nuo Lan, the mecha repairer assigned to Claire at school.

Without turning his head, Claire waved him away.

Nuo Lan understood and stopped in his tracks.

In fact, Nuo Lan had barely touched Bai Ze. In the five years of academy, Claire had rarely used this mecha. Bai Ze, being the highest-level mecha in the entire galaxy, was regularly maintained by Master Baze at the military department, so there was no need for anyone else to intervene.

A student like Nuo Lan was indeed not qualified to interfere.

Although Claire had complied with the academy's rules by choosing Nuo Lan as his binding partner, Nuo Lan knew that Claire didn't genuinely want him as his mecha repairer. It was more about fulfilling the school's requirement.

Claire climbed into the cockpit of the mecha, put on the head sensor, and skillfully pressed the keys on the control interface. He deftly maneuvered Bai Ze onto the field.

Watching this scene, Mu Cai became somewhat excited.

The mecha confrontation between the first-years and fifth-years at the Imperial Mecha Academy was the significant turning point in this plot. It was the start of how the protagonists began to develop their feelings for each other.

In the original storyline, Claire was already impressed deeply by Mu Feng, an omega who had managed to get into the mecha combat department. Now, with this opportunity to engage with Mu Feng, he wanted to spar with him. By training Mu Feng this way, he could teach him some combat techniques.

As they immersed themselves in the fight, sparks of something more than camaraderie started to fly.

Thinking about this, Mu Cai eagerly watched every move on the field. His gaze shifted from the dark red Vermillion Bird to the silvery-white Bai Ze.

Even the names of these two mechas came from mythical beasts in ancient mythology, pairing wonderfully!

However, as Mu Cai kept watching, he began to sense that something might be amiss.

Although Mu Cai knew nothing about mecha combat, he roughly judged that Mu Feng was at a disadvantage. What's more, he was ruthlessly being suppressed by Claire!

Ian, who was standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but "tsk" as he watched the one-sided beatdown.

Among Claire's many followers, Ian had a more intimate relationship with him since he grew up with Claire.

At this point, it was clear to Ian what Claire's goal was.

Given the novice-level mecha maneuvering skills of Mu Feng, Claire could make him admit defeat in an instant.

However, Claire had changed his straightforward and decisive approach. He persistently suppressed Mu Feng without nipping him in the bud, always leaving a thread of hope. Then, with each struggle of Mu Feng to stand up, Claire repeatedly knocked him down.

He operated the mecha with great proficiency, his movements fluid like water, as if he was in the midst of a real fight. The silver casing of the Bai Ze shone brightly under the lights. His attacks and maneuvers were straightforward, visually appealing.

He was clearly putting on a show in front of Mu Cai!

Like a peacock in mating season, he was eager to spread his feathers and attract the attention of his beloved.

Ian thought to himself that Claire, usually so aloof, was surprisingly showy when it came to chasing people.

Mu Feng fell numerous times and had thought about giving up. However, when he saw through the glass of the cockpit – Mu Cai on the field looking worriedly at him – he felt a surge of strength.

His brother was watching him. He absolutely couldn't give up until the last moment!

This isn't right!

Mu Cai quickly sifted through the script in his mind, reassuring himself he hadn't misremembered. According to the original plot, even though Mu Feng did lose to Claire, the match wasn't this embarrassing for him.

That's because Claire entered the match with the intent to guide Mu Feng. His goal was to help Mu Feng realize his own shortcomings, spur him on, and let him learn some combative skills.

It wasn't supposed to be a one-sided hammering like this.

Mu Cai showed a hint of confusion on his face, wondering where things had gone wrong.

From the cockpit window, Claire saw a teenager on the edge of the field, his eyes were covered with a layer of water-like gloss. He was staring at the dark red mecha, and a touch of worry and helplessness showed on his pale face.

Seeing this, Claire's anger began to grow silently in his heart.

A potent possessive desire sprang up, and his gaze suddenly deepened.

Claire's mental energy in his brain highly concentrated, his hands skillfully inputting commands on the control interface.

Bai Ze, under his master's manipulation, started to move more frequently - its attacks raining down on Vermillion Bird's armor.

The more Mu Cai watched, the more alarmed he felt. The mecha's fast movements made his eyes spin.

Soon, the red mecha was entirely out of strength to fight back, and the white mecha raised its fist, ready to strike.

Bai Ze is the only level 3S mech in the entire Galaxy, its shell hardness unmatched by any common mech. If this punch landed with full force, it would possibly cause Vermillion Bird to become scrap metal.

Fixing Mu Feng's mecha if it got damaged would be a hassle and would surely earn him a scolding when he got home. Most importantly, if Vermillion Bird broke, Mu Feng would be very upset.

He was already quite embarrassed today.

In a flash of sparks, Mu Cai subconsciously released his mental energy and involuntarily shouted in his mind: dodge quickly!

Mu Feng sat in the cockpit, his forehead soaked with cold sweat. Operating a mecha puts a significant strain on both the mind and body. After his fight with Claire, where he was repeatedly suppressed, his mental and physical energy were nearing exhaustion.

He watched helplessly as the silver mech was about to attack, his fingers trembling from overuse, affecting his vision.

At this crucial moment, Mu Feng felt a surge of mental energy assaulting him from below the cockpit. Following that, his mech performed a dramatic somersault, without his control, successfully dodging the incoming attack.

Simultaneously, Vermillion Bird suddenly deactivated its mecha state, returning to the bracelet state on Mu Feng's wrist.

Deactivating the mecha state indicated conceding defeat. The victor could no longer pursue.

Cheers, applause, and whistles immediately erupted from the audience, with comments such as:

"Simply a one-sided dominance..."

"I was so proud of how adept I was at controlling my mecha, but now I seem like a total piece of trash!"

"All I want to say is, I'm glad I didn't pair with Mu Cai."

"How should I put it? If I just have to take a beating to get a chance to touch the mecha, it doesn't seem like such a bad deal..."

"Do you have a mixture of flour and water for brains? Wake up!"

"…"

Upon hearing the verdict from the referee, Claire frowned and also deactivated the Bai Ze's mecha state. His opponent was clearly battered and couldn't fight back; how did he suddenly turn the tables in the nick of time?

From across the arena, beads of sweat rolled off Mu Feng's forehead. His face revealed disbelief as he murmured, "What just happened? I clearly…"

Claire, with his sensitive hearing, immediately latched onto this utterance.

A thought stirred in him, recalling the sight of Mu Cai checking on the opponent's mecha earlier. He immediately turned to look at Mu Cai.

Mu Cai was still in a state of relieved disbelief over his close save. As he was silently celebrating, he felt a set of eyes lock onto him. Turning his head, he saw Claire's hawk-like gaze focused on him.

In a low voice, Claire called out, "Ian."

Ian promptly stepped out of the bustling crowd. "Yes?"

Claire ordered, "Prepare the aircraft; I need to take someone to the military department."

Upon hearing this, Ian responded and promptly stepped back.

Claire, looking at the still puzzled Mu Feng, coolly said, "Bring your mecha and come with me to the military department."

Upon hearing this, Mu Feng looked over in surprise, but Claire wasn't looking at him; he had started to walk towards the edge of the field.

Claire stretched his long legs, taking deliberate steps towards Mu Cai standing at the edge of the field.

Seeing him approach, Mu Cai pursed his lips, his gaze revealing a touch of confusion and bewilderment.

He looked somewhat baffled.

Claire realized that he had just finished his battle, and his whole body was exuding an aggressive aura, likely intimidating the other party.

Claire extended his hand to gently grasp Mu Cai's thin shoulder, softening his tone, "Cai Cai, would you come with me to the military department?"

Chapter 39

Perhaps because he was just involved in mecha combat, Claire kept his collar partially open. A faint scent wafting from him, reminiscent of rust, filled the air around Mu Cai, flooding his nostrils.

This happened to be the smell of Claire's pheromones.

An alpha does not generally have a fixed mating cycle. Unmarried alphas could be thrown into frenzy by the scents emitted during the heat cycle of an unmarked omega, subsequently releasing their own pheromones to suppress the other party. However, everyone uses suppressing devices now, as advocated by the Galaxy Empire. These ensure the mating cycles of unmarried omegas are effectively kept in check, preventing the pheromones from haphazardly broadcasting in large amounts.

Post-intense physical activities or in certain unique situations, alphas conventionally make conscious efforts to keep their pheromone scent subdued. An alpha's pheromone scent is rarely familiar to anyone aside from their intimate partners.

The faint, rust-like scent rolled in. Despite not being overwhelming, the scent expanded just as water flows, as if wrapping Mu Cai in a cloak that remained long after the moment had passed.

Mu Cai could not claim to be a fan of this bloody-like scent ordinarily. However, in this particular moment, he did not find it distasteful. Even more, he found the scent rather appealing and comforting, soothing his recent bewildered emotions.

Claire gently gripped Mu Cai's shoulder, tenderly asking, "Cai Cai, will you accompany me to the military department?"

Mu Cai nodded in affirmation.

Having calmed down, Mu Cai started to sense something amiss. There's no way Claire would arbitrarily take him to a place like the military department. Despite being unaware of the specifics, Mu Cai was certain it had something to do with the recent mech confrontation.

Perhaps there had been an issue with Mu Feng's mecha, necessitating him, as a temporarily assigned mecha repairer, to go and inspect.

Seeing the young man before him unopposed to his pheromones, Claire was secretly pleased. Having received an affirmative response, he held onto Mu Cai's slim shoulder, guiding him forward, "I've asked Ian to prepare the aircraft, we'll depart for Zone F shortly."

Mu Cai obediently responded.

Due to their positioning, Mu Cai and Claire were standing very close. Claire radiated warmth like a glowing fireplace in winter, the heat spreading onto Mu Cai's skin, making him flinch slightly.

The originally faint scent of rust intensified.

To the other bystanders, Claire, with his towering height, long legs, and muscular physique, displayed under the rolled-up shirt sleeves, was a powerful presence. On the other hand, Mu Cai, appearing much slenderer, looked exceptionally docile beside Claire, as if nestled in his embrace, a sight that was rather endearing.

As the two left the venue and boarded the personal aircraft that Ian had parked in the open area, Mu Feng followed soon after.

He glanced at the two people sitting together in the back row, a few words teetering on the tip of his tongue.

Mu Cai was preoccupied with his smart device, oblivious to Mu Feng's presence. Claire, however, looked up and locked eyes with him.

That look reminded Mu Feng of an immovable iceberg, a hidden warning within. Unable to outmatch Claire, he could only sit in the middle row in silent frustration, his thoughts, however, were far from settled.

He couldn't shake the feeling that his brother was being abducted, and by the evidently ulterior-motivated Claire!

Usually, his brother was so caring towards him. Seemingly annoyed yet always subtly showing concern for his life circumstances, occasionally even slipping him an allowance.

Mu Feng couldn't stand idly by.

Just thinking about how Mu Cai was oblivious to the fervent glances from the alphas and some betas during their mecha combat lessons kept him from speaking up.

How was he to caution him? His brother was utterly clueless. Plus, Claire might just be waiting for Mu Cai to realize it!

After all, Claire could feign ignorance when Mu Cai was clueless. If this unspoken truth were to be pierced, Claire might just exploit the guise of pursuit to act outrageously unhindered!

'What if my actions backfire and cause the other party to intensify their efforts, resulting in Mu Cai being captured even faster?!'

When Mu Feng thought of this, although he had already sat down in the middle row, his mind was still preoccupied with every move in the back row.

Even if President Claire wanted to dismantle his mecha armor, he couldn't let his brother be wronged!

Mu Cai didn't know what Mu Feng was thinking; he was busy texting Ruan Jia. Before leaving, the two had agreed to have lunch together. Now that he was going to the military department, he didn't know when he'd be back, so it was natural to inform Ruan Jia in advance.

Claire sat next to Mu Cai, still maintaining the posture of holding him close.

The young man was looking down and texting, exposing the area from his small, delicate ears to his snow-white nape to Claire's line of sight without any defense.

Claire glanced at Mu Cai's ears, which were very clean, round, and only had a small piece of earlobe.

It must be soft to suck on.

His gaze lingered, shifting to the small protrusion where Mu Cai's neck and left shoulder connected.

That was Mu Cai's gland.

The sweet peach fragrance was continuously emanating from that spot, stimulating the nerves in Claire's brain and challenging his patience.

He really wanted to take a big bite. It must be very sweet there, and once bitten, an even richer peach aroma would surely emerge.

If he bites hard, the young man might cry and run away. But it'll be in vain, Mu Cai will be branded by hims, injected with his own pheromone. The whole person must be as fresh and juicy as a peach, very delicious.

When Claire thought of this, he felt a little excited.

This won't work. He's sitting very close to Mu Cai. If this continues, the other party will definitely be frightened by him.

Claire thought of this, and while Mu Cai was still sending messages without paying attention, he quietly bent down and took a deep breath near the other's neck.

At the moment, he felt as if he were like those who have just finished smoking, experiencing unusual satisfaction. Claire shut his eyes, sensing a gaze coming from ahead.

He didn't rush to look back; instead, his nostrils flutters, taking in the scent for a while before nonchalantly straightening up. Opening his eyes, he turned towards the person known as Mu Feng.

The blonde-haired, blue-eyed man, dressed in a snowy white shirt, was practically leaning onto the oblivious young man. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was so intimidating that it startled Mu Feng.

Sweat running down his forehead, Mu Feng quickly looked away. He knew that he couldn't confront Claire head-on and that he needed to tactfully hint at his elder brother at some point.

Otherwise, given the other party's wolfish tenacity, his elder brother might likely be devoured entirely.

When Mu Cai finally gave Ruan Jia a brief explanation about the situation and got a response, they had arrived at the heavily guarded gates of the military base.

As the heir of the Léon family, Claire spent two periods of every year at the military base and had even gone on missions with the fleet. It was only natural that the gatekeepers recognized him.

Therefore, the soldier on guard duty did not give Claire's group much trouble. After a detailed security check on both Mu Cai and Mu Feng to ensure they did not carry any dangerous items, the soldiers let them in.

Following Claire through a maze of twists and turns to the point where his head was spinning, Mu Cai finally noticed the man's walking pace slow down.

Claire led them to a vast, independent area. At a glance, the divided spaces were filled with large-scale workshops, rows of dormitory buildings, and a central control area.

As Mu Cai walked with Claire, he saw a car carrying countless shiny metal components being transported from one workshop to another.

Although Mu Cai had only attended mecha repair courses for a few months, he could still recognize some basic components. These were all used for making mechas. Claire had brought them to the military base's mecha manufacturing site.

Mu Cai was utterly confused.

He didn't think Mu Feng's mecha was broken, and even if it was, it shouldn't be so severe.

As expected, Claire became flustered with concern for Mu Feng. He might have brought them here out of precaution, fearing that something might have happened to Vermillion Bird.

However, why did Mu Cai have to come along too? He studied mecha repair, not mecha manufacturing.

Claire caught the attention of a researcher in a white lab coat passing by hurriedly – likely someone who had emerged from the central control area.

Claire got straight to the point, asking, "Where's Professor Baze right now?"

The person in the white lab coat evidently recognized Klaire and smiled, saying, "He's in Room 314. Young Master Claire, you can go directly."

Claire nodded, put his arm around Mu Cai's shoulder, and headed into the central control area.

The three of them entered the building and took the elevator to Room 314. Claire had been here many times before. He gently knocked on the door before pushing it open.

Inside, two people were standing.

One was in a white lab coat, of short and stout stature, with central-parted hair, thick eyebrows, and squinted eyes. It was Baze.

The other was trim and dressed in a military uniform, wearing white gloves, and had fine facial features. He was conversing in low tones with Baze.

Claire took the initiative to greet them politely, "Professor Baze, Lieutenant Colonel Nolan."

Both men turned to look at Klaire, nodded, and then almost involuntarily shifted their gaze onto Mu Cai, who stood beside him.

Startled by the direct stares, Mu Cai also greeted them seriously, "Hello, Master, Lieutenant Colonel."

Upon hearing this, Nolan at the front paused before nodding and responding, "Hello."

Mu Feng was extremely excited.

Mu Feng didn't expect to meet the most outstanding mecha designer in the entire empire, Master Baze - the creator of Bai Ze!

After exchanging greetings, Claire got straight to the point with Baze, "Master, I just finished participating in the academy's internship and discovered a case of a mecha being controlled solely by mental power."

Upon hearing this, Baze's eyebrows shot up, his squinted eyes widened, and his expression became extremely passionate, "Is that true?"

Current mechas are controlled by a combination of mental power and command input. Thanks to the efforts of the research and development team, the number of commands has been reduced by 70% compared to the previous fully manual control.

Even so, a mecha fighter still needs to master hundreds of commands. This significantly increases the difficulty of operating a mecha, and thinking and inputting commands also cause a delay in the mecha's actions.

This is extremely unfavorable for humans combating the Zerg invasion.

Baze has been trying to create a mecha that can be controlled solely by mental power without any command input, but has not been successful. Recently, a new semi-finished mecha was produced in the factory, and he was preparing to find someone to test it. However, he didn't expect Claire to bring such a big surprise.

After a moment of excitement, Baze's heated mind quickly cooled down.

The scientist's rigor prompted Baze to put on a serious face, "Seems? So you're not certain yet. I need to confirm it myself."

Claire stepped aside, holding Mu Cai's shoulder, revealing Mu Feng behind him, "Master, you can examine his mecha. There should be residual mental power in the cockpit."

As he spoke, he paused for a moment and looked at Mu Cai, "It should be his."

Baze immediately conducted the test with his team.

He and his assistant scanned Vermilion Bird with testing instruments, comparing the fluctuating images with Mu Cai's mental power wave patterns.

The test results were obtained right away, revealing that Mu Cai's mental power was indeed found in the cockpit and on a screw beneath it.

This meant that even though Mu Feng hadn't controlled the mecha, Vermilion Bird was able to dodge Claire's attack by rolling to the side on its own, because Mu Cai's residual mental power played a role while inspecting the mecha.

When Mu Cai's emotions fluctuated, his mental power took control of the cockpit in a split second according to his thoughts.

Excitement filled Mu Feng's heart. What did this mean? It meant that his brother was truly worried about him!

Mu Cai's expression changed.

Oh no, the story spiraled out of control again!

Chapter 40

Baze, after comparing the images of the fluctuating waves and Mu Cai's psychic power ripple diagram, ultimately concluded that Mu Cai successfully manipulated the mecha solely with his mental power.

Although according to Claire's description, this success only lasted for a brief moment, it greatly boosted Baze's confidence.

His eyes wide open, he looked at Mu Cai's face filled with fervent enthusiasm and said, "Your name is Mu Cai, right? Judging by your age, you should be studying at the Imperial Mecha Academy now. Can you stay at the Military Department during this vacation? I would like you to be the test pilot for my new type of mecha."

Upon saying this, Baze noticed hesitation on the young man's pale face and quickly continued to persuade, "Your help could directly contribute to the birth of the latest mechas and achieve historical breakthroughs in mecha history! If you have any requests, please feel free to tell this old man! I will try my best to accommodate you, and even if I can't, there's still Claire who can help you!"

Even though Claire was suddenly pulled into the conversation, he didn't show any signs of dissatisfaction. On the contrary, Claire was very cooperative with Master Baze.

Gently holding onto Mu Cai's shoulders with both hands, his sharp eyes focused intently on the slender young man in front of him. His originally cold voice then softened, "If Cai-Cai is willing to stay, I will help solve any problem for you. Are you willing to stay?"

His last sentence was asked softly, almost pleadingly.

Having been requested by two men to stay, Mu Cai couldn't help but sigh.

In the original plot, the storyline about testing the new type of mecha didn't occur until after Mu Feng joined the military department. During Mu Feng's first mission with the military squad, they inadvertently encountered pirates.

Their opponents were not only superior in number but also commanded battleships. The squad was almost completely wiped out. Under dire circumstances, Mu Feng instinctively reached a state of complete control over the mecha using only mental power, managing to save the remaining team members and escape.

It was at this moment that Claire identified Mu Feng's psychic talents. Only after he asked him to become the tester for the new mechas did the development of the new type take place.

Mu Cai never expected that due to a twist of events, this storyline would fall upon him!

In the previous storyline, the script had never specifically described Mu Cai's life at the academy. It just glossed over his constant bullying of Mu Feng.

Mu Cai had been faithfully playing by the rules, and although Mu Feng's responses weren't quite what he had expected, the overall storyline was still progressing smoothly.

He had never thought that a mere competition at the academy could crumble the plotline like this!

Mu Cai was utterly puzzled. However, the current circumstances didn't allow him to overthink, especially when there were still two people waiting for his response.

As the young man hesitated, Nolan suddenly chimed in, "The mecha manufacturing base can provide you with a private dormitory. Your family members can come to visit you anytime once their identities are verified by the military. The meals at the military canteen are quite good. With my badge, you can eat whatever and as much as you want, all for free."

Speaking to this point, Nolan's voice carried a hint of urgency that wasn't easy to detect, "You just need to stay at the mecha manufacturing base for a while and assist with testing Master Baze's mechas. I know you probably haven't driven a mecha before but it doesn't matter, I will stay here and teach you."

With his distinguished appearance, Nolan looked like a charming young man. Additionally, due to his beta nature, even if Nolan's words were somewhat forceful, he didn't come off as overbearing.

Owing to the possessiveness intrinsic to an alpha, Claire, upon hearing the last part of Nolan's speech, immediately sensed an ulterior motive. He felt like a dragon that had discovered its treasure being coveted, and at this moment, he was fiery with anger.

The initially gentle expression that Claire had in front of Mu Cai instantly cooled down. With his already sharp features, his frosty demeanor now made him seem even more intimidating. "Lieutenant Colonel Nolan, you're busy handling a myriad of affairs; there's no need for you to be troubled with such trifles. Mu Cai and I are classmates and are quite familiar with each other. He's more relaxed around me; I can teach him."

Watching from the side, Mu Feng finally sensed that something was off.

Lieutenant Colonel Nolan's reputation was well-known. The high-ranking officials of the Galactic Empire were primarily dominated by alphas, with Nolan being the sole beta. He was only 40 this year, which was quite young in a space-age society where the average life expectancy exceeded one hundred years.

For him to have ascended so quickly as a beta, besides his personal competence and familial backing, it must be undoubtedly related to his own efforts. Mu Feng felt something was amiss when such a person offered to personally mentor his brother.

Seeing Claire's undisguised hostility, Mu Feng finally realized that this might just be another attempt to snatch away his brother!

This was clearly the military department, but Mu Feng felt it was even more dangerous for Mu Cai than the academy!

He promptly stood beside Mu Cai, ready to refuse these ill-intentioned people on his brother's behalf, only to hear Mu Cai answer, "Okay."

Mu Feng turned toward him with surprise, "Brother!"

Mu Cai really didn't have a choice.

Standing in front of him were Claire, Baze, and Nolan - none of them could be easily dealt with. Even if he refused now, he would be constantly persuaded later. Moreover, with Nolan present, this matter would definitely be reported to the high-ranking military officials. The new mecha was a matter of great importance, heavily prioritized by the military. Eventually, Shi Xue Zhen and the entire Shi family would learn about it. Having no legitimate reason to refuse, Mu Chai had no choice but to agree.

Besides, even if the story advanced much earlier, Mu Cai could only grit his teeth and proceed. Although Mu Feng wasn't the one testing the mecha, having someone else test it should still contribute to the development of the new model.

In a way, this could also be considered consistent with the storyline, Mu Cai thought, somewhat deceiving himself.

Baze, overcome with excitement, wanted to grab Mu Cai's hands. However, as he took a step forward, he saw Claire suddenly move two steps in his direction.

The other person was tall and sturdy. Not only did he block Baze's outstretched hand at this stop, but he also obscured his view towards Mu Cai.

Baze: "..."

This brat! He hasn't even won his love over yet, and he's already glaring at him sternly. From the beginning, he shouldn't have constructed Bai Ze for him!

Claire doesn't care what Baze is thinking.

He reaches out and wraps his arms around Mu Cai's slender shoulders, leaning down to whisper, "Thank you, Cai Cai. The Empire will forever remember your cooperation."

The young man in his arms looked a bit sleepy, but he nodded obediently.

Seeing Mu Cai like this, Claire can't help but feel a pang of sympathy. He deliberated for a moment, then said, "Let me show you to your quarters. There's no rush to start training today. Let's wait for the teacher to adjust the mech data. I'll train with you tomorrow. During your time at the base, I will be with you."

Mu Cai nodded.

He really needs someone to teach him how to operate the mecha. After all, neither his original self nor Mu Cai had any prior experience with mechas.

Upon seeing his brother was about to leave with Claire, Mu Feng felt a sense of emergency. He quickly said, "Brother, what about me? I... I also want to stay!"

He must keep an eye on his brother so that Mu Cai doesn't get taken advantage of in his confusion. Especially when there are two people watching him like tigers eyeing their prey!

Turning his head back, Mu Cai sees Mu Feng standing still, watching him with a saddened look, seemingly unwilling to leave.

Mu Feng didn't make a sound, and Claire almost forgot he existed. Although he didn't really want Mu Feng to stay, he knew that Mu Feng was Mu Cai's brother after all.

Seeing Mu Cai looking over, Claire felt a stir in his heart.

Considering that Mu Cai staying here was already a concession, Claire naturally wanted to respect his opinion: "Cai Cai, do you want him to stay?"

Looking at Mu Feng's hopeful gaze, Mu Cai thought for a moment, keeping up his proud demeanor, he said, "He can stay, but I want a dorm room to myself."

Both he and Mu Feng were omegas, and since they knew each other, being in the same dorm would be more convenient and save space. Mu Cai felt that saying this made him seem particularly unreasonable. This way, it tarnished his own image and also made Mu Feng appear more pitiful!

Two birds with one stone!

Mu Feng quickly nodded.

Operating a mecha was exhausting, and his brother was not as robust as he was, so he definitely needed better sleep! Plus, he himself might snore after a tiring day, certainly disturbing Mu Cai's sleep, so it was best for his brother to have his own room!

Seeing the young man's puffed cheeks and shiny black eyes glancing askew, Nolan's heart felt like it had been set on fire.

It's been a long time since he last saw such an adorably delicate omega. Strangely, Mu Cai's petulance wasn't annoying at all. In fact, it was making Nolan feel a bit restless.

Nolan really wanted to reach out and pinch his cheek.

Claire noticed Nolan's lurking gaze.

Walking a couple of steps with Mu Cai, he shielded the other man's view with his own body, tightened his grip slightly, and then smiled at the person in his arms, "Let's go, I'll take you to the dorm."

In the following time, Claire found a vacant dorm for Mu Cai. After getting the dorm keys, Claire had a robot thoroughly clean it. He himself picked up the basic items for Mu Cai, made the bed, put on the bed sheet, boiled water, etc., with great proficiency.

It seemed like he was accustomed to doing such things.

Mu Cai was stunned.

He was unfamiliar with these sort of things and had initially planned to rough it out, as long it was good enough to sleep in. He didn't expect Claire to be so swift and efficient, making everything neat within moments, even the bedsheet was perfectly fitted! Unlike when he did it himself, there were always some unfinished bits that caused the bedsheet to bubble up.

As for Mu Cai, he had not found an opportunity to help, only managing to touch the bedsheets a couple of times.

When Claire finished fluffing the duvets and descended from the bed, he saw Mu Cai standing in front of it. Mu Cai's hand was still running over the freshly covered duvet, and he was watching Claire blankly.

Claire's heart melted like a serene spring pond and he spoke incredibly softly, "What's the matter? Don't you like the way I arranged things, Cai?"

Snapping back, Mu Cai quickly shook his head, lavishing praise, "Of course, not! Brother Claire, you did a much better job than I could have."

Here, a blush spread over his fair cheeks, "It's just that this is supposed to be my dorm. Yet, Brother Claire did all these chores, I feel a bit embarrassed."

Claire laughed, "You've begun calling me 'brother.' How could I not do these things for you? It's only natural for a brother to do these things for his younger brother."