SCOM - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
"What are you two doing standing here?" Yi Tong was about to call Zuo Luohuan inside when she saw her daughter and Ji Yuezhi standing extremely close. Her heart skipped a beat; subconsciously thinking they were about to fight, she quickly called out.
"Greeting guests." Zuo Luohuan swiftly removed the rose from beside Ji Yuezhi's ear and looked openly at her mother.
Yi Tong eyed her daughter suspiciously. If she had to pick someone likely to cause trouble, her first thought would be Zuo Luohuan; the Ji family's son still had some restraint. But the two had already separated, looking like they hadn't had a chance to start anything, so she didn't expose them.
Meanwhile, Ji Yuezhi politely greeted Yi Tong and walked inside, leaving Zuo Luohuan standing there lazily.
"Is that the Guan family daughter and her friend?" Yi Tong looked at the two people approaching from a distance and said to Zuo Luohuan, "You go inside first, I'll greet them."
Zuo Luohuan had long been impatient standing there. Hearing this, she walked off without giving the two people at the entrance a second glance.
Guan Xue and Qian Mao also acted as if they didn't know Zuo Luohuan, completely shedding their earlier furtive peeking demeanor. Now, they looked as proper as could be.
...
Zuo Luohuan bypassed the people in the main hall, went up the side stairs to her room, and closed the door, only then realizing she still held the rose.
She was about to toss it into the nearby trash can, but Zuo Luohuan inexplicably lowered her head and sniffed the rose's green stem. A faint, different scent seemed to linger on it, completely at odds with its owner's cold appearance.
Tsk.
A pink jade rose was casually tossed onto the table, finally rolling twice before stopping.
The farewell banquet wasn't too grand, but many prominent figures attended, so everything necessary was provided. Zuo Luohuan hadn't rested long in her room before Yi Tong called her down again.
Downstairs, she saw her father maneuvering among the old foxes of the Military Council. Zuo Luohuan remained aloof, holding a wine glass as instructed, doing nothing.
Yi Tong couldn't be bothered anymore; her presence was enough.
Always running around outside, never attending any events. Those who didn't know might think the Zuo family had no successor.
"Can you drink?" Jiang Hong popped up from somewhere, staring at the half-empty wine glass in Zuo Luohuan's hand. "Is Fang Yong really reliable?"
Zuo Luohuan swirled the wine glass. "Almost. It'll be resolved next week." The wound on her abdomen was nearly healed. As for the effects on her brain, using the medicine required enduring it for a few more days until it naturally dissipated.
"That's good." Jiang Hong leaned against a nearby long table. "Instructor He Yue just arrived, did you see?"
Zuo Luohuan scanned the room and indeed spotted He Yue near her father. She must have arrived after Guan Xue and the others, which was why Zuo Luohuan hadn't greeted her.
"She's already part of the Purifier Corps. Only your Zuo family would dare invite someone from the Purifier Corps," Jiang Hong remarked. It wasn't surprising Zuo Luohuan was always unconventional; her father, Zuo Dihong, was the same.
It ran in the family!
"She's with the Purifier Corps, but also an instructor at the First Military Academy. They probably have other matters to discuss." Zuo Luohuan watched the people gradually gathering around them; nine out of ten were likely connected to the First Military Academy.
Jiang Hong rubbed his chin, opened his optical computer, checked the information network for a while, then looked up. "You're right. The Federal Military Academy Drill is being moved up. News came an hour ago."
The Federal Military Academy Drill was a quadrennial event for the three major military academies. Due to various factors this year, the other two academies applied to hold it half a year early. No wonder He Yue rushed over; the school likely called her. Taking advantage of Zuo Dihong's presence today, they could finalize the details of the drill.
The two looked over again. The people there had put down their wine glasses, seriously discussing something in low voices. The military drill required significant resources, selecting venues and instructors, and ensuring the safety of the students during the competition – all clearly requiring careful discussion.
"Wonder which district the drill will be held in this time," Jiang Hong mused. "Last time it was the Eastern District, the time before that the Central District."
The military drill participants were first and second-year students. Each academy sent seven people. The competition lasted two months and consisted of three rounds.
Jiang Hong considered himself a likely candidate and grew excited. "I want to check out the Southern District. Which district do you want to go to?"
"Doesn't matter," Zuo Luohuan asked him, "When is the drill?"
"Half a year early, so mid-next month."
Their conversation fell into Ji Yuezhi's eyes. The ripple caused by the incident at the entrance had long vanished. He knew Jiang Hong was an Alpha and her friend, but still felt a subtle emotion.
He lowered his eyes, staring at his fingertips. He still needed to wait a little longer.
...
The day after the banquet, Zuo Dihong left the Capital for the Northern District. As expected, news spread through the First Military Academy: the Federal Military Academy Drill had been moved up!
The news caused an uproar among the military students.
The drill participants were first and second years. Usually held in the latter half of the year, allowing at least half a year of training, moving it up now meant first years had just enrolled, and second years had only recently chosen their courses.
"The United Military Academy and Yundong Military Academy must have done this on purpose. I heard they started offering elective courses early last year, probably preparing for the drill."
"Shameless! Even though the chosen participants are the best, they've had so much extra training time. Our academy's students are at a disadvantage!"
"Our First Military Academy has won so many consecutive times. If they want to win, they'll definitely try everything."
Regardless of the students' discussions, the date for the Federal Military Academy Drill was set, and the location was the Western District. Only one thing remained: selecting the seven participants.
Choosing seven students was difficult. Among the tens of thousands of first and second-year students, selecting seven required time.
For the first years, all undifferentiated students were excluded first. Then, each class nominated two candidates. Finally, these nominees competed to select seven. For the second years, instructors from the Combat, Command, and Weapons Development departments recommended a total of thirty candidates.
Thirty-seven military students, over five days, including Saturday and Sunday, would compete. The final seven would be decided then.
Since second years were recommended, they didn't need to compete yet and attended classes normally. Zuo Luohuan used the free time to visit Fang Yong's clinic.
The poison on her abdomen was neutralized, healing quickly now, unlike before when it refused to get better. Using special medicine, it was almost fully healed.
"The active ingredients in the addictive drug have been extracted, the medicine is ready. But... the pain in your head." Inside the clinic, a middle-aged man pointed at Zuo Luohuan's head. "To get better, you have to endure these next few days."
These few days would definitely be twice as painful as before.
This doctor was Fang Yong. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man, but the back of his neck bore an unhealable scar. Rumor had it he was originally an Alpha who found pheromones troublesome and affected his medical skills, so he dug out his own gland, nearly losing his life in the process.
"How many days?" Zuo Luohuan asked. "I have a competition on Saturday."
"..." Fang Yong sized her up. She exuded a youthful, reckless aura that no one could underestimate. "If you can endure these few days, competing on Saturday might not be impossible."
Zuo Luohuan lay on a rather untidy examination chair, extending her arm. "Give me the shot."
Seeing this, Fang Yong didn't hesitate. He picked up an alcohol swab with forceps, wiped her arm, then took a syringe, slowly inserted the needle, gently flicked the barrel to let the medicine flow in.
"Press down." Fang Yong quickly pressed a cotton swab over the spot. He pushed back his chair with his feet and turned to organize the tray.
He knew his medicine would react quickly, but didn't expect it to be this fast. He had only thrown away the used items on the tray into the trash bin. In that short time, when he turned back: the person on the examination chair was deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat, yet expressionlessly pressing the cotton swab on her arm. Only the bulging veins on the back of her hand revealed her current agony.
Fang Yong: "..."
Damn, she could endure. He wouldn't dare provoke someone like this in the future, terrifying.
"Painkillers won't work on you now." Fang Yong hesitated for a moment. "Want me to knock you out?"
Though he estimated the pain would likely wake her up soon anyway.
Zuo Luohuan glanced up, her eyes seemingly filled with chilling coldness. She actually managed to speak: "No need."
Her voice was strained... as if forced from her throat.
Tough nut!
From the moment Zuo Luohuan sought him out, Fang Yong knew she wasn't easy to deal with. Now, his impression deepened.
About two hours later, Zuo Luohuan looked like she had been fished out of water. She had already gotten used to the rhythm of this pain and was actually preparing to get up and leave.
"What are you doing?" Fang Yong instinctively moved to support her as she got up.
Zuo Luohuan swayed but managed to stand firm, saying lightly, "I have class tomorrow morning."
Fang Yong: "???"
Still going to class? Besides, he had heard about Zuo Luohuan's 'heroic feat' of skipping class for a year. Was this someone eager to attend class? Who was she kidding?
"Going out like this, passersby will call the police." Fang Yong finally said reluctantly, "Change your clothes before you go."
His private clinic wasn't short of temporary clothes. People often came in covered in blood, so he always kept various clothes on hand.
"Okay, thanks." Zuo Luohuan surprisingly complied and walked towards the changing room.
...
Zuo Luohuan attended class with a face as white as a ghost. Ji Yuezhi couldn't help but notice. During shooting class, he was close to her several times but didn't smell any blood on her. He pondered inwardly but showed nothing.
"What's wrong with you?" After one round of shooting, He Yue called Zuo Luohuan out. This student seemed completely out of it.
"Instructor, I ate something bad a few days ago." Zuo Luohuan clutched her stomach. "Been dehydrated recently."
He Yue: "...If you really can't manage, take leave."
The list of second-year recommendations was out, and Zuo Luohuan was on it. If this affected the upcoming selection, it wouldn't be good for anyone. Zuo Luohuan was key to this drill.
Zuo Luohuan came to class purely to distract herself. Lying down and resting only amplified the pain in her head; coming out for fresh air was better.
Next, He Yue gave the students free practice time. Zuo Luohuan fired a few shots and stopped, standing aside, watching Ji Yuezhi shoot nearby.
He changed guns, stood tall and straight under the sun, refined and aloof, his figure slender. His fingers held the gun, lightly yet firmly pulling the trigger. The bullet instantly left the barrel.
‘Crack—’
Ten rings!
For a moment, Zuo Luohuan almost forgot the amplified, rolling pain in her head. Her eyes only saw this scene, this person.
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