SCOM - Chapter 25
Chapter 25
The phrase 'major battle' carried a rather ambiguous meaning in certain contexts.
Ji Yuezhi's expression remained indifferent, his dark, narrow eyes glancing towards Guan Xue. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't you guys make such a big commotion last night?" Guan Xue pointed upwards towards the sky, asking curiously, "How did you two end up together? Probably no one expected you and Zuo Luohuan to cooperate."
"Coincidence." Ji Yuezhi lowered his head, tidying his messy sleeve, his movements carrying a subtle carefulness and cherish that outsiders wouldn't easily notice.
"If those people last night knew you two had teamed up, they probably wouldn't have come over," Guan Xue said with some schadenfreude. Dealing with Ji Yuezhi alone was one thing, but adding Zuo Luohuan? Anyone wanting to stay wouldn't easily risk coming over.
Ji Yuezhi didn't reply to Guan Xue. From the beginning, he hadn't expected Zuo Luohuan to cooperate with him. No one knew how happy he was yesterday when she returned after saying 'as you wish' and leaving.
"Another one eliminated." Guan Xue heard the broadcast announcement and saw a red dot disappear from her optical computer. Another red dot was rapidly moving towards them.
It represented Zuo Luohuan.
Simultaneously, others on the trial grounds also saw the dot's movement.
"First eliminated someone, then inexplicably lingered in an uninhabited area, and now returning..." Jiang Hong stood under a tree, tapping his finger on a spot where three dots converged. "Companions?"
He wondered who these four people were. Last night, nine were eliminated at once, plus the earlier three, making twelve, almost a third of the candidate list. The eliminated twelve included skilled individuals like Fu Wenyue and Chen Ce, as well as people from Weapons Development. Being eliminated simultaneously strongly suggested a team effort. These four must be strong, and their random backpacks might contain good items.
Or perhaps one of the four was a master, especially this one... Jiang Hong looked at the red dot already returning towards the three-dot convergence point. For some reason, he felt the person represented by this dot was rather arrogant.
When the map with red dots arrived on his optical computer, Jiang Hong immediately noticed these four dots clustered together. Soon, he saw one dot leave, head towards the nearest other red dot, and less than ten minutes later, the elimination announcement sounded from that direction. Then, this dot turned and went to another uninhabited area, doing who knows what.
Casual, careless – that's what Jiang Hong inferred from this dot's route. He inevitably thought of one person.
—Zuo Luohuan.
If the person yesterday was her, then regardless of what was in the random bags, the elimination of those twelve was normal. Jiang Hong's only confusion was, if this red dot represented Zuo Luohuan, who were the other three?
Did Zuo Luohuan need to cooperate?
Probably just wanted to leave early.
After reaching this conclusion, Jiang Hong decided to head over there too. He wanted to join the fun, see who the other three were.
On the other side, Zuo Luohuan returned to the factory carrying a backpack full of water, made a simple filter, and started boiling water.
"Clean yourselves up first." Zuo Luohuan handed the water-filled condoms to Guan Xue, watching the fire herself.
Indeed, just as Jiang Hong thought, who else would bother with these things at a time like this? Only Zuo Luohuan.
Guan Xue helped Qian Mao wipe himself down. He was covered in blood and now running a high fever; he needed to get out soon.
"We still need to eliminate five people." Ji Yuezhi suddenly turned to look at Zuo Luohuan. "Qian Mao needs to get out within the hour."
Zuo Luohuan had just taken the pot off the fire, waiting for the water to cool. Hearing this, she looked up at him.
"Throughout the trial grounds, two people have been together the whole time, likely cooperating, farthest from us. Others are scattered in various directions, only one person is heading towards us." Ji Yuezhi's fingertips lightly hooked his sleeve, speaking slowly, "Among those still present, only Jiang Hong would do this. He's probably coming to confirm if you're here. Knowing Guan Xue and Qian Mao are cooperating with us, he won't attack again. We can split up to eliminate the other five."
After a long moment, Zuo Luohuan chuckled softly. "You know him well."
Ji Yuezhi paused slightly; her words carried no discernible meaning.
"Let's do that then." Zuo Luohuan stood up, telling Guan Xue, "The water's here, drink it when it cools. We'll go eliminate the others first."
Ji Yuezhi silently walked out the door with her. They decided on their respective directions and split up.
Guan Xue watched the two leave, feeling the atmosphere just now had suddenly become a bit strange.
...
The following period became Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi's show. They split up, tracked the red dots, pursued them, and eliminated people with maximum speed.
By the time Jiang Hong arrived at the factory, three more people had been eliminated. He looked at the two remaining red dots, then peered at Guan Xue inside and Qian Mao lying on the ground, hesitating before asking, "Excuse me, who were the two people with you earlier?" Seeing the two constantly moving red dots, he already guessed a possibility but couldn't quite believe it.
"Zuo Luohuan, Ji Yuezhi." Guan Xue helped Qian Mao wipe the sweat from his forehead, checked his temperature with the back of her hand, and replied casually.
"..." Jiang Hong's mouth twitched. He muttered, "Those two actually teamed up."
Before this selection trial, he had thought Ji Yuezhi and Zuo Luohuan might fight in the trial grounds.
In the monitoring room, Kang Guang leaned back in his chair, saying boredly, "No good show to watch. Last year's was more fun."
Bai Feng shook his head. "This is good."
Last year's selection trial, the two most promising candidates, due to a grudge, caused chaos in the trial grounds, nearly resulting in everyone being eliminated. Fortunately, Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi still had some sense this year.
...
At 3:20 PM, seven people remained on the trial grounds, successfully securing the spots for the military drill team. Severely injured students were sent for treatment first.
On the way back, Zuo Luohuan nearly had holes glared through her. Not just her, the two selected first-year students were also being pierced by sharp stares.
"Only two first-year freshmen left. Zuo Luohuan, you're really something," Fu Wenyue sat directly opposite Zuo Luohuan, staring at her. "Let's see how your team wins against the other three academies after this."
The two freshmen were Yan Yan and Ding Wuming. They were farthest away at the time. After Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi eliminated five people, they automatically advanced.
Other second-year students who fought hard yet were still eliminated felt the result was outrageous! Not that these two freshmen weren't strong – they had fought their way through – but the final outcome felt unfair!
Zuo Luohuan said lazily, "Don't know how we'll win against other academies, but I know I beat you."
Fu Wenyue: "..." Fine, being strong means you get the last word!
The instructors dropped them off at school and let them disperse. Zuo Luohuan wasn't injured much and headed straight for her dorm. She hadn't walked far before Ji Yuezhi called out to her.
"Your jacket." Ji Yuezhi was still wearing Zuo Luohuan's jacket. He prepared to take it off and return it to her.
Zuo Luohuan waved it off casually. "The jacket's already ruined, I don't need it."
Ji Yuezhi looked up slightly, his dark eyes quietly watching her.
Zuo Luohuan's gaze inadvertently fell on his slender, pale neck, then quickly averted. She raised her hand and rubbed her brow. Seeing he was still taking off the jacket, she had no choice but to step forward quickly to stop him, reaching out to pull the half-removed jacket back up, sighing, "Your clothes underneath are ruined, aren't they? No need to rush returning the jacket."
Ji Yuezhi pursed his lips, lowering his eyes to hide the fleeting emotion. "I'll compensate you with a new jacket."
Due to the high training intensity, military uniforms wore out quickly. Plus, first year was a peak growth spurt period for students. Therefore, the First Military Academy had a dedicated clothing department for students to purchase uniforms.
"Alright." Zuo Luohuan agreed. "Waiting for your new one then."
Wearing her jacket, Ji Yuezhi returned to his dorm. He didn't immediately tend to the wounds on his arm but carefully took off the jacket, placed it aside, stroked the collar, feeling as if he had touched the person herself, his fingertips burning intensely.
Compensating her with a new jacket meant he didn't have to return this one.
Ji Yuezhi lowered his head, raised his slender, beautiful fingers, and lightly sniffed his fingertips near his nose. Because he had just touched the jacket, some Alpha pheromones still lingered, not strong but intensely present, like the person herself.
...
Back in her dorm, Zuo Luohuan washed up and lay on the bed. Although she wasn't headachy these two days, perhaps due to resisting for too long the past few days, she didn't feel too well. As soon as she closed her eyes, fatigue washed over her like a tidal wave.
Until 9 PM, the optical computer communication woke her up.
"...Ji Yuezhi? What's up?" Zuo Luohuan sat up, answering the voice call. Her voice was a bit hoarse, still half-asleep, lacking the usual provocative laziness, even carrying an imperceptible gentleness.
On the other end of the optical computer, hearing this, Ji Yuezhi momentarily had the illusion they were whispering intimately. He remained silent for a long while, waiting until Zuo Luohuan fully woke up before speaking: "Jacket, I bought it."
Zuo Luohuan, sharp-eared, heard the noisy background sounds overlapping with the sounds from downstairs, couldn't help asking, "Are you downstairs?"
"...Mm."
Zuo Luohuan immediately got out of bed, walked to the window, and sure enough, saw Ji Yuezhi standing near a group of noisy Alphas downstairs, holding a bag.
"I'll be right down, wait a moment." Zuo Luohuan hung up, threw on some clothes, didn't take the stairs, but vaulted directly down from the tenth-plus floor.
"Hey, damn it! Which bastard stepped on my window?!"
"Climbing down buildings late at night! Scared me to death! Can't you take the stairs?"
"Probably rushing to meet a lover!"
A chorus of curses followed her path.
Zuo Luohuan didn't care, landing in less than a minute, walking straight towards Ji Yuezhi, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Coming over at night, is Classmate Ji worried I'll get points deducted for my uniform tomorrow?"
Ji Yuezhi turned, handed her the bag, not answering her question. "The size is the same as your jacket. You can try it."
Zuo Luohuan took it but didn't look inside. Just as she was about to speak, her eyes narrowed. She suddenly pulled him over, looking towards a group of Alphas shoving and fighting nearby. "Fighting late at night, right in front of the Head of the Disciplinary Committee?"
The group of Alphas: "!!!"
They instantly scattered.
This building housed only Alphas, all hot-tempered, often fighting under the cover of dim lights. Who knew Ji Yuezhi was nearby?
Ji Yuezhi's wrist was held tightly by cool fingers, his whole body pressed against Zuo Luohuan. The earlier illusion of intimate embrace seemed to momentarily become real. But the surrounding people brought him back to reality. He struggled slightly. "It's the weekend." As long as it wasn't excessive, the Disciplinary Committee didn't really manage things on weekends.
Zuo Luohuan released his hand along with his movement, seemingly hearing the unspoken second half of his thought, chuckling softly. "I just wanted to borrow your prestige."
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