SCOM - Chapter 4
Chapter 4
When Zuo Luohuan emerged after putting the face lock back into the gift box, the butler was already waiting outside. A single glance at the box in her hand was enough for him to recall which family had sent it.
"This is the gift from the Ji family." The butler locked the warehouse door and followed closely behind Zuo Luohuan, suddenly realizing, "Miss, are you going to personally prepare a coming-of-age gift for the Ji family's young master?"
Zuo Luohuan juggled the gift box in her hand, recalling its contents, and said ambiguously, "Uncle Zhao, the Ji family's young master personally prepared a coming-of-age gift for me. Since he's coming of age, it's only right that I personally pick a gift for him."
The butler pretended not to understand the deeper meaning in her words, only saying, "Madam thought you wouldn't be in the Capital City on the twenty-eighth and has already prepared a gift for the Ji family's young master in advance. Should I..."
"No need. Mother sends one representing the Zuo family. I'll send another gift separately as a classmate."
Watching Zuo Luohuan head upstairs, the butler muttered to himself, was the Miss really this kind-hearted? More likely, she had thought of some way to embarrass the Ji family's young master.
After returning to her bedroom, Zuo Luohuan casually tossed the gift box onto the table and walked to the bedside. Bending down, she pulled the nightstand aside. She pressed a spot on the wall; it flashed, then suddenly recessed. The entire wall section split down the middle and slid open to reveal a hidden room.
Two large walls inside the hidden room were covered with weapons, not to mention the heavy weaponry placed around the perimeter. It could be said that every type of firearm and ordnance usable by a single person was here. However, on a long table inside, there was also a rack displaying various long and short blades made of different materials.
Zuo Luohuan stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the guns on the central wall before turning to the rack on the long table. Her hand brushed over the topmost long blade, and she took it down. Gripping the hilt, she pulled slightly, revealing a section of cold, gleaming steel.
It was a fine blade, but unfortunately, impractical to carry.
Finally, she took a dagger from the bottom tier of the rack. The blade was thin and flexible, made of non-metallic composite fiber. Pressing lightly on the pommel with one finger could bend the blade, but even if fully curved, it sprang back to its original shape as soon as she released it.
Zuo Luohuan tucked the dagger into her left wristband, close against her skin, and pulled down her sleeve. No one would notice anything unusual. After securing the dagger, she exited, closed the hidden room's 'door' again, and returned the nightstand to its original position.
She hadn't been in the room for even two hours when a knock sounded at the door. Just the knock, no voice; the person outside was clearly not the butler.
Zuo Luohuan got up and opened the door. Standing outside was a graceful and elegant woman. Upon seeing her, the woman's eyes lit up for a moment, but her face quickly fell, her beautiful eyes filled with anger. "So you still know how to come home? The people from school complaining and warning about you are more frequent visitors!"
"I was wrong," Zuo Luohuan apologized readily. "I won't leave this semester."
Yi Tong looked at her daughter, finally relaxing her brow slightly. "Go downstairs and eat. Uncle Zhao had the kitchen make your favorites."
"Where's Dad?"
"In the living room, waiting to eat with you." Yi Tong allowed her daughter to take her arm as they walked downstairs. "Uncle Zhao said you want to prepare a separate gift for Yuezhi? Don't get any crooked ideas. It's true the Ji family and ours compete for resources, but there's no need for the younger generation to get involved."
"Just trying to foster classmate relations," Zuo Luohuan casually made up an excuse.
"That had better be the case." Yi Tong looked at Zuo Luohuan with some distaste. "If only you could be as sensible as Yuezhi. He's been Head of the Disciplinary Committee for almost a year since enrolling. You've been enrolled for a year and skipped class for a year."
Zuo Luohuan: "..."
The Disciplinary Committee was indeed a good place; basically, the most outstanding students at the First Military Academy were in it. Reaching the position of Head meant building an undeniably strong network of connections for the future. In this aspect, Ji Yuezhi had indeed done extremely well. The Disciplinary Committee was now his domain.
After reprimanding her daughter, Yi Tong let her go eat. The Head of the Zuo Family was already waiting at the main seat.
Zuo Dihong showed no significant reaction upon seeing Zuo Luohuan, merely nodding and gesturing for her to sit down and eat. "Freshly made crispy chicken strips, try some."
...
After skipping a whole day of classes, Zuo Luohuan was kicked out of the house early the next morning. Yi Tong practically pointed at her nose, telling her to get lost and go to school.
Zuo Luohuan had no choice but to head to school. This time, she didn't run into anyone from the Disciplinary Committee and successfully reached her classroom.
Jiang Hong glanced at her empty hands, then at her equally empty desk, finally managing to say, "...You don't bring books to class?"
"Didn't go to my dorm," Zuo Luohuan said nonchalantly. "I remember the content of the books."
This class was Federation History. When they received the books two weeks ago, she had already read through them all.
"Impressive."
The teacher hadn't arrived yet. Jiang Hong looked at the person entering the doorway and nudged Zuo Luohuan, who was resting with her arms crossed and eyes closed. "Next month is elective course selection. I reckon you two can't avoid facing each other, either in shooting class or combat class. The school's anonymous online forum already has betting pools set up, wagering on which of you is stronger. Of course... he needs to successfully differentiate first."
Zuo Luohuan opened her eyes, her gaze falling on the person in the front row. Suddenly remembering the black face lock from yesterday, her tongue involuntarily pressed against her back teeth, a hint of wildness coloring her eyes. "So what if he successfully differentiates?"
Jiang Hong recalled the terrifying suppression of Zuo Luohuan's pheromones and felt slightly sheepish, but quickly rallied, "You yourself said he kicked out Xiang Chengping before differentiating. Once he successfully differentiates, he might not be weaker than you."
"We'll wait and see."
The person in the front row seemed to sense someone discussing him from behind. After sitting down, he slightly turned his head sideways and glanced back briefly before quickly looking away again, unnoticed by anyone.
...
"Recently, various clubs are recruiting new members." Jiang Hong walked alongside Zuo Luohuan on the campus path, pointing to the longest queue. "That's the Disciplinary Committee recruitment. You didn't see it last year, but there are several times more people than back then. Probably all attracted by Ji Yuezhi."
Zuo Luohuan's attention was instead drawn to a club recruitment booth opposite them, or more accurately, the person in front of the booth. She walked over and kicked his shin. "New student, forgot to ask you last time, what's your name?"
Yan Yan was originally wolfing down sample pastries made by the Food Club. Kicked suddenly, after stuffing the last bite in, he reflexively wanted to strike back, but seeing it was Zuo Luohuan, he subconsciously froze. "Yan... Yan Yan."
"Didn't anyone tell you to suppress your pheromones properly on campus?" Zuo Luohuan asked, crossing her arms.
Yan Yan's expression towards Zuo Luohuan immediately changed, tinged with wariness and annoyance. "Are you also from the Disciplinary Committee?"
"Impulsive, reckless." Zuo Luohuan glanced over his arms and legs, scoffing slightly. "Your physique isn't bad, though."
Yan Yan's face flushed then paled. He wanted to retort, but his instincts warned him it was best to keep quiet. When Ji Yuezhi broke his limbs, he only felt resentful. But Zuo Luohuan was different. The fear etched into his bones from that moment the other day was still palpable.
"Control your pheromones. That scent can be smelled from far away," Zuo Luohuan said. "This school isn't just full of Alphas."
Even though Omegas now had blockers that could effectively isolate Alpha pheromones, failing to control one's pheromones in public was akin to sexual harassment. Of course, some people from remote areas ignored these rules.
"Which military unit do your parents serve in?" Zuo Luohuan suddenly asked.
He had already differentiated before enrolling, his entire demeanor lacked refinement, he ate even crudely made pastries with relish, and carried an aura of military ruffianism picked up by association – he definitely wasn't from any major place. Most likely, he came from a remote military unit where his parents were stationed.
"Xijiang Exile Star, 377th Army!" Yan Yan puffed out his chest, stating gruffly.
Jiang Hong had a thought and looked at Zuo Luohuan. "That's affiliated with the Winter Army."
Zuo Luohuan tossed Yan Yan a card. "Treating you to a meal tomorrow. The address is on here."
Yan Yan looked down at the card with the restaurant name, finally realizing belatedly the connection between the Winter Army and the surname Zuo.
Nearby, Ding Wuming had just finished signing up for the Disciplinary Committee. He came over to find Yan Yan standing there staring blankly. "Yan Yan, I finished registering. What VIP card are you holding?"
"For a restaurant." Yan Yan pocketed the card, turned around, shamelessly scrounged another plate of sample pastries, and then left with Ding Wuming.
Up ahead, Zuo Luohuan and Jiang Hong hadn't walked far before they ran into Ji Yuezhi head-on. He was, as always, neatly dressed, the top button of his uniform meticulously fastened.
"You haven't even graduated, yet you're already privately cultivating influence?" Ji Yuezhi looked up at Zuo Luohuan, his gaze like the perpetual snow on a mountain peak, frigidly sharp. "Is this what you came back to do?"
Zuo Luohuan laughed mockingly. "Can't compare to our Head of the Disciplinary Committee, who can rally the most outstanding students in the entire military academy. My methods are still a bit lacking."
Ji Yuezhi's brow furrowed slightly. He ultimately walked ahead first, no longer engaging with her.
But Zuo Luohuan, contrarily, insisted on turning back to provoke him. "Classmate Ji, did you forget to deduct yesterday's points?"
Ji Yuezhi didn't stop walking. He raised his hand slightly, and the next second, a system notification of point deduction appeared on Zuo Luohuan's optical computer.
Zuo Luohuan: "...Tsk."
Comments
Post a Comment