SCOM - Chapter 57
Chapter 57
After being fed two marshmallows in a row, one orange-cream and the other strawberry, Zuo Luohuan told Ji Yuezhi, "Eat them yourself."
Zuo Luohuan wasn't particularly interested in sweets, but since Ji Yuezhi wanted her to try them, she did.
Ji Yuezhi stopped offering her more. Lowering his eyes, he quietly nibbled on a marshmallow. For a moment, an invisible membrane seemed to separate the front and back of the car.
As the car approached a turn, Zuo Luohuan turned the steering wheel to the right, catching sight of Ji Yuezhi biting into the marshmallow. Some of the white powder had stuck to his fingertip, and he unconsciously flicked his tongue out to lick it off.
Zuo Luohuan's grip on the steering wheel tightened. She knew the temperature of his tongue; soft and warm when it entwined with hers.
"Wow, these are all so delicious!" Luo Shaoyuan exclaimed from the back. "The Capital is really great."
"It's alright," An Yingjing scoffed. "Just marshmallows."
The sound of their bickering brought Zuo Luohuan back to reality. She chuckled and said, "Next time, An Yingjing, you can take us to the West District." The Federal First Military Academy was located at the intersection of the West and South Districts, while An Yingjing was from the West District.
"You want to go to the West District?" An Yingjing asked, surprised.
"A junior from our team lives there. We agreed to visit during winter break," Zuo Luohuan explained as she drove. "You know him too, Yan Yan."
"Him?" An Yingjing recalled the information he'd seen earlier. "Sure. Yan Yan probably doesn't know all the fun places in the West District either."
"Why don't you go to the North District?" Luo Shaoyuan asked Zuo Luohuan. "Isn't your dad there? You could help him out."
"My father has the border situation under control. He doesn't need my help," Zuo Luohuan said casually. "I'm still a student. I should go out and have some fun."
"Tch." Luo Shaoyuan looked down on this pampered young miss attitude. She took every opportunity to help out at the border.
The five of them finally arrived at the restaurant. Luo Shaoyuan, having devoured all the marshmallows and now feeling sickishly sweet, sat down and kept gulping water.
"There's been some activity at the North District border recently. The Gashro Empire's robot dogs seem to have been upgraded," Cha Lili said, looking at Zuo Luohuan across the table. "If the information is true, and the Gashro Empire starts mass-producing these upgraded robot dogs, all districts' border defenses could face a serious threat again."
The Gashro people were generally weaker than the Federation, but they were brutal and cold-blooded. After developing the robot dogs, they launched a full-scale attack, aiming to conquer the Federation.
"So?" Zuo Luohuan picked up the teapot and poured hot water into the bowl in front of her. After swirling it around, she emptied the bowl and discreetly pushed it towards Ji Yuezhi. Then she took the bowl and chopsticks from in front of him. "Do you have a way to deal with these upgraded robot dogs, Cha Lili?"
Cha Lili was dissatisfied with her perfunctory response. In his view, everyone sitting here today would be responsible for the Federation's future stability, and they had a duty to worry about and strategize for these matters.
Seeing Zuo Luohuan rinse Ji Yuezhi's bowl and chopsticks, Luo Shaoyuan proactively pushed her own bowl forward.
Zuo Luohuan glanced at her and placed the teapot directly in front of Luo Shaoyuan.
Luo Shaoyuan: "..." What kind of Alpha was this? Only fawning over Omegas. Unlike her, she never served Omegas.
Luo Shaoyuan, adhering to her Alpha pride, rinsed her bowl and chopsticks and passed the teapot to the next person, ignoring the murderous look in An Yingjing's eyes. Hmph, she, an Alpha, had hands. Didn't he, an Omega, have any?
"Since the skeletal armor appeared in the practice match, it means the technology is mature," Ji Yuezhi said. "These matters don't require our attention for now." Besides, they wouldn't have access to that level of information anyway.
"Speaking of which, there was someone from the Gashro Empire involved in the practice match, right?" An Yingjing said. "They found out about my pheromones so quickly."
Ji Yuezhi nodded. "They've been caught."
As they ate, the five had different thoughts on their minds. Only Luo Shaoyuan truly appreciated the food.
…
The students from other academies stayed at the Federal First Military Academy for a few more days, finally departing on Friday. Three large buses were parked at the school gate. An Yingjing turned to Ji Yuezhi and said, "We'll definitely get revenge for the bus burning incident at the next competition."
Ji Yuezhi nodded. "I look forward to it." Though, they wouldn't be the ones competing next time.
After seeing off the other students, the group from the Federal First Military Academy dispersed.
Ji Yuezhi had only walked halfway when he turned back to look at Zuo Luohuan. She seemed surprised that he would turn around, her expression momentarily stunned. But quickly, the casual smile Ji Yuezhi was familiar with returned to her face.
"Captain, is something the matter?"
Ji Yuezhi's gaze shifted to Jiang Hong, who was standing next to Zuo Luohuan.
Jiang Hong didn't react. He simply stood there, waiting for Ji Yuezhi to speak.
Zuo Luohuan, however, understood. "You go ahead," she told Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong let out a confused "Ah?" He started walking towards the campus, looking back halfway to observe Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi standing face to face. When did these two become so close?
Ji Yuezhi met Zuo Luohuan's eyes. "You're going to the West District?"
Zuo Luohuan nodded. "Just to take a look."
"I heard the West District has the largest black market," Ji Yuezhi said, his expression cool and his tone even. "You promised before."
Promised before… Zuo Luohuan immediately remembered what she had said in the car that day, about taking him to the black market.
"The Capital also has a black market," Zuo Luohuan didn't refuse outright. "I can go with you there."
Ji Yuezhi pursed his lips and looked at her, not saying anything, then turned to leave. His dissatisfaction was clear enough.
"...Wait," Zuo Luohuan sighed inwardly and reached out to grab his arm. "Do you really want to go that badly?" Zuo Luohuan was always good to her friends, and Ji Yuezhi had always known this. Since the practice match, she hadn't been as dismissive and provocative as before, clearly accepting him. Perhaps she considered him a friend now.
If they were friends, there was no need for the previous plan.
Ji Yuezhi raised his clear, cool eyes. "I can go alone."
"We know each other, we're teammates. It's more convenient to go together," Zuo Luohuan conceded, lowering her voice. "The West District isn't as peaceful as it seems. You're Ji Xixiu's son. Don't wander around alone."
Ji Yuezhi hummed in agreement. He didn't believe Zuo Luohuan was really just going to the West District for fun. Others might not see it, but sometimes he could glimpse the underlying tension in her eyes.
Winter break arrived quickly after the final exams. Ji Yuezhi was already home, resting. He'd been waiting for Zuo Luohuan to contact him, but she said she needed a few more days.
Coming downstairs, the only sound in the quiet living room was the turning of pages. Ji Yuezhi descended the stairs and saw his father sitting at the table, an old book in his hand.
"Father," Ji Yuezhi called out. "Are you back from work?"
"Nothing much today." Ji Xixiu looked up. "You've been in your room these past few days. Are you feeling unwell?"
Ji Yuezhi shook his head, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "I'm preparing to go to the West District with her during winter break."
Ji Xixiu gestured for his son to sit beside him. "I've been busy and haven't asked you, how were those days after the temporary marking? Alphas... their possessive instincts are strong. Even if they're sincere, many young Alphas can be rough and inconsiderate towards Omegas." No matter how strategic and cunning he was, known as the Fox General, he was still just a father.
Ji Xixiu worried about his son being mistreated by an Alpha.
Recalling those days, Ji Yuezhi shook his head, his eyelashes fluttering. "She wasn't."
Even the temporary mark itself had been restrained, only the injected pheromones were wild and domineering, clinging to his own. The pleasure had nearly brought him to tears. Sometimes, when Ji Yuezhi thought about it, he wished she hadn't been so restrained, that she had left a deeper mark on him, proof of their intimacy, or perhaps something to evoke her guilt.
Ji Xixiu observed his son's demeanor, his heart filled with complex emotions. Finally, he just sighed. "On the surface, Zuo Luohuan is very much like her father, but I believe she's fundamentally different from Zuo Dihong. If... never mind." No one could dislike his son.
Zuo Dihong had a bold personality, attracting attention with everything he did. In his youth, he was a rebel, truly unruly, but when he raised his voice, there was always a crowd behind him. As for Zuo Luohuan, she seemed similar to her father on the surface, but she seemed to prefer to detach herself from the crowd, her eyes like those of a lone wolf.
Translator's note: If you're enjoying this, you might also like my new translations: The Day I Hold My Blade and Dedication to the Nation's Splendor. Both feature strong female protagonists, with romance playing a minimal role.
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