SCOM - Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Having just confessed their feelings, Ji Yuezhi and Zuo Luohuan were separated upon their return. Ji Yuezhi, still half-believing the events on Xijiang Exile Star were a dream, sent Zuo Luohuan a message. He wasn't too direct, simply mentioning there was only a week until school started and he wanted to ask her for some pointers on using Skeletal Armor. He suggested they could train at the Central City apartment, as it had a suitable training area.
Zuo Luohuan readily agreed. Early the next morning, she drove to the Ji residence. Instead of driving directly to the front gate, she parked nearby and walked the rest of the way. She happened to run into Ji Xixiu as he was leaving. Their eyes met, and Zuo Luohuan addressed him, "General Ji."
"You're not part of the Seventeenth Army. There's no need for such formalities," Ji Xixiu said, his gaze sweeping over her. "Or perhaps I'm not worthy of being called 'Uncle Ji'?"
Uncle?
"If I remember correctly, you're a month younger than my father," Zuo Luohuan pointed out.
Ji Xixiu raised an eyebrow, ready to put this junior in her place. Just then, Ji Yuezhi emerged from the house, a faint, happy smile playing on his lips. Hearing footsteps, Ji Xixiu glanced back at his son and decided to let the matter drop.
"Why don't you sleep a little longer?" Ji Xixiu asked Ji Yuezhi.
Ji Yuezhi shook his head. "I went to bed early last night."
"Be careful on your way."
"I will."
After their brief exchange, Ji Xixiu departed. Ji Yuezhi walked over to Zuo Luohuan, pursed his lips, and looked up at her. Aside from that time in the hotel room, they hadn't had any intimate contact. Now, standing face to face, he found himself at a loss for words.
"Come on," Zuo Luohuan said, taking his hand and leading him towards her car. "Didn't you say you wanted to train with me?"
Looking down at their intertwined fingers, Ji Yuezhi relaxed. Once settled in the passenger seat, he lifted a 13-inch case onto his lap and opened it, revealing two spherical objects. "My father gave these to us." The Skeletal Armor they had used before had been retrieved on their return trip, and Zuo Luohuan didn't have any of her own, so Ji Yuezhi had asked his father for two sets.
As Ji Yuezhi picked up one of the spheres, Zuo Luohuan leaned over to fasten his seatbelt. Ji Yuezhi looked up at her profile, forgetting what he was about to say, simply staring at her.
Sensing his silence, Zuo Luohuan glanced over and met his gaze. She cupped his face gently, her thumb brushing against his cheek. The air between them grew thick with unspoken tension.
"What are you thinking about?" Zuo Luohuan chuckled, her gaze falling to his lips.
They were so close that the slightest movement would bring them together. Ji Yuezhi noticed her gaze and felt a warmth spread across his lips, a stark contrast to the cool touch she'd given him before. He leaned back against the seat, tilting his head up slightly, wanting to close the distance. Zuo Luohuan, however, pulled back just enough to maintain the tantalizing gap between them.
At first, Ji Yuezhi thought it was his imagination. He tried several times to close the distance, but each time, she retreated just a bit, never fully pulling away, always keeping that exquisitely agonizing space between them. Her Alpha playfulness was on full display.
Perhaps sensing the flicker of annoyance in his eyes, Zuo Luohuan stopped teasing him. She tightened her grip on his face, stilling him, and leaned in for a light kiss, a brief, sweet appeasement. Then, she quickly retreated to the driver's seat and fastened her own seatbelt. Switching gears seamlessly, she asked, "Is the academy implementing Skeletal Armor training?"
"Yes, starting from sophomore year, everyone will have to train with it," Ji Yuezhi replied, forcing himself to ignore the lingering sensation of her kiss.
Zuo Luohuan started the car and drove towards Central City. Ji Yuezhi remained quiet during the drive, occasionally glancing at her.
"Didn't you bring training clothes?" Zuo Luohuan asked as they got out of the car.
"I forgot," Ji Yuezhi admitted, holding the case containing the Skeletal Armor with an air of nonchalance.
Zuo Luohuan wasn't surprised. She retrieved a backpack from the trunk. "I brought a few extra sets."
Although the training suits had drawstrings, the material was stretchy and generally loose-fitting. Since they were roughly the same height, they could easily share.
They rode the elevator together and entered the apartment. Everything was as Ji Yuezhi had left it, even the blanket they had used was still rumpled on the sofa.
"I want to change into my training clothes," Ji Yuezhi said, setting down the case.
Zuo Luohuan opened her backpack and pulled out two black and white training suits, handing them both to him. "You can wear these for the next few days."
Instead of immediately changing, Ji Yuezhi stood before her and said, "You never returned the clothes my father sent over." Though his words were meant to expose her, they carried a subtle hint of an Omega's coquettishness towards their Alpha.
Zuo Luohuan readily admitted, "I kept them, hoping you'd come back."
Ji Yuezhi, aiming for a sliver of control in their dynamic, was caught off guard by her confession. "You already… at that time…"
"Why would I temporarily mark someone I didn't like?" Zuo Luohuan asked, her gaze fixed on his face, studying his every expression. "And my apology after marking you wasn't sincere either. I was happy to mark you that day."
She had spent countless sleepless nights back then, not only because she was caring for Ji Yuezhi during his heat, but also because of the thrilling excitement and joy that filled her. Zuo Luohuan knew how manipulative she had been. Knowing he needed the temporary mark, she had kept him close, preventing other Alphas from having a chance and leaving Ji Yuezhi with no other options.
She had liked him for a very long time. The young master was precious and beautiful, and every gesture he made was etched in her memory. Back then, she had simply wanted to be his friend, but his cold words and distant demeanor had made her retreat, assuming he disliked her. So, for years, they had remained strangers, avoiding each other whenever possible.
Later, she differentiated as an Alpha, and Ji Yuezhi's test results indicated he would also be an Alpha. With the rivalry between the Ji and Zuo families at its peak, the competition naturally extended to the next generation, and everyone compared the two, both openly and subtly.
From the moment Ji Yuezhi was predicted to be an Alpha, Zuo Luohuan had given up on any romantic notions, viewing him solely as a future rival. Yet, she never stopped following his progress. She knew that even without differentiating, his academic performance remained exceptional, surpassing even differentiated Alphas. She knew he had become the head of the Disciplinary Committee.
At the time, Zuo Luohuan thought it was enough to admire him from afar, waiting for him to differentiate as an Alpha so they could be rivals, and he would finally acknowledge her presence.
No one knew how fast her heart had pounded when Ji Yuezhi approached her on the first day of school. The young master had grown up, as beautiful and aloof as ever. The slight glance from his narrow eyes had sent shivers down her spine.
Zuo Luohuan hid her emotions behind a casual facade, but he kept appearing before her, time and time again. With each interaction, her feelings grew more uncontrollable, until the young master unexpectedly presented as an Omega.
The sweet iris scent emanating from him had ignited a wildfire of desire within her Alpha heart. Yet, she had suppressed it, finding him inhibitors and administering them herself.
Behind her suppressed desires lay a deep concern. The young master had always been proud, yearning for years to present as an Alpha. Presenting as an Omega on his coming-of-age ceremony was a devastating blow to his pride.
Confessing her secret had been Zuo Luohuan's ultimatum to herself. Their interactions during that period had given her the illusion that they might have a chance. By confessing, even if he rejected her, they would at least have some sort of connection.
Instead of shattering the illusion, she had fallen into a beautiful dream where Ji Yuezhi confessed his feelings for her, even offering himself to her during her rut, not just to repay the temporary mark.
She had to replay his expression in her mind, testing him repeatedly, to ensure it wasn't a dream.
Now, revealing her most manipulative thoughts, Zuo Luohuan wanted one final test.
Ji Yuezhi was initially bewildered by her words. As time passed, he seemed to grasp their meaning, his beautiful, hazy eyes widening slightly. "You…" He trailed off, turning his face away, his long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks as he stood in silence.
Zuo Luohuan's heart sank. The young master wouldn't appreciate being manipulated.
However, a moment later, she was stunned. A delicate blush crept up Ji Yuezhi's long, pale neck, spreading to his cheeks.
"I was also happy when you marked me," Ji Yuezhi finally regained his composure, turning back to meet her gaze. "I'm glad it was you."
Zuo Luohuan stared at him for a long moment before stepping forward and embracing him. The training clothes he held slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor, unnoticed by either of them.
Ji Yuezhi wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder, his lips brushing against her cheek with each word. "I'm staying here tonight."
"Just tonight?" Zuo Luohuan asked, tilting her head. "We agreed on five days."
Nuzzling against her, Ji Yuezhi asked, "Then how about four nights here? Is that okay?"
"Okay," she replied. Anything you say.
They held each other for a long time before finally changing into their training clothes and heading to the training room. Wearing the 100-kilogram Skeletal Armor, Ji Yuezhi found his movements restricted. Furthermore, his arms weren't equipped with any weapons, and adding them would likely increase the weight further. However, he adapted quickly. After a day of training in the armor, he could move freely, though his running and jumping speed and height were still affected.
"This kind of training takes time and consistent effort, not just a day or two," Zuo Luohuan observed, watching him.
Ji Yuezhi deactivated the armor, placing the spheres back in the case. Despite performing the same exercises, he was sweating, while she seemed unaffected.
"Have you trained in this before?" he asked.
Zuo Luohuan revealed one of her wrists. "Not exactly. I just wear weighted bands."
Ji Yuezhi walked towards her and reached out to touch her wrist.
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