SCOM - Chapter 81
Chapter 81
When Zuo Luohuan returned to the bedroom with a change of clothes, Ji Yuezhi was struggling to remove his training uniform. With a sigh, he dropped it on the floor, his bare back exposed.
After setting down the fresh clothes, Zuo Luohuan bent down, picked up the discarded uniform, and said to Ji Yuezhi, "I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything."
"...Okay."
Jiang Hong hadn't found any useful information yet, but Zuo Luohuan hadn't forgotten how Ji Yuezhi looked during the second temporary marking.
He was uncomfortable.
Zuo Luohuan didn't know the reason, but she didn't believe Ji Xixiu would say Ji Yuezhi was unwell without cause. She cared deeply for Ji Yuezhi and wasn't willing to take any risks. Even when his pheromones filled the training room, she had managed to control her own, preventing even a trace from leaking.
Fortunately, Ji Yuezhi wasn't currently in heat and didn't crave alpha pheromones as intensely, so he hadn't noticed that Zuo Luohuan hadn't released any of her own scent at all. This required incredible self-control for an alpha, a true torment for any of them.
Yet, Zuo Luohuan appeared unfazed, leaning against the wall near the bathroom, waiting for him to come out.
After a while, the bathroom door opened, and Ji Yuezhi emerged, surrounded by a cloud of steam. His expression was much more relaxed. "I'm... done," he told her.
Zuo Luohuan looked up and smiled. "Dinner's on the table. Eat something first." She deliberately avoided touching him.
"What about you?" Ji Yuezhi assumed she was leaving.
Zuo Luohuan gestured towards the bathroom behind him. "Dinner just arrived. Eat while it's hot. Don't wait for me. I'll be quick."
Understanding she was going to shower, Ji Yuezhi simply replied, "Okay."
Since the First Military Academy was starting to use skeletal armor, the other academies would naturally follow suit. However, it was unlikely they could provide one for every student immediately. Most likely, the schools would implement a shared system.
Ji Yuezhi sat at the dining table, pondering his father's words. Most cadets would initially share skeletal armor, while a select few who adapted best would receive their own, customized with personalized weapons.
She would definitely be among the first to have a dedicated mecha, but she still needed to configure the weapons. That Qian Mao seemed quite familiar with her.
Ji Yuezhi thought about the Shadow Disciplinary Committee. Qian Mao, Guan Xue, and Yan Yan were likely members. He had sensed their familiarity during the practice match, but had dismissed it as simply knowing each other from school.
"Not to your liking?" Zuo Luohuan asked as she came out of the bathroom, noticing the untouched food.
Ji Yuezhi shook his head and looked up, asking directly, "Are you in charge of the Shadow Committee?" The way those members seemed to unconsciously obey her suggested it wasn't just about strength.
Zuo Luohuan sat beside him and didn't deny it. "Yes, the Shadow Committee currently handles disciplinary matters."
The separate branches were simply a precaution due to her suspicious nature, a way to prevent issues within the disciplinary team itself. As for the weapons, that was entirely because, after reviewing the profiles of all cadets entering the Shadow Committee, she discovered a significant number were from the Weapons Department. The Shadow Committee's original purpose was to gather those eccentric, difficult-to-manage, yet highly skilled cadets. Perhaps because the Weapons Department attracted unusual individuals, by the time Zuo Luohuan joined, they made up almost half the group. She had simply taken the opportunity to expand their arsenal.
Although absent from school last year, Zuo Luohuan had maintained regular contact with Qian Mao and the others, transferring them a considerable amount of weaponry from the black market. Unexpectedly, they had come in handy during the Gashro attack.
Now, the Shadow Committee wasn't particularly secretive; at least the cadets knew of another power within the school.
"You're the head of the Disciplinary Committee, and so am I," Zuo Luohuan said, taking Ji Yuezhi's hand. "A perfect match."
Ji Yuezhi turned his head and placed a piece of pastry into Zuo Luohuan's bowl, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Indeed."
On the first day of school, the new students, having already spent half a year at the academy, were relatively familiar with each other. Everyone was dressed impeccably, their top uniform buttons fastened tightly, fearful of losing points to the Disciplinary Committee.
The school gate bustled with activity, including cadets from the capital arriving in their own vehicles.
Ji Yuezhi had matters to attend to, so Zuo Luohuan parked at the gate, letting him go ahead while she went to find a parking space.
Neither of them found this unusual. Ji Yuezhi got out of the car and walked briskly towards the campus.
Ji Yuezhi always attracted attention. Not only was he the head of the Disciplinary Committee, making cadets scatter like mice before a cat, but his appearance alone was enough to draw gazes.
Several people at the gate turned to watch him pass, whispering amongst themselves.
"That car Classmate Ji was just in looks familiar."
"The Ji family often sends someone to pick him up. It's normal for it to look familiar."
"No, I remember Zuo Luohuan has the same car."
"Did Classmate Ji buy the same car as her? Are they going head-to-head again?"
"Hold on, let me find a picture... Holy crap! That's Zuo Luohuan's car!"
"Huh?"
"I took a picture of Zuo Luohuan driving out before. Look at the license plate!"
This caught the attention of those nearby. Watching the car head towards the school parking lot, they were stunned. "That's definitely not a Ji family car. It's going to the parking lot."
At the school gate, in broad daylight, on the first day of school, no less. This incident instantly exploded on the First Military Academy's anonymous forum. Everyone speculated about what could have happened to lead Ji Yuezhi to arrive in Zuo Luohuan's car.
【It's just a car ride, right? Even though they're rivals, they participated in the practice match together, and I heard they went to Xijiang Exile Star during winter break.】
【Xijiang Exile Star? The star that had that incident recently?】
【Yeah, ultimately, they're both from our First Military Academy. They're just competitors, not enemies. Sharing a ride isn't a big deal.】
【Um... don't you know the Ji family and the Zuo family are in opposite directions? There's no way they'd be going the same way.】
【？？？】
【I also want to ask, why didn't the Ji family send Ji Yuezhi?】
The forum buzzed with discussion. Jiang Hong had seen the post early on and waited as various theories emerged, none hitting the mark.
A surge of excitement welled up within him. Finally, it was his turn to witness their shock!
He casually dropped a message into the thread: 【What's so surprising? They're together. Is it that strange to share a car?】
The expected wave of shocked replies didn't materialize.
【The person above is delusional from shipping them. Don't trust the heretics.】
【Together? While I admit the Zuo-Ji pairing is appealing, don't project it onto reality. I'm more inclined to believe they were returning from doing something together.】
【Possible. Since they both went to Xijiang Exile Star, which recently had that incident, it's highly likely they were together because of that.】
Jiang Hong: "..."
Unwilling to give up, he was utterly unwilling.
So he posted another message: 【Fine, don't believe me. I'm Jiang Hong.】
Everyone knew Jiang Hong was Zuo Luohuan's closest friend. Who would doubt him now?
That's what Jiang Hong thought, confidently waiting for a barrage of questions and pleas for gossip.
【Sigh, another one's lost it. Take him away.】
【You're Jiang Hong? I'm Zuo Luohuan. That's right, I'm officially announcing that I am indeed with Ji Yuezhi.】
【Hahahahaha, so many heretics!】
A string of mocking and teasing replies followed.
The world had tormented Jiang Hong for too long! In a fit of frustration, he rushed to the window, flung it open, and yelled, "I'm Jiang Hong! Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi are together!"
Zuo Luohuan, who had just reached the Alpha dormitory building: "..."
The sound of windows opening in unison echoed throughout the Alpha dormitory. Countless heads poked out, looking around, and then down. Lo and behold, the subjects of the gossip were right below.
"Jiang Hong, have you lost your mind?" Zuo Luohuan looked up at him, her voice laced with warning.
The onlookers perked up: She didn't deny it! Zuo Luohuan didn't deny it!
The Omega and Beta dormitories were still unaware, but the Alpha building had heard everything loud and clear. The forum post exploded.
【Holy crap, holy crap! The guy above really is Jiang Hong!】
【Help! Zuo Luohuan is right downstairs, and she didn't deny what Jiang Hong said.】
【What's going on?】
Amidst the flurry of explanations, others finally caught up.
【？？？ Is it April Fool's Day? Are you sure you heard correctly? Maybe it's truth or dare?】
Some still couldn't believe it.
【The entire Alpha building heard Jiang Hong shout. He said Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi are together!】
【Mom, help! Is the ship I've been rooting for finally canon?!】
【I don't believe it! Waaaaah!】
【Brothers and sisters of the Alpha building, please closely observe their movements.】
【Is it too late to rush to the Alpha building?】
【Zuo Luohuan is going upstairs! She's heading to Jiang Hong's floor! She's kicking the door! Jiang Hong opened the door!】
【Thank you, Brother Jiang Hong. He sacrificed himself for the benefit of all!】
【He will be blessed!】
Unfortunately, Jiang Hong didn't see the shocked frenzy on the forum because Zuo Luohuan had kicked down his door.
"Well, well, nice weather today," Jiang Hong said, backing away from Zuo Luohuan as soon as he opened the door.
Recalling what Jiang Hong had shouted from the window, Zuo Luohuan frowned. "Are you so jealous of us being together that you've become mentally unstable?"
Jiang Hong pointed at Zuo Luohuan, stammering for a moment before blurting out, "You're the jealous one! I'm single and happy! I just wanted to see their shocked reactions!"
Zuo Luohuan pulled over a chair and sat down, dropping the previous topic. "How's the investigation I asked you to do going?"
"Uh, about that..." Jiang Hong's expression turned serious. "I'm still working on it. I checked Ji Yuezhi's annual physical examination reports, and I haven't found any problems. His physical condition is excellent."
So excellent he could have differentiated as an alpha.
"Send me the reports," Zuo Luohuan said after a moment of thought. "Focus your investigation on his differentiation. His differentiation came very late, so that might be the issue."
"Okay."
After leaving the Disciplinary Committee office, Ji Yuezhi noticed the cadets staring at him. It was different from the usual looks. Their eyes held a mixture of suspicion, curiosity, and gossip.
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