SCOM - Chapter 84
Chapter 84
The blue, black, and gold gift box sat in the center of the table, its ribbon already untied. Zuo Luohuan opened it, revealing a neck lock—a delicate, dark metal ring etched with intricate patterns and edged with black lace trimmed in gold. The patterns were a stylized version of a nearly extinct Federal language, expressing a blessing of peace and safety. To the untrained eye, however, they looked like mere decorations on an erotic neck lock.
Zuo Luohuan stared at the neck lock for a long moment before turning to Ji Yuezhi. "I gave you this because I thought you would differentiate as an Alpha."
"I know," Ji Yuezhi replied, a playful glint in his eyes, reminiscent of his 'sly fox' father downstairs. "I gave you the face mask on purpose."
I knew you would give me a neck lock in return, so I deliberately gave you the face mask.
Zuo Luohuan pulled him closer, sat down, and looked up at him. "You wanted me to give you a neck lock?"
A neck lock, regardless of its intended use, always carried an air of intimacy.
Ji Yuezhi didn't answer. He gently caressed Zuo Luohuan's face, a subtle smile playing on his lips. He looked like a spring flower emerging from melting ice, radiant and captivating.
Zuo Luohuan leaned into his touch, then suddenly changed the subject. "I've never asked, when did you start liking me?"
Ji Yuezhi's hand paused. He leaned down and kissed her, evading the question. "That's my secret."
Zuo Luohuan chuckled, standing up to straighten his collar. "Fine, your secret."
The same person who meticulously buttoned every button of his uniform at school was now so hurried at home that he hadn't even flipped his collar properly.
Ji Yuezhi closed the gift box and took her hand. "We should go downstairs."
As he turned and walked ahead, the smile on Zuo Luohuan's face faded. He had said he'd done it "on purpose." She understood what he meant. It wasn't a provocation, but a desire for her to give him a neck lock.
But... would an Alpha want another Alpha to give them a neck lock?
A year ago, at her coming-of-age ceremony, Ji Yuezhi hadn't yet differentiated. According to Jiang Hong, every test indicated he would become an Alpha.
Zuo Luohuan couldn't find a satisfactory explanation, and a sense of unease settled in her heart. Ji Yuezhi's sudden kiss, so uncharacteristically forward, felt like a form of avoidance.
"Are you going home today?" Ji Yuezhi, oblivious to her thoughts, asked, his voice brimming with happiness. He was clearly delighted that she was having dinner at his family's home.
"I'll go back this afternoon. I promised my mother," Zuo Luohuan replied, quickly masking her emotions.
Ji Yuezhi slowed his pace until they were walking side-by-side. He leaned in and whispered, "Next week, shall we spend the weekend together?"
Zuo Luohuan raised an eyebrow and squeezed his hand, but didn't respond. Ji Xixiu was watching them from the living room.
As they descended the stairs, Zuo Luohuan naturally released Ji Yuezhi's hand, but they sat together.
"Xiao Zuo, please don't be so formal," Yan Jinqiu greeted her warmly. She was dressed smartly and efficiently. Perhaps due to her work as a researcher, she spoke and acted without much fuss.
However, she only managed a few bites before her optical computer chimed.
"It's the research institute. I have to go," Yan Jinqiu said, glancing at her optical computer. She turned to Ji Xixiu. "You go ahead and eat."
Although Ji Xixiu was on the Military Council and commanded the Seventeenth Army, Yan Jinqiu was the busier one. As a materials science researcher leading a team, she was often away from home.
As Yan Jinqiu went to grab her bag, Ji Xixiu stood up and had someone bring a container. He personally packed the food and handed it to her before she left. "Don't forget to eat. I'll have someone pick up the container tonight."
"Alright."
When Ji Xixiu returned, his face was once again cold towards Zuo Luohuan. However, with Ji Yuezhi mediating, the meal wasn't too awkward. Ji Xixiu at least managed to exchange a few words with her.
"Xiao Yue, bring me the box from the second cabinet in my study," Ji Xixiu said suddenly, just as Zuo Luohuan was about to leave.
Ji Yuezhi glanced at Zuo Luohuan and went upstairs to retrieve the item.
"It's a light gun developed by the Seventeenth Army's weapons department," Ji Xixiu explained to Zuo Luohuan. "Carry it with you from now on."
Zuo Luohuan was taken aback, then thanked him.
Ji Xixiu didn't acknowledge her thanks, instead remarking sarcastically, "Zuo Dihong is interesting. Anyone with access to light guns would give one to their child. Does he think you're too strong to need one?"
Glancing at the silent Zuo Luohuan, he continued, "Ren Pingbo is resourceful and scheming. You've crossed him; things won't be easy for you. Be careful."
Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Ji Yuezhi returned with the box.
"Father, is this it?" Ji Yuezhi asked, handing the box to Ji Xixiu.
"Yes." Ji Xixiu acted as if he hadn't just spoken harshly. He presented the box to Zuo Luohuan. "I assume Zuo Dihong is going to give you a light gun as well. But it won't compare to one from the Seventeenth Army. This one is easy to carry and powerful."
Zuo Luohuan accepted the box and thanked him again.
He wasn't wrong. Yesterday, Zuo Dihong had contacted her, saying he'd found a light gun for her and asking her to pick it up over the weekend. Clearly, the recent events had made him concerned for her safety, prompting him to ensure she had a weapon.
Zuo Luohuan owned several guns, but they were all ballistic weapons, useful against people but ineffective against the Gashro Empire's robot dogs.
…
Yi Tong had been waiting for Zuo Luohuan's return. As soon as she arrived, she bombarded her with questions. "You went to the Ji residence? You had dinner with Ji Xixiu and Yan Jinqiu?"
"Mom, what's wrong?" Zuo Luohuan asked, exasperated. Her mother had never been this interested in her affairs before, allowing her to grow up as she pleased.
Yi Tong's expression was a mixture of emotions. "I just can't process it. What if we become in-laws one day? You… Why would Xiao Ji take a liking to you?"
Zuo Luohuan: "?"
"You two seem like you're from different worlds." Yi Tong continued, "I think you're too wild, not suitable for Xiao Ji."
Zuo Luohuan shrugged. "As long as he likes me, it's fine."
"I can't see it." Yi Tong pondered, then blurted out, "When did you start liking Xiao Ji? I haven't seen you interact with him much. Every encounter seemed like a clash of swords."
Zuo Luohuan didn't answer, instead asking if her father had sent a light gun.
"It's on the table. Why do you have another one?" Yi Tong asked, surprised.
"Uncle Ji gave it to me." Zuo Luohuan held a light gun in each hand, testing their weight. "The one my dad sent really doesn't compare to the Seventeenth Army's."
"You know how famous the Seventeenth Army's weapons department is throughout the Federation." Yi Tong said, "Since Ji Xixiu gave it to you, keep it safe."
Zuo Luohuan only stayed home on Saturday. The next day, she arranged to train with Jiang Hong, a perfect opportunity to test the light guns.
"Where did you get these?" Jiang Hong asked, eyeing them greedily. "Give me one."
"One is from my dad, the other from my future father-in-law." Zuo Luohuan glanced at him. "Do you think I'd give you one?"
Damn!
Jiang Hong immediately wiped the drool from his chin, forcing a nonchalant tone. "Fine, you're amazing."
They spent most of the day at the training grounds. During a break, Jiang Hong received a message. He quickly scanned it and instinctively looked at Zuo Luohuan.
"What's wrong?" Zuo Luohuan asked, sitting on the ground with her hands supporting her back. She noticed his gaze.
Jiang Hong hesitated. "I found a hidden report on Ji Yuezhi."
Zuo Luohuan's relaxed posture vanished, her face expressionless. "What report?"
"Ji Yuezhi experienced pre-differentiation symptoms at fifteen." Jiang Hong forwarded the report to her. "This was an accidental discovery. We're still investigating."
Differentiation was a gradual process, often taking one or two months, sometimes longer. There were usually pre-differentiation symptoms. Once someone noticed these physical changes, it generally meant differentiation was imminent.
This hidden report on Ji Yuezhi indicated he had shown signs of differentiating at fifteen, but the symptoms were characteristic of an Alpha.
Zuo Luohuan stared at the report, silent.
"Well… maybe there was some kind of incident that year that interrupted the differentiation," Jiang Hong offered cautiously. "Then something else happened, and he became an Omega."
It would be psychologically challenging for anyone. To have seemingly differentiated as an Alpha, only to become an Omega…
Ji Yuezhi is truly Ji Xixiu's son, mentally strong.
"He's always been in the Capital. What incident could have happened?" Zuo Luohuan finally spoke, her voice low, perhaps from suppressed emotion. "He knew all along he would differentiate as an Omega."
"Huh?" Jiang Hong was confused. "You're saying Ji Yuezhi knew he would be an Omega?"
Could it be that Ji Yuezhi was always an Omega, pretending to be a soon-to-be Alpha? Were all the genetic test reports fake?
"Was Ji Xixiu deliberately doing this to rival your family?" Jiang Hong cautiously speculated.
"Ji Xixiu isn't that kind of person."
When Zuo Luohuan was fifteen, she had skipped the pre-differentiation symptoms and the transitional phase, going straight to the final stage. But she remembered when it had begun. She stared at the date on the report. Ji Yuezhi's pre-differentiation symptoms had appeared only a few months after hers.
"I'll have them keep investigating," Jiang Hong said. He was completely baffled.
"No need," Zuo Luohuan refused. "I'll ask myself."
Jiang Hong was utterly bewildered. Looking at Zuo Luohuan's expression, he felt she already knew something.
But this is so strange. If all the reports were true, how could Ji Yuezhi go from a perfectly normal Alpha to suddenly differentiating as an Omega?
"Are you going to ask Ji Yuezhi?" Jiang Hong asked hesitantly. "You two just got together. It's best not to argue."
Seeing couples show off their affection was a bit annoying, but Jiang Hong still wanted them to be happy.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zuo Luohuan stood up. "I'm going to ask Ji Xixiu."
His attitude towards me has always been strange.
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