SCOM - Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Zuo Luohuan changed into clean clothes before going to the Ji residence. She didn't immediately seek out Ji Xixiu. Since they had agreed to pick up Ji Yuezhi and return to school on Saturday afternoon, she pretended to be oblivious.
When she arrived, Ji Yuezhi was already waiting. Hearing the car, he quickly walked out.
Through the windshield, Zuo Luohuan watched him standing at the gate, facing her. Although he hadn't seen her yet, the corners of his eyes and brows held a faint smile.
He's this happy just to be picked up?
Zuo Luohuan parked, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the steering wheel before she released her grip and opened the door. Walking towards him, she asked, "Have you been waiting long?"
Ji Yuezhi shook his head. "I only came out when I heard your car."
Zuo Luohuan's engine was indeed louder than average, but it was easy to miss if you weren't paying attention.
Some things become clearer once you start noticing them.
Seeing he only had a backpack, Zuo Luohuan asked, "We're going back to school. Are your things packed?"
"Yes." Ji Yuezhi's gaze fell on her slightly damp hair. "What did you do today?"
Zuo Luohuan took his hand and led him towards the passenger side. "I went to the training grounds with Jiang Hong to test out some light guns."
After watching him settle in, Zuo Luohuan walked around to the driver's side. Her mind was filled with questions, but in the end, she only glanced at the Ji residence's gate before looking away.
She opened the car door, sat down, and turned to fasten Ji Yuezhi's seatbelt. "We'll train together next week."
"Okay." As Zuo Luohuan leaned over, Ji Yuezhi tilted his head up and kissed the corner of her lips, his beautiful eyes curving with a happy expression.
An Omega acting like this would charm any Alpha. Zuo Luohuan was no exception; a smile touched her eyes.
…
This time, when people saw them getting out of the car together in the parking lot, no one was surprised. However, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly: the notorious rivals of the Federal First Military Academy were now a couple. Who wouldn't marvel at the unpredictable nature of life?
"Captain!" Qian Mao, also just getting out of his car, immediately came over to greet them. "Starting next week, I'll be joining your classes."
"Joining our classes?" Ji Yuezhi was a little surprised.
"Not exactly. It's just that us weapons development students are starting research on weapons compatible with the Skeletal Armor." Qian Mao explained, holding a stack of documents.
Ji Yuezhi understood. Zuo Luohuan's progress was so fast that they were bringing in the weapons development students early.
"You two…" Qian Mao's gaze drifted downwards, landing on their joined hands. He gave a dry laugh. "Haha, I have something to do, so I'll be going now."
Zuo Luohuan raised an eyebrow. He knows when to make himself scarce. She turned to Ji Yuezhi. "I'll walk you back to your dorm."
…
Ji Yuezhi had class on Tuesday afternoon. Zuo Luohuan didn't and had no training, so she hopped the wall and left campus.
Ji Xixiu was handling matters at the Military Council. Zuo Luohuan had messaged him beforehand and waited outside.
An hour later, someone came to escort her to an office.
After a long while, Ji Xixiu pushed the door open. Seeing Zuo Luohuan, he said, "You have something to discuss with me? Speak, what is it?"
"Why did he differentiate as an Omega?" Zuo Luohuan asked directly.
Without Ji Yuezhi present, Ji Xixiu didn't bother to restrain his imposing aura. The pressure was heavy, directed straight at Zuo Luohuan. He sat down and raised an eyebrow. "Why ask this so suddenly? Do you not like him being an Omega?"
Zuo Dihong spent years fighting on the front lines, his aura even heavier than Ji Xixiu's, so Zuo Luohuan didn't feel much pressure.
She looked at Ji Xixiu. "During the temporary marking, he was uncomfortable. Was he rejecting my pheromones?"
Zuo Luohuan had never temporarily marked another Omega before. At the time, she assumed it was because her pheromone level was too high for Ji Yuezhi to handle. Since he hadn't wanted to go to the hospital, she buried the matter, not thinking too much about other possibilities.
Later, Ji Xixiu's half-spoken warning forced her to reconsider Ji Yuezhi's reaction.
Ji Xixiu stared at Zuo Luohuan, his gaze sharp as a blade. "What else do you want to say?"
"I found the hidden report. He showed signs of differentiating when he was fifteen." Zuo Luohuan met his gaze. "I want to know why."
After a moment, Ji Xixiu suddenly laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Haven't you already guessed the real reason?"
Zuo Luohuan's expression changed drastically. "You agree with it?"
"It was his own decision. Why wouldn't I agree?" Ji Xixiu countered.
Since entering the office, this was the first time Zuo Luohuan lost control of her emotions. Her face was grim. She clenched her fists several times, struggling to compose herself before finally calming down. "What did the doctor say? How badly will this affect his health?"
"'Affect' is too strong a word. You just need to be careful. His gland development still needs time," Ji Xixiu said coldly.
Hearing this, Zuo Luohuan's brow relaxed slightly, but the heaviness in her heart remained.
"Alright, did you skip class again? Go back to school," Ji Xixiu said, looking down at the documents on his desk.
"I don't have class this afternoon." Zuo Luohuan gave Ji Xixiu a slight bow. "Uncle, I'll be going now."
Only after the office door closed did Ji Xixiu look up, frowning at the empty space.
…
Zuo Luohuan walked out of the Military Council building and finally lost her composure. Stopping, she gripped the railing, her knuckles white.
Since returning from Xijiang, she had been wondering why Ji Yuezhi was said to be in poor health. Aside from his resistance to her pheromones, Zuo Luohuan hadn't noticed anything amiss.
Seeing the hidden medical report, a suspicion had formed in Zuo Luohuan's mind, but the possibility was so slim that she couldn't, wouldn't , believe it. So, she came to Ji Xixiu for confirmation.
Now… her suspicions were confirmed.
There was a period in Federation history when Omegas used a certain drug injected into their glands to make them atrophied, losing their ability to release and store pheromones, making them similar to Betas. Later, because this drug caused irreversible damage to Omegas, it was banned.
But there was another, extremely rare possibility. There was once an Omega who, in the early stages of differentiation, managed to change their differentiation characteristics through sheer willpower, becoming an Alpha.
There wasn't much information left about this Omega, only occasional mentions in certain documents.
Ji Yuezhi had transitioned from an Alpha to an Omega. Zuo Luohuan didn't even know how much damage this transformation would cause him in the future.
Zuo Luohuan released the railing and walked heavily to her car, returning to school. Her emotions fluctuated wildly along the way, but by the time she reached the school, all negative feelings had vanished, replaced by a feigned calmness.
Zuo Luohuan walked to the building where Ji Yuezhi had class and waited for him outside.
…
After class, Ji Yuezhi had just stepped out of the classroom when someone called out to him in the hallway.
"Classmate Ji, Zuo Luohuan is waiting for you outside!"
"I think she's been waiting a while."
Many cadets were leaning against the railing, gossiping and watching Zuo Luohuan below.
"Thanks." Ji Yuezhi thanked the person who informed him. His expression remained calm and indifferent, but his heart soared. He quickly made his way out of the building.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Zuo Luohuan waiting. He walked towards her and asked softly, "What brings you here?"
Zuo Luohuan masked the darkness in her eyes, a smile gracing her face. "I missed you."
Her words were undisguised, but her actions remained restrained. She simply took his hand and led him away. The gossiping cadets upstairs, hoping for some real-life couple interaction, dispersed in disappointment.
Ji Yuezhi never refused Zuo Luohuan's closeness. He talked about the potential improvements to the Skeletal Armor project. "…Qian Mao and the others are already working with the materials and data for the Skeletal Armor, which will help them develop compatible weapons."
"Mm." Zuo Luohuan responded softly, no longer interested in the Skeletal Armor project.
Perhaps sensing something was off, and thinking it was because of his lack of response, Ji Yuezhi tugged on Zuo Luohuan's hand as they rounded a corner. When she looked at him, his beautiful eyes sparkled with a bright smile. "I missed you too."
Zuo Luohuan's heart skipped a beat. She pulled him into a hug.
She was usually reserved, at most holding his hand in public.
Ji Yuezhi was a little surprised, but Zuo Luohuan quickly whispered in his ear, a hint of amusement in her voice, "When are you going to tell me that secret?"
"Guess." Ji Yuezhi rested his chin on her shoulder, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Zuo Luohuan held him close, feeling the warmth of his body. After a moment, she said, "I won't guess. I'll wait until our Yuezhi is willing to tell me." Though she already knew his secret, just as he knew hers.
They were so close that Zuo Luohuan could see the gland on the back of Ji Yuezhi's neck, offered to her without a trace of defense.
Zuo Luohuan instinctively raised her hand, wanting to touch it, but ultimately lowered it and let go of Ji Yuezhi. "Are you hungry? Let's go eat."
To outsiders, Ji Yuezhi seemed unapproachable, but around her, he wasn't quiet, mostly talking about her upcoming Skeletal Armor training.
It wasn't until dark that Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi parted ways.
Although Zuo Luohuan had a single dorm room, she didn't invite Ji Yuezhi up. She didn't want him to become the subject of school gossip.
Walking back to the Alpha dorm building, Zuo Luohuan first went to Jiang Hong's room.
"You…" Jiang Hong came out carrying a lunchbox. Seeing the furrow in Zuo Luohuan's brow, he froze. "You asked him?"
"You don't need to investigate his matters anymore," Zuo Luohuan said. "Ji Xixiu told me."
"Huh?" Jiang Hong didn't know what information she had gotten from Ji Xixiu, but it definitely wasn't good news. He couldn't help but ask, "Is there really something wrong with Ji Yuezhi's health?"
Zuo Luohuan scowled. "He's fine."
Jiang Hong, observing her expression, knew she was in a bad mood. Recalling the report he had also read, he ventured, "Dr. Fang is still in the capital. Do you want to…"
"I'll find a time to go," Zuo Luohuan said. Fang Yong, who had removed his own glands, should have some insight into these matters.
It really is a pheromone issue, Jiang Hong thought. Pheromones had a significant impact on the body, and if something went wrong, it could easily cause problems. He wondered what was wrong with Ji Yuezhi.
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